Time travelling in AC Switch

[UglyMonsterFace]

I tried to run this idea by a friend, who completely shut it down since he believes time travelling is cheating and ruins the game for everyone..but maybe somebody here would like this idea! I was thinking that there should be an unlockable item that would allow time travelling without having to exit the game and go through the whole dialogue of changing the time, etc. Maybe like a clock or a time machine. Of course this will be very hard to unlock so it'll feel earned. I don't time travel in my main town, but I time travel in my boyfriend's town that I used to use as a villager trading town before, and it was such a pain to go through the dialogue over and over. I think it'll be a cool reward to work towards for people that do it. I'd even want it just for fun even if I won't use it. What do you guys think?

 

[Ably.Saucey]

I like the idea. I don't consider tting cheating, (I tted constantly for the first few weeks I had the game to get to a point I'd enjoy) and it wouldn't be mandatory for those who don't tt.

 

[Izzy Reincarnated]

Yeah, I actually really like this idea. I don't consider it cheating either as it's basically apart of the game and it's nice to have the option so as to cater to people who would want to time travel and for those who would not like to. That being said, a time travelling item that can be unlocked and used to dispense with the repetitive dialogue sounds pretty appealing, especially if you have to work hard in order to acquire it. I personally time traveled quite frequently in my AC:CF and AC:NL days, as I had a plethora of time to relax and play the game and didn't want to wait until the next day or week, so that adds even more to my agreement.

 

[DoctorPaine]

Don Resetti finally reveals his secrets and lets you in on time manipulation.

... yeah I have no idea how a feature like that would be implemented, but I’d love something like that! ^^

 

[Kip]

Time traveling allows you to break the fundamentals of the game. I'd consider it cheating (if such a thing exists in AC) though that's just my opinion. It's still a cool idea though.

 

[UglyMonsterFace]

Time traveling allows you to break the fundamentals of the game. I'd consider it cheating (if such a thing exists in AC) though that's just my opinion. It's still a cool idea though.

But cheating means to "act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage, especially in a game or examination." I don't think you gain any advantage over others because it's not a competitive game. And if time travelling is acknowledged in the game itself (villagers can call you a time traveller I believe), then the game developers obviously see it as a part of the game and not "breaking fundamentals." I understand if you see it as cheating for your own town (I also refuse to time travel in my actual town because it goes against the way I want to play personally as I do like waiting in real time) but I don't consider it cheating if other people want to.

 

[Mary]

In other games I've played, there was an option to sleep until day/ sleep until nightfall. Maybe something like that by interacting with a bed, and it could ask you how long you want to sleep? I'd like it if it felt natural like that.

 

[Khaelis]

Honestly, I probably wouldn't get the game if this was a feature of the game. I don't care if others do it, but I am against time travel because, to be honest, it is dishonest and goes against the gameplay of Animal Crossing. I think this isn't a good idea for the integrity of the game.

 

[Kip]

My view on it is say if ACS were released tomorrow, everyone would be on the same playing ground. The experience would be new for everyone. But if someone decided to time travel day to day in order to experience things quicker for whatever reason, that would effect the entire flow of how the game is meant to be played/experienced (such as public works projects, fruit trees, town progress, and so on). They could buy certain things earlier than other players, get rare items faster, and experience events sooner, which would in turn spoil and sour the experience for others (since a big part of the games is online). You technically aren't meant to reset either and yet it's acknowledged (resetti, don, etc). Time traveling used to have some minor penalties involved as well. I feel like the sole purpose of the feature is readjusting the clock if it ever happens to mess up. That's kind of my way of looking at it.

