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Become the Ultimate Poacher
by Ian Bogost February 21, 2004

Developer Exileworks announces Poacher, the wild game trader game. From the developer website:

You fight and struggle your way through the African Congo to the deep jungles of India as you hunt for the most famous of endangered species; all the while avoiding and battling the dreaded Game Wardens.  Poacher is a free form game that allows the player to choose their hunting grounds, and to upgrade their character as time goes by. You control your destiny as you plot your way through some of the most dangerous places in the world. You must avoid capture and defeat the Game Wardens who constantly attempt to capture or kill you! Trade your goods on the black market to gain more money and power!

Last year's IGF Grand Prize winner was Wild Earth, in which the player is a photo journalist taking photos of big game in their natural habitats. Poacher appears to be a satire of this game and the popular big game hunter games like Deer Hunter. Poacher should note that both it and Wild Earth are independently developed and distributed. Conservation groups who might disapprove of the former or approve of the latter should take note, and consider stepping up...

(Thanks to Matteo)

Comments (3)

awesome :)

I'm not so sure... Do we REALLY want to support the killing of endangered animals?

I personally think the opposite, but MAYBE the game is so hard it's not finishable and so it teaches the players that poaching isnt a prosperous means of making a living.... just maybe...

Anyone want to make a game about an animal revolution !?