Anyone else in resetting hell (again)?

[Mairen]

Aaah I'm so sorry to see you are still at this. I remember back in New Leaf, allowing myself to get addicted to resetting for the "perfect island". And it came down to the decision of "I can either reset for the next 2 years because I want these 15 specifications and I'm not budging on any of them, or I made a smaller more reasonable checklist and was able to be pleased with that, and actually get to play the game.

For me, my requirements were cherries or pears as fruit, yellow airport, lilies as native flower, resident services a fair distance away from the airport (I didn't have a specific location in mind or anything, just didn't want it right on top of the airport), peninsula on either side, but more towards the top so it didn't end up breaking up the beach halfway down. I didn't care what side the dock was on, or the size of the dock (I can still catch the same fish off of it either way. And I either get a sunset or a sunrise off of the dock, both are beautiful). I simply didn't want 2 south river outlets, I didn't care if it was east-south or west-south. I didn't care where the private beach was. I found my perfect map in less than 24 hours (maybe I was lucky or maybe I just had far less requirements than you).

I really really understand the whole "I need to hold out for the perfect map because if I don't get it, I'm going to end up resetting for it sooner or later." But when it's to the point that you still aren't able to even play the game 2 months after release, you really might want to reevaluate your list and come up with less requirements. It's not about forcing yourself to sacrifice those things. It's about changing the way you think about it so that you truly are less bothered about those things and can enjoy the game no matter what. I know easier said than done, (and having some requirements is still great). But it sounds like it's either that, or you don't even get to play the game at all. I really just want to be able to see you actually enjoy the game.

 

[Sheba]

Aaah I'm so sorry to see you are still at this. I remember back in New Leaf, allowing myself to get addicted to resetting for the "perfect island". And it came down to the decision of "I can either reset for the next 2 years because I want these 15 specifications and I'm not budging on any of them, or I made a smaller more reasonable checklist and was able to be pleased with that, and actually get to play the game.

For me, my requirements were cherries or pears as fruit, yellow airport, lilies as native flower, resident services a fair distance away from the airport (I didn't have a specific location in mind or anything, just didn't want it right on top of the airport), peninsula on either side, but more towards the top so it didn't end up breaking up the beach halfway down. I didn't care what side the dock was on, or the size of the dock (I can still catch the same fish off of it either way. And I either get a sunset or a sunrise off of the dock, both are beautiful). I simply didn't want 2 south river outlets, I didn't care if it was east-south or west-south. I didn't care where the private beach was. I found my perfect map in less than 24 hours (maybe I was lucky or maybe I just had far less requirements than you).

I really really understand the whole "I need to hold out for the perfect map because if I don't get it, I'm going to end up resetting for it sooner or later." But when it's to the point that you still aren't able to even play the game 2 months after release, you really might want to reevaluate your list and come up with less requirements. It's not about forcing yourself to sacrifice those things. It's about changing the way you think about it so that you truly are less bothered about those things and can enjoy the game no matter what. I know easier said than done, (and having some requirements is still great). But it sounds like it's either that, or you don't even get to play the game at all. I really just want to be able to see you actually enjoy the game.

Yeah, I honestly think having so many requirements is the issue. I mean, just wanting a specific airport color and specific fruit has only a 5% chance of appearing in the correct combination on any map...
Honestly, I really, really, really want to enjoy the game! I really want to! I just...have no idea how to start enjoying it when my needs aren't met, obviously. Or how to be less bothered if they aren't the way I want them to be. I dunno how to feel at "home" with a map that isn't what I want it to be and as that is 100% emotional and 0% logic, I have no real clue how to change it. It's not like I started the game with this set list I had, I basically came up with the list after playing for 150 hours and finding out what mattered to me and...it turns out, a lot of stuff matters to me. Lol.

 

[Mairen]

One thing that I did in New Leaf was make a point based system. I wrote my requirements down in order of importance, and then gave them a point value (for example, having pears or cherries was super important to me, so that was worth 5 points, but the grass shape wasn't as important, so that was only worth 2 points). Once I found an island that had a value of 15 points (as example), then that would be considered an acceptable island to me. You could try something like that too!

 

[DJStarstryker]

Wow, I'm shocked you're still at this! With all of the variations you want in particular, I wonder if it's worse than full odds shiny hunting in earlier Pokemon games. If you're not familiar with that, it's 1 in 8,192 chance to get that special colored Pokemon without any of the ways to boost the chances.

