Good Things That Animal Crossing Secretly Teaches People

[saehanfox]

What are some things AC teaches its players that is good to know for life?
I notice that this game promotes democratic ideas and would be good for people living in authoritarian countries. The PWPs are decided by the people and not come up with by the mayor. Also, this game teaches kids about petitioning for social and grassroots movements whenever villagers want you to get sigs for their cause.

 

[teshima]

social cues, budgeting, choosing a balance between self-gain and selflessness, weighing out decisions. i never really thought about government in acnl, but you have a good point.

 

[awesomeelle2001]

That you can't decide where people put their houses...

 

[Dubstep4Dayz]

That you can't decide where people put their houses...

TruTru.


Money is different in different places.

 

[focus]

sharks can apparently go near shore

 

[pika62221]

If someone does something for you, it's customary to give them a gift. There's a mogul who owns everything. A leader is always requested to do stuff to make the town better. Someone will pick up the slack when you're gone for days, weeks, months, decades on end. Music plays in the background when you do stuff. You can smack people over the head with an axe, and after it breaks they're only mad at you, not physically hurt or anything. When you collect all the insects in the world, someone will reward you after you donate them to the local museum. People randomly say stuff over and over and over and over... and over.

 

[dudeabides]

About 50 percent of an art store's products are fake.

 

[radioloves]

It's okay to wear short sleeves/shorts and light clothing during the winter, but you just sneeze plus shiver a few times here and there and never really get sick xD

 

[aburayacrossing]

I love how the game follows the seasons, I think that is educational just in following the same rhythms as the real world. Also, definitely budgeting! Although it is much easier to make money than in the real world lolsob.

 

[KaydeeKrunk]

About 50 percent of an art store's products are fake.

More like 75% because out of the 4 pieces only 1 is real in New Leaf

But also to water your plants or they'll die, and if you avoid your friend they wont be your friend anymore and sometimes they'll just up and move on. =[

 

[scotch]

I wrote an essay on this a while ago

 

[Belle of Pripyat]

More like 75% because out of the 4 pieces only 1 is real in New Leaf

Actually, there are 2 pieces of real art sometimes! I have two characters in my second town and they each bought a real painting and donated them to the museum the next day.

 

[Dae Min]

This game teaches people how to adapt to change. It's programmed to throw villagers into random places that may or may not destroy your landscaping, and have those villagers move away anytime they like. You have to find ways to make the town beautiful regardless of what happens. Make lemonade out of the lemons.

Although there are players who take matters into their own hands and defy the programming with plot resetting. I wish I could do that, but I have no patience.

 

[Shawna]

That you can't decide where people put their houses...

Ahahahahahaha! XD

 

[MayorJudyOfZootopia]

Friendship is a valuable thing

 

[delphadae]

AC teaches you to be an awesome interior decorator...(Maybe, haha. My interior decorating still sucks).

 

[SlipStitch626]

Interior decorating, budgeting, and just dealing with what's thrown your way. I don't plot reset and my most wanted PWPs have yet to be suggested but I still manage to make my town beautiful. Also kindness, there are lots of giveaways and I also have been giving my normal colored flowers away for free.

 

[Munna]

This is an awesome thread! Kudos!

Medicine: I think the biggest thing I noticed was that it teaches people to visit their friends when they are sick! It shows the importance of bringing your friend company & medicine when they can't get out of the house. I think that's very sweet & essential to creating a community.
Recycling: the Re-Tail shop is a really inspiring idea & a great idea for towns to do this in real life.
Various ways to be a good friend: I like how the game demonstrates how you can't be a good friend to someone by simply chatting to them or posting on their facebook. In AC you have to send them letters, help them out, find them nice & thoughtful gifts, attend their birthday, celebrate holidays together & give them medicine when they are sick.
You can also work on projects together like gathering signatures for them, or customizing an item---so it shows a real friend puts in a lot of love & effort.
Making your own goals in life: The people who complain the game is boring or don't get what it is about are missing this point.
Organizing & planning Turnip trading, visiting others, planning a town & theme...all use this skill.
Creativity: When you start making a theme town you have to get really creative with custom items, pro designs & PWP in order to make a really good theme town.
Quality over Quantity: You can only have 10 villagers in your town, so you have to work out who you you really care about & want around. It teaches you to tell the difference between close friends, and just friends. You also see who helps you out when bee stings your face (bad things in life) and who do you really want to spend your time with.
Giving people a chance: It often takes a while to move people out of town. Sometimes this is highly frustrating, over times it is a fantastic life lesson. I'm so glad the game forced me to befriend Wart Jr & Colton because they turned out really cool & sweet in the end.
I am not happy the game forced me to keep Chow, as he just became ruder over time. But I like how it makes you get to know someone before judging them too quickly. The same can happen when good looking dreamies actually turn out to be boring & bland after you really get to know them.
Grumpy people can have a heart of gold:-this one speaks for itself, i.e. my lovely Lobo.

It's a beautiful game, and that's just scratching the surface of the good things it demonstrates.

 

[Oraki51]

1. Introduces diversity. You're the only human, which introduces diversity in people's races and really shows that even if someone isn't what you are you can still communicate with them and have fun.

2. It introduces responsibility and independence. Having to pay off a house and do errands and have a job just to pay it all off.

3. It introduces creativity. Showing that you can wear whatever you'd like, design your house how ever you want, landscape how ever you want, and you can have the mind set that no matter what others say, it just matters if you like it.

4. Introduces communication. Shows you that even the most strangest of people want to meet you and how your choices affect others on their decisions.

5. Introduces rewarding incentive. Teaches you that when you do something good, something good will happen to you if its a neighbor giving you money or an item or just saying thanks. It spreads out the idea of reward beyond an item and shows you words are just as nice.

6. Introduces hard work. If you want something, you work for it.

7. Introduces money management. If you want to buy something or want to keep money aside for the house payments you can use your savings account to utilize your money wisely.

 

[Vickie]

♥ Don't judge others by their looks.
Some ugly/undesirable looking villagers might be your best friend if you are willing to give them a chance, spend time with them and helping them out. ♥
~♚Vickie​