Authentic human emotions while playing ACNL

[Cranky Squirrel]

I don't know if it's an over 40 thing, but I'm your age and I feel the same way. The public works projects, planting trees, and all the other daily duties are fun, but the thing that has me hooked are the villagers. Even within the same character types there are differences in character and I find myself often thinking of them as real. I can get totally caught up in the fantasy of it.

Last night Teddy was out shaking trees and wasn't finding anything. He got steaming mad, stomping around with smoke puffing out of his head. I always get concerned when they get mad--especially on the rare occasion when they're mad because of me. I feel just terrible when they get sick and wish I could give them more than one medicine a day.

Then on the other end of the spectrum, I feel such joy when they trade with me or each other and they're so happy that they walk away skipping and singing.

Shari was my first villager to move two weeks ago. I was glad to let her go because her house was in the way of a bridge I wanted. She wasn't a favorite of mine, but I still miss her and I'm sad she couldn't stay. Pippy is leaving on Saturday. I want other villagers to move into my town, so I have to let her go (she isn't a favorite). Still, I know I'll be sad when she goes, though I'm excited to meet other villagers.

That's one of the reasons I don't care for time traveling. I've been time traveling in my second village to get certain villagers to show up or leave, and even the ones I like don't strike me as real in any relevant way. There's something about relating to the villagers in real time that make them seem real. If I can fast-forward or rewind events, it shatters the illusion that my town is real. I’m already suspending disbelief when I play and I find I’m unable to maintain that when I’m not in real time.

 

[insaneluzer]

I've also noticed that this game speaks directly to my sympathies. I feel bad when one of my villagers is sad and won't talk to anybody, I get disappointed in myself/depressed when a villager makes a request I know I can't fulfill, I even feel bad when I am busy and can't answer a villager's "!!!" prompt. They might be oddly sentient animal creatures, but they seem so human! The only villager who didn't get me feeling bad for him like that was Tex... He hit on me too much, so I got creeped out by him. '

 

[kcrojas777]

It is funny because I just read an article on this robot dinosaur they created to study human emotions when interacting with robots. If you hit it or drop it or be mean to it, it cries and whimpers. If you hold him upside down and drop him on his head he becomes disoriented and hurt. I COULD BARELY WATCH THIS VIDEO AND IT IS A TOY! I can't post the link as I am not allowed on Youtube at work, but I would suggest watching it. The idea is very interesting.

 

[MadisonCrossing]

I feel so bad when a villager asks me to do something but I know I won't be able to fu fill their request, so I have to turn them down D :

Daisy wanted me to come over, but I couldn't since we would be out shopping, so I said no...fortunately she said, "Oh, you might be busy. Some other time then!" I was glad she understood~ I'm happy that Nintendo made the characters more sensitive in a way, but they can also understand if something's going on.

- - - Post Merge - - -

By the way, it's not an over 40 thing, haha; I'm 12 and I feel bad for the villagers too! XD Not enough to cry, though.

 

[AnimalCrossngAddict]

Wow, so many heartfelt responses!!!!!!

I am glad I started this thread.

I read every one of them and felt the same emotion you were feeling.

I am going to end this post on a happy note.

Last night I was walking across my town and I noticed Puck was siitting on a bench. This is the first time I had ever seen a villager sit on a bench. I walked up to him and he told me to have a seat.

It was absolutely precious the both of us sitting on a bench enjoying a summer evening. I captured the moment with the camera.

Sometime in future I am going to open a Tumblir account and post it.

This morning I was viewing the picture and a warm feeling of happiness came over me.

I love this game and what it teaches me.

 

[Cranky Squirrel]

Wow, so many heartfelt responses!!!!!!

I am glad I started this thread.

I read every one of them and felt the same emotion you were feeling.

I am going to end this post on a happy note.

Last night I was walking across my town and I noticed Puck was siitting on a bench. This is the first time I had ever seen a villager sit on a bench. I walked up to him and he told me to have a seat.

It was absolutely precious the both of us sitting on a bench enjoying a summer evening. I captured the moment with the camera.

Sometime in future I am going to open a Tumblir account and post it.

This morning I was viewing the picture and a warm feeling of happiness came over me.

I love this game and what it teaches me.

It was after I discovered Teddy smiling when I sat next to him on the bench that I became inspired to put the illuminated heart centered behind the bench for the perfect photo op.

The first time I saw anyone use the bench at all, was when I discovered Wendy napping on it. I didn't disturb her sleep, but it was a precious moment indeed.