Question
Sandcastles and snowmen. Tournaments and task tallies. Chill vibes, gracious gestures, and surprise parties. Nintendo's popular simulation-style video game Animal Crossing: New Horizons invites people to virtual private islands to relax, explore, create, and hang out with friends.
Players leap into Animal Crossing by choosing a customizable character to inhabit a private island. The island is filled with cute critters like Mabel the hedgehog, Flick the chameleon, and twin raccoons Timmy and Tommy. Once players name their pixelated paradise and establish a small village, they can go fishing, catch bugs, tend gardens, and dig for treasure, among other serene activities. They can also build cool houses, furniture, and friendships with their animal neighbors—and with fellow players on other islands.
The game is a diversion from reality, but it also cleverly coincides with the real world. Day and night on the virtual islands match each player's time zone. And the seasons change in real time with shifting scenery and activities. Spring brings apples and cherry blossoms, and summer skies shimmer with rainbows. There are plenty of seeds and mushrooms to collect in the fall, and when winter rolls around, it's time to start packing snowballs and building snow friends. Activity on the island doesn't stop when players log out, either. Every time they return, they may find the flowers they planted previously have bloomed or new fruit is ready to be shaken from a tree.
The more time players spend cultivating their custom paradises, the more there is to explore. And by completing chores and showing kindness to fellow characters, players earn points to move to new levels in the open-ended game, revealing new activities and character interactions. That makes the play possibilities seem limitless.
The ever-evolving setting and assortment of simple, relaxing activities keep players escaping to their virtual islands at every opportunity. And since the game never ends, there's no rush. Players set their own pace and priorities each time they play. Want to pick weeds? Pick them! Want to let them grow wild? That's okay, too! In the mood to catch bugs or create custom furniture? Players can do either or both.
The activities can be done individually or socially. In fact, it's the social part that fueled the game's instant widespread popularity. The game was released in March 2020, during the early days of the global coronavirus pandemic. With most people staying home and practicing social distancing, the game provided a fun way for players of all ages to spend virtual time with friends.
Players quickly got creative with the game's hangout spot, touring each other's villages and hosting bug- and fish-catching tournaments. Everyone is a winner at the tournaments because catching fish and bugs is the best way to earn game money to buy furnishings and other in-game goodies. Players have even hosted virtual birthday parties—hiding out and surprising the guest of honor with party poppers and gifts. It's a fun alternative for those whose celebrations were canceled because of the virus.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available for Nintendo Switch console and handheld systems. For players who don't have either of those, there's an alternative game for mobile devices. Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is a free version with in-app purchase options. It features similar activities for a virtual wilderness escape.
Video Transcript: Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Video credit: Nintendo Switch
QUESTION 1
1 / 8
According to the Article, what is one reason why Animal Crossing had instant widespread popularity?
Most people were staying home during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, and the game let people spend virtual time with their friends.
When players complete chores and show kindness to fellow characters, they earn points to move to new levels in the game.
Most players use a Nintendo Switch console or handheld system, but the game was also made available for mobile devices.
When players return, they may find the flowers they planted previously have bloomed or new fruit is ready to be shaken from a tree.
Players leap into Animal Crossing by choosing a customizable character to inhabit a private island. The island is filled with cute critters like Mabel the hedgehog, Flick the chameleon, and twin raccoons Timmy and Tommy. Once players name their pixelated paradise and establish a small village, they can go fishing, catch bugs, tend gardens, and dig for treasure, among other serene activities. They can also build cool houses, furniture, and friendships with their animal neighbors—and with fellow players on other islands.
The game is a diversion from reality, but it also cleverly coincides with the real world. Day and night on the virtual islands match each player's time zone. And the seasons change in real time with shifting scenery and activities. Spring brings apples and cherry blossoms, and summer skies shimmer with rainbows. There are plenty of seeds and mushrooms to collect in the fall, and when winter rolls around, it's time to start packing snowballs and building snow friends. Activity on the island doesn't stop when players log out, either. Every time they return, they may find the flowers they planted previously have bloomed or new fruit is ready to be shaken from a tree.
The more time players spend cultivating their custom paradises, the more there is to explore. And by completing chores and showing kindness to fellow characters, players earn points to move to new levels in the open-ended game, revealing new activities and character interactions. That makes the play possibilities seem limitless.
The ever-evolving setting and assortment of simple, relaxing activities keep players escaping to their virtual islands at every opportunity. And since the game never ends, there's no rush. Players set their own pace and priorities each time they play. Want to pick weeds? Pick them! Want to let them grow wild? That's okay, too! In the mood to catch bugs or create custom furniture? Players can do either or both.
The activities can be done individually or socially. In fact, it's the social part that fueled the game's instant widespread popularity. The game was released in March 2020, during the early days of the global coronavirus pandemic. With most people staying home and practicing social distancing, the game provided a fun way for players of all ages to spend virtual time with friends.
Players quickly got creative with the game's hangout spot, touring each other's villages and hosting bug- and fish-catching tournaments. Everyone is a winner at the tournaments because catching fish and bugs is the best way to earn game money to buy furnishings and other in-game goodies. Players have even hosted virtual birthday parties—hiding out and surprising the guest of honor with party poppers and gifts. It's a fun alternative for those whose celebrations were canceled because of the virus.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available for Nintendo Switch console and handheld systems. For players who don't have either of those, there's an alternative game for mobile devices. Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is a free version with in-app purchase options. It features similar activities for a virtual wilderness escape.
Video Transcript: Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Video credit: Nintendo Switch
QUESTION 1
1 / 8
According to the Article, what is one reason why Animal Crossing had instant widespread popularity?
Most people were staying home during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, and the game let people spend virtual time with their friends.
When players complete chores and show kindness to fellow characters, they earn points to move to new levels in the game.
Most players use a Nintendo Switch console or handheld system, but the game was also made available for mobile devices.
When players return, they may find the flowers they planted previously have bloomed or new fruit is ready to be shaken from a tree.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct answer is: **Most people were staying home during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, and the game let people spend virtual time with their friends.**