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  • Carrie
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10Dec 07

Help a Mother out...

Last time we left her (as far as the GS audience is concerned), my mother was madly in love with Nintendogs. It's been a couple of years and I used my desire to get a DS Lite as an excuse to give her my old DS as a hand-me-down, along with Nintendogs and a couple other games, including Animal Crossing.

This morning, I get a frantic message from my mother, and we're in the middle of beta crunch time right now, so I'm half-reading it. She's going on and on about not being able to find the store and bells and fruit in her pockets and once I realized she was talking about Animal Crossing, I just sent her the link to GameFAQS and went back to work.

A few hours later, she returns with a letter she has written some poor game guide author. It was so funny, I just had to share. Can anyone help a mother out?

I read with interest your information about Animal Crossing. I am new to the game and am an older player. I havenīt much of a clue. My house is ridden with cockroaches or rats or something. I have no bells. I do not know how to find Tom Nookīs store. I have a pocketful of fruit. I don't know how to write a letter to my housemate, who is sleeping (of course). I figured I could sell fruit if I could find the store. I wander around town but donīt get much help from anyone. Entered someoneīs house who was about to put dinner on the table but was told she didnīt have enough for me and I should have brought something.

I may be absolutely too green for you to take any note of this, but I thank you, in advance.

Virginia

44 Comments

  • beaudman

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 11:46 am PT

    I have never played animal crossing, but she sure sounds like she's in a mess of trouble. I have no bells?

  • Poost

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 11:56 am PT

    Haha, that's pretty awesome. Sometimes I forget how much you have to "know" in order to play even some of the most casual games. And for anyone who was wondering, bells are the currency in Animal Crossing.

  • Strider316

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 12:04 pm PT

    Hahaha, I love it! Animal Crossing is pretty confusing in some cases...I hope she gets through it!

  • BulletProof007

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 12:08 pm PT

    Alright that made my day. It was so funny and at the same time a little sad.
    I am guessing she did not get the directions ? Is she playing on one of your files because I thought the whole start of the game was sort of like a training session ?

    Hang in there Mom it only gets better from here.

  • GunnyHath

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 12:27 pm PT

    Hehe

  • Sharvie

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 12:38 pm PT

    Bless her. Hopefully she'll get through it.

  • Chris_Potter

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 12:41 pm PT

    Man, I thought that game was easy to understand

  • ruff_edgz

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 12:45 pm PT

    That was just an amazing story and I have to say I just got a kick out of this because my mom had a similar thing happen to her (not with a DS but with technology). She was explaining to me that my cousins gave her a gift last year that involved downloading audio books and placing them on her iPod to listen when she is to busy to read. She tells me she hasn't even downloaded anything because it was to confusing and didn't want to take the time to learn it

    Thanks for sharing Carrie!

  • wonderboy_46

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 12:48 pm PT

    Gotta love it when your mum (or mom for you US & A types) starts playing games. I've just bought my mum a DS Lite for Christmas. She's always liked manipulating me over the years so I figured MySims is a good place to start

  • Bozanimal

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 12:49 pm PT

    That letter made me snort. I think it's great your Mum enjoys Nintendogs so much!

  • Rath3rDashing

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 12:50 pm PT

    lololol this is classic. I seem to remember something similar in one of tychos blogs over at penny arcade. I think the bugs in her house are related to her not playing enough actually, so if she goes on for a small time each day they will go.

    As for bells the best way to start out is either selling fossils or fruit. Fossils are easy money but selling them wont help you fill the museum, but fruit is time consuming, and its easier if you have friends who can give you foreign fruit. ( they sell for 500 bells each)

    As for getting lost, i believe there is a map you can bring up if you press Y or X or something. witch shows you all the towns main locations

    hope that helps :p parents eh?

  • LiK

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 12:53 pm PT

    good luck to your mother!

  • jpgalindo

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 12:56 pm PT

    lol no clue... never played animal crosing but after this I have to say I want to play it

  • Sephir0th_

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 12:59 pm PT

    Carrie - to kill the roaches and bugs in her house she needs to step on them. If she hasn't played in a while bugs hide underneath objects in your house so when you move them they come out. So running over them kills em lol. Anyways, awesome letter from your mother. The best part is that she seems to have summed up the game pretty accurately lol.

  • Robot_Vampire

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 1:06 pm PT

    Haha, your mum looks like she needs some help. I hope the game magazine replies

  • Sephiroth99000

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 1:21 pm PT

    Oh dear. I guess figuring out a game faq is beyond her. as is an in-game map. That is too funny. I wonder how the writer will respond.

    I hate to just dismiss people who are genuinely interested in learning about games, but when you can't find Tom Nook's store in Animal Crossing, I'm afraid there may be little hope.

  • MyChilds1stName

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 1:24 pm PT

    That is awesome.

  • MrCHUP0N Site moderator

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 1:28 pm PT

    I forget what Tom Nook's store looks like, but have her make extensive use of the map so that she can identify where buildings are in relation to her. At the very least, she'll be able to go door-to-door 'til she finds him. Tom Nook is a raccoon, so once she steps into the right building, she'll see a big raccoon greet her avatar with annoying dialog.

