Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp[lower-alpha 2] is a 2017 free-to-play social simulation mobile game in Nintendo's Animal Crossing series for iOS and Android devices. It was released in Australia in October 2017 and worldwide the following month. The game continues the series of social simulations that allow players to interact with a small campsite with various campers, performing small tasks, engaging in commerce, and decorating living spaces.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Kazuyoshi Sensui[1]
Producer(s)Hideki Konno[1]
SeriesAnimal Crossing
EngineUnity
Platform(s)Android, iOS
Release
  • AU: October 25, 2017
  • WW: November 21, 2017
Genre(s)Social simulation
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay
See also: Gameplay of Animal Crossing

Animal Crossing is a series of social simulation video games in which players customize their avatars' living spaces and communities by trading materials and favors for decorative items.[2][3] In Pocket Camp, the player decorates a campsite in lieu of a town, and gathers materials such as wood and cotton from the surrounding area to trade for furniture orders.[2] The player-character befriends neighboring animal characters, who can visit the player's campsite, as can other human players both invited and at random.[2] The player's avatar can travel to multiple locations, such as Sunburst Island or Saltwater Shores, and a marketplace that sells furniture and avatar clothing. The player's customization options extend to their avatar's gender, facial traits, and recreational vehicle abode.[2]

Neighbors in nearby "recreation sites" reward the player with crafting materials for completing requests. A local craftsman, the alpaca Cyrus, turns these resources into furniture, pools, and new locations. The player can attract specific neighbors by placing their favorite furniture at the campsite. Each visit increases that relationship's experience level, in a new game mechanic for the series. Akin to previous games, the player can fish and pay off a debt on their home.[3]

In lieu of the villager interaction seen in previous titles, Pocket Camp takes a complex look at the villager relationship system. Each villager has a specific relationship level that is increased by performing tasks and chatting with them each day. The player is then rewarded with furniture and clothing representative of the villager's aesthetic.

The mobile game features optional microtransactions that can be purchased to improve gameplay. Compared to the main series games, a new currency, Leaf Tickets, are obtainable within the game or through microtransactions, which the player can use to reduce in-game timers or to craft without raw materials.[2][3] The player accrues Leaf Tickets by completing in-game tasks or buying the currency outright through the real-world app store. The player can also trade Leaf Tickets for special event furniture, which attracts specific characters to the player's campsite.[4] The game's developer plans to introduce seasonal events and furniture with limited availability.[2] In addition to Leaf Tickets, the game features purchasable fortune cookies that reward randomized items depending on type of fortune cookie.[5]

Reoccurring events

There are several events in the game that are repeated with similar game-play elements and different rewards. These include but are not limited to:

  • Fishing tournaments
  • Garden events
  • Scavenger hunts

These events generally last about a month and features a microtransaction element to speed up the rewards for the event. They tend to stay simple and do not stray too far from what is required to efficiently participate in each event.

Development and history

Nintendo planned a mobile game in its Animal Crossing series among the company's first smartphone releases, as announced in early 2016.[6] The Animal Crossing series was selected for its wide demographic reach.[7] The mobile game was originally scheduled for release later that year but was later delayed,[8] as Nintendo prioritized its release of Super Mario Run.[9] Over the next year, Nintendo experimented with microtransactions in the mobile Fire Emblem Heroes.[10] On October 25, 2017, Nintendo revealed Pocket Camp during a Nintendo Direct presentation as its fourth mobile app.[6][10] It was released in Australia the same day for iOS and Android platforms,[11] and was released worldwide in 41 other countries on November 21, 2017.[4][12] An update in December 2017 brought limited edition Christmas-themed items, such as Santa Claus outfits and Christmas trees.[13]

Nintendo's concerns over the loot box gameplay present in Pocket Camp led to the decision to revoke access to downloading or playing the game for Belgium users, starting from August 27, 2019.[5][14]

Reception

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp received "mixed or average" reviews, according to review aggregate Metacritic.[15] Praise was given by Polygon for the game's approach to introduce mobile players to the gameplay of the main series games, although the results were somewhat mixed over the time-dependent gameplay.[18] Polygon described the tutorial to be too overly extensive, but welcomed the concept of organizing and completing various activities according to real-time.[18]

By September 2018, the game had grossed $50 million .[19] As of April 2020, the game has grossed over $150 million worldwide.[20]