I truly hope you find the island you want, and preferably sooner rather than later, so you can finally start having fun with it.

 

[Sheba]

One thing that I did in New Leaf was make a point based system. I wrote my requirements down in order of importance, and then gave them a point value (for example, having pears or cherries was super important to me, so that was worth 5 points, but the grass shape wasn't as important, so that was only worth 2 points). Once I found an island that had a value of 15 points (as example), then that would be considered an acceptable island to me. You could try something like that too!

Oooh hmm...I think I would actually really give every single thing the same point value. It's like I either really really care or don't care at all (I might have preferences, but I seriously can't be bothered with things like hidden beach position). And the island right now has absolutely everything but the fruits correct. It's more like...I don't know if I don't have to assign the fruits double point value because perfect fruits might happen and as it is right now, the island would be "acceptable" but if the values change because of perfect fruit, it would not be acceptable anymore. :/

Post automatically merged: May 29, 2020

Wow, I'm shocked you're still at this! With all of the variations you want in particular, I wonder if it's worse than full odds shiny hunting in earlier Pokemon games. If you're not familiar with that, it's 1 in 8,192 chance to get that special colored Pokemon without any of the ways to boost the chances.

I truly hope you find the island you want, and preferably sooner rather than later, so you can finally start having fun with it.

Fun fact: I played every Pokemon generation and NEVER saw a natural shiny, neither in the wild nor through breeding.
But thank you so much! <3

 

[Mairen]

Ahahaha, well if everything would be given max point value I suppose the point-based system would not be a good idea. I can sympathize with what you are going through on your current map. I'd personally reset for the fruit type, because I feel that native fruit is a big defining factor of the island, so getting a kind I didn't like would be a cause for reset for me. But considering all you've gone through so far, I can also understand the hesitation.

 

[Sheba]

Ahahaha, well if everything would be given max point value I suppose the point-based system would not be a good idea. I can sympathize with what you are going through on your current map. I'd personally reset for the fruit type, because I feel that native fruit is a big defining factor of the island, so getting a kind I didn't like would be a cause for reset for me. But considering all you've gone through so far, I can also understand the hesitation.

Yeah, I also feel like fruit is so, so, so important! Like, of course they can be replaced and I also know there's people who want their least favourite fruit to be the native one because the native fruits are worth less. But somehow...it still seems to really matter. It should be less important than peninsula and river mouths since those are always present and fruits don't have to be, but... I dunno. It still matters to me and I don't even know why. If there would be perfect fruit, I would know why (because littering my island with golden peaches was awesome in NL), but like that...it's like the island doesn't fit me. Like...I have naturally curly hair and I always hated it so I straightened it once and I looked totally different and even though it felt so nice it didn't fit me at all and wasn't...really me. And that's kinda how I feel about not-peaches. If...that makes sense.

 

[AzurasStar]

Hahhahahaha honestly while I have doubts that it would work for me, I absolute LOVE the idea of it. Like, I'm imagining glaring daggers at Tom Nook whenever he isn't looking, also because he actually made everyone drink cherry juice on the first evening and cherry juice is really disgusting lmao.
Honestly, at this point, I can say for pretty sure I WOULD keep the island if I would know that perfect fruits would never get added. Like, I'd just replace everything with peaches and try to forget about cherries and hope that mystery island tours wouldn't mess me up too much (they still might). But I love the idea of golden peaches on my island so much. I put them everywhere in NL and yeah...that was huge for me.

Post automatically merged: May 29, 2020

OMG HI!

I can't believe someone made an account because of this thread; I feel really honored by that and it's wonderful that this resonated so much with someone else (but also sad because I don't want anyone to go through the same mess I am going through lol).

And that you also found that almost-perfect map! It's like a blessing of RNG on the map selection screen and then you fly in and you don't dare to breathe and --yeah, wow, oranges would have been a dealbreaker to me, not gonna lie. I would have immediately closed the game upon seeing them.

How have you been able to accept the oranges so well, though? Like, my cherries are like some slight feeling of nausea in my stomach every time I think about them. Don't even have to see them; it's like every step I take on the island reminds me of "This is almost perfect but only almost". I dunno how to get over it yet. I hope seeing more of the island once I have ladder and pole and can explore the east beach will help, but who knows. I don't feel free...I feel mostly frustrated because it's-so-close. I think the fact that I know that theoretically, it's possible to get that perfect map, is honestly breaking me. I've had all those maps with peaches, I know peaches are not a figment of my imagination. I've seen all the pieces of the puzzle on several maps, just not all in the same map yet, but the knowledge that theoretically, it's possible if I keep looking but impossible if I settle and stop trying, urges me to reset.

