3DS clock vs. in-game clock

[KermitTea]

So, I've seen a bunch of people say "TT with your 3ds clock not your game clock" or something along the lines of it.

I want to know:
1) what's the difference?
2) if you change the game clock do you have to close ACNL?
3) which clock do you prefer?

You can answer all or just one question...or be curious with me

 

[Diamondarcadia]

I don't know the answer to the first question but the second and third I can answer xD

To select settings on your DS you have to close any open software, so yes you need to close and re-open ACNL each time.

Also, I used to use the DS game clock to TT on ACNL but it got so annoying. I then discovered the magic of the in-game clock xD I haven't looked back since. I wonder what is the difference though.... I have seen some posts that say you can use the DS clock to make things as if they never happened. Like getting rid of a villager you don't want. That's only my observation though.

 

[Mini Mario]

1. IDK, but I know if you have other games like Pokemon X and Y, if you change the clock even once, the time will be paused on there for 24 hours.
2. Yes
3. I prefer the game clock because of reason 1.

 

[Squigly Contiello]

Most information about the clocks has been covered, but there's another thing.

In order to TT to another day without having it saved when you start up, you have to use the 3DS clock. That way, when you start up the game, you can choose a new save game and check up on what's happening before it's saved(someone moving in, moving out, or plot resetting).

 

[olivetree123]

I just change the time on my 3DS. It just seems simpler to me, and I don't have any other games that are affected by time changes (I only have 3 games orz) so it really doesn't affect anything else.

You'd also need to load up an existing character to change the game clock I believe? That could mess with plot or campsite resetting / placement, if that's why you're TTing.

 

[estypest]

I always use the 3ds clock, somehow the only time I used the in game clock I got a bit confused and spoiled rather a lot of turnips gah. Though I did not realise the Pokemon x/y thing with regard to changing the time, good job I haven't really played it since I got obsessed with New Leaf (I'll come back to you Pokemon!).

 

[Piroshi]

Changing time with the 3DS clock lets you skip multiple days forward without having to use an existing character, so if you want to skip a week forward to check if a villager has moved you can. If you wanted to do the same thing with the in-game clock you'd have to go one day at a time and set the time before 6:00 so you don't start the day with a new character.

That being said, I still use the in-game clock. I only ever TT one day at a time anyway, and I don't want to mess up my other games.

 

[Lurrdoc]

I prefer the in-game clock. I've yet to have any mishaps occur. It seems much simpler to me to use the one specifically for said game than it is to change the very setting on my 3ds and possibly affect other games in ways i am not prepared to deal with.

Believe it or not when i'm out and about, my phone runs out of battery sometimes and having the 3ds at the proper time, as opposed to some random time i tt'd to, helps me catch buses when my phone dies. x.x

 

[mikanmilk]

I use the DS clock. I don't like loading up before TTing. And I feel like by using the system clock somehow the game doesn't "know" what I'm doing lol.
I only play Animal Crossing right now so it's no big deal to me about the system time or records.

 

[ForgottenT]

1. TTing with the 3ds clock makes it possible to check if something went wrong using a new character, if it did then you can just quit without saving, change the clock again, and it's like nothing happened, so it's like a safety net, also none of the side effects of TTing applies when you use the 3ds clock.

2. Yes.

3. I only TT using the 3ds clock.