My problem with how ACNH deals with villagers moving out.

[Mr_Keroppi]

One of the things that kept me away from the series prior to NH was the fact that I was forced to play every single day if I wanted to keep seeing my imaginary virtual friends around. I'm so glad it's gone, residents on NH already ooze charm through so many other interactions/activities.

I don't think they randomly moving out is a statement of free will or charm, it's just unneeded punishment. If I'm worried about this fake free will, I could always just let them go. I can't 100% control who asks to leave and I also can't 100% control who is chosen by the campsite so that's enough. The only way to have complete control is if I choose to have it (by always saying "no, don't leave" or restarting the game) and that's the fun thing, it's already a choice that everyone can make depending on their taste.

However, while I understand that good-bye letters are "not needed" thanks to the way the mechanic works now (as you now get the "letter" through the direct ask and the certainty of when they are in boxes) I do think they could have kept them around as an extra.

Well thanks for sharing your opinion! You have an.... interesting take on this..... As long as you are having fun then I do not blame you! Thanks for sharing and have fun! HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE

 

[Akeath]

I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum. I love the New Horizons way of moving and honestly don't think I would still be playing the game right now if villagers could still move out randomly. For all previous Animal Crossing games I would play for a long time, then start to play gradually less until I went long enough between playing that my favorite villagers moved out. Once that happened I would get so discouraged that I would stop playing the game entirely. New Horizons broke that cycle because if I play the game again after not doing so for awhile, my village still exists and is full of the villagers I've grown to love rather than my being met with bitter sweet letters from all my favorite villagers and a town that has changed population so much it doesn't feel like my town anymore and leaves me so depressed I just turn the game off. As a result I have a few hundred more hours on New Horizons than I've had on any other single Animal Crossing game.

Also if I have a villager that I just can't stand parting with I get their Amiibo card. That way I can say yes when villagers ask to move out and then either allow a random one to move in if I want to be surprised, find a different villager at Mystery Islands, or if I end up really missing the villager I can just re-scan their Amiibo and get them back. Amiibo are also nice because if villager moves in that I can't stand I can just kick them out. But I've been gradually collecting them since 2016 and have amassed a collection of roughly 300, so that's easy for me to say.

 

[Mr_Keroppi]

I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum. I love the New Horizons way of moving and honestly don't think I would still be playing the game right now if villagers could still move out randomly. For all previous Animal Crossing games I would play for a long time, then start to play gradually less until I went long enough between playing that my favorite villagers moved out. Once that happened I would get so discouraged that I would stop playing the game entirely. New Horizons broke that cycle because if I play the game again after not doing so for awhile, my village still exists and is full of the villagers I've grown to love rather than my being met with bitter sweet letters from all my favorite villagers and a town that has changed population so much it doesn't feel like my town anymore and leaves me so depressed I just turn the game off. As a result I have a few hundred more hours on New Horizons than I've had on any other single Animal Crossing game.

Also if I have a villager that I just can't stand parting with I get their Amiibo card. That way I can say yes when villagers ask to move out and then either allow a random one to move in if I want to be surprised, find a different villager at Mystery Islands, or if I end up really missing the villager I can just re-scan their Amiibo and get them back. Amiibo are also nice because if villager moves in that I can't stand I can just kick them out. But I've been gradually collecting them since 2016 and have amassed a collection of roughly 300, so that's easy for me to say.

I guess some people do not agree! I like your ideas about the amiibos though! I have TONS of amiibo cards and have been collecting them too! PLEASE RESTOCK AGAIN NINTENDO AND LET US BUY THEM FOR MORE THAN 1 WEEK ONLINE BEFORE THEY DIE. I understand about the not wanting to play after a fave leaves but I kinda think they need some free will and to feel like people and not just things that make your town pretty or for out enjoyment only. Thanks for telling and sharing!

