Spilt
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What happens when you mash up Animal Crossing: New Horizons with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit? You'll find out in this dark and delightful episode of Tiny Island Diary with Dr. Emily Flynn-Jones, creative director of indie game development firm Killjoy Games.
Inspired by a piece by Gabby DaRienzo, Emily discusses unique ways in which our tiny islands give us space to mourn in this very strange time. But wait, there's more: ACNH is versatile enough to create an entire world of, say... witchcraft.
Taking ACNH to dark places makes sense when you add up some of the creepy features Nintendo built into the game. From your first invitation to Harv's remote island (he just wants to take your picture, really!) to a Happy Home Academy rep watching you while you sleep, there are lots of clues that, under the surface, ACNH is designed to follow you to whatever weird, wild, fantastical, complex place you want to create in the game. (Lava pit wedding, anyone?)
Emily has found the Animal Crossing channel on the Wholesome Games Discord to be helpful for links, resources, player tips, and artwork inspired by ACNH.
This episode was recorded on Saturday, August 1, 2020.
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Season 1 continues with guest Ash Hall, for whom #ACNH is a welcome reprieve from heaviness in their personal activism, professional work, and the pandemic-influenced world at large. Ash and I met as progressive activists and community organizers in Austin, Texas. While Ash has been a generous collaborator, patient teacher, and steady guide in our activism, it is a bonus to share a fondness for Animal Crossing and to see their values cultivated on their tiny virtual island.
In this episode of Tiny Island Diary, we explore the psyche of grouchy villagers, marvel over the accuracy of wardrobe suggestions the game makes for us, and laugh over the many in-game puns, both clever and questionable. I'm reassured to learn I'm not the only person who thinks in-game swimming is fantastic, and we appreciate the remarkable detail that Nintendo programmed into this remarkable game.
One of Ash's favorite ACNH resources is the Facebook group Animal Crossing New Horizons Friend Codes & Community, almost 100,000 members strong, and available for you to join if you're also on Facebook.
Ash and I mused about what might be coming and going in the August update, and after our recording, I found this update, courtesy of IGN.
This episode was recorded on Sunday, July 26, 2020.
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The first season of Tiny Island Diary starts strong and sweet, like guest William Shipley, a violinist and violin teacher near Boston, MA. I met William a few years ago on Instagram, and we recently discovered our mutual appreciation for #ACNH.
In this episode, he shares how #ACNH offers safe escape during COVID times, what it was like to celebrate a pandemic birthday on his tiny island, and why Sable is the true OG hustler. I start to realize how popular my villager Sherb really is, and we hear from William how different it is to evaluate Redd's art offerings when your real-life partner is an oil painter and studied fine art in college and pretty much knows every item on Redd's ship. (Busted!)
In prepping for this recording, I watched part of an emulator let's-play of the original Animal Crossing for GameCube, which was the only other game from the series that William has played. And the two sources that William goes to for all things #ACNH are Kang Gaming and RyanFTW (both also on YouTube).
This episode was recorded on Friday, July 17, 2020.
