Animal Crossing for Nintendo Game Cube: Why can’t my husband play the game

Almost four years have passed since its debut and Animal Crossing is still a very popular title for Nintendo GameCube owners. Its lovable animal characters and evolving world make it a great game for kids and adults (well, some, I say) alike. But never, under any circumstances, play Animal Crossing with your husband. Take it from someone who has been there, better to leave some games unshared

If you’ve never played Animal Crossing and you’re a fan of ‘cute and simple’ games like Harvest Moon and Spyro the Dragon, this is a really fun game. You assume the personality of a boy or a girl who decides that it is time to leave the house and start the journey alone. You somehow end up in a city inhabited by (talking) animals. It’s a lovely little town and you decide to stay. In town there is a merchant (Tom Nook), who is also a slum owner … uh … aside. He will be happy to sell you one of the four houses he owns in exchange for doing some odd jobs. By working hard, you will eventually pay for your house and can have it built even larger if you wish. In Tom’s store and in town you can find TONS of items and furniture to decorate. Fun!

After meeting your basic shelter needs and a cute coffee table, you decide it’s time to meet your neighbors. Did I mention that they are talking animals? This city is a habitat for so many different types of wildlife, one wonders how it is possible that they coexist as they do. They make it work and some eventually become friends of yours, or at least tolerated neighbors. You can visit their houses, give them gifts, or just hang out with them. You can even design clothes for your character or an animal friend to wear. Because every day in the ‘real world’ is also a day in the Animal Crossing kingdom (let’s say this is September 17, it will also be September 17 in the game), there will be interesting things for you and your animal friends. You can pick fruit, fish, collect butterflies, or attend a festive festival. There’s even a post office where you can write letters to the animals to let them know how much you like them so they don’t feel lonely and run away (it’s always sad when an animal feels neglected and leaves town).

I played Animal Crossing happily for many months, enjoying the change of seasons and the holidays. There is no violence or crime in the world of Animal Crossing. The worst damage you can do to a resident is hitting them over the head with your butterfly net until they get angry and storm clouds hang over their heads. It was a peaceful existence that I had with the animals and I appreciated every moment. Until that fateful day my husband moved out.

My landlord had three other houses for rent, so I thought about extending the offer to my husband. I wanted him to share the beautiful world that the animals and I had created. He should have known from the beginning, when the animals asked him his name and he replied that Jerk-Face that things would get ugly. But I’ve never been good at seeing red flags.

Jerk-Face worked hard to pay for his house. In fact, he had a much better house than mine in a few days. He worked hard for Tom Nook and I admit I’m a bit envious. However, he still hadn’t befriended any of the animals and I felt like he was losing the camaraderie of the city. I urged him to venture out and meet his new friends. Although four people can live in Animal Crossing Town, only one person can play at a time. I had a long week at work, so I told him that he was in charge of keeping the animals happy while I was away. On Friday I asked him how things were going in the world of Animal Crossing. He smirked.

I’ve seen that smile before. We had played Sims together for a while and this was the same smile I had when my sim-girl got up and left my house to marry her evil scientist sim, who made her work all day while he made potions. I think the scientist’s name was Jerk-Face too. Why hadn’t I learned my lesson then?

I grabbed the controller and logged into my character. I quickly saw why he was smiling. All the animals brought me letters that Jerk-Face had written to them. They went something like this …
Dear cow … Sleep with one eye open, you stupid rag. I’m going to have a steak for dinner! mwahahaha … Love and kisses, Jerkface

The animals also wore new clothes, exclusive to Jerk-Face. They were bright red and black nightmares with images of devils and skulls painted on them. I looked at my husband and he shrugged.

But, perhaps, the worst thing he had done was chasing the animals with the butterfly net all week, hitting them so many times that some left the city without saying goodbye. He was quite proud of himself.

“What have you done to my people?” I asked, wanting to find a butterfly net of my own with which to hit him on the head.

“I’ve cleaned up the mob.” He reported happily.

My face reddened. The animals had lived together, but the whole city was in chaos because Jerk-Face had moved.

“You can’t play anymore.” I said, comforting a camel. That would teach him to destroy my fantasy world.

“Thanks.” he said, kissing my cheek and heading to his computer to turn on Grand Theft Auto.

I played AC after that, but it was never the same. I missed my friends who had moved in, and weeks later the animals were still bringing me the letters that Jerk-Face had written. With nothing to catch, hit, kill or zap, my husband had gotten bored. Although we were both gamers, our tastes differed a lot across genres. He had given mine a chance, but in the end it worked his way.

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