Overview of the Preview

Famitsu DS+Wii gave a little booklet with some hints and overview of the game, even some spots to fill in information on your own about characters, villagers, bugs, fish, fossils, etc. 

There was an 18 page preview and this is a summary/translation of what was included

=Controls=
Circle pad to move

Run with B (also with L or R)

A is to do various actions
-shake trees
-use tools
-investigate things
-Talk to animals
-Open doors
-Read the billboard
-Hold A and use the circle pad to move furniture in your house

Y button
-Pick up objects
-Pick flowers
-Pull weeds
-Pick up furniture
-Fill in a hole

L+R will take screenshots

===

Because it's such an open and free lifestyle, it explains the basics for people who don't know what the should be doing

-Things you can do anywhere-

=Talk with the villagers=
From chit-chats to useful information, tons of different types of topics.
If you become friends with the villagers, you can be invited over to their house or even receive letters from them.

-Sometimes they will tell you things that will help you

""Use your shovel and try digging where there is a suspicious looking star on the ground!""

-Can be asked to do things for them, if you do them, they will give you something to say thank you

""I really want to eat some fruit right now! Could you bring me a fruit? doesn't matter what kind.""

-When talking to villagers, their expectation level will rise, raising your "Mayor Points"
This will have an effect on you public works, so be sure to collect them

""Shizue: From the new mayor survey, you've reached...100 points!""

===

=Collecting Items=

You can pick fruits growing on trees by shaking trees and pick up items off the ground. Lots of things to collect in the village. The items you pick up can be sold at a store to build up some cash.

Awhile after fruits are picked, new ones will grow on the tree. Snag them and sell them off.

Even if there is no fruit, there is a chance items or bells can fall, but there is also a chance a bees hive can drop as well.

You can pick up shells and coral along the shoreline. What items you can get depends on the location.

=Checking Letters in the Mail=
There are times when letters will arrive in your mailbox outside your house.
There are also letters with presents attached so be sure to check your mailbox.

Be aware if your mailbox is full then you can no longer receive letters

You can use stationary to write a letter and choose who to send it to. Take your letters to the post office to have them sent out.
You can also attach presents to your letters.

=Start of the game=
1) The game begins with you on a train. A warm welcome awaits for you in your new village.
You are confused with someone else and suddenly appointed mayor!

2) They start talking about how you need a place to live before you can start you job as mayor, so now you need to pick where to build your house.
You walk around the village with Tanukichi and pick a location.

-Note- Before you pick a location you can hear little info like, "It's close to the shopping center so a convenient location" or, "There's a river near by so a good spot for people who love to fish or nature!"

3)Your first job.
After you pick your house, you will return back to city hall and get started on your first job. After you place the village's symbol tree is when your open and free village life begins.

-Note-
You can hear advice from Shizue in city hall that will be helpful to your village life. If you're not sure what to do, try asking Shizue.

The symbol tree will grow as the village develops.

4) You may have picked a place to live, but you will first be living in a tent. You have to pay a deposit before construction can even start.
So first need to find ways to earn cash in the village to gather enough for the deposit.

Sell the items you've collected for cash!
Recycle shop will buy items from you.

First gather some fruit and shells till you earn enough to buy tools like a net or shovel and use those.

If you buy tools, the amount of items you can collect will increase, making it easier to earn money.

5) After you pay the deposit, your house will be finished the next day and your house life can finally begin.
After you get support from the villagers, you can start you job as mayor. This is where building your village really starts.

===

-City hall-
Open 24hrs
Things you can do here:
-Develop the village through public works
-Change/set village rules
-Create the village melody

If you pick, "Village that doesn't sleep," you can extend the hours of shops to stay open till late at night
(9am to 11pm >> 9am to 2am)

After a project is finished, the villagers and you will throw a commemorative ceremony.

One way to speed up completion of a project is call a friend over to your village and have them donate. If you have a lot of friends help out, should be close to finishing a project in no time.

-Turnips-
Joan comes every Sunday morning selling turnips.
Sell these at the recycle shop. Price changes everyday so try to sell when the price is higher than when you bought them. Turnips only last 1 week.

-Fishing tournament-
Take the fish you catch to Chip. If you bring the largest fish then you will win a prize.
You can bring him as many fish as you want before time is up. He will tell you little known facts about the fish you bring him."