Preview: Wild Earth [by Super X Studios]



Company's Name: Super X Studios
Game's Title: Wild Earth
Game's Expected Release Date: 4th Quarter 2003 or early 2004
Website: Wild Earth Website

One of the few games that I didn't get a chance to play prior to the IGF (International Games Festival) was the eventual winner, Wild Earth. Upon arriving at the show it became apparent from the never-ending stream of people checking Wild Earth out, that I would have to schedule my time well in order to speak with the game's creator James Thrush. I scheduled my Saturday at the GDC (Game Developer's Conference) around trying to meet Mr. Thrush in the morning, the first thing to be done that day. The time was very well spent, and Wild Earth was everything it appeared to be from afar.

The concept is somewhat simple. Comparisons have been made to Pokemon snap, and I understand why those comparisons are made, but still cringe every time someone says it. The purpose of Wild Earth is to take photos of wildlife. In the game, your are working as a wildlife photographer who is working with an experienced wildlife writer on a story. The pre-release demo that Super X Studios took the time to get to me is still very limited in what you can do. There is only one simple photo assignment that you are able to embark on and four animals that were available for photographing.

The game starts out by dropping you in the Serengeti in Africa. I have to stop and break out of the story line for just a moment here as saying you are dropped in the Serengeti while intriguing doesn't do justice to what is really going on. One of the high points of Wild Earth game will be its vivid graphics. The intent is to create an environment that makes you feel as if you are in the Serengeti without making you ever leave the comfort of your own home. Though it hasn't yet been finished, the graphics definitely show great potential to be finely detailed, and already look nearly photo-realistic. High quality graphics come at a cost though, and the heafty video requirements for the game, GeForce 4 or higher, will likely keep a portion of the potentially huge audience away from a game that they would otherwise have enjoyed. That is really unfortunate, and I hope that gamers make the necessary adjustments to their systems so that they are able to fully enjoy this game. After all, visiting Africa is a once in a lifetime experience.

As you start your assignment, the sun is just coming up over the mountains. Off in the distance you see trees popping out of the grassy savannah and distinct movement in the flowing wind-blown grass ahead of you. The journalist who will be writing the story comes in over your computer's speakers to tell you about the land you are in and the animals you are seeing. It is something like watching a documentary on the Discovery channel, except instead of watching, you are the one filming. You control your movement throughout the environment and are able to run or crouch in additon to being able to look every direction in the environment. As you move forward, your guide, will direct you to take photos of specific animals that you are seeing. More specifically he will help you to take photos of animals doing certain things. Each suggested photo is given to you as a goal, such as a goal of photographing Leopards running, or Zebras drinking. After taking a photo, you receive a score for your photograph and you will soon after receive a goal for your next photograph. The score is based on how well centered the animal is in your frame, and how much of the frame the animal fills without cutting any of the animal of the photograph. While you are working on taking the necessary photographs for the article, your guide will continue to run his commentary on the area you are in, and even after listening to it a couple of times, I still pieces of it fascinating and new.

After you complete your assignment, you the story is written up with your photos inserted. A webpage launches, that explains more about the area and has all the images that you were asked to take are mixed in with what looks something like a youngster's school report. Though some gamers may not enjoy this setup, the ability to play a game and have a fun learning experience at the same time is rare indeed, and I think it is going to be perfectly captured in this game.

My degree from college was in Conservation Biology. Perhaps it is that degree that has led me to be so excited about this game. When I first saw it at the GDC, I was sure it would be a hit, and I'm still confident that it will be bought up by a company such as Microsoft and offered to the mainstream audiences, as it has a lot to offer gamers of all ages. There is something exciting about running with the Zebras as you try to get the perfect photo to describe what is happening. The detail currenlty offered in the game is wonderful, and pictures of animals such as the Elephant will leave you thinking that you have taken a photo of a real animal at first glance.

For those who love photography, or biology, or learning in general, Wild Earth is a game to be watching and waiting for. It has undergone a couple of changes since I last saw it at the IGF, but not enough to make me think it will make it out by the end of the year, though I certainly hope it will. If it is available, it will certainly make a play for game of the year at this website in addition to its already well-earned IGF crown.