PSA: calling the update the 'summer update' does not make Northern hem players privileged

[Nefarious]

I've been hearing people mention 2-3 years of free updates. Haven't seen an official source of that but at least it's free. It freaking should be.

Small article summarizing the info and the actual interview
They would like to do at least 2 or 3 years worth of updates.

As for SH complaining:

I don't really understand it. When looking at the reception on Twitter, the SH players are simply meme-ing about it, posting pictures of people happily swimming in icy waters. Not sure why people are upset here though. Swimming is not season exclusive.

 

[jumpluff]

It feels like a lot of the SH players complaining are not actually from the SH so they don't understand how it is in real life SH, they usually experience things as per the "correct" season then suddenly they can't and are all up in arms. I'm from a SH country and I chose NH island because I want to experience things as per the "correct" season, if I had chosen a SH island I wouldn't be complaining because it is what it is living in the SH. The difference between NH and SH is not just catching different bugs/fish, more people should have realized it meant opposite seasons and what that logically meant for events/holidays.

Yes and no. I'm in Australia and playing NH for the same reason as you (used to it at this point, wanted the most traditional/authentic AC experience, snowing in winter is unrealistic to me regardless). But I think it's more than fine for SH players to be upset or have expected to finally be taken into consideration with the update schedule, and want to have some seasonally appropriate content released - this is a huge problem with the update model, it changes how your first year plays out tremendously, and many people will be lucky to even make it to a year of play. Also, consider that some SH players may be new to video gaming and not just used to getting shafted all the time like we are, lol.

 

[daringred_]

Yes and no. I'm in Australia and playing NH for the same reason as you (used to it at this point, wanted the most traditional/authentic AC experience, snowing in winter is unrealistic to me regardless). But I think it's more than fine for SH players to be upset or have expected to finally be taken into consideration with the update schedule, and want to have some seasonally appropriate content released - this is a huge problem with the update model, it changes how your first year plays out tremendously, and many people will be lucky to even make it to a year of play. Also, consider that some SH players may be new to video gaming and not just used to getting shafted all the time like we are, lol.

to be fair, nintendo are damned if they do and damned if they don't. if they removed the separate hemispheres altogether, people would complain. if they release an update but include the word "summer", since that's what it is for them right now, people still complain.

it's also worth noting that people in the SH make up a very small fraction of the player base so they're not likely to prioritise them, especially over something so trivial, when it could potentially require additional time and resources that aren't exactly necessary which in turn requires money. at the end of the day, nintendo is a business before anything else.

 

[Romaki]

Eh, it's not valid to try and invalidate someone else's opinion. And this isn't a public service announcement, like c'mon.

Privilege is having an advantage, which is often justified by statistics. Nintendo added the two hemisphere, so it doesn't make sense that they wouldn't allocate resources to work on both of them. Especially considering you can freely choose which one you want, many northern hemisphere players will check it out.

 

[daringred_]

Eh, it's not valid to try and invalidate someone else's opinion. And this isn't a public service announcement, like c'mon.

Privilege is having an advantage, which is often justified by statistics. Nintendo added the two hemisphere, so it doesn't make sense that they wouldn't allocate resources to work on both of them. Especially considering you can freely choose which one you want, many northern hemisphere players will check it out.

It makes sense because there's nothing to allocate. Diving is diving. Doesn't matter what month, season or hemisphere you're in. The water in-game looks identical all year round.

 

[Romaki]

It makes sense because there's nothing to allocate. Diving is diving. Doesn't matter what month, season or hemisphere you're in. The water in-game looks identical all year round.

Oh, I thought diving used to be impossible in the snow, so that's my bad. I still think they should throw in a winter-themed furniture set for Southern Hemisphere players, like they did with the seasonal items (flower crown and the pullover).

But I guess they are too tight on time right now with everything else going on anyway.

 

[Splinter]

Northern hemisphere is the superior hemisphere.

 

[daringred_]

Oh, I thought diving used to be impossible in the snow, so that's my bad. I still think they should throw in a winter-themed furniture set for Southern Hemisphere players, like they did with the seasonal items (flower crown and the pullover).

But I guess they are too tight on time right now with everything else going on anyway.

no, in NL diving was possible all year round and the sea creatures available changed throughout the months just like bugs and fish, so there's no reason it wouldn't be the case here. if it wasn't, i'm sure they would've mentioned it.

also, correct me if i'm wrong but don't SH players have winter exclusive stuff already? you've obviously got whatever snow boy's giving you, and i know there are recipes like the illuminated presents. we don't have those currently and we won't until winter rolls around. prior to this update, all we had was like five summer themed recipes.

 

[John Wick]

Northern hemisphere is the superior hemisphere.

You're a legend in your own mind.

