A Glimpse at How Animal Crossing Made Life Bearable During the Pandemic
Video games are more fascinating if amusing animal characters are in them, as proven by Animal Crossing, the game that entertained millions during the pandemic. The life simulation game gives a ray of hope by letting players escape virtually into a deserted island to make a fresh start in a natural setting.
Although the Animal Crossing game is not new, the New Horizon edition came at the most opportune time as it somehow assuaged the anxiety brought about by the pandemic under the stressful stay-at-home or lockdown orders.
Video game critic and expert Sayawaka mentioned that the most compelling factor why the game is so well-liked is because it replaces the real-life interactions that people had to stop doing at the time.
Ritsumeikan University professor Akinori Nakamura described the game as relaxing, whilst projecting a peaceful life among its animal characters and through its design. A far cry from other animal-themed games that focus on animals as fierce combatants.
About Animal Crossing and What It Offers as Gaming Entertainment
The events that transpire in Animal Crossing takes place in real time since its seasons and weather also shift with the time. As the game progresses and players adjust to island living, more and more animals with human characteristics (anthropomorphic) emerge as inhabitants of the place.
Only the players represent the humans in the game while all non-playable characters (NPCs) are animals. Some examples include the pelicans who work at the post office, the talkative owl in charge of the museum, and the fox who is type casted as the shady traveling merchant. Players come across other casual animal characters, from elephants, to dogs, cats and even octopuses among various species that have different personalities.
There are lots of things to do on the island such as collecting insects and fishes, gathering materials for making tools and furniture, and buying items for decorating one’s house in the island. .
As the game is accessed by way of the Nintendo Switch, the company was unable to keep up with the demand for the console due to the shortage of components needed in its production.
Video Games ; A Necessity in Coping with Anxiety
It became apparent that just like real-life pets, video games are life-saving necessities for humans as they offer companionship amd ,mechanisms for coping with anxiety. Unfortunately, not every one can afford to maintain both.
A study that was conducted from June to July 2020 revealed how American gamers from the age range 18 to 34 spent an average of $137 on console games abd $166 on computer video games in the previous 12 months even after the lockdown orders were lifted.
In real life, if animal care expenses are necessities, there has to be a chunk reserved as pet budget. Dog maintenance costs a minimum of $1500 every year according to a latest report. The same cost can reach up to $10,000 annually depending on the dog’s health and its breed.
Still, there are companies that offer cash backs or rebates on money spent by consumers on pet medications and other pet essentials. The search for one could end at elancorebate, as the Elanco Animal Health company offers loyal customers cash backs or rebates on specific products. However, those looking for rebates on video games have to use the rewards programs of credit card companies.
