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xyzzysqrlNames are, historically, important.
Last night I laid awake for a bitsqueeing over the Sony E3 show trying to think of what my town should be named. Names affect the character of a place. People say "Hey, let's go to" and if you've never been, you stop and think about the name for a second. So I wondered... If I were living my life in a virtual world of my own creation, what would I call the place where I'd want to live out the rest of my days?
It starts with a cat. A really nosy cat in a really goofy argyle sweater, asking lots of questions. What time is it, what date is it, what's your name (Sqrl!), who's your daddy, is he rich like me... Wait, no. There's a brief moment where I'm mistaken for a girl, which makes me happier than it probably should. But, no. For this I'm a boy. Then the big one. Where -am- I headed today?
A random stranger asking you a question on a train ride affects where you end up going. It's all quantum matrix-y. There's even a cat involved.
"Fluffmuffin" is too long. Drat. ... I end up choosing to live in "Adoravil". It sounds like a happy place. The Town of Adoravil. So cuddly.
The cat shows me a few town maps. Is this it? Nah. Nope. Okay, that one. And just like that, a new place is created so this train has somewhere to stop. Not that the QUESTIONS stop. I assume they affect... something. Chatty cat relentlessly barges ahead, noting the one-way ticket and guessing I'm destined to move there. Who am I to say no?
Then the train pulls in, so it's goodbye to Rover the cat and hello to a new life in the off-world colo... Er.
Something like that.
Now the central gimmick of New Leaf is that you get to be the mayor. I had wondered how they hit you with that, what kind of surprise it is in-game. As it happens, you're met when you get off the train by a gaggle of animals, all standing around in kind of a confused mob.
They chorus a welcome and then go back to shuffling around awkwardly. My initial group of animals includes a bear, a duck, and a hippo. ... Huh. Okay! Meanwhile, a fluffy dog-girl wanders up and exposits that I am now the mayor. I try to protest. To explain it's a weird mistake. She explains that everything is as I said it would be, that I said I'd be arriving on the train. No use protesting. I am the mayor now.
Man, this town really WAS in quantum superstate. It could've collapsed to any outcome, and they just seem relieved that I'm benevolent. Is this part MEANT to give the player a healthy dose of Imposter Syndrome? Either way, she hands me a map... the same map I waved my hand over approvingly on the train, of course ... and we're off to the town hall.
I take a moment to get to know the townies.
Bertha - The Hippo. Enthused to see how the town grows under my leadership. Flowery and cheerful.
Teddy - The Bear. Instantly starts calling me Mayor Dude. Wants a gym built. Oh dear.
Mallary - The Duck. Instantly spots the obvious. I'm not like the rest of them. ... Doesn't seem to care.
Finally the dog lady hauls me off to the Town Hall, where her brain activates...
...And she introduces herself as Isabelle, my new secretary. Then she asks if she can be frank.
No, you're Isabelle. STOP PLAYING MIND GAMES WITH ME!
... Oh. She's just surprised the mayor is as young as I am.
Isabelle, let's talk about handheld system demographics.
... Oh. The old mayor was the old mayor. The OLD OLD OLD mayor. Okay.
We go through the associated paperwork, forms and such. I need an in-town address though, and being just off the train I don't actually HAVE one. That's okay. It's cool. Isabelle has contingencies. She's like a very frazzled Batman. Dog. Batdogmanwoman. Lady.
She sends me to the other side of the tracks to visit the real estate office. Nook's Homes.
Nooooooook. *sneer*
It's widely known that Tom Nook has a less than... stellar reputation among homeowners. Still, he is the only game in town. And I mean that, you can't escape him. Don't try. So, off across the tracks (carefully) I go, 'til I locate "Nook's Homes". Wonderful neighborhood. Location, location, location, huh Nook?
And there he is.
Nook, what happened? You got... older. You started wearing Bill Cosby sweaters. ... Is that a distinct PUDGE I see around your middle? Suddenly I like you more, Nook. Let's do this housing business. We hike around town for a while, and eventually I choose a place next to a small lake, near the town hall, for my home-to-be. Nook plots out the land, adjusts for future expansion, and...
