If you've been tethered to Nintendo consoles for the last eight years, then you might have missed Sega's epic Shenmue. Nominally, it was a game about taking revenge on the man who killed the protagonist's father. In play it was more about walking around town chatting with people.
Sound like anything you know? It did to Eric-Jon Rössel Waugh, as well, and his feature on GameCareerGuide is an excellently in-depth discussion of the open-ended, generally optional gameplay found in both games. It'll make you appreciate Animal Crossing more than you already do.
And since we're probably not going to get another chance to mention Shenmue on DS Fanboy, we'd like to suggest that anyone looking for a neat adventure game/RPG would do well to pick up a Dreamcast and a copy of the game. It's not everyone's favorite, but we couldn't have loved it more.
Posted Mar 28th 2007 6:40PM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: News
"This town isn't big enough for two screens ..." No, that doesn't work. We'll have to find another Old West cliche. Oh, oh, we got it: "There's a new stylus in town." Yes, that one works nicely.
Majesco announced today that they're releasing Happy Happening's The Wild West this summer at the budget price of $19.99. We don't have any screens, but the press release describes shootouts using the touch screen, two animal characters with separate storylines, and, of course, a spate of minigames.
We quite like the idea of DS quick-drawing, but we aren't sure about the animal characters. We're just going to assume that by "animal" they mean "unbelievably rugged Wild West dude."
Much to the surprise of, well, just about every person we come in contact with on a regular basis, we still play Animal Crossing: Wild World. Perhaps we aren't alone though, because word on the street is that Nintendo is issuing out another free goody to celebrate the launch of some game called Zelda on the Wii. We're going to be keeping a close watch on this situation due to our continued support for the game and love of all things free.
For those who would like to join us, the time to log into Wi-Fi Connect is during the week of November 17th through the 24th. Upon connecting, players will receive the rare gift enclosed in a letter, which will be patiently awaiting them in their mailbox outside of the house. It's totally legit information, originating from the 210th volume of Nintendo Power magazine.
While the atmosphere and gameplay in Animal Crossing: Wild World is universally accepted as being family-friendly, sometimes people just need their dirty fix. So they teach their inhabitants language most foul and let them loose, out into the wild, for other, unsuspecting Wi-Fi users to welcome them into their town with open arms. Such an instance happened to one of our readers.
John was minding his business, likely paying off his mob debt to Tom Nook by fishing or digging for fossils, when he was asked if he would enjoy a mysterious feline visitor in his town. A mystery junkie by nature, John decided he would allow it. Sure enough, the "mysterious" actually meant "disgustingly foul-mouthed."
Check after the break for the snapshot of what the cat said.
K-Man, whom you may remember from a previous Animal Crossing update, recently wrote in to us documenting his latest free gift from Nintendo. The fact that Nintendo would keep giving away free gifts in the game to keep players active in the game as well as one of its players constantly maintaining their town just reiterates how awesome a game this is. The latest gift given our by Nintendo is none other than an Arwing. The letter from Nintendo reads:
"Dear K-man,
Star Fox Command stats are live! We were going to give you Slippy, but take this instead!"
Congrats on the free gift K-Man and all you other readers out there should make sure you let us know how your town is doing. We're always watching, always listening...
[Additional thanks to Reeve, who tipped us off, yet failed to include pictures.]
There's a reason why keep continuing our coverage of all things Animal Crossing. Partly due to the game's immense variety of activities available and also in part to the wonderful Wi-Fi aspects, it's no surprise that Animal Crossing: Wild World has sold 3 million units in Japan. In case you are unaware, only 19 other games have done this previously, dating back as far as the original Super Mario Bros. for the Famicom.
Are you keeping at it in Animal Crossing? Reeled in all the fish, caught all the bugs, and dug up all the fossils?
We just can't stop covering this game! We love it and we aren't afraid to admit it. Our parents forbade that love, but we eloped and now they're forced to accept it.
With the recent partnership between Toys 'R Us and Nintendo, there has been plenty of reason to keep plugging away in our towns (well, maybe not for some).
In an effort to save you time and some of your life span as sunlight undoubtedly causes you pain, Nintendo of America employee Chloe felt she should document what exactly the 6 free gifts available are at your local Toys 'R Us. So maybe you've been holding back, thinking that dangerous star in the sky is not worth enduring for fabulous free gifts to place in a virtual home. Well, maybe this list of available gifts will change your mind:
When logging into Wi-Fi with his copy of Animal Crossing: Wild World, reader, and from what we're told one excellent basket weaver, Kev received a pleasant surprise from Nintendo HQ in the form of a letter and attached gift. The letter read:
"Dear K-Man,
Nothing says summer like camping and playing Animal Crossing under the stars! Now go outside!
From Nintendo"
The attached gift was a sleeping bag. Kev, being the excellent and most-organized tipster he could possibly be, also attached some pictures of said sleeping bag. He apologizes for the quality of his webcam and adds the question "is it just me or does that look like a Master Chief sleeping bag?" We're stumped because, frankly, we've never heard of this Master Chief.
Click the link to check out more pictures in greater sizes.