I know it would be absolutely dumb to reset. It absolutely would be, especially since I know that I'm not likely to find that perfect island before giving up on the game alltogether. But settling on this island feels also really bad. I'm not enjoying it. It feels like defeat. Because it is otherwise so perfect, it's like it's constantly teasing me with what I could have if I would keep looking and not give up and I dunno what to do about that feeling. Whatever you have done to come to love your oranges, I have not found that inner peace and happiness yet.

But again, thank you so much for replying! I have no idea what the outcome will be, as my decision changes by the minute and the option of "dropping the game for good because this is just so frustrating" is also very much on the table. Not gonna lie - this situation right now IS actually stressing me; something resetting never did and it's not like taking a break will help me because as long as I still haven't resolved the issue, it'll continue to be on my mind and stress me. And I hate that; I don't like to be stressed by hobbies.

Hahahah honestly I wouldn't say I accept the oranges. I see them in my shop and it's truly sad. If they ever add perfect fruit, I will be very salty. Those things are UGLY. But then I remember what I went through to get this island, and how much I love the permanent fixtures, and It makes the oranges seem less important. Try not to see your cherries as a defeat... Overcoming that awful feeling and learning to accept the cherries will be a strength! Afterall, the fruit is the least important part. The permanent structures are entirely random and it sounds like you got very lucky.

Maybe try going to the next day? I am super willing to bring you a pole and ladder if you want! Maybe seeing it's entirety will help you feel better. Honestly if you can't find the happiness in this perfect island, just dropping the game altogether might be a better option. After your initial island is rolled, there's even more rng layered into that. From the villagers you get, to the color of the furniture. It's something that irritates and stresses me out still! There's absolutely nothing wrong with not being able to play. You should never feel stressed by something that should be fun. It really sucks and I feel for you so much. RNG is the worst and not for the faint of heart! (Or the obsessive compulsive!)

 

[Sheba]

Hahahah honestly I wouldn't say I accept the oranges. I see them in my shop and it's truly sad. If they ever add perfect fruit, I will be very salty. Those things are UGLY. But then I remember what I went through to get this island, and how much I love the permanent fixtures, and It makes the oranges seem less important. Try not to see your cherries as a defeat... Overcoming that awful feeling and learning to accept the cherries will be a strength! Afterall, the fruit is the least important part. The permanent structures are entirely random and it sounds like you got very lucky.

Maybe try going to the next day? I am super willing to bring you a pole and ladder if you want! Maybe seeing it's entirety will help you feel better. Honestly if you can't find the happiness in this perfect island, just dropping the game altogether might be a better option. After your initial island is rolled, there's even more rng layered into that. From the villagers you get, to the color of the furniture. It's something that irritates and stresses me out still! There's absolutely nothing wrong with not being able to play. You should never feel stressed by something that should be fun. It really sucks and I feel for you so much. RNG is the worst and not for the faint of heart! (Or the obsessive compulsive!)

Yeah I feel that, perfect oranges actually seem...less perfect than the normal ones. To me, they seem like mutated fruits after a radioactive accident. If they add perfect fruit, I will really, really feel for you!
I really can't wait to reach day 2 of my island and see if the other beaches I cannot reach yet are really as perfect as they look on the map, so I'm not giving a 100% verdict yet and I'm staying on day 1 for some more time (because of the cherry blossom recipes I do have to play around with the clock a bit to give myself enough time). I try to tell myself that cherries fit my island, but they really, really don't. And I feel like planting peach trees everywhere will just be so much of a lie when it will say in my passport that my native fruits are cherries lol.

I honestly don't mind the villager randomness or the color of furniture as you can trade for all these things. Technically, with the internet, all these things are available to you when you need them and the community here is really so active that none of these things feel like RNG to me. Sure it's frustrating when the color you want is not available but during my first island, I got basically all my wishlist DIYs from the forum here in two days and it was awesome. So that is totally fine for me!
But yeah...after now seven hours of playing (even though it's day 1 still) I still can't feel any happiness about the island, just frustration because of the so-close-but-not-quite-there feeling. You might actually be right and I should just drop the game, but at the same time, I really want to play and enjoy the game. Because I KNOW this is a game I love, I just need the right starting island to enjoy it.