Accolades

Less than a week before its worldwide release, the game won the award for "Studio of the Year" (Nintendo EPD) at the 2017 Golden Joystick Awards;[21] after it was released, it was nominated for "Best Mobile Game" in IGN's Best of 2017 Awards.[22] In Game Informer's Reader's Choice Best of 2017 Awards, it took the lead for "Best Simulation Game".[23] It was also nominated for the A-Train Award for Best Mobile Game at the New York Game Awards 2018,[24] for "Mobile Game of the Year" at the 2018 SXSW Gaming Awards,[25][26] and for "Mobile Game of the Year" at the 2018 Golden Joystick Awards.[27][28] At the Famitsu Awards, it won the Excellence Prize.[29]

Notes
  1. Additional work by DeNA
  2. Animal Forest: Pocket Camp (Japanese: どうぶつの森 ポケットキャンプ, Hepburn: Dōbutsu no Mori Poketto Kyanpu)

References
  1. Weber, Rachel (December 20, 2017). "Nintendo explains how it added microtransactions to Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp without pissing me off". GamesRadar. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  2. O'Brien, Lucy (October 24, 2017). "Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is Coming to Mobile in November". IGN. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  3. Frank, Allegra (October 24, 2017). "Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp for mobile out next month". Polygon. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  4. Frank, Allegra (October 25, 2017). "Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp trades two fan faves for in-game cash". Polygon. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  5. Hood, Vic (May 21, 2019). "Nintendo is shutting down Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp in Belgium due to loot box regulation concerns". techradar.com. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  6. Frank, Allegra (October 23, 2017). "Animal Crossing mobile to be revealed in Nintendo Direct this week". Polygon. Archived from the original on October 23, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  7. Vincent, Brittany (May 2, 2016). "Why Nintendo chose 'Animal Crossing' over 'Mario' for mobile". Engadget. Archived from the original on June 6, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  8. Frank, Allegra (September 12, 2017). "Animal Crossing on mobile may be MIA, but its not forgotten". Polygon. Archived from the original on September 15, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  9. Frank, Allegra (September 7, 2016). "Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem mobile games won't make it out this fall (update)". Polygon. Archived from the original on January 26, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  10. Reilly, Claire (October 24, 2017). "Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp coming to mobile in November". CNET. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  11. Walker, Alex (October 25, 2017). "Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Is Available Now". Kotaku Australia. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  12. Iggy (October 25, 2017). "Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Launching In 41 Countries This November". Nintendo Soup. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  13. McCarthy, Caty; Cryer, Hirun; Orry, Tom (December 5, 2017). "Animal Crossing Pocket Camp Holiday Event Guide – Themed Items and Furniture". USgamer. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  14. Ivan, Tom (May 21, 2019). "Nintendo shutting down selected mobile games in Belgium". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  15. "Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  16. Dornbush, Jonathon (November 15, 2017). "Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Review". IGN. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  17. Hodapp, Eli (November 21, 2017). "'Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp' Review – Tom Nook Always Gets His". TouchArcade. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  18. Frank, Allegra (November 21, 2017). "Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is a reminder of the series' key trait". Polygon. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  19. Nelson, Randy (September 6, 2018). "Nintendo's Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Revenue Has Reached $50 Million Worldwide". Sensor Tower.
  20. Chapple, Craig (May 5, 2020). "New Horizons Drives Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp's Best Month Ever as Title Surpasses $150 Million Lifetime Revenue". Sensor Tower. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  21. Gaito, Eri (November 13, 2017). "Golden Joystick Awards 2017 Nominees". Best in Slot. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  22. "Best of 2017 Awards: Best Mobile Game". IGN. December 20, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  23. Cork, Jeff (January 4, 2018). "Reader's Choice Best Of 2017 Awards (Page 4)". Game Informer. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  24. Whitney, Kayla (January 25, 2018). "Complete list of winners of the New York Game Awards 2018". AXS. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  25. McNeill, Andrew (January 31, 2018). "Here Are Your 2018 SXSW Gaming Awards Finalists!". SXSW. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  26. IGN Studios (March 17, 2018). "2018 SXSW Gaming Awards Winners Revealed". IGN. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  27. Hoggins, Tom (September 24, 2018). "Golden Joysticks 2018 nominees announced, voting open now". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  28. Sheridan, Connor (November 16, 2018). "Golden Joystick Awards 2018 winners: God of War wins big but Fortnite gets Victory Royale". GamesRadar+. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  29. Brian (April 27, 2018). "Famitsu Award 2017 winners announced". Nintendo Everything. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
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