The Evolution of Animal Crossing - The Town Community

[Alolan_Apples]

It's time for Part 3 of The Evolution of Animal Crossing. Last time, I talked about areas of customization and how they changed over time. I also talked about tools and a little about flowers. Today, I will go over some of the buildings.

Just like last time, I will go over the basics in each section. When I talk about the Gamecube version, I talk about how it all started. Each game after game I talk about the new changes.

General:

Not including minor landmarks or houses, you had a few landmarks. There was the administrative buildings, the shops, the museum, and the town entry/exit.

• Gamecube Version - there were only eight buildings, excluding the lighthouse. They were Tom Nook's Store, the Post Office, the Dump, the Police Station, the Museum, the Wishing Well, the Able Sisters, and the Train Station. Town Tune board was near the post office as the bulletin board is in Acre B-3. You can also travel to your island through the docks.
• Wild World - Able Sisters is next to Tom Nook's Store. The Dump, Wishing Well, and Post Office have merged into a superbuilding called Town Hall. The Police Station and Train Station merged into the Town Gates. Bulletin Board is in front of Town Hall. Flag can be changed at the gates.
• City Folk - while there isn't much change to the community, you can travel to the city through the bus stop.
• New Leaf - the stores and museum were put on Main Street. Town Gates have dissolved into Police Station and Train Station. Town Hall's post office section branched off and moved to Main Street. Bulletin Board is in front of Train Station, Town Hall is where you can change the flag. Re-Tail and Town Tree Square (Plaza) are introduced. Dock was re-introduced.

Tom Nook's Store:

For the longest time, Tom Nook was your shopkeeper, and he did certain services. Even though he no longer works as the shopkeeper, he's still in charge of the debts. And the store still remodels after certain quotas are achieved.

• Gamecube Version - Tom Nook used to service all of the shopping done in-game. While there are only some he doesn't take care of, he did all the selling, buying, catalog, turnip trading, and house renovations.
• Wild World - the clothes have branched off of Nook's store. Tom Nook now sells more types of items, but the Ables sell the clothes. In addition, Harriet works for Nook once Nookington's is unlocked.
• City Folk - Harriet branches off, which means Tom Nook now only has the duties he had in the Gamecube version, minus clothes and codes.
• New Leaf - Tom Nook is no longer shopkeeper. The house renovations is still his business. Timmy and Tommy are now in charge of the store. In addition, Reese buys the stuff you don't want anymore. She also takes care of the turnip trade, whereas Timmy and Tommy don't. Finally, Leif does the selling of gardening stuff, not Timmy and Tommy. So four branches from City Folk has grown apart.

Able Sisters:

The #1 thing that has been done in the Able Sisters for the longest time is that you can design patterns there. You can also display your patterns you made, take what patterns are on display, and trade patterns. But over time, you could do more and more.

• Gamecube Version - you can only design patterns, display patterns, and take displayed patterns. All patterns have to be designed at the Able Sisters, and each cost 350 Bells to design one simple pattern. Also, Sable never becomes friends with your character.
• Wild World - they now do more than just patterns. They sell clothes too. Even Sable can make friends with you when you continue talking to her.
• City Folk - you can now design pro patterns. Simple patterns are now free as you can design them anywhere. Pro patterns can only be done at the Ables.
• New Leaf - you can now share pro patterns and other patterns through the internet. Also, the head items and umbrellas have branched off to Labelle, as more types of clothes are sold.

Administrative:

Since Wild World, there is a Town Hall in your towns. It is the heart of the town.

• Gamecube Version - the wishing well was your administrative landmark. All you could do there is check the environment status.
• Wild World - Town Hall is introduced. You had two sections. One is the Civic Center. You could talk about moving, make donations, ask about environment, and change town tune.
• City Folk - in the Civic Center, you can do town fund and report problematic citizens.
• New Leaf - Isabelle is the clerk behind the counter. You can still check environment status, report villagers, change flag, and change town tune. Donations have been removed, and Post Office has been branched off. Also, the Town Tree has been revived, but Town Hall is where the administrative work takes place.

Post Office:

Writing Letters has never changed since the Gamecube version. You would write letters, mail presents, and save letters. You could also pay off debts and deposit money. Also, in Animal Crossing history, you can only hold up to 10 letters (and my game ideas don't encourage more letter space).

• Gamecube Version - you can only mail five letters at time. Your mailbox also cannot give you more than five letters at once. Debts are paid to the clerk and you cannot have a bank account until all debts are paid.
• Wild World - you don't have to pay all of your debts to deposit money in the bank. Post Office is part of Town Hall under the Mail Center.
• City Folk - you can pay off debts at the ABD, along with depositing funds.
• New Leaf - Post Office has branched off of Town Hall. You can ask for downloadable content too.

The Museum:

Throughout the entire franchise, you can only donate to four different exhibits. This is why I came up with ideas for new exhibits in the next game. However, this has been the same all along.

• Gamecube Version - you can only donate items to the Museum. Paintings were never counterfeit, but fossils have to be mailed to the faraway museum for identification. All exhibit wings have one room each.
• Wild World - Café and observatory are added. Paintings can be forged, but fossils can be identified at the museum. Finally, with the exception of the Paintings exhibit, all exhibits have two rooms.
• City Folk - no change in features. Fish and Insect wings have one huge room while the other two wings have two rooms.
• New Leaf - you can donate more than one item at a time. You can see obvious differences in real art and fake art. Custom exhibits feature has been added. All exhibit wings get redesigned.

Other:

All the other buildings I have mentioned will have changes here.

• Gamecube Version - Police Station has lost and found feature, along with a map and checkup on news. Dump is where you can get rid of items. Train Station was the way out of town.
• Wild World - Train Station was replaced with Town Gates. You can travel to other towns if their gates are open. Dump is recycling bin in Town Hall.
• City Folk - no change in features.
• New Leaf - Train Station is back. It has lockers too. Police Station is on its own again. You can get rid of items through the trash bin furniture.

Coming up next - differences between Gamecube version and Wild World.