 

[AzurasStar]

Yeah I feel that, perfect oranges actually seem...less perfect than the normal ones. To me, they seem like mutated fruits after a radioactive accident. If they add perfect fruit, I will really, really feel for you!
I really can't wait to reach day 2 of my island and see if the other beaches I cannot reach yet are really as perfect as they look on the map, so I'm not giving a 100% verdict yet and I'm staying on day 1 for some more time (because of the cherry blossom recipes I do have to play around with the clock a bit to give myself enough time). I try to tell myself that cherries fit my island, but they really, really don't. And I feel like planting peach trees everywhere will just be so much of a lie when it will say in my passport that my native fruits are cherries lol.

I honestly don't mind the villager randomness or the color of furniture as you can trade for all these things. Technically, with the internet, all these things are available to you when you need them and the community here is really so active that none of these things feel like RNG to me. Sure it's frustrating when the color you want is not available but during my first island, I got basically all my wishlist DIYs from the forum here in two days and it was awesome. So that is totally fine for me!
But yeah...after now seven hours of playing (even though it's day 1 still) I still can't feel any happiness about the island, just frustration because of the so-close-but-not-quite-there feeling. You might actually be right and I should just drop the game, but at the same time, I really want to play and enjoy the game. Because I KNOW this is a game I love, I just need the right starting island to enjoy it.

I really, really get it. I don't think anyone will be much help in this situation, only you can know what you'll be able to live with. But I'm rooting for you! Good luck.

 

[Sheba]

I really, really get it. I don't think anyone will be much help in this situation, only you can know what you'll be able to live with. But I'm rooting for you! Good luck.

Thank you so much! Honestly I feel like...the chances are like...60% dropping the game, 25% resetting and actually finding the perfect island and 15% keeping the current island. At least right now. It changes by the minute lmao.

 

[AzurasStar]

Thank you so much! Honestly I feel like...the chances are like...60% dropping the game, 25% resetting and actually finding the perfect island and 15% keeping the current island. At least right now. It changes by the minute lmao.

That's reallyyy too bad. Especially after almost a month of resetting. I genuinely hope you can come to terms with your cherries. I had to do the same for a few things on my map.

I'll attach a pic of mine in case you're curious.

This was the only layout I would accept. I also wanted, specifically, the long dock and a big rock immediately above it. I wanted peaches and lilies exclusuvely. I really wanted big rock formations in the corners and the secret beach at the right side, but sadly didn't get those. Out of my 13 hours solid resetting I saw that map 4 times. The first 3 times it had a small dock and small rock formations so I didn't even load into them. This map was rare enough, let alone all the rng I required. I knew if I didn't settle for those oranges I would probably never be happy. Also those boulders on the right side beach.... my god. I'd be thrilled with the beach you rolled haha. And theres hardly any beach around that long dock I so coveted. Not a fan of that either! I had to settle for a heck of a lot more than getting my second fave fruit. And yes the oranges still bother me but what can I do? Thats the way the game is designed sadly.

 

[atriosocool]

Hello! Haven't read the entire thread but honestly, the presence of variables and rng coupled with the false sense of control through saves/resets to get the perfect outcome has to be the bane of my video game experience (haven't touched any of my fire emblem games in a while, got burned out from all the anxiety and constant resetting).

Sometimes, i find that just trudging through the game (if i'm able to) helps me to overcome the urges to reset despite the unfavorable outcomes. For me, getting over the urge to reset my island took convincing myself not to, and ignoring the "imperfections" every day for the first month of my playthrough, and now i've learned to accept them...somewhat.

But yeah, i really hope that you find what you're looking for, or if not, maybe make compromises? Getting burned out at playing video games sucks

 

[GEEBRASS]

Maybe the thing to do is just play absolutely minimally until you can open the airport and transplant peaches with peoples' help? If you could bear the cherries on the passport, you could do the few things you need to do each day to advance in as little playtime as possible, then once you can get your peaches, you can go wild and live your best island life?

 

[monsieurberry]

Hello! Haven't read the entire thread but honestly, the presence of variables and rng coupled with the false sense of control through saves/resets to get the perfect outcome has to be the bane of my video game experience (haven't touched any of my fire emblem games in a while, got burned out from all the anxiety and constant resetting).

Sometimes, i find that just trudging through the game (if i'm able to) helps me to overcome the urges to reset despite the unfavorable outcomes. For me, getting over the urge to reset my island took convincing myself not to, and ignoring the "imperfections" every day for the first month of my playthrough, and now i've learned to accept them...somewhat.

