Just an idea I've wanted to get off my mind/open up to constructive criticism. I realize this won't likely be implemented, ever, but it'd be fun anyways.
I think the new Animal Crossing needs a good deal of stuff to extend the game's diversity of gameplay and sense of journey outside of wi-fi. By that I mean something like the island, which really gives the game flavor. One of the ideas I thought of to do this would be building off of what's essentially a common trait in the game: the train. They've appeared in Population Growing, New Leaf, and hopefully the next AC installment; when they haven't then some other form of transportation replaced them but kept the same basic purpose they served. This purpose is introducing the player to the game as they arrive in their town and later on transporting players to other villages. The GCN had conversations with Rover and on occasion Blanca en route that I personally enjoyed, but this was cut when transportation became a wi-fi mechanic.
My personal addition to the train system would be giving it new locations to travel to. These locations would be new offline landscapes to go to. While the exact mechanics of it are tentative, the basic rules I figured on were:
1. Tickets for areas are earned through some sort of action. There might be generic ones given out in the manner of a PWP or given out as a reward while others might be sold at a shop or given out as an event, given for completing a task, etc.
2. Once used a ticket is consumed. While most tickets are one-time and permanently unlock the area, I guess some places could require a ticket each time they're traveled to depending on the nature of that location.
3. Trains could leave the station every 15 minutes or so to create a bit of a schedule. The arriving train will go to the area selected when boarded.
4. Only two train trips of this manner might be allowed per day. It could maybe start off as one trip then expand to three allowed per day or something as you progress in the game, but the basic idea is to slow down gameplay and stop some sort of grinding back and forth between areas.
5. These non-wifi train rides would bring back en route conversation, and expand the range of characters you speak to on trains and what you do while on them. The first time an area is traveled to Rover could always appear to the player and give them a brief outline on the place they're traveling to.
And some examples, in case the idea is unclear:
1. Faraway Museum Dig Site:
The village would have generally smaller fossils to dig up. However, submitting enough fossils to the Museum would have Blathers award the player with a ticket to the Far Away Museum Dig Site. Here the player could go on more elaborate digs for larger, rare fossils and Gyroids. It could also feature some minigames and a giftshop featuring Prehistoric/Dig-Site oriented furniture and some Gyroids. This would add complexity and layers to the fossil gathering gameplay.
2. Faraway Museum
Maybe received in the mail about three days to a week after Museum completion, being invited by the Faraway Museum as a reward. Beyond special exhibits that rotate out the museum could also have a vast library or a special shop or anything to that extent. Just something to add a little bit of a reward to Museum completion and keep the Museum scene relevant after its completion.
3. Fishing Lake
Given to the player by Chip after their 3rd Fishing Tourney victory. There would be another ecosystem of fish, bugs, and seafood at the lake. The Fishing Lake could include a variety of fishing-focused minigames, special items, and just a nice place for relaxation.
4. Deep Jungle
Nat's equivalent of the Fishing Lake.
5. Coral Reefs
A Seafood equivalent of the Deep Jungle and Fishing Lake, possibly going hand-in-hand with an increased focus on Seafood.
6. Flower Meadow
A special botanical stop, with Lief handing out the ticket after purchasing enough flowers. It would feature new flower breeds, bugs, and the like. Mostly just there to be a beautiful place with an ever changing selection of flowers.
7. Big City
A place to go and see some scheduled performances and the like.
That's all I can remember right now, but I think that gets the idea across well enough.
I think the new Animal Crossing needs a good deal of stuff to extend the game's diversity of gameplay and sense of journey outside of wi-fi. By that I mean something like the island, which really gives the game flavor. One of the ideas I thought of to do this would be building off of what's essentially a common trait in the game: the train. They've appeared in Population Growing, New Leaf, and hopefully the next AC installment; when they haven't then some other form of transportation replaced them but kept the same basic purpose they served. This purpose is introducing the player to the game as they arrive in their town and later on transporting players to other villages. The GCN had conversations with Rover and on occasion Blanca en route that I personally enjoyed, but this was cut when transportation became a wi-fi mechanic.
My personal addition to the train system would be giving it new locations to travel to. These locations would be new offline landscapes to go to. While the exact mechanics of it are tentative, the basic rules I figured on were:
1. Tickets for areas are earned through some sort of action. There might be generic ones given out in the manner of a PWP or given out as a reward while others might be sold at a shop or given out as an event, given for completing a task, etc.
2. Once used a ticket is consumed. While most tickets are one-time and permanently unlock the area, I guess some places could require a ticket each time they're traveled to depending on the nature of that location.
3. Trains could leave the station every 15 minutes or so to create a bit of a schedule. The arriving train will go to the area selected when boarded.
4. Only two train trips of this manner might be allowed per day. It could maybe start off as one trip then expand to three allowed per day or something as you progress in the game, but the basic idea is to slow down gameplay and stop some sort of grinding back and forth between areas.
5. These non-wifi train rides would bring back en route conversation, and expand the range of characters you speak to on trains and what you do while on them. The first time an area is traveled to Rover could always appear to the player and give them a brief outline on the place they're traveling to.
And some examples, in case the idea is unclear:
1. Faraway Museum Dig Site:
The village would have generally smaller fossils to dig up. However, submitting enough fossils to the Museum would have Blathers award the player with a ticket to the Far Away Museum Dig Site. Here the player could go on more elaborate digs for larger, rare fossils and Gyroids. It could also feature some minigames and a giftshop featuring Prehistoric/Dig-Site oriented furniture and some Gyroids. This would add complexity and layers to the fossil gathering gameplay.
2. Faraway Museum
Maybe received in the mail about three days to a week after Museum completion, being invited by the Faraway Museum as a reward. Beyond special exhibits that rotate out the museum could also have a vast library or a special shop or anything to that extent. Just something to add a little bit of a reward to Museum completion and keep the Museum scene relevant after its completion.
3. Fishing Lake
Given to the player by Chip after their 3rd Fishing Tourney victory. There would be another ecosystem of fish, bugs, and seafood at the lake. The Fishing Lake could include a variety of fishing-focused minigames, special items, and just a nice place for relaxation.
4. Deep Jungle
Nat's equivalent of the Fishing Lake.
5. Coral Reefs
A Seafood equivalent of the Deep Jungle and Fishing Lake, possibly going hand-in-hand with an increased focus on Seafood.
6. Flower Meadow
A special botanical stop, with Lief handing out the ticket after purchasing enough flowers. It would feature new flower breeds, bugs, and the like. Mostly just there to be a beautiful place with an ever changing selection of flowers.
7. Big City
A place to go and see some scheduled performances and the like.
That's all I can remember right now, but I think that gets the idea across well enough.