Charlie Staats, one of our most handsome readers, recently sent in a sorrowful tale of loss and regret. It also involved a talking dog obsessed with produce. To say the least, we thought it was a magnificent read.
Aside from his included tale, Charlie spoke of things grounded a bit more in reality, namely arriving at a local Toys 'R Us to acquire one of the free goodies that are available via download. Instead, when following the steps on the sheet while in the store, he received a bottle sans item. When asking an employee "Hey, what's the haps, man?" he was greeted with a response that informed him another store in the local area was also reporting the same issue of bottle sans item.
Any of you have the same trouble as our handsome hero Charlie? Completed the steps with ease and find the possibility of anything otherwise remote?
Nintendo and Toys 'R Us are teaming up to hand out some virtual gifts through Animal Crossing: Wild World. The gifts available, which are implied to include Mario in one way or another, number six, however only one will be available to download per town. You'll have to trade for the others. The process with which to acquire one of said six items goes:
Insert your Animal Crossing: Wild World Game Card into your Nintendo DS. Power up.
Purchase Bottle Mail at Tom Nook's Shop.
Write a message and release your Bottle Mail into the river or at the beach. Save and end your game.
Visit the specially marked Animal Crossing: Wild Word promotion in the video-game section of your nearest Toys 'R Us July 23-30. At the main menu, tap Tag Mode.
Watch and wait for something to arrive in your town!
Restart your game and comb the beach for Bottle Mail containing a special rare item!
If you've yet to acquire a DS and/or the wildly-addictive Animal Crossing: Wild World, we imagine a daily conversation with yourself, that could last seconds to hours, we honestly don't know, we're not you, would go a bit like this:
"You know what self?"
"What's that brain?"
"I was just wondering why you haven't bought a DS and/or Animal Crossing: Wild World yet. The console really is the tops and I've heard nothing but great things about the game. I imagine we'd both have fun playing it, what with you wielding the stylus to do things a body enjoys doing such as fishing and me making clothes and such, doing the things a mind enjoys doing."
"Yes, but all my money is going towards Momma's insulin..."
"Look, she's old, she doesn't need to live anyway, why if she were conscious I'm sure she'd ask for death. Just do it, go turn on your PC and order the Nintendo DS Animal Crossing Bundle, it's only $129.99!"
"But what about my dad, I'm sure he'd be upset..."
"Relax...he can make his own character in the game."
"Oh, OK then!"
In other words, the price for the Nintendo DS Animal Crossing Bundle has dropped twenty bucks and has become that much more attainable.
Nintendo of Europe has revealed that any gamer who takes their copy of Nintendo's amazing Animal Crossing: Wild World online via Nintendo's Wi-Fi service will receive a letter direct from Nintendo including a special gift. The window of opportunity spans Good Friday on through the end of Easter day (this upcoming weekend). Considering Nintendo's pastgifts, this is sure to be one sweet surprise.
If you've been tethered to Nintendo consoles for the last eight years, then you might have missed Sega's epic Shenmue. Nominally, it was a game about taking revenge on the man who killed the protagonist's father. In play it was more about walking around town chatting with people.
"This town isn't big enough for two screens ..." No, that doesn't work. We'll have to find another Old West cliche. Oh, oh, we got it: "There's a new stylus in town." Yes, that one works nicely.
Much to the surprise of, well, just about every person we come in contact with on a regular basis, we still play Animal Crossing: Wild World. Perhaps we aren't alone though, because word on the street is that Nintendo is issuing out 
While the atmosphere and gameplay in Animal Crossing: Wild World is universally accepted as being family-friendly, sometimes people just need their dirty fix. So they teach their inhabitants language most foul and let them loose, out into the wild, for other, unsuspecting Wi-Fi users to welcome them into their town with open arms. Such an instance happened to one of our readers.
K-Man, whom you may 
There's a reason why keep 
We just can't stop covering this game! We love it and we aren't afraid to admit it. Our parents forbade that love, but we eloped and now they're forced to accept it.
When logging into Wi-Fi with his copy of Animal Crossing: Wild World, reader, and from what we're told one excellent basket weaver, Kev received a pleasant surprise from Nintendo HQ in the form of a letter and attached gift. The letter read:
Charlie Staats, one of our most handsome readers, recently sent in a sorrowful tale of loss and regret. It also involved a talking dog obsessed with produce. To say the least, we thought it was a magnificent read.
Nintendo and Toys 'R Us are teaming up to hand out some virtual gifts through Animal Crossing: Wild World. The gifts available, which are implied to include Mario in one way or another, number six, however only one will be available to download per town. You'll have to trade for the others. The process with which to acquire one of said six items goes:
If you've yet to acquire a DS and/or the wildly-addictive Animal Crossing: Wild World, we imagine a daily conversation with yourself, that could last seconds to hours, we honestly don't know, we're not you, would go a bit like this:
Nintendo of Europe has revealed that any gamer who takes their copy of Nintendo's amazing Animal Crossing: Wild World online via Nintendo's Wi-Fi service will receive a letter direct from Nintendo including a special gift. The window of opportunity spans Good Friday on through the end of Easter day (this upcoming weekend). Considering Nintendo's 
