Animal Crossing Player Base
Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ big winter update was the cause of much celebration in November, as the new hair options meant that some Black fans could more fully depict themselves in-game. But what was meant to be an inclusive addition to the life simulator has turned contentious, especially as non-Black fans have started to appropriate and whitewash the hair options.
Player doll base - Animal Crossing - PDF File. Bec Sep 26, 2020. 5 out of 5 stars. Thank u, great pattern, easy to follow Purchased item: Player doll base - Animal. Nintendo Switch - Animal Crossing: New Horizons - The #1 source for video game models on the internet! Nintendo Switch - Animal Crossing: New Horizons - The #1 source for video game models on the internet! Nov 18, 2020 The last major Animal Crossing: New Horizons update of 2020 is almost here! The game gained a lot of traction right at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and has retained a large player base ever.
The issue came to a head when an Animal Crossing player on social media made the mistake of calling the new puffs “space buns,” a cutesy moniker used to describe hair styles popularized by stars like Ariana Grande. While that post may be the most-discussed instance of the controversy, discussions about whether or not non-Black players could don the new hairstyles — or if they were exclusively Black hairstyles at all — started promptly after Nintendo revealed they existed in the first place. Now that the hair is widely available, the conversation has largely focused on what the new options truly are, and what fans should call it.
This apparent confusion over the hairstyles has prompted some fans to explain that while the puffs may look like buns, if you zoom in, you’ll note that the new dos are textured differently than the standard options. Some went even further, noting that Animal Crossing has actually already depicted something like space buns in games like Pocket Camp, and they do not look like the new puffs in New Horizons.
for anyone who needs to know the difference between afro puffs and space buns, on and off the game pic.twitter.com/euKoNwowgV
— kai (@chillbending) November 21, 2020Racists calling the afro puffs space buns in animal crossing like we don't already have space buns that look like totally different textured hair pic.twitter.com/AoNSRW8RnT
— madANXiETY (129/300) (@MahouEcho) November 22, 2020LISTEN UP!! If the Afro buns Nintendo recently added to ACNH were space buns they would NOT be textured. They would look like the bun on the left. This isn’t “gatekeeping” a hairstyle. It’s as simple as, WHITE PEOPLE DON’T HAVE TEXTURED HAIR. They are not the same. pic.twitter.com/fCkvrCSjq8
— Nesreen ☾ (@lilbittysherb) November 21, 2020Part of what makes this a tired issue for some Black fans is that the series has taken a long time to acknowledge this segment of its user base. New Horizons as a whole is better than earlier iterations, which forced players who wanted to have a darker skin in-game to sun tan their characters for hours, if not wear masks, just to depict themselves in-game.
As critic Funké Joseph stated in Gamespot in June, “My villager can be me now, and I love that, but it took so damn long. It’s hard for me to even praise Nintendo for including it now when I, and so many others, needed it years ago. The bar for representation feels so dishearteningly low that companies are praised for including content that should have been there from [the] start; that we celebrate having our hair in a game as a ‘win,’ or having a black character that isn’t a stereotype as something innovative.”
Speaking to Polygon over Twitter regarding the space buns controversy, Joseph added, “It’s obviously a black hairstyle, something that people pushed hard to get in and the obvious trolls will say things like ‘space buns xP’ in a seemingly quirky way, but they know what they’re doing, who they’re erasing.”
On social media, reactionaries have taken this opportunity to buckle down on the issue, often posting pictures of white characters wearing the afro puffs as if in defiance. Opinions on that phenomenon differ; some Black players have proclaimed they have no issue whatsoever and don’t care what other fans wear in-game. The players Polygon spoke to for this story acknowledged that they can’t necessarily control what others will do. The potential problem is that, by calling them space buns, fans are erasing the context of a hard-won and long-overdue inclusion to the game.
“At least call them afro puffs if you must wear them,” says Animal Crossing fan Morgan, who has been enjoying the new update.
“So these people appropriated a hairstyle and renamed it so they could pretend it’s not a black style,” she continued in a Twitter message. Morgan told Polygon that since writing a tweet where she asked people to stop calling them space buns, she’s gotten harassed by users who point out that she has pronouns in her bio, among other things. This, in turn, has led Morgan to believe that it’s not really about Animal Crossing at all — some of the people arguing about the puffs may not even be players, but rather folks who bristle at the mere idea of racial inclusivity wherever it might appear.
This is just the latest battleground for observers who may not have any stakes in the larger Animal Crossing community. To wit, one moderator of the largest Animal Crossing community on the internet told Polygon that, in their forums, fans largely spoke of the issue respectfully, even if they disagreed with one another. Rather than becoming a firehose of harassment, discussions on the puffs faded away pretty quickly.
“I don’t like to give attention to users like that, though,” Joseph said of the space bun brigade. “I’m just happy these hairstyles are here for all my fam!!”
Earlier this week, we shared our picks of the 28 best single-player games to play while we all stay at home to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. If you prefer a bit of friendly competition, though, we’ve got you covered.
