Even though personal computers have been around for a long time, they really became popular in the 1980s and have almost become a necessity of life for many people. However, video games really began with the invention of the Atari video game system, which would eventually evolve into deeper and more powerful gaming systems. One of the first hunting games developed was Duck Hunt, which was created for the Nintendo gaming system.
Duck Hunt required the use of a special Nintendo Zapper light gun that plugged directly into the system. Players would then wait for ducks to appear on the screen that looked like a field. When the ducks came, they took aim and shot. They were accompanied by a faithful hunting dog who would laugh if the duck was missed and congratulate them on a successful shot. The game also allowed players to shoot clay if they wished.
There was really no ending to the Duck Hunt game, however there were levels of play. Depending on how good the player is, they will advance up to 99 levels, at which point the game will go to level 00. At that level, no ducks will appear, but you will hear the flapping of wings. After three times without ducks appearing, the game “would be over”.
After Duck Hunt, there were many other hunting video games that would start to emerge on the market, including Deer Hunter, Big Game Hunter, and Dangerous Hunts. Most of these games started out for video game consoles like Nintendo, but the computer industry would soon become more and more involved as these games began to gain popularity. While opinions vary as to which hunting video game was first developed for the home computer, many believe it was called “The Hunting Game” and was created by Oquirrh Productions. The hunting game allowed players to hunt mules, deer, elk, and whitetail deer in 48 different locations. You were allowed to use a rifle, bow, or muzzleloader to hunt down your prey. You can also hunt turkeys or waterfowl at 18 different locations.
When The Hunting Game first came out, it caused quite a stir among hunting enthusiasts and animal rights activists. In fact, in many circles, the appearance of hunting video games generated much debate and controversy.
Those who enjoyed hunting in the “real world” found these exciting new games and a great way to be entertained without leaving the comfort of their home. They saw the games as a great way to be able to hunt animals that they might never be able to in real life, like bears and moose.
After all, the average Midwestern hunter sees plenty of deer on hunting expeditions, but his or her chances of hunting bear or elk are limited without a trip somewhere.
On the other hand, animal rights activists were angry with these games because they perceived them as one more way to harm the animal population and promote violence against our furry friends. Even though the animals were just a bunch of coding created by a software programmer somewhere, they still felt that video games promoting hunting only added to the actual hunting of animals they perceived as wrong.
In any case, the fact remains that hunting video games conquered the market and soon became some of the most popular selling games and software. Software developers started to make these games much more challenging by offering different options for the players that would make the games more fun.
Today, there are hundreds of hunting video games for enthusiasts to choose from and they have become truly challenging games. Some may think that a point-and-click game where you can “knock down” a virtual deer might be a bit boring, but fans of these games disagree.
They provide not only entertainment, but also a way to hone your hunting skills at any time of the day or night. When you spend a certain amount of time honing your tracking skills on the computer, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to use those skills while hunting for real.