The Game for Birders
If games are to become what we hope of them--the predominant popular artform of this century--it is, of course, essential to expand the palette of the possible and address subjects and audiences of all kinds. Games are dominated by bombastic, dark, and often violent products aimed at a particular audience--and while we, of all people, have no objection to such games, we're also thrilled when an attempt is made to reach a different audience, with a different style of play.
The closest analog to Wildlife Explorer is, oddly enough, hunting games. You are in a 3D-modelled wilderness trying to find nicely rendered animals and--well, photograph rather than shoot them. As with hunting games, there's variety of equipment (unlocked as you progress), and 'trophies'--in this case, not antlers and the like, but in-game tracking of your "lifetime list" of observed birds, and saved photographs.
It's very much a contemplative, not "edge-of-the-seat" game, and probably won't be your thing unless you are a birder (or intrigued by the activity). But for those who are, there's much to like here: high-quality audio reproductions of bird calls (from which you can learn to recognize them, which may help in the real world) as well as detailed bird models that engage in a variety of real-world behaviors (e.g., flocking and feeding).
If birding is your thing, this is your game; if not, it may still be worth checking out, as a game on an unusual topic done well.
The developer says:
This unique new PC Game simulates birding in a virtual living world, where you track, spot & photograph a wide range of common and rare species of birds across locations in North America.
Whether you are fine-tuning your Birding skills from the comfort of your home, or using the game as a tool to introduce birders to the pleasures of bird watching, you'll enjoy the challenges of this game.
Features
- Identify and photograph 45 Species of Birds, realistically animated, including the elusive Ivory-billed Woodpecker.
- Explore 4 fully-interactive 3D Environments across North America, rendered using state-of-the-art graphics technology.
- Interact with dozens of birds as they go about their daily business - flocking, feeding, swimming, perching and hunting.
- Locate birds by ear. Train yourself to bird by ear using high quality real-world audio recordings.
- Track birds using stealth tracking techniques.
- Build up your Life List as you progress as a Bird Watcher towards the coveted title of Master Birder. Earn birder badges to mark your progress, unlock rare species & earn new equipment.
- A unique tool for introducing non-birders to birding – teach them how to use binoculars, familiarize them with common field markings, and even how to identify birds by call – all in the context of an entertaining game.
- Learn about the real behavior and habitats of common birds across North America.
- Engrossing family-friendly content makes this an ideal game for all ages.
- Hours of game play with easy-to-use mouse-driven interface.