Animal Crossing

Question 1

What game are we studying?

Answer 1

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Question 2

Context for Animal Crossing? Who made it? Other versions?

Answer 2

Animal crossing was developed and published by Nintendo. The series has run for over 20 years, original game produced in 2001.

Question 3

When was Animal Crossing: New horizons released?

Answer 3

Initially announced for the Nintendo Switch in 2018 but wasn’t released until March 2020.

Question 4

Statistic for higher sales?

Answer 4

It is the First console game to reach five million digital sales within a month.

Question 5

What award did the game win in 2020?

Answer 5

The Best Family Game - at The Game Awards 2020

Question 6

How did sales compare to other versions of Animal Crossing?

Answer 6

Eclipsed the lifetime sales of all past instalments within its first six weeks. Became the second-best-selling game on the Nintendo Switch system.

Question 7

How many billion did New Horizons gross in its first year of March 2021?

Answer 7

$2 billion

Question 8

What is PEGI?

Answer 8

The video games industry classifying board.

Question 9

What rating/ certification does New Horizons have?

Answer 9

PEGI 3 - this means content is deemed as suitable for all age groups. And the game should not contain any sounds or pictures that are likely to frighten young children. A very mild form of violence is acceptable.

Question 10

Sandbox game?

Answer 10

American term, suggests that the game has no instructions and you can shape it yourself to whatever you want .

Question 11

Examples of the influence of social media? Twitter, TikTok

Answer 11

-Animal Crossing saw 71% rise in overall conversation on Twitter after the release of New Horizons
-July 2020, #animalcrossing had a total of 3.2 billion views on TikTok

Question 12

How was New Horizons marketed?

Answer 12

-Budget friendly, virtual marketing
-User generated content
-US House Representative - Alexandria Ocasio - Cortez, carried out virtual ‘house calls’ by visiting the islands of Us Citizens and interacting with them
-Brands amongst Marc Jacobs + Valentino showcased collections on the game
-KFC Philippines created a KFC island, allowing guests to win real life menu items + vouchers
-Celebrities also began posting about their experiences when playing new horizons, which generates publicity for the game

Question 13

When the release date of ACNH was delayed, stock price dropped by _%

Answer 13

When the release date of ACNH was delayed, stock price dropped by 3%

Question 14

Why was release pushed back? Where announced? Why is this significant?

Answer 14

1) To ensure Nintendo employee welfare.
2) E3 Conference 2019
3) Significant; as massive capitalist company willing to do this for their colleagues

Question 15

How did the release push back positively influence sales?

Answer 15

-Released during Covid - 19
-Pandemic forced people indoors with higher levels of disposable income due to furlough and inability to spend on normal activity

Question 16

Outline Nintendo’s business model

Answer 16

-Vertically integrated as they keep the development of games in-house
-This maximises profit and maintains market exclusivity + attracts a loyal gamer fanbase

Question 17

Gender of game makers?

Answer 17

-Half developers male and half females
-Even gender split = appeals to both genders
A03 = binary idea of gender

Question 18

Nintendo as a company?

Answer 18

-Aim to provide a fun experience
-Ethical values
-Inclusive representation
-Workers interests
-Pre-dates the Digital world e.g. card playing
-Worth $2.111Billion
-Began 1889

Question 19

How did Nintendo re-position audiences when they were turned off gaming in the 80s?

Answer 19

Re-positioned games as toys.

Question 20

Outline the E3 conference

Answer 20

-the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2019
-was where publishers, hardware manufacturers etc of the game presented and previewed new updates + upcoming products
-No longer happens anymore

Question 21

Political context

Answer 21

-BLM protests in game

Question 22

Which age group are the most common players of AC

Answer 22

-20 to 30 year olds
-this challenges our traditional preconceptions of who gamers are (teenage boys)

Question 23

What did ACNH offer players in 2020?

Answer 23

-offers choice + control due to sandbox nature of game
-escapism from a destabilising and frightening time - with announcements of daily death tolls
-a travel game when players are unable to travel
-international appeal due to gibberish voices - no need for translation

Question 24

Outline gameplay of ACNH

Answer 24

-sandbox nature of game: complete freedom for players to spend their time as they choose
-postmodernists: ‘the line between AC life and real life is blurring’
-AC follows the circadian rhythms of real time - its based on a real 24H clock + follows the seasons in the players chosen hemisphere

Question 25

What are the audience experiences of AC

Answer 25

-socialising with friends through collaborative joint projects -an escape for those w/ mental health issues - “it has given me back some life joy that i thought i had lost forever” -sense of community -immersion -creative outlet -achievement

Question 26

Format of AC

Answer 26

The game is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite

Question 27

Distribution of game?

Answer 27

Versions of the game can be purchased as a cartridge or a download code.

Question 28

What are DLCs

Answer 28

Downloadable Content. Add ons to the video game must be bought.

Question 29

What is an example of a DLC?

Answer 29

Happy Home Paradise DLC you are in charge of inviting characters as clients and helping them live out their own dream vacations

Question 30

Critical Reception? Facts!

Answer 30

Well received -13th best selling game of all time -Amazon (4.8 out of 5) -BAFTA award in 2022 (Best evolving Game)

Question 31

Outline the game?

Answer 31

-Player = tasked with bringing civilisation to a deserted island -Player = starts out with a Shelter and some basic tools -To begin building their dram town - they'll need to hunt, collect, save -Few set missions in game - but mostly have the freedom to do everything at their own speed. Follows a circadian rhythm

Question 32

What does it mean that Animal Crossing follows a circadian rhythm

Answer 32

- follows real-world day -only be able to collect creature that come out in the morning -Similarly, at night all the shops will be shut + most fellow islanders gone to bed

Question 33

In what way in ACNH accessible to young users

Answer 33

-Circadian rhythm -AC doesn't offer micro-transactions or loot boxes -No way to speed up game - player must wait until next real-world day - teaches children to be patient and naturally divides gaming sessions into chunks

Question 34

Issues of only being able to save one game per console?

Answer 34

Might cause trouble if children are sharing a Switch Console (or adults)

Question 35

Is it a single-player game

Answer 35

No -Mainly focuses on single player elements but some features allow you to visit other players' islands, vice versa

Question 36

Give examples of multi-player features

Answer 36

-Party Play = allows unto 4 users to play on the same island using one Switch console and one copy of the game. -Joy-con would be needed for each player

Question 37

What is wireless play?

Answer 37

Lets unto eight people play on the same island - but using their own Switch and copy of the game -For it to work all players must be in the same room.

Question 38

What is online play?

Answer 38

A) Single subscription = £17.99 a year Family subscription = £31.49 a year B) only access wireless or online play after playing for 2 days - you can visit island players on you friends list, or Ava them go to yours by going to Dodo airport. C) Online play is compatible with

Question 39

How many sales did animal new horizons animal crossing have in the first six weeks?

Answer 39

37.62