The other day I booted up the original Gamecube Animal Crossing after neglecting it for over eight years. I was disappointed at the lack of devastation I was expecting. Other than the creepy, stalker-ish messages from the townsfolk ("It's been 493 weeks since you last talked to me. I was beginning to wonder if you hate me."), it's pretty much the same as if you left the game for a few weeks. No massive fields of weeds, no cockroach armies, even my gold statue was still sparkling when I emerged into the sun. My favorite one was talking to someone I had promised to deliver an item to. He was disappointed that I was a little late, but was still happy I finished the job. One would think that after eight years, he would just go get it himself.