But yeah, i really hope that you find what you're looking for, or if not, maybe make compromises? Getting burned out at playing video games sucks

Agreed. Unfortunately resetting to get the perfect island is exactly what Nintendo is trying to prevent you from being able to so it’s from the start an uphill battle.

 

[AquaMarie]

I have been reading, not all, but most of this thread and I have a suggestion that I haven't seen mentioned yet.

I really hope you can make this island work, but....If you absolutely can not get over the cherries because of the fear of perfect fruit being added...maybe you should just keep the island and take a long break. During your break we might get some more concrete news on perfect fruit. What if they add it, but allow us to grow all types on our island? Then you would have the perfect map, and perfect peaches!

 

[Flyffel]

I will never reset.

 

[Sheba]

That's reallyyy too bad. Especially after almost a month of resetting. I genuinely hope you can come to terms with your cherries. I had to do the same for a few things on my map.

I'll attach a pic of mine in case you're curious.

This was the only layout I would accept. I also wanted, specifically, the long dock and a big rock immediately above it. I wanted peaches and lilies exclusuvely. I really wanted big rock formations in the corners and the secret beach at the right side, but sadly didn't get those. Out of my 13 hours solid resetting I saw that map 4 times. The first 3 times it had a small dock and small rock formations so I didn't even load into them. This map was rare enough, let alone all the rng I required. I knew if I didn't settle for those oranges I would probably never be happy. Also those boulders on the right side beach.... my god. I'd be thrilled with the beach you rolled haha. And theres hardly any beach around that long dock I so coveted. Not a fan of that either! I had to settle for a heck of a lot more than getting my second fave fruit. And yes the oranges still bother me but what can I do? Thats the way the game is designed sadly.

Honestly? The month of resetting was fine. Not once during the month of resetting have I been stressed. Was it tedious? It sure was! But never stressful. In the last twelve hours, ever since I got up, however, I've been super-stressed. This island stresses me. It doesn't feel like a blessing but more like a curse. I'm currently sitting here, with my hair half-washed, and spent time in the shower thinking about if this is what I want - if having to learn/force myself to enjoy a game is in any way or form good or healthy. Shouldn't games, especially AC, be relaxing? But here I am, being super-stressed about making a decision about this island. On top of it, it's not like this is a one-and-done decision if I don't reset. I basically have to make this decision every time I play, no matter if I spend 10 or 10000 hours on the island, I could reset and go for my perfect island any day.

At the same time, I absolutely agree with you on the fact that getting my perfect island is basically impossible. The island handed to me by RNG now is likely the best I will ever see. And I believe that I actually wrote somewhere in this thread that I could maybe compromise on fruits. I honestly believed it when I wrote that. As it turns out, I obviously have a huge issue with that, especially since I hadn't planned to have more than one tree of every fruit except for peaches on the island, but lots of peach trees. I had planned around maybe one day getting perfect fruit, too. And I feel like planting nothing but peach trees but having cherries noted in the passport makes the island feel like...a lie. Fruits are part of the identity of the island.
But yeah, if anything, this taught me that really every single thing I have on my list is absolutely essential for me when it comes to picking an island. And that really means that finding that one, perfect island is very impossible. You seem to really have the skill to come to terms with things and I envy that very, very much right now. Right now, all I really wanna do is reset and return to the check-in counter where I mindlessly enter my name and birthdate over and over and over without having to make any stressful decisions and return to braindead resetting land lol.

So honestly, I do kinda feel that what I should do - based on what would be best for me - is reset and then walk away from the game. I mean, I could just walk away without resetting, but I feel like the island would then always be at the back of my mind as something I still haven't decided on. If I reset, all pressure is off.
Don't get me wrong, if I would have a second Switch, I would keep the island in a heartbeat since I could always go for the perfect island on the second Switch and keep this one as a "backup option". But I don't have a second Switch and won't have the money to get one, either.

Your island is lovely! I mean, it obviously wouldn't work for me, but I can see why you care for it so much based on what you said about your requirements! And you even have Fauna, whom I love so very much! <3

I'll still play until I have seen my whole island and know my sister fruit and all that, but honestly, I feel like the best thing I could do is reset - not to get that perfect island, but because it would honestly be the best for my mental health. There's been quite a few people worried about that when I wrote about resetting and I brushed them off because resetting was and is honestly okay for me, but with this island, I'm honestly obviously faring pretty badly and I do have doubts it'd get better because with my first island, which had the horrible peninsula, it also only got worse as time passed and not better.