...Well, it's an address. I can live on this... plot. In a... do I even get a shack? A shanty? Some sticks and a rock? Not to worry, Nook has me covered. He gets to work in his weird yellow jumper and...
...as long as there isn't a stiff wind, I'm good to go, I guess. Thanks, Nook. You're not so bad. ... I'm saying that BEFORE I get the bill, Nook. Don't let me down. I step into the tent to check it out. It's a 3x3 completely empty space.
...this could be worse, I guess. I also have a mailbox. It's literally a box nailed to a stick. But mail fits in it, so I'm probably okay as far as an address goes. Back to town hall, where Isabelle has stamped the stamps and licked the forms (I'm not sure they needed that, but... she's the bureaucrat!) and just needs to know my birthday. Which is helpfully already filled in and just needs confirming.
I wish sometimes they'd be a little less obvious about being quantum constructs. *shiver* Okay, yes, that's my birthday. Stamp. Lick. Lick again for good measure. She laminates an ID card, or "Town Pass Card", or "TPC" (or "total party cuddle") and hands it over. The last thing I have to do as a commemorative act is plant a tree in the town festival place.
A couple straggler villagers show up at the ceremony! I hadn't noticed them before.
Let's see. Bear, bear, koala, dog, hippo, duck. No wonder you're hyped about a "fresh view", Mallary. You're the only other one here who is tender and edible. Suddenly I'm a bit nervous about living in a tent. Am I gonna have to hang my lunch off a tree?
Wait. Oh god. Is that racist?
And with that thought, I put the tree in the ground.
We're off to a great start. Isabelle informs me that if I need assistance I can come see her at any time... or just hang around town getting to know people. For now, though, I save and stop, to see if the screenshot function worked. There will likely be a "get to know the townies" Day 1.5 update later.
As the game saves and reverts to the title screen, Mallary appears. The cheery little tune plays and she wanders around town, past my house. It's a good feeling. This place is mine now, and I'm looking forward to seeing what it becomes.
(Also, I tried to add some mouseover text to each picture. Lemmie know if that worked.)
Last night I laid awake for a bit
It starts with a cat. A really nosy cat in a really goofy argyle sweater, asking lots of questions. What time is it, what date is it, what's your name (Sqrl!), who's your daddy, is he rich like me... Wait, no. There's a brief moment where I'm mistaken for a girl, which makes me happier than it probably should. But, no. For this I'm a boy. Then the big one. Where -am- I headed today?
A random stranger asking you a question on a train ride affects where you end up going. It's all quantum matrix-y. There's even a cat involved.
"Fluffmuffin" is too long. Drat. ... I end up choosing to live in "Adoravil". It sounds like a happy place. The Town of Adoravil. So cuddly.
The cat shows me a few town maps. Is this it? Nah. Nope. Okay, that one. And just like that, a new place is created so this train has somewhere to stop. Not that the QUESTIONS stop. I assume they affect... something. Chatty cat relentlessly barges ahead, noting the one-way ticket and guessing I'm destined to move there. Who am I to say no?
Then the train pulls in, so it's goodbye to Rover the cat and hello to a new life in the off-world colo... Er.
Something like that.
Now the central gimmick of New Leaf is that you get to be the mayor. I had wondered how they hit you with that, what kind of surprise it is in-game. As it happens, you're met when you get off the train by a gaggle of animals, all standing around in kind of a confused mob.
They chorus a welcome and then go back to shuffling around awkwardly. My initial group of animals includes a bear, a duck, and a hippo. ... Huh. Okay! Meanwhile, a fluffy dog-girl wanders up and exposits that I am now the mayor. I try to protest. To explain it's a weird mistake. She explains that everything is as I said it would be, that I said I'd be arriving on the train. No use protesting. I am the mayor now.
Man, this town really WAS in quantum superstate. It could've collapsed to any outcome, and they just seem relieved that I'm benevolent. Is this part MEANT to give the player a healthy dose of Imposter Syndrome? Either way, she hands me a map... the same map I waved my hand over approvingly on the train, of course ... and we're off to the town hall.
I take a moment to get to know the townies.
Bertha - The Hippo. Enthused to see how the town grows under my leadership. Flowery and cheerful.
Teddy - The Bear. Instantly starts calling me Mayor Dude. Wants a gym built. Oh dear.
