| Even though personal computers have been | | | | market, it caused quite a stir among hunting |
| around for a very long time, they really became | | | | enthusiasts as well as animal rights activists. In |
| popular in the 1980's and have evolved into | | | | fact, in many circles, the emergence of hunting |
| almost a necessity of life for many people. | | | | video games brought about much debate and |
| However, video games really began with the | | | | controversy. |
| invention of the Atari video game system which | | | | Those who enjoyed hunting in the "real world" |
| would eventually evolve into more in-depth and | | | | found these new games exciting and a great way |
| more powerful game systems. One of the | | | | to get some entertainment without leaving the |
| earliest hunting games developed was Duck Hunt | | | | comfort of their own home. They saw the |
| which was made for the Nintendo game system. | | | | games as a great way to be able to hunt animals |
| Duck Hunt required the use of a special Nintendo | | | | they might never be able to do in real life such as |
| Zapper light gun that plugged directly into the | | | | bears and moose. |
| system. Players would then wait for ducks to | | | | After all, the average Midwestern hunter sees |
| show up on the screen which looked like a field. | | | | plenty of deer on hunting expeditions, but their |
| When the ducks came along, they would point | | | | chances of hunting bear or elk is limited without a |
| and shoot. They were accompanied by a faithful | | | | trip someplace. |
| hunting dog who would laugh if the duck was | | | | On the other hand, animal rights activists threw a |
| missed and congratulate on a successful shooting. | | | | fit over these games because they perceived |
| The game also allowed players to shoot clay | | | | them as just another way to harm the animal |
| pigeons if they chose. | | | | population and promote violence against our furry |
| There was really no ending in the Duck Hunt | | | | friends. Even though the animals were just a |
| game, however there were playing levels. | | | | bunch of coding made up by a software |
| Depending on how good the player got, he or she | | | | programmer somewhere, they still felt that video |
| would advance up to 99 levels at which point, the | | | | games promoting hunting only added to the real |
| game would go to level 00. At that level, no | | | | hunting of animals which they perceived as wrong. |
| ducks would appear, but you would hear wings | | | | At any rate, the fact remained that hunting video |
| flapping. After three times of no ducks appearing, | | | | games took the market by storm and soon |
| the game would be "over". | | | | became some of the most popular selling games |
| After Duck Hunt, there were many other hunting | | | | and software around. Software developers began |
| video games that would begin to emerge on the | | | | to make these games much more challenging |
| market including Deer Hunter, Big Game Hunter, | | | | offering up different options for players that |
| and Dangerous Hunts. Most of these games | | | | would make the games more enjoyable. |
| began for video game consoles like Nintendo, but | | | | Today, there are hundreds of hunting video |
| the computer industry would soon become more | | | | games for enthusiasts to choose from that have |
| and more involved as these games began to rise | | | | evolved into truly challenging games. Some may |
| in popularity. While opinions vary as to which | | | | think that a point and click game where you can |
| hunting video game was the first one developed | | | | "down" a virtual deer might be a bit boring, but |
| for the home computer, many think that it was | | | | those who love these games disagree |
| called "The Hunting Game" and was made by | | | | wholeheartedly. |
| Oquirrh Productions. The Hunting Game allowed | | | | They provide not only entertainment, but also a |
| players to hunt for mule, deer, elk, and white tail | | | | way to hone their hunting skills at any time of the |
| deer from 48 separate locations. You were | | | | day or night. When you spend a certain amount |
| allowed to use a rifle, a bow, or a muzzle loader | | | | of time honing your tracking skills on the |
| to hunt your prey. You also could hunt for turkey | | | | computer, chances are pretty good that you'll be |
| or water fowl from 18 separate locations. | | | | able to use those skills while hunting for real. |
| When The Hunting Game first came onto the | | | | |