Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

So, Nintendo announced that they'd be sending us Nintendogs to live in our Animal Crossing houses and I got very excited for a couple of seconds, as my head filled with images of little puppies running around my feet and leaping up at me when I got home.

Then I realised that they'd just be furniture items, but assumed that when activated with the A button would have short sounds and animations, like a lot of Animal Crossing furniture. Maybe the labrador would roll over on his belly, maybe the chihuahua would start yapping at you, that sort of thing.

Yesterday I got my first Nintendog and it was disappointing, even with my lowered expectations. There aren't any animations, it's just a static, basic piece of furniture that does nothing. This may be a technical limitation with the way new items get added to the game over the Internet, but it's still a bit of a downer.

It does look cute, though, and I shall keep a small collection of dogs in my basement.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Back in McNulty after a long break, I found I had a new neighbour.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Answer: no.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

I caught a mi!

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Summer is definitely over in McNulty.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Alli's still suffering from her nautical delusions, I see.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

My lovely wife sent me a Green Pipe! It's huge!

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

I like my house.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Chilling out with KK Slider on Saturday night.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

We have a new resident, Marina! She appears to be a squid of some sort, which is ace but confusing.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Suck it, Chow! Ha!

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

When you wish upon a star... oh, wait, as far as I can tell, you can't do that in this version.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Whatever you say, Blathers.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

I got a silver axe! Yay!

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

We got our fountain! Yay!

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

This happens a lot. Usually on a Wednesday.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Too much information, Rocco. Too much information.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

You do that, Chester, you do that.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

We're getting a fountain!

But when?

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

I hate it when that happens!

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Welcome to McNulty, Dora Mouse!

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

I have a Triforce. Touch me.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

I got a new helmet!

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Despite my nautical attire, I really don't think I can do that, Alli.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

On Friday night I fell in a pitfall. Boo!


But on Sunday there were fireworks! Yay!

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

There were no scallops last night, just mischief.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

DO. NOT. WANT.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

McNulty can be a scary town.

(And, yes, if you've been wondering, the town of McNulty is named after the hapless Jimmy McNulty from The Wire, which actually is the best TV show ever even though everyone says it is.)

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Last night I shot a present down out of the sky; it was an iris table.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Taking a break from the iPhone games for a bit, I remembered to go and see KK Slider's gig this weekend.


He played KK Rally, which was nice.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

I didn't mean to stop playing Animal Crossing for a few days. I just kept forgetting to play. Anyway, I remembered to play it last night and I'm very glad I did. My wife had sent me a great, great present.


Witness the excellence of the white katana, which now has pride of place in front of my entrance! Hurrah!

In other news, Wisp wasn't about, Rocco gave me a lemon pack and Alli asked for a stego skull. Yeah, okay.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

It was the Bug Off on Saturday! Hooray!


Unfortunately stupid Mott had caught a jewel stag beetle, or something, before I even got to play, so I had no chance of winning with my paltry selection of dragonflies, butterflies and cicadas. Grrr!

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

I love it when I get all the money from a money rock. And I love it even more when my silver shovel doubles one of the bags. Yay money!

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Tammi wanted to talk to me about furniture, according to a letter I got from my wife. So I wandered over and found her outside her house. We chatted and she gave me, well, something. I can't remember exactly what.

And that's all I remember about yesterday.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Mott gave me a birthday cake. You know, on my birthday. That was nice. I was glad it was Mott who came by with the cake - he's one of the proper, long-term residents, not one of these guys who just come to McNulty for a nice holiday.

Then yesterday Nintendo sent me a great model of the Eiffel Tower to celebrate Bastille Day. No one murders a marquis with impunity! (That was my line when I was in a school production of A Tale of Two Cities, many, many years ago.)

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Got a letter from deKay. Pascal gave me another keg. Sent a reply to deKay, attached keg.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Redd sold me a real painting. Now I don't have to kill him. Not that I could, anyway, but, you know. I do wish he wouldn't stuff an invite into my pockets every time I left his stupid shop, though. No, there is nobody I want to invite. I do not want another one. Not ever.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Gave Chow some new clothes. Ignored Sahara.

No, I'm not playing many games right now. I appear to be reading books instead. Weird. I will, however, probably be playing a lot of The Sims 3 now the weather's cooling off a bit. Review was delayed by the heatwave, but I hope I can get back to it soon.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Eunice wants to move out. Shrug. K.K. gave me K.K. Folk this weekend. He seems like a ladiback chap, but so many of his song titles feature his initials that I fear there may be a huge rock star ego under that chilled-out exterior.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

My goodness. Redd sold me a real painting!