Hello! Haven't read the entire thread but honestly, the presence of variables and rng coupled with the false sense of control through saves/resets to get the perfect outcome has to be the bane of my video game experience (haven't touched any of my fire emblem games in a while, got burned out from all the anxiety and constant resetting).

Sometimes, i find that just trudging through the game (if i'm able to) helps me to overcome the urges to reset despite the unfavorable outcomes. For me, getting over the urge to reset my island took convincing myself not to, and ignoring the "imperfections" every day for the first month of my playthrough, and now i've learned to accept them...somewhat.

But yeah, i really hope that you find what you're looking for, or if not, maybe make compromises? Getting burned out at playing video games sucks

This island is honestly the first time I feel really stressed and get anxiety; resetting never did that for me. Getting burnt out on playing video games does suck, but so far I always managed to avoid that by simply stopping if I felt myself becoming unhappy and feeling like the game turned into a chore. I seem utterly unable to comprehend how you (and so many others) can enjoy the game when you do seem bothered by things on your island that you don't like and have to actively convince yourself and force yourself to accept them as much as possible. I kind of feel like...this is not what games should be about? Shouldn't games be just fun? Unless you're a professional streamer making money with that stuff, I think games should not include stress and frustration and convincing and struggling. :/

Maybe the thing to do is just play absolutely minimally until you can open the airport and transplant peaches with peoples' help? If you could bear the cherries on the passport, you could do the few things you need to do each day to advance in as little playtime as possible, then once you can get your peaches, you can go wild and live your best island life?

I honestly wish I could just "play minimally", but the big issue is that I can't. I started the game on a time set to April 8th, which is the day I started my first island, but I didn't do this because of nostalgia alone, but also because of the cherry blossom recipes, which I find absolutely essential since 70% of my island are planned to be eastern-themed. And it's also a very uncomfortable fact that only on day 1, you get peace and quiet. On day 2...the eggs and egg balloons start. D: I don't even mind Zipper as a character, but these darn eggs gosh there is so much hate! XD Because of that, I feel the need to do at least half of the cherry blossom recipe farming on day 1, even if it means stopping the clock when I'm not playing.

I do consider skipping to day 2 tomorrow, though, just because I have done all I can do on day 1 so far and it's literally just me staring at the Switch every 10 minutes for a balloon which usually has 5 Clay in it lol.

Agreed. Unfortunately resetting to get the perfect island is exactly what Nintendo is trying to prevent you from being able to so it’s from the start an uphill battle.

"Uphill battle" is a mild term. I honestly hate being gated from my enjoyment by Nintendo, even though I understand why they did it that way. But yeah...it just sucks. Honestly, if I could pay 50 bucks to have my native fruit set to peaches right now, I absolutely would. I have never, ever hacked any game because I hate cheating, but if there would be an option to just make the map I want to make, I would do it. I don't want anything illegal, I just want the map I want. D:

Post automatically merged: May 29, 2020

I have been reading, not all, but most of this thread and I have a suggestion that I haven't seen mentioned yet.

I really hope you can make this island work, but....If you absolutely can not get over the cherries because of the fear of perfect fruit being added...maybe you should just keep the island and take a long break. During your break we might get some more concrete news on perfect fruit. What if they add it, but allow us to grow all types on our island? Then you would have the perfect map, and perfect peaches!

Thank you for chiming in! I actually just wrote something about that in my last post (as in that it would just stay at the back of my mind and keep stressing me because I haven't decided about the fate of the island yet, no matter how much time will pass), but it is definitely an option I am also considering. However, it would stress me a lot more than just resetting and taking a break (possibly forever). Honestly, if I'd know that we would get info about perfect fruit in three months, I would go with your suggestion, but since it's officially known that they have updates scheduled for three years and they might or might not include perfect fruit, I would never feel safe until this game is basically outdated and no one is playing anymore. Uncertainty sucks. And honestly I don't see why they would change the perfect fruit mechanic from NL - it should be easy enough to either make perfect fruit trees un-uproot-able for visiors or run a check when bringing a perfect fruit tree onto a plane when travelling and turn it into a normal fruit tree upon arriving on an island where that particular fruit is not the native one. The game already prevents trading fish and bugs, this should not be hard to program, sadly.

