Crafting fun out of the everyday is the charm of the Animal Crossing series - its towns entice players to eagerly return on a daily basis, despite already having to juggle reality's laundry list of obligations. Chatting with neighbors, paying off mortgages, tending the garden - these are the mundane activities that form the endearing heart of Animal Crossing, charmingly reflecting our real-life concerns.

The concept of players making themselves at home aligns with series creator Katsuya Eguchi's vision for the original Nintendo 64 game - his team was less concerned with making a game and more focused on making a second place to live. We spoke with Eguchi and Animal Crossing: New Leaf Director Aya Kyogoku at GDC, through a translator, about their vision for the franchise and how they hope to offer a secondary home for its player base.

http://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/27/an...for-the-world/