 

[Tiffany]

I'm glad villagers don't move out randomly, I hated that. It was always my favorites that left never the ones I disliked or didn't really care about. It never made sense that the ones I was so nice to and gave them gifts would just up and leave while the ones I ignored or mistreated refused to ever leave. The one nice thing about nl was seeing my old villagers in the shopping district. I always wished that they would have added a way to invite them back if we wanted to. My issue with the villagers moving in this game is that the last villager will never ask to leave, Like why? who thought that was a good idea? I would like to be able to have that last one able to move so i can have 9 permanent ones if I want and cycle the last spot so i can meet new villagers, especially if i dont like the last move in. Sucks to have to get someone else out just to be able to get the last one gone. Yes I know we can kick them with an amiibo(i only have a few fan made ones thanks to the scalpers) but as i said before if i just want to cycle the last spot i cant and also then im stuck with the amiibo villager unless i first get someone else out. and yes amiibo is way better than island hopping which gets tedious and seriously aggravating really quick sometimes. Especially when you get repeat villagers on those trips. i think that they need to make the villagers asking to leave be the ones that actually make sense. so if you are very nice to someone and they r very happy they would not ask to leave but others who arent happy would ask. that makes sense. not i'm the happiest villager ever but im gonna ask to leave anyway for no real reason.

 

[Introspective Onlooker]

While I'm glad villagers just don't up and leave your town, as in the first game, aren't constantly on the verge of moving in as they were in Wild World and aren't vague when they ping you that they're moving, similar to City Folk, I feel New Horizons' method gives the player way too much control over the lives of these individual animals and misunderstands why this mechanic was implemented the way it was for as long as it was. It sucked having your favorite villager moved, but that's supposed to be a lesson — that things change, and people find other places to live. This is a life simulator, right? Why shouldn't this apply here, as well?

I think New Leaf handled this best. You don't have to start the game everyday just to make sure your villages stay in your town. Villagers would announce their departure five (ten if the Welcome amiibo update is downloaded) days in advance. That was plenty of time, and New Leaf is a handheld game, so it's easily to pick up where you left off. The Nintendo Switch might not be a true handheld system, but you can still take it just about everywhere you go. It's only a "punishment" if you interpret it as such.

 

[Millysaurusrexjr]

It is so extremely odd that villagers don't send goodbye letters - even if you obtained their villager photo! Like wtf? Was all our friendship for nothing?

It's also strange that writing your villagers doesn't increase your friendship with them. What is Nintendo's reasoning??

Anyway, I'm glad they can't just up and move out without permission.. but it did make for an interesting surprise in NL.

 

[Mr_Keroppi]

While I'm glad villagers just don't up and leave your town, as in the first game, aren't constantly on the verge of moving in as they were in Wild World and aren't vague when they ping you that they're moving, similar to City Folk, I feel New Horizons' method gives the player way too much control over the lives of these individual animals and misunderstands why this mechanic was implemented the way it was for as long as it was. It sucked having your favorite villager moved, but that's supposed to be a lesson — that things change, and people find other places to live. This is a life simulator, right? Why shouldn't this apply here, as well?

I think New Leaf handled this best. You don't have to start the game everyday just to make sure your villages stay in your town. Villagers would announce their departure five (ten if the Welcome amiibo update is downloaded) days in advance. That was plenty of time, and New Leaf is an handheld, so it's easily to pick up where you left off. The Nintendo Switch might not be a true handheld system, but you can still take it just about everywhere you go. It's only a "punishment" if you interpret it as such.

Thanks for sharing!

Post automatically merged: Jan 1, 2022

It is so extremely odd that villagers don't send goodbye letters - even if you obtained their villager photo! Like wtf? Was all our friendship for nothing?

It's also strange that writing your villagers doesn't increase your friendship with them. What is Nintendo's reasoning??

Anyway, I'm glad they can't just up and move out without permission.. but it did make for an interesting surprise in NL.

I liked the surprise! But yeah the no goodbye letters is just like a EXCUSE MEEEE????????????? I GUESS WE NOT THAT GOOD OF FRIENDS. I remember in NL one of the ways to get a villagers photo was in the good bye letter and one of the last sentences would be like "I hope you never forget me because you were the best friend I ever had." It was so sad! Thanks for sharing!

Post automatically merged: Jan 1, 2022

I'm glad villagers don't move out randomly, I hated that. It was always my favorites that left never the ones I disliked or didn't really care about. It never made sense that the ones I was so nice to and gave them gifts would just up and leave while the ones I ignored or mistreated refused to ever leave. The one nice thing about nl was seeing my old villagers in the shopping district. I always wished that they would have added a way to invite them back if we wanted to. My issue with the villagers moving in this game is that the last villager will never ask to leave, Like why? who thought that was a good idea? I would like to be able to have that last one able to move so i can have 9 permanent ones if I want and cycle the last spot so i can meet new villagers, especially if i dont like the last move in. Sucks to have to get someone else out just to be able to get the last one gone. Yes I know we can kick them with an amiibo(i only have a few fan made ones thanks to the scalpers) but as i said before if i just want to cycle the last spot i cant and also then im stuck with the amiibo villager unless i first get someone else out. and yes amiibo is way better than island hopping which gets tedious and seriously aggravating really quick sometimes. Especially when you get repeat villagers on those trips. i think that they need to make the villagers asking to leave be the ones that actually make sense. so if you are very nice to someone and they r very happy they would not ask to leave but others who arent happy would ask. that makes sense. not i'm the happiest villager ever but im gonna ask to leave anyway for no real reason.

