Why in the world is exterior customization locked to house upgrades??

[Dustbird]

@Larimar I guess I just needed to vent my frustrations. Yes, it was a generalised statement but it bears to keep in mind. And as for it not being akin to the style of Animal Crossing... it is. New Leaf still is the odd one out in that regard.

 

[Loreley]

In the end, Games are designed for customers to play. I think there's a difference between calling features "bad game design" and saying "this might not be what's most fun to the customer".

 

[Larimar]

@Larimar I guess I just needed to vent my frustrations. Yes, it was a generalised statement but it bears to keep in mind. And as for it not being akin to the style of Animal Crossing... it is. New Leaf still is the odd one out in that regard.

That's understandable! I'm not against venting out frustrations and giving criticisms on other peoples'... criticisms? It makes more sense than it sounds xD I just didnt think this was quite the place to do it since there were some people who were pretty understanding of the choices the game made. I personally dont mind the new system too much, really all I wish for was a separate storage system. But I also get why they did it and other changes cause technically they do make sense, whether it benefitted players more than they hoped it would is something else :O

 

[RooftopsRevolution]

[EDIT] DIDNT meant to quote sorry!! I wasn’t calling anyone out specifically but it included three quotes fjsnsknsksks
Again, I don’t think it’s not fun as is. In fact as a player I prefer it this way. You have to understand that games will not always bend to the consumer, and sometimes needs to change to be possible.
if new leaf didn’t have the house customization at the get go no one would say a word. Consumers aren’t entitled to the same experience. This is such a small part of the overall game, it’s not worth getting hung up over.
This game was notorious for putting the health of the dev team first. Small details like this weren’t included because they Prioritized more important things. I understand people are disappointed but please consider looking at this from another perspective and not telling the two of us were wrong for stating why this might have been the case.

 

[DinoTown]

I think the weirdest bit is the people saying that it doesn't make sense for the bigger storage to be locked behind a bigger house when... yes it does. More space to put stuff, literally.

I'm normally a big advocate for the 'what is realism in this game, you live with a bunch of anthropomorphic animals and can carry 40 fridges in your pockets if you want, do whatever' but the one thing I feel it does do well and in a realistic manner is the progression. First you can't get over the river, then you can't get over the cliffs, etc. Your house needs to be bigger for you to store more stuff.

 

[Kaioin]

This. I've studied game design as well and now work in the industry.

I'm sorry but some of the criticism against the game I've read here on this forum, are from a game design perspective, absolutely laughable, and goes against the very tenets and core philosophy of good game design.

Sorry but you being a game designer in the industry doesn't make any difference at all and it doesn't invalidate this individuals concerns about wanting to upgrade their exterior without upgrading the whole house. I've also worked in game design (and development). People can have an opinion on an aspect of the game they think is bad, even if you feel it's perfect game design. If enough people hate it or want something changing, it gets changed. Tough luck. There's plenty of examples of this in the gaming industry.

I mean, I'm not saying the end user should get their own way all the time - sometimes changes people want would be legitimately game-breaking, but they just haven't thought about it that way becuase they don't fully understand how one element of the game affects another. But game designers don't get to just make the rules and declare it right - end users refine them. That's how design improves. If there was a perfect formula for game design, you'd be out of a job. It changes constantly, through innovation amongst designers and end users alike.

 

[Zura]

Yeah I agree this is terrible. Also would of been cool to decorate shops/buildings

 

[meggiewes]

I understand how it would be annoying, but I don't think it is a bad thing. I went diving on an AC site and I saw that only New Leaf had house exterior customization. The way they are using it here is as a late-game fully developed reward. I honestly didn't think that they even had other exteriors. It didn't' even cross my mind until I saw that we could get different mailboxes. It just gives us something to work toward.

 

[lPeachy]

Even New Leaf had a system where you had to have a mansion before buying the mansion remodels IIRC. When you first enter Nook's Homes. Look in the bottom right corner.

Yeah but the mansion still had nothing to do with choosing your exterior options like doors, pathways, fencing, etc

Post automatically merged: Apr 16, 2020

This. I've studied game design as well and now work in the industry.

I'm sorry but some of the criticism against the game I've read here on this forum, are from a game design perspective, absolutely laughable, and goes against the very tenets and core philosophy of good game design.

I'm seriosuly so sick of reading these posts. I'm not gonna argue that people have the "wrong" opinions, but I AM gonna argue that some of these opinions are just blatantly ignorant and uninformed. Sue me, I don't care.

Go and read a book about game design and then talk to me again about how this game is "badly" designed. Ugh. I'm out.

