The video explores the business practices of Tom Nook, a character in the Animal Crossing video game series, who is often portrayed as a "crook" or "grifter" due to his high prices for houses and loans. However, by analyzing the game's data, the video concludes that Tom Nook is actually a shrewd businessman who offers fair prices for his properties.
To calculate the value of the houses in the game, the video uses the measurements of in-game items, such as TVs, to determine the size of the houses. This reveals that the houses are actually smaller than expected, with a total size of around 981 square feet.
Using real-world housing prices, the video estimates that the value of the house in the game would be around $490,500 in the Bahamas, but Tom Nook only charges 5.7 million bells, which is equivalent to around $42,000.
The video also explores the history of housing prices in the Animal Crossing series and finds that Tom Nook's prices have actually decreased over time, suggesting that he is not taking advantage of the player.
The video concludes that Tom Nook is not a crook, but rather a clever businessman who uses the player as a "loss leader" to attract other customers to the island. By offering a cheap house to the player, Tom Nook is able to increase the value of the island and attract more customers, allowing him to make a profit.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Tom Nook charges 5.7 million bells for a house in Animal Crossing.
2. The median price per square foot in the United States is $213.
3. The average price of a starter home in the U.S. in 2020 was $233,400.
4. The price per square foot in the Bahamas is over double that of the average U.S. home, at $500s per square foot.
5. The Nintendo Switch costs 29,980 bells in Animal Crossing.
6. The original price of the Nintendo Switch in the US was $300.
7. The original price of the Nintendo Switch in Japan was ¥29,980.
8. The exchange rate between yen and US dollars in 2020 was 1 yen = 0.9 cents.
9. The exchange rate between yen and US dollars in 2022 was 1 yen = 0.7 cents.
10. The value of 5.7 million bells is approximately $52,383.54 in 2020 and $42,000 in 2022.
11. The size of the house in Animal Crossing is 981 square feet or 91 square meters.
12. The value of the house in Animal Crossing is approximately $490,500.
13. Tom Nook gives a 50-inch TV for 3,210 bells.
14. A 50-inch TV is not actually 50 inches wide, but 44 inches wide.
15. The size of one grid square in Animal Crossing is 22 inches by 22 inches.
16. The original Animal Crossing for the Gamecube was released in 2001.
17. The price of the final house in the original Animal Crossing is 1,413,600 bells.
18. The average home price in the US in the year 2000 was $211,000.
19. The average home price in the US in 2020 was $383,000.
20. The island in Animal Crossing is 42 acres total.
21. The island in Animal Crossing is at risk of sea levels rising and coastal flooding.
22. The World project in Dubai is sinking back into the sea due to rising sea levels.