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Delivered a package from the kangaroo, distracted me, missed Pascal.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Wandered around, didn't see anyone apart from Alli. No idea where they were all hiding, but everyone was out when my wife played straight after me. Maybe the animals just hate me.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

New monkey, Tammi. I've always wanted a monkey.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Catchphrases in McNulty include "on a boat", "like a pig" and "I like men".

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Bella's gone. Redd sold me a fake a painting and a rocket.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Last night, I bought a clock.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Looks like Bella's finally going to be moving out. She's been talking about it for ages, but she's all packed up now. I played for a fair old while last night, but can't remember anything I did... Wait, I bought a bear shirt for Alli.

Anyway, the lack of hilarious anecdotes and excitement in these posts about Animal Crossing aren't meant to belittle it. The fact that not much really happens is one of the things I most love about the game. Every night I get home from work, sit down on the sofa and spend ten or fifteen or twenty minutes pottering about in McNulty. It's the perfect way to wind down and helps to relax me for the evening ahead.

At this stage in its life - over six months now of this game, years and years with the other versions - Animal Crossing is completely comfortable. And that's the way I like it. Each new version has just enough new stuff to be worth buying, but without making any real difference to the game. That's not what some people want, but it works for me.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Forgot the Bug Off, remembered KK. Bella shows no signs of moving out, despite what she said last week. Lots of gifts yesterday - flowers from the mysterious "Dad", an espresso maker from Tortimer and a sandcastle from Nintendo. Nice.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Yes, Bella, with some regret, we shall allow you to leave McNulty. We'll miss you, but not that much.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

I found Wisp's lamp and gave it back to him, so he gave me a low screen. Fair enough. Had to play twice to do that, because when I found the lamp after work Wisp wasn't around, so I had to play just before bed to find him.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Lost Hide and Seek last night. Where the heck was Rocco? I wish it had told me where he'd been at the end of the game.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Points sale day! Bought a load of stuff and got about 1,000 points, which unlocked a hat and two shirts in the reward catalogue.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

A new resident! Eunice, a sheep. I haven't formed any opinion about her yet.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Oh, yes, I played this last night. No new resident and Redd sold me another fake painting. I caught a brand new type of butterfly and donated it to the museum, though.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

I talked to Alli about interior decoration, then there weren't any scallops.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Mott now greets me with a cheery cry of, "Hello sailor!"

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Gala has left. Who will replace her? Nobody for ages, I know that much.

MySims Kingdom (Wii)

Finished stuff off for the rocket launch, then helped set up a music festival which, of course, involved building a log cabin and herding crabs. My previous impressions still stand - great graphics, great writing, great fun, some collection parts are just a little tedious, but not so much that they spoil the game.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Tonight's song: K.K. House. Nice little ditty.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Made it my mission last night to talk to all the animals and ignore the business side of things. Somehow managed to miss out talking to Chester, though. Gala seems to want to move out. She's nice enough, but I won't stand in her way.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

I hardly talk to the animals these days, I'm all about buying and selling. I'm all about Nook's reward points at the moment. Last night I got up Silver membership and unlocked the 4,000 point prize, which I won't spoil.

Also, Redd finally sold me a real Famous Painting. Hooray!

MySims Kingdom (Wii)

My wife was playing this when I got home last night, so I went and had a lovely bath and read the Fortean Times. When I got out, she stopped playing and I had a go. It really is very good. I find collecting essences a little tedious at times, but that's my only complaint. The rest is great. It looks gorgeous, it controls well, there's enough scope for my own creativity even at this early stage and the writing is genuinely good.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

I caught a fire fly! And an eel! They both went to the museum. I also found the money rock, got all the money from it and bought everything in Nook's. Now only a couple of hundred points away from silver membership.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Had barely any time to play this, so just logged on, talked to Chow, then left.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Went to Cheese, home to deKay. He only seemed to have cherries, so I left and came back loaded down with fruit, with I dropped in a huge pile.

It's amazing how green that town is. I'd forgotten how much lovely grass there is in towns when they're new, before it all gets trampled down to the brown dirt below.

MySims Kingdom (Wii)

This arrived from Lovefilm at the weekend. My wife will be playing it to completion before we send it back, but I'd decided not to play it, what with having Demon's Souls etc. However, after seeing her play it, I couldn't help but give it a go. It's charming, funny, looks great and feels a lot more technically solid that the original MySims game. I did the tutorial, then went to an island full fo cowboys... and a pizza chef. Hilarity ensued, along with gentle collecting and building fun. It's an easy game to play, not just in terms of difficulty, but because it's got a lovely atmosphere and is always giving you new toys to play with. It's a generous game and genuinely funny, so it actually makes a perfect dessert after a main course of Demon's Souls.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Put this on for, ooh, about two minutes, and had a quick run around before turning off. Wasn't that I didn't want to play, just that I wanted to play Demon's Souls a lot, lot more.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Spent all my money of rubbish just to get more points. I'll need to do some fruit-picking tonight, I guess.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Trying to get my Nook points up now. I hit the 3,000 mark over the weekend, I think. I'm planning to unlock all the prizes before spending any of the points now, though.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

I bought a giant moon. 32,000 bells well spent, I feel.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

We have a new neighbour! She's a kangaroo called Matilda. Seems nice, but we didn't talk much.