Lmao so salty about the calmest game in existence.
I just want you to know I’m complaining yes, but about such a minor thing here, like I’m not gonna get heated over it. I’d be fine with the system entirely how it is, talking to Tom, choosing how to customize my house, etc. I just wish we could pay him for the customization in tickets or bells Instead of having it be locked specifically to the house upgrades. I’m not asking anybody tochange anything big at all. It does makes sense to have some sort of progression locked to upgrades though, and that progression already is expanding your storage. So I feel like it wouldn’t be a huge loss to not also have the exteriors locked to it as well.

but anyways, I doubt it would ever change, I’m not here petitioning anyone lol so chill my dude

Post automatically merged: Apr 16, 2020

[EDIT] DIDNT meant to quote sorry!! I wasn’t calling anyone out specifically but it included three quotes fjsnsknsksks
Again, I don’t think it’s not fun as is. In fact as a player I prefer it this way. You have to understand that games will not always bend to the consumer, and sometimes needs to change to be possible.
if new leaf didn’t have the house customization at the get go no one would say a word. Consumers aren’t entitled to the same experience. This is such a small part of the overall game, it’s not worth getting hung up over.
This game was notorious for putting the health of the dev team first. Small details like this weren’t included because they Prioritized more important things. I understand people are disappointed but please consider looking at this from another perspective and not telling the two of us were wrong for stating why this might have been the case.

What is happening is this thread? lol literally no one is saying anyone is wrong here, we literally were all just calmly saying “yeah I guess that does kinda suck but oh well” or “nah it makes sense to me”
Like this isn’t some petition to change it, it just kinda sucked to realize it was such a different system then in NL when so much else is actually very similar for me personally. I’m very aware of Nintendo putting the devs first and realize that some of these “odd” decisions to us players have a lot to do with that, which is why I din’t come in here screaming about it all to begin with. I get it, the base game is def lacking in things but I understand why and I understand how it’ll eventually be fixed.

Anyways, The only people hung up here are the ones who overtook my thread just to crap on the tiniest complaint about wishing less was locked to upgrades because of literal past titles within this franchise having little to nothing locked specifically to the upgrade system besides just... upgrading your house!

Post automatically merged: Apr 16, 2020

I think the weirdest bit is the people saying that it doesn't make sense for the bigger storage to be locked behind a bigger house when... yes it does. More space to put stuff, literally.

I'm normally a big advocate for the 'what is realism in this game, you live with a bunch of anthropomorphic animals and can carry 40 fridges in your pockets if you want, do whatever' but the one thing I feel it does do well and in a realistic manner is the progression. First you can't get over the river, then you can't get over the cliffs, etc. Your house needs to be bigger for you to store more stuff.

I def agree that the storage upgrades being locked to it do make sense! I was so relieved when it upgrade along with my house the first time because she was FULL so quickly in the beginning

 

[Dustbird]

Sorry but you being a game designer in the industry doesn't make any difference at all and it doesn't invalidate this individuals concerns about wanting to upgrade their exterior without upgrading the whole house. I've also worked in game design (and development). People can have an opinion on an aspect of the game they think is bad, even if you feel it's perfect game design. If enough people hate it or want something changing, it gets changed. Tough luck. There's plenty of examples of this in the gaming industry.

I mean, I'm not saying the end user should get their own way all the time - sometimes changes people want would be legitimately game-breaking, but they just haven't thought about it that way becuase they don't fully understand how one element of the game affects another. But game designers don't get to just make the rules and declare it right - end users refine them. That's how design improves. If there was a perfect formula for game design, you'd be out of a job. It changes constantly, through innovation amongst designers and end users alike.

In the end, Games are designed for customers to play. I think there's a difference between calling features "bad game design" and saying "this might not be what's most fun to the customer".

I mean, yes and no. The fact of the matter is that the consumer isn't always right, but you already realise that.

@RooftopsRevolution already expressed most of my thoughts in this matter and also voiced my concerns about how some people have acted in a way that can be only described as entitlement with little thought about the fact that games are made by actual people, and the polish Nintendo usually puts in their games is truly staggering. There are HUGE issues with the crunching culture present in game companies, and we're also talking about japan, a country where people L I T E R A L L Y work themselves to death. But that's another discussion. Anyway.

Yes, design evolves with the consumer. That much is obvious. But here's not where my issue lies, there's a difference between an opinion and an uninformed opinion. The fact of the matter is this;

1: People. Are. Not. Entitled. To. Entertainment.

And 2; The Developer IS entitled to preserve their creative vision.

In AC's case that vision couldn't be more obvious; slow and steady wins the race.

Herein lies the issue with a vast majority of criticism directed at this game; people wanting too much too fast. It genuienly confuses me because Animal Crossing makes a very solid point from the very start that this is NOT what the game is about. It is one thing voicing tiny complaints about a lack of certain quality-of-life features, and another one entirely when said criticism clearly infringes on the very core philosophy of the game.

I also, quite frankly, feel like people have become too spoiled by the game in a sense. They take the good things for granted, so they latch onto what they percieve as bad things. It just, it makes me sad. More than anything, people are ruining it for themselves here.

Honestly the fact that some people seem to like New Leaf more kind of proves my point; it's the limitations that makes a game fun. There is infinitely more space for creative freedom in New Horizons, yet people latch onto the features that were introduced in NL, a game where you couldn't even place furniture outside for pete's sake. It's the space you carve out for yourself within the limitations that makes you attached to the game.

Example; as a RollerCoasterTycoon 2superfan, I was incredibly excited for Planet Coaster, but I found myself overwhelmed with the lack of limitations that I jumped right back into RCT2.

My point is that it's very very misguided to complain about a lack of creative freedom in this game WHILE praising an earlier iteration that had waaaaaay less creative freedom. If nothing else it's a fun study in psychology really, I just wish that people were a little bit more self aware.

Anyways, thank you for coming to my Ted talk.