The last villager thing is SO bad like why nintendo??????????? Also I missed the mainstreet thing! It was GREAT so that you could see old friends Thanks for sharing!!

 

[nightglow]

I guess everyone hates randomly moving out! Its okay we all have opinions! Thanks for your thoughts! (But dont you just think its a little weird how they have no free will????)
Edit: Also yes I understand the hatred of when they move out when you haven't played! Felicity moved out when I forgot to play for a week and she was my favorite for YEARS.

I never really thought about them randomly moving out equaling free will of the villager. Especially without notice when the game is about building friendships. Even when they had a high friendship rating with you. I do think NH went about the right way with the move outs by having them converse with you about the idea, like friends would do. But if it is perceived as free will I can understand why someone may have a problem with it. Maybe a game setting you choose at the very beginning would be a reasonable option. Similar to difficulty settings in other games.

 

[Mr_Keroppi]

I never really thought about them randomly moving out equaling free will of the villager. Especially without notice when the game is about building friendships. Even when they had a high friendship rating with you. I do think NH went about the right way with the move outs by having them converse with you about the idea, like friends would do. But if it is perceived as free will I can understand why someone may have a problem with it. Maybe a game setting you choose at the very beginning would be a reasonable option. Similar to difficulty settings in other games.

Thats great! I really think nintendo should have more options with ACNH! I wanted to say sorry because after re-reading my response it sounds mean I am sorry! I love that we all have opinions! I think ACNH should be a player experience and let us choose more so that all of us get what we want! Thanks for sharing

 

[edsett]

after playing new leaf practically daily and molly still moving out without me realizing and then having to do the sixteen villager cycle to get her back, i greatly prefer new horizons not having villagers randomly move out anymore. i tend to get villagers and if i think i’d like another villager over them or i want someone different i let them go. the villagers i have now are the ones i want to stay on my island permanently.

but i do miss goodbye letters. also when they would send their with the letter too if their friendship you was high enough!

 

[Mr_Keroppi]

after playing new leaf practically daily and molly still moving out without me realizing and then having to do the sixteen villager cycle to get her back, i greatly prefer new horizons not having villagers randomly move out anymore. i tend to get villagers and if i think i’d like another villager over them or i want someone different i let them go. the villagers i have now are the ones i want to stay on my island permanently.

but i do miss goodbye letters. also when they would send their with the letter too if their friendship you was high enough!

I miss the letters SO MUCH!!! I understand if you did not want her to move out! It was perfect in new leaf because they told you if they were moving out in the next 10 days OR a villager would have told you that there are rumours that so and so is moving soon. I have never had a point of playing daily and no one telling you? Well I am happy she is with you now! Thanks for Sharing!

 

[edsett]

I miss the letters SO MUCH!!! I understand if you did not want her to move out! It was perfect in new leaf because they told you if they were moving out in the next 10 days OR a villager would have told you that there are rumours that so and so is moving soon. I have never had a point of playing daily and no one telling you? Well I am happy she is with you now! Thanks for Sharing!

yeah no one told me and then she left. i was super unlucky which is why i’m glad that mechanic is gone for new horizons personally.

 

[nightglow]

Thats great! I really think nintendo should have more options with ACNH! I wanted to say sorry because after re-reading my response it sounds mean I am sorry! I love that we all have opinions! I think ACNH should be a player experience and let us choose more so that all of us get what we want! Thanks for sharing

Oh you're fine. I didn't think you were mean or anything.
Yeah I hope Nintendo decides on more ways for players to choose how they experience the game in the future.

 

[Mr_Keroppi]

Oh you're fine. I didn't think you were mean or anything.
Yeah I hope Nintendo decides on more ways for players to choose how they experience the game in the future.

Me too! Maybe in the next ac..........

 

[mollyduck]

ITA the goodbye letters are greatly missed in NH.