From the best Battle Royale games in 2020, to the top sports simulations, and everything in between, here are 33 of our favorite multiplayer video games to dive into while you’re stuck at home, with picks for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. Many of these games are free to play, so if you’ve got any one of those consoles or a PC, there’s going to be something for you!
Some other lists to check out:
The 33 best TV shows on Amazon Prime right nowThe 17 best sitcoms to stream on Hulu right now1. Call of Duty: WarzonePS4, Xbox One, PC
Call of Duty's second attempt at the Battle Royale genre has turned into a smash hit, as the game is a much more enjoyable blend of classic COD multiplayer action and BR mechanics. Best of all? It's free.2. Fortnite
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Fortnite has, for now, been supplanted at the top of the Battle Royale heap, but if you prefer a more cartoony look or you just enjoy frantically building structures, Fortnite is for you.3. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Platforms: Switch
The biggest and best Smash Bros. entry yet, with great online or local multiplayer play.4. Rocket League
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Turbo-charged car soccer. If that doesn't sound awesome already, I'm not sure what to tell you.5. Teamfight Tactics
Platforms: PC, Mobile
A League of Legends themed auto-battler that is accessible, deep, addiciting and free. Side note: League of Legends is also great on its own, but only if you're prepared to spend a LOT of hours learning the game.6. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Platforms: Switch
The best Mario Kart yet plays very well online with others.7. Apex Legends
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Another excellent free-to-play Battle Royale option.8. PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
If you're looking for a slower-paced and slightly more relistic Battle Royale option, PUBG is for you.9. FIFA 20
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
FIFA 20 has a wealth of multiplayer options, from various friendly options, to co-op seasons, to grindy Ultimate Team modes.10. NBA 2K20
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
The best (and only) basketball sim around, with plenty of options for regular online games, seasons, or park play.11. Madden NFL 20
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
It may be a while before we see actual on-field action, but you could always create or download the current draft class to get a head-start on Madden 21.12. Overwatch
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
A beloved hero-based shooter, but brace for the potential online toxicity.13. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Platforms: Switch
Animal Crossing is primarily a single-player game, but it's made much more enjoyable by interacting with your friends online. Visit their island, hang out together, send each other presents and live the good life.14. Overcooked 2
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
A brilliant cooking simulator that demands multiple players work in harmony to produce various dishes on a deadline. Great for in-home team building, or potentially for starting fights.15. Destiny 2: Shadowkeep
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
A unique shooter MMO with plenty of normal arena multiplayer modes on offer, Destiny 2 is at its best when you're playing with friends. If you can get three or four to start with you, you'll have a blast.16. Tom Clancy's Rainbox Six Siege
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
A deep, tactics-focused FPS where teamwork is paramount.17. World of Warcraft
Platforms: PC
It's one of the better times to revisit WoW if you're an old player, or start the journey for the first time if you've never played it. The newest expansion for modern WoW is set to release sometime in 2020, but a subscription also grants you access to WoW Classic if you prefer the OG MMO experience.18. Mario Party
Platforms: Switch
A great couch party game for up to four players, but sadly with no online play.19. Sea of Thieves
Platforms: Xbox One, PC
Role play as a pirate! Definitely best expeirenced with a few friends you know.20. A Way Out
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
A brilliant two-person co-op experience where you work together with another player to break out of prison.21. Minecraft
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, phones and tablets
Mine and craft to your heart's content alone or with pals.22. Grand Theft Auto V
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rockstar is still adding new things to do in GTAV Online, which now has heists, a casino, and most recently, open-wheel racing.23. Red Dead Redemption 2
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Or if you prefer your GTA-style game in a jaw-dropping western setting, Red Dead Online has made some major strides since launch.24. Borderlands 3
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Borderlands 3 offers some of the best campaign co-op you can find in 2020.25. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Platforms: PC
On the PC side, there's no better FPS than CS:GO.26. iRacing
Platforms: PC
You'll need to invest in a wheel and pedals, but if you love racing games, there's no better or more realistic online experience.27. Any Jackbox Party Pack
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Phones/Tablets
The GOAT party games, which allow for long-distance multiplayer with your friends using smart devices as controllers. Each party pack offers a different lineup of games, but you really can't go wrong with any of them.28. Mortal Kombat 11
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
All the gloriously over-the-top violent fighting action you could want.29. Street Fighter V: Champion Edition
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
… Or, if you want to avoid all the ridiculous gore of Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter30. Final Fantasy XIV
Platforms: PS4, PC
If you're a Final Fantasy fan who has never ventured into an MMO, FFXIV is a very accessible and highly polished entry that can be enjoyed solo or along with other people.31. Magic: The Gathering Arena
Platforms: PC
There are countless free-to-play card games vying for your attention, but my favorite of the bunch is Magic: Arena, which successfully made arguably the greatest collectible card game created more accessible than ever. Also consider: Legends of Runeterra.32. Halo: The Master Chief Collection
How Many Players Animal Crossing
Platforms: Xbox One, PCThis game had a troubled launch, but has since been fixed and is being revamped for PC. If you want to re-live the Halo 2 and 3 glory days, or play though all the campaigns with a friend, it's all here.33. The Division 2
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC