If we are just going to use DLC to download the special holiday/event and then play it offline, fine. But, if we will need to actually be online in order to play these holidays and special events like Bunny Day, harvest festival, etc...that would really be upsetting
Thoughts on the holidays being DLC?
- Thread starter Dae
- Start date
I think it'll be better to be honest. I'm hoping as they are going to be DLC, every year might be a bit different (for a few years until they stop updating the game). As for not having an interenet connection.. well, you could always go into a free wifi place like Starbucks or Mcdonalds to get the update, it's not the end of the world in my opinion.
Edit: That's if the game doesn't require a internet connection after the update! If it does, that really does suck.
Edit: That's if the game doesn't require a internet connection after the update! If it does, that really does suck.
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DJStarstryker
Senior Member
I'd really prefer that data to be on the game itself. Years down the road, when Nintendo is no longer supporting the Switch and takes all servers related to it offline, then you won't be able to redownload those updates if your data gets deleted somehow. But this isn't an Animal Crossing specific problem. A LOT of modern games have Day 1 patches, constant updates throughout the game's support lifecycle, etc. This has been going on for years now.
I don't particularly like it, but I've accepted this is the price of gaming in general nowadays. I still want to play video games, so I have to deal with it.
My guess is that it won't need to be online once you download the update. But we'll see for sure once the game comes out. They did say the Bunny Day update is coming out on Day 1.
I don't particularly like it, but I've accepted this is the price of gaming in general nowadays. I still want to play video games, so I have to deal with it.
My guess is that it won't need to be online once you download the update. But we'll see for sure once the game comes out. They did say the Bunny Day update is coming out on Day 1.
atalkingfish
Senior Member
The best thing that can happen to Animal Crossing New Horizons is that Nintendo supports it for many years with both free and paid updates. Not microtransactions, but tangible, game-enhancing paid downloads, akin to Mario Kart 8’s DLC or Breath of the Wild’s. And free substantial updates akin to Splatoon 2’s or Mario Odyssey. Remember: Nintendo console games have an amazing track record when it comes to both free and paid updates. There has hardly been a mainline entry from Nintendo that fans have not explicitly asked for DLC, whether they’ve gotten it or not.
Not only is this the best possibility, but it is also the most likely possibility, since Nintendo stated in their last financial report that they were looking to support their games longer via updates and DLC. I consider this a very good thing. It’s a win-win. Less work for the developers, better product for the players, and you know we’re all going to be itching for more content a year after the game is out. Instead of releasing lazy clone sequels, let’s just make the game last longer!
Therefore, not including holidays in the base game not only supports the above, but it also suggests 2 things: (1) The holidays are going to be bigger and more involved than before, and (2) given that development of the game will likely be ongoing, delaying development of holidays until after launch allowed them to finish game production earlier, or do more to the game before launch.
I see this as an overall good thing for the user experience of the game, assuming all of these updates are given well in advance.
Not only is this the best possibility, but it is also the most likely possibility, since Nintendo stated in their last financial report that they were looking to support their games longer via updates and DLC. I consider this a very good thing. It’s a win-win. Less work for the developers, better product for the players, and you know we’re all going to be itching for more content a year after the game is out. Instead of releasing lazy clone sequels, let’s just make the game last longer!
Therefore, not including holidays in the base game not only supports the above, but it also suggests 2 things: (1) The holidays are going to be bigger and more involved than before, and (2) given that development of the game will likely be ongoing, delaying development of holidays until after launch allowed them to finish game production earlier, or do more to the game before launch.
I see this as an overall good thing for the user experience of the game, assuming all of these updates are given well in advance.
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pinkfawn
Local Pink Deer
I don't mind it either, I don't really see it as a problem. There's plenty of places you can go publicly to connect to internet to download a free update if it is an issue at your residence.
I hope it means that the holidays will offer different items each year, thus increasing the longevity of the game and also expanding the player economy. Even new activities on each event would be welcome, which would keep it fresh.
I hope it means that the holidays will offer different items each year, thus increasing the longevity of the game and also expanding the player economy. Even new activities on each event would be welcome, which would keep it fresh.
Neechan
There's Only One Truth!
I get that, the comment was in reference to how people are possibly interpreting these free updates wrong (thinking that Easter isn?t in game, but it is, they were referring to add-on events)
Basically, ?normal? holidays are already there in-game , they are just adding on with them.
i'm going to bet it was a deadline thing, considering things like the new app and certain characters like kk slider also not being immediately supported. i don't particularly mind it, but it's a weird choice. i wonder if the release of each dlc will coincide with the holiday, or if they'll just release them as soon as they're ready; i think that would be a good indicator of weather it was a time issue or intentional. however if it means the holidays will change every year and be a lot more immersive, then i don't mind at all!
As others have mentioned already, I think the decision to make these holiday events downloadable was to ensure the developers could focus on other things before the game's release date. Either that or to keep Animal Crossing relevant on the Internet for the next year by advertising each event DLC drop.
As much as I'd prefer these events to just be on the launch version, I don't mind too much. They've done an amazing job with New Horizons, judging from the direct. I'd prefer them to take their time with anything as opposed to rushing.
As much as I'd prefer these events to just be on the launch version, I don't mind too much. They've done an amazing job with New Horizons, judging from the direct. I'd prefer them to take their time with anything as opposed to rushing.
Khaelis
Bell Tree Forum's Resident Hybrid Addict
This is a thought I had as well. By focusing development time to features, they were able to add A LOT. What if we got terraforming because they had the extra time to work on it?
I'm not really sure how I feel about it. It won't be a problem for me now personally, but as a kid, I wasn't allowed to set up any of my devices to connect to the internet, meaning I would've missed out on holidays if they had had this system then. But also, that was back when even at home, you were limited to a few GB, so my parents probably also didn't want me to use up all the internet for that month. I don't know if parents still might enforce similar restrictions for other reasons now, besides maybe not knowing that they can just set up parental controls.
Honestly, though, I don't really get why they're doing it. They seem to be okay with time travelling, so suddenly restricting it seems weird to me, and seeing as they already delayed the game by nearly a year, it'd be odd if they hadn't finished the holidays. Maybe they're a bigger thing this time, or they really are against time travelling (although honestly, the holiday furniture was never very popular in online trading, except for the Flower Day stuff). Maybe we'll figure it out once the game releases.
Honestly, though, I don't really get why they're doing it. They seem to be okay with time travelling, so suddenly restricting it seems weird to me, and seeing as they already delayed the game by nearly a year, it'd be odd if they hadn't finished the holidays. Maybe they're a bigger thing this time, or they really are against time travelling (although honestly, the holiday furniture was never very popular in online trading, except for the Flower Day stuff). Maybe we'll figure it out once the game releases.
Khaelis
Bell Tree Forum's Resident Hybrid Addict
Definitely understand this opinion. My parents were very controlling over the Internet when I was younger, so connecting anything to it was a chore. But I pay for it now, so hah! All the stuffs will be connected. :y
Soot Sprite
~dirty~
It seems to be the general consensus that holidays are done this way to keep everyone from replaying the same events over and over. I think it's a good idea though, it keeps it fresh and if the bunny day update is any clue it seems like the updates are going to be given way in advance, I think bunny day was over a month. It's only going to be extra content long term, I don't see the big deal.
Khaelis
Bell Tree Forum's Resident Hybrid Addict
I just had a thought:
What if the Holidays are already in the game, but require an update to activate, and to add new items in related to the Holiday for that year? Among other things that might need to be added as well.
Like, this year we could get your usual familiar items. Jingle set, etc. But next year we could see some entirely new sets added.
What if the Holidays are already in the game, but require an update to activate, and to add new items in related to the Holiday for that year? Among other things that might need to be added as well.
Like, this year we could get your usual familiar items. Jingle set, etc. But next year we could see some entirely new sets added.
Khaelis
Bell Tree Forum's Resident Hybrid Addict
Memory is different from storage space. DLC can be saved to the internal drive, or the SD Card. Its only really an issue if you store DLC to the internal drive, or if your SD card has low capacity. Also, with updates, they can remove update data to free up space as well as to not create larger data.
Edit: also, update data really doesn't take much storage space. I have a 64GB sd card, and I've kept all of my games up to date with content patches and DLC, and I still have 50GB left.
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Does the SD card come with the switch?
I've preordered one, but don't have the first clue about it.