That said I only just now returned to my NL town after literally six years untouched (finally got to real time today and will download the Welcome Amiibo update soon - should be interesting!) I was probably getting burned out at the time but I’m pretty sure I rage quit after losing a second villager despite always logging on each day to check for pings. I was so glad that’s not an issue in NH. It took me ages to voluntarily let Cookie go though so I definitely understand that part.

 

[Variety.Gamer 4438]

Hello everyone! I know probably no one agrees with me but I miss when villagers would move out on their own! It makes it SO hard to say that someone can leave when you had your favorites! Sure, its nice knowing that no matter what Bunnie is going to still live in bunny for the rest of her life but it makes me sad that its harder to let them go! I LOVED the surprise of new villagers after getting sad that one left. Now I have to have go through an hour long argument with myself on if I should let them go . I also really miss the goodbye letters! They do not do it anymore . NH is amazing in lots of categories but villagers are not one in my opinion. Do you agree or disagree with me? I would love to know your thoughts!

I feel like there is a simple solution that would appease both sides. All Nintendo would need to do is create an in-game button or switch that can be flipped on or off and that would enable/disable villagers being able to randomly move out.

Now for me, I don't really care much either way. However, I think it would be cool if it wasn't random when I need certain villagers to stay in order to claim their photos and then I could turn on the randomness after I have all the photos just so it can more simulate how a real "town" would function. I also think it would be cool if you could favorite some villagers so they wouldn't be able to leave whether or not you have the switch I mentioned above enabled or disabled.

 

[Mr_Keroppi]

I feel like there is a simple solution that would appease both sides. All Nintendo would need to do is create an in-game button or switch that can be flipped on or off and that would enable/disable villagers being able to randomly move out.

Now for me, I don't really care much either way. However, I think it would be cool if it wasn't random when I need certain villagers to stay in order to claim their photos and then I could turn on the randomness after I have all the photos just so it can more simulate how a real "town" would function. I also think it would be cool if you could favorite some villagers so they wouldn't be able to leave whether or not you have the switch I mentioned above enabled or disabled.

I wish alot of stuff was choice then the people that want villagers moving out can have that the ones who dont do not need it! Things like villager rudeness can be a choice. Even if we cant choose which ac sound track to play atleast we should be able to lower and/or turn it off. NINTENDO PLEASE IT WOULD HELP EVERYONE ON THE SPECTRUM

 

[TheWildShadow55]

I'm sure you're tired of hearing this by now but I'm on the opposite end, I am VERY happy that villagers don't move out without your permission anymore mainly because of the fact that I don't have the time nor the energy to play Animal Crossing every single day, so not having to stress out about a villager moving randomly without warning is helpful. At the same time however, I wouldn't mind for the farewell letters to come back, I'm not quite sure why those were axed

 

[CrankyCupcake]

I've played WW and NL. I didn't like that villagers would move out on their own, the same way I didn't like that they could permanently place their homes wherever they wanted when they moved in. So for me, NH is an improved game by giving me the power to move their homes and to ask them to stay when I'm not ready to say goodbye yet.

As for goodbye letters, I don't miss them. It could be that I don't have a single sentimental bone in my body.

I feel that the game already gives me plenty of opportunities to make happy memories with the villagers when they still live in my town or on my island. All those times when we talked and exchanged gifts, celebrated birthdays and festivals and visited one another's homes because someone was ill and needed medicine or because we just wanted to visit and spend time together, were good times. I take a lot of screenshots for that purpose. To remember every single villager by. A single letter written to say goodbye... is just a single letter written to say goodbye.

 

[VanitasFan26]

I feel like there is a simple solution that would appease both sides. All Nintendo would need to do is create an in-game button or switch that can be flipped on or off and that would enable/disable villagers being able to randomly move out.

Now for me, I don't really care much either way. However, I think it would be cool if it wasn't random when I need certain villagers to stay in order to claim their photos and then I could turn on the randomness after I have all the photos just so it can more simulate how a real "town" would function. I also think it would be cool if you could favorite some villagers so they wouldn't be able to leave whether or not you have the switch I mentioned above enabled or disabled.

I hope they give us options of like what our playstyle should be like in the next AC game. Since this one has created some division in the community it seems that people in general do play differently and there things that they like and dislike. I don't know how they are going to do that but it would be kinda like Breath of the Wild where the game doesn't restrict you, but you can do whatever you want as long as its not restrictive. I don't know if that makes any sense, but the point is that they should give us options on what we want our game to be like that differs from experience.