 

[UglyMonsterFace]

I see the concern for spoiling the game. But whether this was a feature or not, people will time travel regardless, and there will be spoilers everywhere. I would just stay away from looking things up in the beginning. I'm totally for some minor penalties. Like along the lines of messing up your hair, and cockroaches in your house. Things that are inconvenient but reversible. As for the integrity of the game.. I don't see how someone else's decision to time travel ruins it for you? I understand if you don't want to sully your experience by doing it since I'm the same as you there, but if someone else wants to, they should be able to without being accused of cheating and ruining it for others. For example, there are people who can't play games on Christmas Day because they're busy with family, etc. Should they never experience Toy Day? Or is it then their fault because they won't prioritize a game over their family plans? I'm just genuinely curious how how someone chooses to experience their own personal game affects you or anyone else? Again, I am in agreement that time travelling would ruin MY experience if I did it. But if someone else did, and that's what makes them happy and enjoy the game, why is it so wrong?

- - - Post Merge - - -

In other games I've played, there was an option to sleep until day/ sleep until nightfall. Maybe something like that by interacting with a bed, and it could ask you how long you want to sleep? I'd like it if it felt natural like that.

That could definitely be a possibility. The only reason I'd find that weird is that you'd be sleeping for days, weeks, or years in some instances.. I think that would kind of break the reality of it in my opinion, lol. Also, if that were the case, then they would have to let that be allowed from the beginning of the game because being able to sleep doesn't seem like enough of a special reward. But I see your point about realism. Animal Crossing doesn't have too many fantasy elements, I suppose. Just thought it would be cuter or more special/unique if it was an item/reward that enabled you to do it

 

[TheRealWC]

Not a bad idea but as long as it’s avoidable. While I don’t consider TTing cheating, it’s not how I personally play. Although, for those who do TT, this would be extremely useful.

 

[EvilTheCat6600]

Sadly it will never happen as Nintendo considers it cheating themselves. I found this out back in 2010 when I adjusted my DSi's clock for DST that year and I noticed apricorns weren't replenishing in HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions. I called Nintendo to complain and they said "People cheat by altering the clocks on their GameCubes and DS systems for games like Animal Crossing, so we set stuff like what you're experiencing up to discourage players from doing it."

Even if it could be a well executed and much loved idea, it's just completely unrealistic. Which I think is horrible, since so many people seem to be ok with it...it shouldn't be considered a bad thing if it's not harming anyone's fun, in my honest opinion.

 

[Kip]

The issues arise with trading, and online experiences (in game and out, i.e twitter, youtube, etc). People have every right to time travel, I'm just saying I don't see that as a legit way of playing the game. And when I say that, I'm not referring to the people who may have missed a holiday or an event and just want to partake in it, I'm more so talking about the people who time travel like they're playing Stardew Valley or something. Wish they made it effect villagers moving out, extreme weeds, rafflesias spawning, and dead flowers again. That would be a good way to balance it out in my opinion.

 

[LambdaDelta]

and it was such a pain to go through the dialogue over and over

pssst... system settings

 

[UglyMonsterFace]

pssst... system settings

Wait, that works?? If it does, I feel like a complete idiot LOL

 

[Neechan]

Wait, that works?? If it does, I feel like a complete idiot LOL

AND if you do it this way, the animals don't comment on you being a TTler this way either

 

[UglyMonsterFace]

AND if you do it this way, the animals don't comment on you being a TTler this way either

Duly noted! You guys have just saved me a lot of time and headache for my trading town. Thanks! ^_^

 

[Noobelli]

I don't see why not. It doesn't add anything new or broken, it just makes a game mechanic easier to do.

 

[Kirbyz]

Not sure why so many people think time travelling is cheating. They wouldn't have added the feature in the game if they themselves considered it cheating. They would have left the option out altogether. Therefore, they clearly agree and are fine with people time travelling. They're allowing us to for a reason. It's your decision whether you want to or not, but once again, it is not cheating.

 

[Sweetley]

Wouldn't mind if they would add such a item, after all, I do TT too and don't see it as cheating.
I could imagine some crazy professor as a new NPC that would offer you this item. Kinda like in
the movie Back to the Future, but instead of a cool looking car, you get a cool looking clock, lol.