For the most part Management’s first trimester went well, beyond some sickness and our learning about the bizarre changes and sensations she’ll experience while pregnant we have weathered the emotional turbulence of these opening days. Stress levels, though, are high. Between preparing financially for our child, Management’s finals, and the tedium of being office drones we find ourselves increasingly frayed. What’s the solution?

Well, earlier in the year Management discovered Myer’s Dark Rum and Hosmer Ginger Beer made for a potent anti-stress cocktail, particularly when it was paired with Captain Morgan’s Coconut Rum and Hosmer Pineapple Soda. However, seeing as on occasion she might need to operate heavy machinery or hold a conversation without slurring it seemed like another solution should be found and the arrival of the baby hastened that decision. To address that dilemma in stepped Animal Crossing.

We had picked up this game in the waning months of my MBA when I was sleeping less than four hours a night having been rendered a quivering, snappish wreck from non-stop research and writing for some twenty months straight. The game was a welcome respite with its bite sized open ended game play that centers on collecting bug, fossils, fish and artwork with the easy going tasks of decorating your house and manicuring the grounds of the town. Nothing to kill and nothing trying to kill you. The only horror was being stung by a bees whilst shaking down trees for Bells (Animal Crossing’s currency) or loosing it all in a misplaced trade on the Turnip market.

That summer we sunk some 300+ combined hours into the game finally succumbing to burnout in late September. It was the greatest single return on investment we have had with a game. Typically our return is around $1-2 per hour of gaming but in this case we had it down to an astounding $0.16 per hour but with the recent return to playing it we will likely see that number drop below $0.10.

What keeps us coming back to it? In short, it is one of the most creative time wasters devised. The simple game play elements are devious as you find yourself being drawn back to catch that elusive fish or seasonal bug. Not wanting to miss out on some town event you find yourself marking your meatspace calender with fictitious holidays. Stress bleeds away with the quirky and upbeat music and though conversations with the animals can become repetitive (I’m talking to you, Blathers) their light hearted humor and hypnotic animal-speak have a charming effect. Life just feels better after a half-hour session with Animal Crossing, even if Tom Nook is a total crook.

Though it is only hinted at being in the conceptual stages at the moment we both are eagerly anticipating the sequel on the Wii and hope that it will follow soon after the launch.  With the stresses of parenthood to arrive in the very near future I could use an island vacation, even if it is only on a DS.