[Rumor] - Animal Crossing going Massively Multiplayer?

[Dr.Finger]

Edge Magazine brings word (via MCV (http://www.mcvuk.com/news/28678/Animal-Crossing-heads-down-the-MMO-route)) that the next iteration of Animal Crossing, Nintendo's addictive social RPG, may be going the massively multiplayer route."A Japanese source has confirmed to Edge that the upcoming Wii iteration of Animal Crossing is set to be a social networking MMO."It makes sense. In the years since Animal Crossing's debut online social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook have exploded in popularity, as have online virtual pets like Webkinz. Animal Crossing is essentially those two passtimes combined, with some RPG elements tossed in. Nintendo can continue the offline Animal Crossing on the DS, while letting Wii players online. Sounds like a no-brainer to me.

[Gorvi]

I can't see this happening, at least not in a way that'll make people happy. MMOs are all about communication, and I can't see Nintendo allowing open communication online on the Wii, especially with the way their policies have been towards online gaming so far.

[Ten19]

I can't see this happening, at least not in a way that'll make people happy. MMOs are all about communication, and I can't see Nintendo allowing open communication online on the Wii, especially with the way their policies have been towards online gaming so far.
They could still accomplish this with a similar model they used in the GC and DS versions, where you only connect with people you've flagged as friends. If you flag a bunch of people as friends and they flag a bunch of people as friends, you have yourself a lil' social network, thus preventing Jimmy 12 year old from encountering Internet Dickwad #3015 during his travels of digging up artifacts and doing menial tasks for passive-aggressive penguins.

[Serapth]

LOL... the company that thought friend codes were a good idea doing a MMO? Somehow don't see this working well.

Oh, and the limited storage on the Wii isnt going to help either.

[Durka-Dan]

I'm not sure Nintendo will be able to pull off anything spectacular this generation as far as online play goes. This will most likely fall into the "cool.. let's play something else now" category. Then again.. it's Nintendo, it may be the best thing since sliced bread.. or the Wii for that matter.

[Gorvi]

They could still accomplish this with a similar model they used in the GC and DS versions, where you only connect with people you've flagged as friends. If you flag a bunch of people as friends and they flag a bunch of people as friends, you have yourself a lil' social network, thus preventing Jimmy 12 year old from encountering Internet Dickwad #3015 during his travels of digging up artifacts and doing menial tasks for passive-aggressive penguins.
Well, yeah, but then that's not an MMO, it's just adding an online portion to it. Not that there's anything wrong with that, there isn't, but I just don't see them turning it into an MMO.

[Karmakin]

Unless Nintendo changes/ditches the whole friend code thing.

It's possible.

[Kamalot]

I'd play it. :D

[Draconis]

Perhaps MMO is too strong a word.

Social Network is probably a better phrase for the Ideals that Nintendo might be aiming for here. Animal Crossing has always been a social Game. They implemented it well with the DC and GC versions, better with the DS though.

Put simply, if they do implement it in such a fashion, it would be awesome. As others have said, MMO, no. But when they mention sites like Facebook, Myspace etc....those aren't MMO's, not even close. THey are social networking sites, and Animal Crossing would fit the bill perfectly.

Not to mention with Such Functionality, it would sell like fucking mad in Japan. I for one know for a fact that my Girlfriend would squeeee like a rabid Kitty Girl on Catnip for this game. She LOVES Animal Crossing.

I'm meh on it...but her? Oh Gods...Run..RUN FOR YOUR LIFE NOW!

[Durka-Dan]

Social Network is probably a better phrase for the Ideals that Nintendo might be aiming for here.

Does the world really need another "social network"?

[bean19]

That's just what I need, a bunch of people coming into my town and stealing my favorite characters and cutting down all my trees. ;)

[Draconis]

Does the world really need another "social network"?


Depends. Animal Crossing is a Game and also a Social Activity with friends and communication. It links people together while being fun at the same time.

If you absolutely hate Nintendo, then yeah, the world doesn't need another social network in your opinion.


If you like games, Find Animal Crossing as Fun, and like having fun with your friends in regard to this, then its additional reason to get the game.

