So, I hear you spent a lot of time at home during the quarantine. Same here – I was getting out, though, here and there. Chatting with neighbors, planting flowers, even travelling via plane – all from the comfort of my own home!
Like the vast majority of Nintendo Switch owners, I’ve been playing Animal Crossing New Horizons since it released back on March 20th. While I can say without a doubt that no one is enjoying living through a pandemic, finding little social loopholes like Animal Crossing has made it a little more bearable. For those who aren’t familiar, Animal Crossing is a franchise started by Nintendo in 2001. Since then, the franchise has had 4 additional main titles, 3 spin offs, and even an animated movie. Much like The Sims, Animal Crossing is considered to be a “social simulation” game. However, unlike The Sims, you and the friends you may be playing with in the game are the only humans. All the non player characters are anthropomorphic animals.
Animal Crossing New Horizons brings you to a deserted island, starting you off with two “villagers” – these are your first neighbors. Throughout the game, you recruit more villagers to move to your island, build DIY furniture, bolster the local economy by selling and buying items, creating patterns for clothes, and so much more! Animal Crossing New Horizons also lets you connect with friends anywhere in the world – all things we’d love to be doing in person during a quarantine if we were able. Playing the game got me thinking – while there’s a lot of things in the game I do in real life, it simulates a lot of things I don’t do that I could do if I learned about them. I compiled some e-books that mirror what you can do in the game that you can do in real life! Read up now so you’ll be ready to set down the Switch and go pick up some shells in the real world – when we’re able.
Bug Hunter by David Burnie
Foraging Washingon: Finding, Identifying and Preparing Edible Wild Foods by Christopher Nyerges
Spirals in Time: The Secret Life and Curious Afterlife of Seashells by Helen Scales
Basic Fishing: A Beginner’s Guide by Wade Bourne
Homemade Modern: Smart DIY Designs for a Stylish Home by Ben Used
Design-it-yourself Clothes: Patternmaking Simplified by Cal Patch
Collecting Rocks, Gems & Minerals: Easy Identification – Values – Lapidary Uses by Patti Polk
Stargazing Basics:Getting Started in Recreational Astronomy by Paul Kinzer
~posted by Jaz W.
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