Warning : guilt ahead

[Boccages]

Since the IGN interview that unveiled the nature of the Getaway Package, I‘ve been thinking that it might be difficult to say ? no ? to the two first villagers that were flown in with you on the deserted island. What am I referring to? Here is the full picture:

With [New Horizons], because you’re moving to a deserted island with other animals, the relationship that you have with these two first couple of animals is you’re kind of on the same starting ground. It’s a very new type of a relationship. I know that a lot of the Animal Crossing fans have their favorites and not so favorite animals. One thing I can definitely say is that with the development team, there’s a lot of people who say ‘Hey, I didn’t really care about these two animals at first, but actually, now that I’ve moved to this island together with them, they’re really starting to grow on me.’ and start to have a new type of relationship with them.

The director of the game Aya Kyogoku later said that since these two animals that landed on the island at the same time as you invested in the Getaway Package, they have as much right to be on the island as you. But, once they’ve repaid their debt to Nook, they would ask you if the spot they chose to build their home is OK, and if not you can then assign a place where they can settle on the island.

Here is my question: after all you’ve been through with these two animals (exploring, reclaiming forested land, crafting the first few furniture pieces and tools), after all this sweat and blood, will you have the guts to tell them : ? Nope, the spot you like, the one where you want to build your house, even though It’s probably still covered with weeds and trees, you can’t build there, Sorry ??

I think the Animal Crossing team is onto something there. They’ve already planted the seed of guilt. Not exactly, but they’ve already casted other villagers into the role of full-fledged citizens of the new island republic instead of the talking pets they were known for previously. And they’ve done that through situational and emotional attachment. I can tell you right away, I probably won’t be able to deny them of their choice...

 

[Maiana]

This game is going to have me in for one heck of a ride. I'm so excited~

 

[Stevey Queen]

I was under the impression you placed their location before they even paid off their own loan.

 

[Boccages]

The full quote for that is :

Nogami said that when you first arrive on the island through Nook Inc. Deserted Island Getaway Package, you’ll arrive with two or so other random Islanders who chose to participate in the package as well. Nogami said because they invested in this package that they have as much of a right to stay on the island as you do. However, Kyogoku said before they choose a spot for their home, they’ll check with you to see if it’s okay. If you don’t like where they settle down you can tell them you don’t want to build in that particular spot and move their house location to wherever you see fit.

 

[Aubrey895]

I didn’t even think about that lol. But it’s k. I’m still picking where they live lol.

 

[BossMK]

hmmm, one thing I have trouble doing is not handling things like a total control freak....I should probably let them move where they want to, despite personal opinion.

 

[Kirbyz]

Aw, I'd feel bad if it was a villager I like, but if I dislike either of them I'm telling them where to place their house lmao

 

[Jaxen]

Nah, I'd tell them to move where I tell them, guilt free, with the amount of times these villagers have landed on my paths in New Leaf, lol.

 

[Mokuren]

I don't kick them from the island so I am fine with telling them where they should build their home. Why feeling guilty? They become their house after all and they will be as happy as at any other place.

 

[LambdaDelta]

players: "we want to be able to tell animals where they should live"

nintendo: "oh, do you now? well we can do that for you. in fact, we'll make sure it's a memorable experience for all involved. now go make friends with them first and come back to us about this"

now all they'll need to do is make the animals you force to change locations as well as their close firends guilt trip you any time you speak to them

 

[Pellie]

I mean, it's not like that I would kick them out from the island, if they should stay for a longer time, then
it would be nice if their houses are on spots which are fine. After all, I would only move their houses to
another spot if the spots they are choosing aren't so good. And to be honest, I wouldn't feel any guilt
in this moment if I had to move their houses.

 

[Hopeless Opus]

yeah... uh....
i'm telling them where they're putting their houses

 

[Speeny]

I'll want my village to look as organised as possible, so I'll be telling them what goes where in the nicest way possible.

 

[Boccages]

Nah, I'd tell them to move where I tell them, guilt free, with the amount of times these villagers have landed on my paths in New Leaf, lol.

So you?d better start off with animals you don?t like, then?

 

[Shellzilla_515]

I'm never really bothered where villagers plop their houses in an inconvenient place. Think about it, would you be ticked off when you work so hard for your living only to have someone to tell you that you can't place your house there for the whole time?

 

[Hsn97]

I?m glad they?re focusing on your relationships with the animals more. As much as I love the fact that NH is going to let us pretty much customise our island and characters to our hearts delight, I was worried that it would focus too much on this. Like in NL, it felt like it was more of a fashion and designing sim, making your town look perfect and pretty. Relationships with villagers kinda just took a back note, with people spending hours cycling out bunches of villagers just to get the ones that looked ?pretty?.

AC was never about superficial things like looks. It had a deeper goal, making friends, maintaining relationships. Working together with other. I felt like this was lost somewhat in NL, but fingers crossed they can correct the scales in NH.

 

[Paperboy012305]

Well, since it?s done at the beginning of the game, it?s pretty blind to know how you?re going to landscape your town where the villagers you start with seem to already have a good spot.

I?d say once you advance in the game, you?ll start to break their heart on their dream spot and choose a spot that you?ll like, they have to grow on it, and stay for all eternity until they sneakily do a prison break (A.K.A. Move out without telling you) and you be devastated they?ll be your friend until they don?t want to anymore.

[SUP]Alas, last resort if you can, use amiibo cards.[/SUP]

 

[KittHaven]

I'm definitely telling them where to move, no guilt at all. Even though I probably won't have decided how I want the island to look at the beginning (like path placements and stuff), I almost like the random feel of making paths work around their homes. However I still want to choose locations to avoid them being too close to my home and even too close to each other. I want to be able to make garden spaces for them eventually, especially when I get dreamies moved in! (Which I hope there will still be a way to do it through amiibo cards... though I am not holding out hope, since the devs stated in an interview that it will be more difficult to get villagers you want)

 

[Burumun]

From what I've understood, putting up the tents and all that is the first thing you do, and they're already supplied by Nook, so it's not like you have to forage for items to build them together. Plus, the relationship between you and your first islanders is built over time, you won't instantly be best friends with them.

Also, I doubt they'll phrase it as, "You can't build your house here because I won't allow it!", and more like, "Hm, don't you think this spot might be better?" So it'll be them asking you for an opinion (which, of course, they'll accept), and not you being the tyrant of the island (at least, not in text).

So no, no guilt.

 

[RisingSun]

I'm not usually bothered about where the animals put their houses. I enjoy the challenge of making my town look good around them. That said, I can see the advantage of being able to tell them where the best place is for the town look that you want, and if I ever get that picky, I will certainly tell them where to put their houses.