[Karmakin]

Actually, a Friends Code system with a social networking-esqe Friends of Friends system would be perfectly fine. Not XBox Live great, but it would both meet Nintendo's philosophy (and security goals) and be easy to use.

[KingGorilla]

Didn't it already go quasi MMO by going online? Or was that Harvest Moon? Given the inherently social environment that these farm sims place themselves in fictitiously, it is no wonder that they may go for an online persistence, look at the Sims Online, or Second Live(basically the Sims with porn).

[agentgray]

FAILURE

Friend codes.

[i aint yer pa]

I'd pay Tom Nook for it.

[KingGorilla]

FAILURE

Friend codes.

I guess you just want to live in a world where kids are raped by online predators.

[agentgray]

I guess you just want to live in a world where kids are raped by online predators.

I've not seen Chris Hanson with a DS yet. :D

[KingGorilla]

Did you miss the fucking Furor about the DS, Wifi, Wifi chat, and molestation? What cave were you in?

[Draconis]

Did you miss the fucking Furor about the DS, Wifi, Wifi chat, and molestation? What cave were you in?


Apparently the one with the Cyclops in the Odyssey

[Mal.Reynolds]

One of the few things i like on the Gamecube/DS i'd love to play an MMO of this but .... The thing is i'll never buy a Wii ... So i guess if its true then i'll never get to play it saddly

[MaiXu]

Kinda makes you wonder, did it really take someone this long to think this idea up?

[Durka-Dan]

If you absolutely hate Nintendo, then yeah, the world doesn't need another social network in your opinion.

Ouch. So if I'm tired of social networks like Myspace or Facebook then I automatically hate Nintendo?

If you like games, Find Animal Crossing as Fun, and like having fun with your friends in regard to this, then its additional reason to get the game.

I like games. Animal Crossing was fun. Fun with friends? sure. Looking forward to MySpace/Facebook meets Animal Crossing? Not so much...

[51|RandoM]

However they do it Animal Crossing can only benefit from increased connectivity.

Worst case scenario it'll still be some version of opt-in or opt-out so if you want to play Animal Crossing in a cave you can.

[Draconis]

Ouch. So if I'm tired of social networks like Myspace or Facebook then I automatically hate Nintendo?



I like games. Animal Crossing was fun. Fun with friends? sure. Looking forward to MySpace/Facebook meets Animal Crossing? Not so much...



Hehe, I didn't say you did. The big thing to understand about Animal Crossing, as I am sure you know, is that it is social in alot of ways.

Facebook and Myspace can burn in the abyss, *Twitches*, but in no way will Animal crossing be such a social entity like beast such as those. Friend codes will keep the idiots away for sure.

yes, some people may gripe about friend codes, but in this instance, their a damned good thing.

[jacktion]

This might not be an MMO like we think of one. If you squint real hard and listen to some PR people you could consider Animal Crossing on the DS and MMORPG since you can connect to thousands of other people in one big network, sort of.

I could see it being basically like Animal Crossing on the DS and them considering it an MMORPG.

With that said, for this to be an honest to god MMORPG that we would all love to play it would have to do the following things.
1. Nintendo would have to release a hard drive or storage unit or something that could hold all the data.
2. Nintendo would have to have to options for players. Normal mode where only friends can enter and leave your town, and "danger mode", where anyone can come and go and leave you messages and you are really in an MMORPG with thousands of other people at any moment. You would probably have to read a big disclaimer and agree to this before it happened for Nintendo would allow it.

I don't really see these things happening. It would be nice though.

[Yellowman]

If I had children I would never, ever let them play a game with xbox Live until they were at least 13, that system is easy for a predator to infilitrate. Sure it won't happen in Halo, but a game like Animal Crossing? Needs some sort of protection in it...

[Kamalot]

...but a game like Animal Crossing? Needs some sort of protection in it...

What if you could buy condoms at Tom Nook's?

[Rafer]

This might not be an MMO like we think of one. If you squint real hard and listen to some PR people you could consider Animal Crossing on the DS and MMORPG since you can connect to thousands of other people in one big network, sort of.