 

[Millysaurusrexjr]

Normie Hemisphere*

jk i really don't care

 

[Marshmallows]

I think there's some confusion about the update that's muddying the waters here. The update is for everyone and everyone will experience new content at the same time, regardless of your current season. While diving could be seen as a more summer activity, truth is people dive throughout the calendar. In previous games, different sea creatures appear with the different seasons (like fishing) so SH will be the first to see certain creatures, same as they were first to see sharks. I'm not sure how Pirate Gulliver works, but it's probably date based and not season based as well.

I don't know if privilege is the right word, but there's no denying that it's a very NH dominated world when it comes to holidays/imagery, maps, and schedules. But SH are used to it, and most are okay with it even if it doesn't make a lot of sense because there's a lot of European influence and things got brought over. I don't think it's a big deal, and I doubt anyone in the SH is overly upset (used to it, afterall)... but since Nintendo has given the option of hemispheres and recognizes they have players all over the globe, it costs them nothing to include them. Calling a July update "summer" is a very NH thing... and while most SH people understand or don't really care, it would be nice if Nintendo remembered it's not summer everywhere. That's all. To me it really doesn't matter personally... I don't think Nintendo did anything wrong, but next time maybe they should just stick to the month name instead of season.

 

[yoohamsta]

Yes and no. I'm in Australia and playing NH for the same reason as you (used to it at this point, wanted the most traditional/authentic AC experience, snowing in winter is unrealistic to me regardless). But I think it's more than fine for SH players to be upset or have expected to finally be taken into consideration with the update schedule, and want to have some seasonally appropriate content released - this is a huge problem with the update model, it changes how your first year plays out tremendously, and many people will be lucky to even make it to a year of play. Also, consider that some SH players may be new to video gaming and not just used to getting shafted all the time like we are, lol.

It depends what they are upset about, I understand being annoyed about the updates fitting the NH seasons better and want some seasonal updates that fit the SH better but I've also seen people complaining about fixed holidays like Christmas being in the summer and how that is idiotic and makes no sense... Christmas has always been in the summer for SH, it is not idiotic and makes sense for us, it's not SH's problem it's your own problem for choosing SH and not taking into consideration the opposite seasons and what that logicially means.

 

[radioloves]

Lol, I'm sorry .. I didn't even think about the southern hemisphere when this update came out! I'm just happy there's an update and we can dive again

 

[Fey]

I’m glad people like @Romaki and @cocoacat have been able to sum it up, because I’m kind of exhausted of the subject at this point.

I think peoples’ individual responses and the subject itself got blown way out of proportion. From what I can tell, nobody is angry or devastated—just disappointed and/or a bit frustrated.

I don’t understand why people’s feelings are so often met with hostility or ridicule on this forum—and that includes the premise of the original post, which is literally trying to silence people who calmly voiced their feelings in another thread.

 

[wanderlust//]

I’m glad people like @Romaki and @cocoacat have been able to sum it up, because I’m kind of exhausted of the subject at this point.

I think peoples’ individual responses and the subject itself got blown way out of proportion. From what I can tell, nobody is angry or devastated—just disappointed and/or a bit frustrated.


I don’t understand why people’s feelings are so often met with hostility or ridicule on this forum—and that includes the premise of the original post, which is literally trying to silence people who calmly voiced their feelings in another thread.

I don’t like confrontation and I’ve stayed silent while reading all of this but I think it’s fair to point out that on the other thread there were a lot of people bashing those who live in the NH and calling us “privileged”. I understand where all of you guys are coming from but to say that you were all calm?? Please, that’s an understatement.
And by the way, I’m not trying to be hostile here, I’m just trying to wrap my head around all of this Imao

 

[Millysaurusrexjr]

where are the northerners complaining about how the southerners get to build snowpeople and see aurora australis right now? because it's pretty bomb. And it will be awesome to have a tropical christmas. Who has ever heard of Christmas in July??? and this is coming from someone who moved from USA to Australia, playing Southern Hemisphere

If anyone is seriously calling Northern Hemisphere people privileged, my god, put the electronics down and go volunteer at a homeless shelter or something

 

[_Rainy_]

How is it privileged when we are getting the same update? I’m sure Northern and Southern Hemisphere will get different things to collect as I’m sure not everything was shown. This is the way the game has been so far so I have no reason to think it won’t be now.

 

[SpiritofAce]

if y'all wanna talk privilege, it would be designing anniversary photos for a cishet couple (i don't care if they're alpacas, susan) during a month that is more commonly associated with LGBT+ pride than it is weddings

This post is absolutely bizarre. It's just a fun limited-time event to reintroduce Reese and Cyrus. Why are you looking for a problem?

 

[niko2]

Just look at what Southern Hemi got right now... snowmen, amazing ice DIYs! I don't feel privileged at all lol

 

[Cosmic_Crossfade]

Ahh, I'm confused? Are people mad that the update is called the "summer update" or is this update coming for swimming only available to those in the Northern Hemisphere?