E3 2008: Animal Crossing: City Folk Nintendo E3 Conference Impressions

One of the highlights of Nintendo's E3 press conference was Animal Crossing: City Folk on the Wii.

E3 2008 Demo

Katsuya Eguchi shows Animal Crossing: City Folk for the first time.

Although it isn't one of Nintendo's longest-running franchises, Animal Crossing has quickly built up a strong base of fans over the past few years. It was the jump from the GameCube to the DS that really helped the series hit its potential, given that the online functionality let players visit their friends all over the world. It's this feature that seems to be the crux of the latest entry in the series, Animal Crossing: City Folk, which will be released on the Wii by the end of 2008.

The video presentation shown at Nintendo's E3 press conference gave us an insight into a number of key features in the game. The concept seems to be the same: You'll set up your own character and town, and then experience a consistent real-time world right on your own console. Characters in your town will get up and go to sleep each day and go about their business, and they'll celebrate key holidays such as Halloween and New Year. But communication is the key, and you'll be able to send letters to other real people around the world, as well as visit their towns using the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection.

A new peripheral called WiiSpeak will take this communication element even further by letting Wii owners talk with each other online for the first time. Nintendo described WiiSpeak as an optional peripheral with which owners will be able to speak to groups of friends online in real time. Nintendo showed off an example of a group going fishing, and they taunted each other as they competed to catch the biggest fish.

Tying in with other popular online activities, there will also be an auction site in the game where you can trade items. You can further customise your in-game character by visiting the Gracie fashion store, by getting a haircut, or by putting on a mask to look like your Mii character. This experience will definitely be enhanced by traveling to other towns and seeing how your friends have customised their houses and towns, and we saw how bedrooms can be fitted out with arcade machines, pinball tables, and jukeboxes. It was difficult to tell if these items would be playable, but it looked as if the characters in the video were using them in some way.

We were also excited to hear that you'll be able send letters to other players in-game, and if they're not in the game, they'll receive them on their PC or mobile phone. Although it looks like you'll have to use an onscreen keyboard to write letters, you'll be able to attach pictures to your letters as well. We're hoping to see more of Animal Crossing when we see Nintendo later today, so stay tuned for more updates throughout E3.

51 Comments

  • solid_shark88

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 7:49 am PT

    stop whining, it will be perfectly fine. if not i'll just stick to lbp..

  • scar-hawk

    Posted Jul 30, 2008 4:58 pm PT

    you will most likely need friend codes to chat with people using wii speak and visiting other people's towns. But at least the auction house doesn't require the use of friend codes lol.

  • blackie8

    Posted Jul 30, 2008 7:07 am PT

    if there are friend codes needed screw it

  • teknicz

    Posted Jul 25, 2008 10:22 am PT

    *prays for no friend codes*

  • MangoLlamas

    Posted Jul 24, 2008 4:38 am PT

    The city, the market, the gracie store and the wii speak look to be exciting new features! Im totally looking forward to this game...Hope it comes out soon!

  • kilo1235

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 6:04 am PT

    Woot. This is gunna be good if nintendo dosnt screw it up.

  • Ruhdezee

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 9:56 pm PT

    ive never played an AC game and i think that this will be the first i actually try

  • redboxa

    Posted Jul 19, 2008 11:24 pm PT

    I'm kinda getting bored of this series now.... Unless they add something really new Idn if this'll be worth it.... IMO

  • JeSwRa

    Posted Jul 19, 2008 7:46 pm PT

    I'm kinda disappointed they didn't even attempt to improve the graphics...
    I sure as hell don't want other people in my town though. That would be lame since it wouldn't be 'yours' then.
    But non-the less I'm excited.

  • TehFuneral

    Posted Jul 19, 2008 2:06 pm PT

    intresting

  • Fireprodude

    Posted Jul 19, 2008 12:41 pm PT

    Haha i like the dudes name that wrote this article!

  • bored_gamer

    Posted Jul 19, 2008 2:37 am PT

    It'll use the WiiSpeak thing but I'm still wondering if you'll get to talk with people you don't know. If you can, then it'll be the best online game that Nintendo has had

  • ddrfreak2002

    Posted Jul 18, 2008 6:43 am PT

    wow, it looks like the exact same game with a few added features. why wouldn't they make the city like 10 times bigger and make it LOOK different. o well i guess we won't know what it'll really be liike til it comes out.

  • Echo13791

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 10:18 pm PT

    I love Animal Crossing, but they'll have to add a lot more features for this to be worth it. It just sounds like the previous ones with communication add ons. They have to do more

  • lettuceman44

    Posted Jul 17, 2008 1:20 pm PT

    Can't wait

  • grambyte

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 3:52 am PT

    Well without this game they didn't really had much to show, is it now...

  • Foppe_

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 12:13 am PT

    Seems interesting.

  • XXXRaiderXXX

    Posted Jul 15, 2008 10:56 pm PT

    The "City" reminds me exactly of the rumors that went around for Wild World before it came out. I'm glad to see they actually put it in this one.

    Much anticipated.

  • DavidRswii

    Posted Jul 15, 2008 10:16 pm PT

    I can't wait

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Jul 15, 2008 8:09 pm PT

    looking forward to it

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