    She can sell her pocketful of fruit to Nook here, which will net her character its first bells. Tom will also probably ask her to complete a task for him, after which he'll pay her character more bells.

    I forgot how to write letters. I mean, I'd be able to do it if I had the game on me, but I can't recall the exact steps from memory. I do think she has to buy paper from the store, and *maybe* a pen, but I'm not entirely sure. I think you should be able to write a letter by selecting the paper from your inventory (Sub-menu pops up, yadda), but again, me no sure fo' sure.

  • SuperMooseman

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 1:29 pm PT

    If I recieved that letter, I'd think it was a prank or something!

  • DJD-sin4profit

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 1:34 pm PT

    My mother is currently obsessing over Rune Factory; she plays it all the time still despite maxing out her character and finishing the game. If yer mother's not into the "combat" that you "may" find in that game she could check out the Harvest Moon series sometime. That's my recommendation to'er.

  • sandlot76

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 1:38 pm PT

    That owns. Your mom rocks!

  • PER85

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 2:40 pm PT

    That was hilarious! I can just imagine the look on that poor dudes face when reading that helpless letter. Sorry, but I can't really provide any help though, never played that game. Tell your mom I said good luck and one day, maybe, just maybe.....she'll find Tom Nook's store.

  • REVOLUTIONfreak

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 2:49 pm PT

    lmao! I admit, that is pretty funny. It's also proof that Nintendo's casual revolution of sorts is actually working though.

  • TheBates

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 2:53 pm PT

    Hey, I remember your old Mom story- I wondered what became of her gaming habits! Get her a Wii for Christmas!

  • snuglytedybear

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 3:21 pm PT

    I would kill to have a mom with that problem. Savor it Carrie, savor it.

  • pikagwong

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 3:25 pm PT

    Your mom is so cute!

  • metalisticpain

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 3:55 pm PT

    aww lol

  • DiGiTaL_SiNs

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 4:00 pm PT

    so what! my mom plays tetris.

  • bossjimbob

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 4:38 pm PT

    LOL. That's awesome. My dad and I play Guild Wars a few times a week. It's pretty cool to party up with some strangers and then watch the drama unfold when I tell them that the butt-kicking warrior in the party is 63 years old.

  • Agreb91

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 5:32 pm PT

    That is so funny! Thanks for sharing Carrie.

  • FernandoDANTE

    Posted Dec 10, 2007 5:59 pm PT

    It's kinda mean to just publish an e-mail like that.

  • BettyBot

    Posted Dec 11, 2007 12:38 am PT

    Charmingly classic. Love your mom.

  • markB0SS

    Posted Dec 11, 2007 6:25 am PT

    lol, typical mum. I can get my parents to play Wii sports and back in day my dad use to actually kick my butt on Mortal Kombat, but thats mostly cause he'd pick Raiden and do the flying across the screen move over and over again. Years later its my fav move, like father like son.

  • JusticeCovert GameSpot staff member

    Posted Dec 11, 2007 9:26 am PT

    Too busy for your own mother Carrie? Whatever next?!

  • FreeBander

    Posted Dec 11, 2007 11:31 am PT

    That is Soo Funny hehe Bless Her Heart

  • Booticon

    Posted Dec 11, 2007 7:53 pm PT

    Your mom rules hard!

  • SlikNik27

    Posted Dec 11, 2007 9:37 pm PT

    Great story. It's awesome that she wants to learn to play the game so badly. My mom would've looked at it for 5 seconds and then given it to some kid.

  • I-Am-Revolution

    Posted Dec 12, 2007 5:58 am PT

    Your mom is cool. She single? No? Damn. Well, it seems a few people have answered her, and I haven't a clue about Animal Crossing either, so there ya go. Be a cool daughter and give your cool mom the cool information, so everything will be cool.

    Blah, I'm out of corny, so I'll cut it off here.

    -RvL

  • babstheyaris

    Posted Dec 12, 2007 10:16 am PT

    Dear Virginia, As an older gamer myself, I know exactly how you feel. I joined GS over 18 months ago and it is a brilliant place to find Walkthroughs & Guides not to mention quite a few good friends and Unions. I haven't tried Animal Crossing myself but I wish you luck in solving your problem.
    PS. You could try looking on one of the forums for help....it always works for me. Babs.

  • elitedead

    Posted Dec 12, 2007 3:15 pm PT

    Animal crossing rocks it took me ages to figure out what to do but then all came clear

  • JLuke360

    Posted Dec 14, 2007 4:23 pm PT

    That's very formal.

  • LuchE3n

    Posted Dec 16, 2007 12:22 pm PT

    Dear Virginia:
    Do a Barrel Roll!
    To do a Barrel Roll press "Z" or "R" twice.
    Peppy Hare.

  • f15srcool

    Posted Apr 28, 2008 6:41 am PT

    Ok, you need to get the coconuts from the 7th floor, and then put on your acid boots.

My Recent Ratings

Title Score
Stinger 10
Croc: Legend of the Gobbos 8.3
Jak II 7.3
Halo: Combat Evolved 9.0
Devil May Cry 9.4
Conker's Bad Fur Day 9.3
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 7.7
Aggressive Inline 8.6
Spirit of Speed 1937 2.0
Red Dead Revolver 6.5
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