Mallary - The Duck. Instantly spots the obvious. I'm not like the rest of them. ... Doesn't seem to care.
Finally the dog lady hauls me off to the Town Hall, where her brain activates...
...And she introduces herself as Isabelle, my new secretary. Then she asks if she can be frank.
No, you're Isabelle. STOP PLAYING MIND GAMES WITH ME!
... Oh. She's just surprised the mayor is as young as I am.
Isabelle, let's talk about handheld system demographics.
... Oh. The old mayor was the old mayor. The OLD OLD OLD mayor. Okay.
We go through the associated paperwork, forms and such. I need an in-town address though, and being just off the train I don't actually HAVE one. That's okay. It's cool. Isabelle has contingencies. She's like a very frazzled Batman. Dog. Batdogmanwoman. Lady.
She sends me to the other side of the tracks to visit the real estate office. Nook's Homes.
Nooooooook. *sneer*
It's widely known that Tom Nook has a less than... stellar reputation among homeowners. Still, he is the only game in town. And I mean that, you can't escape him. Don't try. So, off across the tracks (carefully) I go, 'til I locate "Nook's Homes". Wonderful neighborhood. Location, location, location, huh Nook?
And there he is.
Nook, what happened? You got... older. You started wearing Bill Cosby sweaters. ... Is that a distinct PUDGE I see around your middle? Suddenly I like you more, Nook. Let's do this housing business. We hike around town for a while, and eventually I choose a place next to a small lake, near the town hall, for my home-to-be. Nook plots out the land, adjusts for future expansion, and...
...Well, it's an address. I can live on this... plot. In a... do I even get a shack? A shanty? Some sticks and a rock? Not to worry, Nook has me covered. He gets to work in his weird yellow jumper and...
...as long as there isn't a stiff wind, I'm good to go, I guess. Thanks, Nook. You're not so bad. ... I'm saying that BEFORE I get the bill, Nook. Don't let me down. I step into the tent to check it out. It's a 3x3 completely empty space.
...this could be worse, I guess. I also have a mailbox. It's literally a box nailed to a stick. But mail fits in it, so I'm probably okay as far as an address goes. Back to town hall, where Isabelle has stamped the stamps and licked the forms (I'm not sure they needed that, but... she's the bureaucrat!) and just needs to know my birthday. Which is helpfully already filled in and just needs confirming.
I wish sometimes they'd be a little less obvious about being quantum constructs. *shiver* Okay, yes, that's my birthday. Stamp. Lick. Lick again for good measure. She laminates an ID card, or "Town Pass Card", or "TPC" (or "total party cuddle") and hands it over. The last thing I have to do as a commemorative act is plant a tree in the town festival place.
A couple straggler villagers show up at the ceremony! I hadn't noticed them before.
Let's see. Bear, bear, koala, dog, hippo, duck. No wonder you're hyped about a "fresh view", Mallary. You're the only other one here who is tender and edible. Suddenly I'm a bit nervous about living in a tent. Am I gonna have to hang my lunch off a tree?
Wait. Oh god. Is that racist?
And with that thought, I put the tree in the ground.
We're off to a great start. Isabelle informs me that if I need assistance I can come see her at any time... or just hang around town getting to know people. For now, though, I save and stop, to see if the screenshot function worked. There will likely be a "get to know the townies" Day 1.5 update later.
As the game saves and reverts to the title screen, Mallary appears. The cheery little tune plays and she wanders around town, past my house. It's a good feeling. This place is mine now, and I'm looking forward to seeing what it becomes.
(Also, I tried to add some mouseover text to each picture. Lemmie know if that worked.)
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no subject
Date: 2013-06-11 06:10 pm (UTC)I wonder what personalities the other townies have. <3
no subject
Date: 2013-06-12 03:24 am (UTC)Oh, gods. It's like that "Cannibal Island" trope that cartoons used to play with. You aren't going to wind up in a stewpot in the middle of town with the townfolk dancing around it, are you? O.O
no subject
Date: 2013-06-12 05:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-06-12 02:57 pm (UTC)And the mouseover text works, yup.
no subject
Date: 2013-06-17 04:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-06-17 06:13 am (UTC)