Deer Hunter II Ships

It doesn't look like anyone is going to underestimate the "casual gamer hunting enthusiast" market again anytime soon. In contrast to the release of its first Deer Hunter title, seemingly developed for and perhaps even reluctantly released to Wal-Mart after one of that chain's buyers posited that a hunting sim might, just maybe, perhaps, be able to sell a few copies, GT Interactive and its WizardWorks subsidiary are shipping more than 500,000 copies of the sequel to that game, the appropriately if not creatively titled Deer Hunter II.

The first Deer Hunter had easily sold that amount within six months of its release (it's currently over the one million mark), so GT's estimate of how many copies the game can sell probably isn't too far off the mark. Of course, the hunting sim market is much more crowded now than it was one year ago, when that first deer hunting title was released.

Sunstorm Interactive developed the 3D game for WizardWorks and GT; other advancements over the first game include "ultrarealistic deer behavior," enhanced weather effects, and new weapons. The game is endorsed by Minneapolis-based outdoor-oriented nonprofit organization Wildlife Forever, to which a portion of the game's US$19.95 price will be donated.