I could see it being basically like Animal Crossing on the DS and them considering it an MMORPG.

I could see that. One way to do it is that a players village is like their web page, anyone can visit and leave letters and have some limited interaction like buying and selling at the local shop. But you could have hundreds of visitors and never see them, that would be invite only, when you invite people over it becomes like Animal Crossing DS where you can interact.

That's just a guess. I think Spore might turn out similarly as Wright keeps saying something about being massively single player.

[H1PO]

Eh'. I think they'll make it an MMO in the fact that you're playign with real people, but they'll pout so much protection on it, that it'll be just like playing with AI. a few scripted lines to say to group memebers.

[Bydo_Empire]

Honestly, I don't care. I'm buying Animal Crossing Wii almost not matter what it has. If it expands AC:WW's online features, then that's fantastic. I love me some Animal Crossing, and unless they really screw it up somewhow, adding more online functionality isn't going to make it worse.

[KSmitty]

What if you could buy condoms at Tom Nook's?
I'm holding out for the chain gun. I mean sure its a 10,000,000 Bells but its got infinite ammo and you can pay Nook to mount a turret on your house.


This game will sell like crazy for Wii. I always saw it as more of a if my friend is online I can go to his town thing. Or my friend and I can send each other items, etc. over Nintendo Wifi. And by I, I mean my girlfriend as I bought Animal Crossing for myself and managed to play a few hours on it while she has every fish, fossil and bug in the game. The good news is she payed off the house. ;)

[Wolvie]

Oh shit, if thats true my wife will be begging me to get it, she's a huge Animal Crossing fan.

[Deunnero]

Animal Crossing is a powerhouse and has the possibility of selling several million on launch. Nintendo is aware of this and it will happen. Whether it is MMO or not, is irrelevant. Just have a look at the numbers for everthing related to Animal Crossing and you will see that it is just a matter of time before we are overwhelmed by all the cute little animals once again.

[Hagetaka]

I cant even begin to wrap my head around how many copies this would sell. It is seriously, mind-splitting. Nevermind all this "reason" mumbo-jumbo. Many millions of people want this. Japaneese or otherwise (mostly japaneese though... heh)

[ThirdRail]

I'd pay Tom Nook for it.

if i see tom nook on the street, i'm going to fight him.

[DaXIthR]

Animal Crossing is a powerhouse and has the possibility of selling several million on launch.

I disagree there. Animal Crossing is more the type of game that hangs around the Top 15 sales chart every month for about two years and never becomes a budget title.

Brawl allows you to have 64 friends in your Brawl friend list. If Animal Crossing allows you to have 64 other towns you can visit, that would be pretty sweet. I would have two to three players in my town, and that's where the beauty really lies. One Wii, one copy of AC but every one in the household can participate by clocking in an hour every other day at the very least.

[inmostlight]

I guess you just want to live in a world where kids are raped by online predators.

It's an online world based around talking, anthropomorphic animals. I think the real fear here is furries. Filthy, murdering furries. (http://www.csifiles.com/news/260903_01.shtml)

(Still, the girlfriend would love this. I bet she talks me into buying her a Wii for it...)

[EL CABONG]

Between freind codes, people griefing your town and playing with dumbass kids I don't see how this could work in a way that would be much fun.

I really dig the idea of a AC mmo. I just don't think it will be much fun for a adults. Its not like you can roll horde to keep the number of braty kids you encounter down.

[Your Good Twin]

I'd kill for an Animal Crossing where you share a town with four other people, whether on same console or online. Using WiiConnect24, one of the Wii's would be the "home" or "station" for the particular town, and then other people could log on at any time and do whatever. You could hop on after work to find a friend digging for fossils while another one is meeting some of the animal AI's. And then, you and one of the friends run over to the tennis court and get down with something similar to Wii Tennis.

[Deunnero]

I would have two to three players in my town, and that's where the beauty really lies. One Wii, one copy of AC but every one in the household can participate by clocking in an hour every other day at the very least.

This was the best part of the GC version for us, the whole family had a part in the town's development and social upbringing. Fun times.