The new Animal Crossing: City Folk game for the Wii console has launched, allowing players to move into fun communities, customize their surroundings and interact with hundreds of animal characters. The world is filled with possibilities, and players never run out of things to do. They can collect more than 2,400 items like shells, fossils and bugs, or design new clothing patterns that they can share with their friends.

The new "city" area of the game provides access to the latest fashions and offers players the ability to give their character a Mii makeover at the hair salon, which transforms the character's features to look like the player's Mii. Players can also put items up for auction in the city and bid on items others want to sell.

Up to four people can create characters and move into the same town. And using the Wii Speak accessory, players can voice chat with friends and family members around the world. The microphone sits atop the TV set and captures the voice of everyone in the room, providing for a more communal experience. People can now get together to chat with their distant loved ones, which is especially meaningful when they can't be together for the holidays. The microphone can also be used with the upcoming Wii Speak Channel, which launches in December.

The Animal Crossing: City Folk calendar passes in real time, so climates along with bugs and fish change with the seasons. Players can catch fireflies in the summer or celebrate Harvest Festival in the fall. If players use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to meet up with friends in other countries, they will experience the holidays native to the friends' cultures.

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