Continue playing someone else's save file?

[Sweetley]

So a few days ago, I watched some videos on YouTube where people got used copies of New Leaf and exploring the abandoned towns from the previous owners. One thing that caught my attention was a comment on one of those videos where someone told how they got a used NL copy and found a town on it which they liked so much that, instead of deleting it and start over with their own one, they just continue playing the save file. It was quite interesting reading some of the replies the comment got, as some people asked if it's not weird playing the save file from someone else and if it wouldn't make more fun playing with a town you created. Now I wonder: Have you ever bought a used copy of New Leaf and found a old town on it which you liked so much that you keep and continue playing it? Or did you delete it right away and start new with your own town?

I got two copies of NL in the past which both had a old town on it, but they weren't that good, so I deleted them. Not sure if I could continue playing someone else's town, as I do prefer more creating my own one.

 

[Corrie]

I'd be fine with it if I liked the town name. Cause most stuff can be fixed, just not the town name. I mean, unless the map really sucked lol.

 

[John Wick]

I wouldn't want to play someone elses game, and I wouldn't want anyone else playing mine, so I deleted my town before selling my 3DS and cartridge.

 

[Corndoggy]

The cop that i bought my boyfriend was second hand and i didnt realise the old game wasn't wiped. So before we wiped it i just explored the town a bit. it was so pretty and had so much work put into it, it was sad to think the person didnt want it anymore. However, my boyfriend liked it as he chose to sell the town so he could start over with heaps of bells haha. And hes been playing everyday since he got it, so its good to think the game is getting plenty of use now.

 

[LadyDestani]

I don't think I could ever play on somebody else's save file. It just wouldn't feel like mine. Plus, I'm far to particular about names and things like that and since you can't change the town or mayor's name, I'm sure I'd want to restart the town for those reasons alone.

 

[Nunnafinga]

My town Halow'en was on a used copy of New leaf I bought at the local Gamestop.I used it as a cycling town for about a year and I was going to delete it and start a new town but I decided to finish what the original owner started instead.There were some good QR codes already on this save file and also a fair number of non-orderable items and the town's map was pretty good.I continued the Halloween theme and moved in a bunch of new villagers and I think it all turned out alright.

 

[Halloqueen]

I've never purchased a used copy of Animal Crossing: New Leaf, but if I did and it still had a town on it, then I would most likely send any bells, worthwhile items, patterns, dream villagers, etc. to my other towns and proceed to delete the used copy's town afterward. Like LadyDestini, I'm too particular about the names of the town, mayor, and other player characters, and I don't feel like a used copy would ever feel like it was truly "mine."

That said, Nunnafinga's post is pretty neat and heartwarming, so the possibility of something like that is enough to leave the door cracked open a little bit to the possibility that I'd keep it. It would all really depend on the town in question though and its own unique situation.

 

[michealsmells]

Back when I got my first AC game, that being Wild World, my sister and I didn't delete the town. Now, I can't remember what the town was called, but the person who used to own the town, their character's name was Buffalo. We had a running joke of Buffalo just being some random person in a coma in the attic.

The fact that it was someone else's town didn't take away from anything. Granted, they'd barely started the town yet, we still had Nook's Cranny, so it wasn't that much of an issue.

 

[Snowesque]

I think of it as a fun extra when buying a copy! In terms of respectfulness, when you sell your copy you are selling your copy. If you have anything left on it, the buyer now owns it and it is theirs to do with. I do not see it as weird personally. In terms of myself, I would probably just play the file or sell the town if it was not really my taste.

 

[dizzy bone]

I feel like I would play the town that’s on the used copy for a little while and then nitpick at things that I couldn’t control from the start and finally reset it. Big factors for me are obviously the town name and the mayor name. I would feel okay about it if the mayor’s name was something like a cute nickname like “kiki” but I wouldn’t want to be playing on some random dude named Brian. I do think it’s very wholesome when people continue a preloved town and develops it to completion though. It’s a nice thought that someone’s rejected town gets to live on and prosper.

 

[Euphy]

I wouldn’t be able to, because I’ll always know I can do better and make it fit my tastes better. It would eat me up every time I see things I’d do differently, which would be pre much everything I think

 

[RedTropicalPeachyFish]

[table="width: 700, align: center"]
[tr]
[td]Two of my towns are someone else's town. Though, one being my family's. Neither had nice map or good town/mayor name. And had awful placement of mayor's house/unremovable PWPs. At first I was going to reset once some things were done there. But while playing, I found some things about the town and the previous mayor.
As some instances, there were some amiibo RV items in her house and there are really a lot of so-called "popular" villagers roaming the main street. While - this was what made me surprised the most though - it seemed like she hadn't had any transactions with anyone. I knew it when Porter gave me the first time instruction for opening gates! She put not small money into this her town. And time too - there were clues that told me she eagerly played this town - island rares that she earned on her own.
Yet, she abandoned it. Her TPC says "I no longer feel playing (-。-)y~"
It made me sad, and want me to make the town alive. So I just tried to keep it remain the same as much as possible. Added just a bit of sprucing up, but no any big changes. It's still working as my town. I love walking around this town even if the town layout etc. is not very well done.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]

Also I worked hard to complete the gold badges for this mayor!​

[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]
As for the other town that used to be my family's, it's actively working as my time travelling town. How it looks near the station is always like this though... ( Currently worse due to thousands of unassessed fossils... ) Yet I love doing chores in this town. It's actually a part of my everyday needs.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]

[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

 

[Lavamaize]

I feel like it would be fun for awhile to play in someones old town. In a way, you are exploring it and it is kind of a glimpse into another players life/personality. I feel like using someone else's town would almost be like moving (except all the villagers are familiar with you!) and their town would come with new adventures, features, and even designs that you like/dislike or never though of. It would let you build off of what they already had or enjoy what is currently there. I have never done this before, but I feel like it would be a fun experience for me.

 

[SmoochsPLH]

I plan to get another copy of acnl if I can, but I've never gotten a used copy before.

When I do get another copy I'll make sure it's a used one and see if the town's any interesting. I'll update this post if it is!

 

[Blood Eclipse]

Usually, when I buy a used game with a preexisting save file on it, I delete it before trying it. Sometimes, when I do check out the game before deleting it, I find I'm not satisfied playing someone else's save, since I don't get to experience the game for myself in its entirety. Only once was I lucky to buy a game with all the DLC already unlocked, so I opted to keep it the way it was and watch a playthrough of it on YouTube. Unless it's a hacked game with every rare item purchased/unlocked, or in Animal Crossing's case, if the hacked town was to my liking: PWPs hacked to fit perfectly where I'd like, bushes hacked to fit next to homes, weeds/clovers added to ponds to give it more depth, ect, I normally wouldn't play someone else's save file.

 

[John Wick]

If it had a ton of resources it might be good for trading items.