 

[AzurasStar]

Honestly? The month of resetting was fine. Not once during the month of resetting have I been stressed. Was it tedious? It sure was! But never stressful. In the last twelve hours, ever since I got up, however, I've been super-stressed. This island stresses me. It doesn't feel like a blessing but more like a curse. I'm currently sitting here, with my hair half-washed, and spent time in the shower thinking about if this is what I want - if having to learn/force myself to enjoy a game is in any way or form good or healthy. Shouldn't games, especially AC, be relaxing? But here I am, being super-stressed about making a decision about this island. On top of it, it's not like this is a one-and-done decision if I don't reset. I basically have to make this decision every time I play, no matter if I spend 10 or 10000 hours on the island, I could reset and go for my perfect island any day.

At the same time, I absolutely agree with you on the fact that getting my perfect island is basically impossible. The island handed to me by RNG now is likely the best I will ever see. And I believe that I actually wrote somewhere in this thread that I could maybe compromise on fruits. I honestly believed it when I wrote that. As it turns out, I obviously have a huge issue with that, especially since I hadn't planned to have more than one tree of every fruit except for peaches on the island, but lots of peach trees. I had planned around maybe one day getting perfect fruit, too. And I feel like planting nothing but peach trees but having cherries noted in the passport makes the island feel like...a lie. Fruits are part of the identity of the island.
But yeah, if anything, this taught me that really every single thing I have on my list is absolutely essential for me when it comes to picking an island. And that really means that finding that one, perfect island is very impossible. You seem to really have the skill to come to terms with things and I envy that very, very much right now. Right now, all I really wanna do is reset and return to the check-in counter where I mindlessly enter my name and birthdate over and over and over without having to make any stressful decisions and return to braindead resetting land lol.

So honestly, I do kinda feel that what I should do - based on what would be best for me - is reset and then walk away from the game. I mean, I could just walk away without resetting, but I feel like the island would then always be at the back of my mind as something I still haven't decided on. If I reset, all pressure is off.
Don't get me wrong, if I would have a second Switch, I would keep the island in a heartbeat since I could always go for the perfect island on the second Switch and keep this one as a "backup option". But I don't have a second Switch and won't have the money to get one, either.

Your island is lovely! I mean, it obviously wouldn't work for me, but I can see why you care for it so much based on what you said about your requirements! And you even have Fauna, whom I love so very much! <3

I'll still play until I have seen my whole island and know my sister fruit and all that, but honestly, I feel like the best thing I could do is reset - not to get that perfect island, but because it would honestly be the best for my mental health. There's been quite a few people worried about that when I wrote about resetting and I brushed them off because resetting was and is honestly okay for me, but with this island, I'm honestly obviously faring pretty badly and I do have doubts it'd get better because with my first island, which had the horrible peninsula, it also only got worse as time passed and not better.


This island is honestly the first time I feel really stressed and get anxiety; resetting never did that for me. Getting burnt out on playing video games does suck, but so far I always managed to avoid that by simply stopping if I felt myself becoming unhappy and feeling like the game turned into a chore. I seem utterly unable to comprehend how you (and so many others) can enjoy the game when you do seem bothered by things on your island that you don't like and have to actively convince yourself and force yourself to accept them as much as possible. I kind of feel like...this is not what games should be about? Shouldn't games be just fun? Unless you're a professional streamer making money with that stuff, I think games should not include stress and frustration and convincing and struggling. :/


I honestly wish I could just "play minimally", but the big issue is that I can't. I started the game on a time set to April 8th, which is the day I started my first island, but I didn't do this because of nostalgia alone, but also because of the cherry blossom recipes, which I find absolutely essential since 70% of my island are planned to be eastern-themed. And it's also a very uncomfortable fact that only on day 1, you get peace and quiet. On day 2...the eggs and egg balloons start. D: I don't even mind Zipper as a character, but these darn eggs gosh there is so much hate! XD Because of that, I feel the need to do at least half of the cherry blossom recipe farming on day 1, even if it means stopping the clock when I'm not playing.

I do consider skipping to day 2 tomorrow, though, just because I have done all I can do on day 1 so far and it's literally just me staring at the Switch every 10 minutes for a balloon which usually has 5 Clay in it lol.