The House of the Dead: Overkill (Wii)

Awesome.

Still.

Finished the story with my wife last night, then leapt straight into the Director's Cut version. I was expecting something terribly difficult, but we finished the first level without dying. Hooray!

Once we'd done that it was bedtime, but we played a quick go of the survival mini game before turning off the console. Goodness me, but there are a lot of zombies there! The riot cop zombies are just as annoying in that mode as they are in the main game. I'm really not sure how best to deal with them - shooting their shields seems to lose you your combo. Hmm.

Anyway, as I may have already said, this game is awesome.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Nope, nobody new yet.

The House of the Dead: Overkill (Wii)

Ah, yes, this is what I wanted.

Played through the first five levels with my wife last night and it was awesome. Lots and lots of zombies to shoot in the face (chest, arm, leg, etc.) and, well, that's about it. A lovely grindhouse-style presentation and fast-paced, well-designed arcade action.

For my wife and me, that just about equals perfection.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

No new resident to replace duck. I am hoping for Frobert or Big Top, my favourite animals in the DS version. Found some gyroids last night, which was nice. Redd sold me a fake painting AGAIN.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

The duck has now gone. Who will come next?

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Look, duck, if you're going to move out, do it. Don't hang around in a house full of empty boxes telling us you're going.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Forgot to play on Saturday. D'oh. Played yesterday, but didn't get on until after nine, so Nook's was shut. Bother.

What's interesting and slightly worrying is that Pate is moving out. She twice asked my wife if she should move and my wife said no; she never mentioned moving to me. So, unlike the DS version, it looks like there's no sure why to prevent your neighbours from moving out. That's not good at all. If either of the pandas decide to go, I shall be very upset.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

So, last night, I played Animal Crossing and I, er, um, nope I've got nothin'. I talked to some animals, definitely. Um... that's it.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Played for a fair while last night. I caught a frog and sold him to Nook.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

I nearly bought a model of a diver, but I didn't.

The excitement never ends in McNulty!

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Today, all you need is a picture.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

It's so nice to play this during the day; I normally only see McNulty in the dark. I delivered a shirt from Rodeo to Mott, dug up a ton of gyroids and bought an awesome space helmet.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

No new hats or anything last night. Did quite well off the money rock, though.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Nintendo sent me a flamenco hat. Thanks Nintendo!

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Wendell gave me a flamenco dress pattern, seemingly for no reason. Also, I played and won hide and seek.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

After a week away, logged in briefly last night. Checked my mail and met our new resident, a duck called Pate. My wife had picked weeds and watered flowers, so I didn't have any chores to do. Thanks wife!

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Melba K. Koala will you please go now!

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Um, right, so I'm trying to think of something that happened last night. Anything. Just one thing. Um... oh, I caught a peacock butterfly. There were other things going on, but I can't remember any of them.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Pascal gave me a keg. Also, I put a flying saucer in my basement.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Fake scary painting! Noooooooo!

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Bella lost her key. I tried to find it, but no luck. I did get a char for the museum, though. That's nice.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Forgot to play on Saturday. That's a fishing tournament and KK Slider missed. Remembered to play yesterday, though, and dug up some eggs. Got a bed out of it.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

My heart wasn't in it today. After a trip to my parents - involving the worst trip ever up there, during which I got lost in Harlow, having had to come off the M11 avoiding all the people being late for flights out of Stansted - I got home and thought I should play some Animal Crossing. I wandered around for a bit and bought a jukebox, but it felt like far too much effort.

Remind me never to drive anywhere on Good Friday again.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

I, er, sold some fruit, I think. Honestly, I can't remember much of what happened yesterday. Gala told me she had something to tell me, but she'd forgotten what. And, er...

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

As well as community games on the 360, I also played Animal Crossing last night.

Um, I gave Bella a table. And delivered a shirt for Rodeo.

That's about it.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Nothing very exciting last night, but I did spend 90,000 bells on a bird cage my wife wanted.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

I dug up the final fossil! Just down on the beach. The stego tail we've been needing to finish everything off. Excellent!

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

Cherry blossoms!

Other than that, nothing to report.

Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City (Wii)

My lovely wife sent me a sombrero and some lunar horizon wallpaper. She is best.