"Uphill battle" is a mild term. I honestly hate being gated from my enjoyment by Nintendo, even though I understand why they did it that way. But yeah...it just sucks. Honestly, if I could pay 50 bucks to have my native fruit set to peaches right now, I absolutely would. I have never, ever hacked any game because I hate cheating, but if there would be an option to just make the map I want to make, I would do it. I don't want anything illegal, I just want the map I want. D:

Post automatically merged: May 29, 2020

Thank you for chiming in! I actually just wrote something about that in my last post (as in that it would just stay at the back of my mind and keep stressing me because I haven't decided about the fate of the island yet, no matter how much time will pass), but it is definitely an option I am also considering. However, it would stress me a lot more than just resetting and taking a break (possibly forever). Honestly, if I'd know that we would get info about perfect fruit in three months, I would go with your suggestion, but since it's officially known that they have updates scheduled for three years and they might or might not include perfect fruit, I would never feel safe until this game is basically outdated and no one is playing anymore. Uncertainty sucks. And honestly I don't see why they would change the perfect fruit mechanic from NL - it should be easy enough to either make perfect fruit trees un-uproot-able for visiors or run a check when bringing a perfect fruit tree onto a plane when travelling and turn it into a normal fruit tree upon arriving on an island where that particular fruit is not the native one. The game already prevents trading fish and bugs, this should not be hard to program, sadly.

Well to be honest after reading all this, it sounds to me like this game isn't for you. What happens if you find the perfect island with peaches and blue airport, but your 2 flowers are your least faves? Will the flowers become the most important factor? Or if everything is perfect but the airport is yellow? It sounds to me like there's no winning here, sadly.

I absolutely hate that Nintendo forces you to have what they want ONLY... I wish I could have my map exactly how I want too, and its a really sucky feeling. I really think you're going to have to make a compromise here. I can guarantee every single person on this forum has something they don't like about their island.

If you cannot do that, that's perfectly valid and I agree it would be much healthier to stop playing completely. Might I suggest The Sims? You have absolute complete control in that game and can make everything exactly how you want. You can even download really cool custom content exactly to your liking.

A lot of, even most, Nintendo games suffer from rng based systems. I find myself save scumming like crazy on every one I play. I understand that compulsion for perfection. But only you can help yourself try and get past it. Wishing you the best!

 

[Sheba]

Well to be honest after reading all this, it sounds to me like this game isn't for you. What happens if you find the perfect island with peaches and blue airport, but your 2 flowers are your least faves? Will the flowers become the most important factor? Or if everything is perfect but the airport is yellow? It sounds to me like there's no winning here, sadly.

I absolutely hate that Nintendo forces you to have what they want ONLY... I wish I could have my map exactly how I want too, and its a really sucky feeling. I really think you're going to have to make a compromise here. I can guarantee every single person on this forum has something they don't like about their island.

If you cannot do that, that's perfectly valid and I agree it would be much healthier to stop playing completely. Might I suggest The Sims? You have absolute complete control in that game and can make everything exactly how you want. You can even download really cool custom content exactly to your liking.

A lot of, even most, Nintendo games suffer from rng based systems. I find myself save scumming like crazy on every one I play. I understand that compulsion for perfection. But only you can help yourself try and get past it. Wishing you the best!

Nah, flowers don't show up anywhere on the passport and it is possible to control what to get and since I changed my birthmonth to January I cannot get Cosmos, so all is right with the flowers. Honestly, I meant it when I said that things either matter a LOT or not at all. I may have my long list of things I need/want, but everything else is cool with me. A yellow airport is a dealbreaker, though - blue and nothing else works.

The thing is that I did fine with NL. As in, I got my perfect town and played the game for many, many, many months in utter bliss, so I don't feel like "the game/AC isn't for me". I just need to get what I want and I'm doing great at the game. In NL, it was the same - I had a list of things I needed (a specific map, grass shape, fruit and shop placement) and did get it after something like two and a half months of resetting. NH has a lot more variables, which makes it harder to get what I want, but it is not impossible.

But yeah I hate it, too, that Nintendo doesn't just let us pick these things. If really every person on the forum has something about their island they dislike and cannot change, then that would be really, really sad.

My computer cannot run anything after Sims 2, but I generally only enjoyed house building in the Sims, not the actual gameplay. I loved the original Sims, but the later games got really, really stupid, with idiotic "plots" and aliens and I'm not one for games which are a life simulation but where everything is stupid and about llamas or cows or whatever nonsense. I played the Sims Mobile for a while and I hated it because of that. But yeah, I did buy Sims 4 once aaaaand it overheated my computer in less than a minute so I got a refund lol.

And I dunno, I only had the handheld consoles from Nintendo and a SNES, but I don't think that many 3DS games had crazy RNG? At least I can't remember any where I got frustrated. Maybe we're playing vastly different games, though!