Fishing for the Next Deer Hunter

The success of GT's Deer Hunter not only validated the sport hunting sim genre of computer games, it seems it has also established the price point for such titles.

Witness Head Games Publishing's Zebco Pro Fishing 3D, announced by the company Monday. It sports a suggested retail price of US$19.99, the same as Deer Hunter.

(I can hear the sports sim naysayers now: "Sure, you can sell a sporting sim for 20 bucks, but how about one that's worth $40? Anyone? Anyone?")

Zebco Pro Fishing 3D lets players cast their virtual lures into a 3D lake (stocked with bass, walleye, crappie, perch, and sunfish) that features three difficulty levels. The game sports more than 45 different rod-and-reel combinations and 50-plus lures to choose from. Pro Fishing 3D features a Zebco guide for hot fishing tips, a live well for viewing catches, and the sure-to-be-popular BAIT CAM.

The Zebco name gives Head Games' title some extra cachet as well. Dan Hammett, president of Head Games, said of the title, "We are pleased that Zebco had the foresight to become the first manufacturer in the $108-billion fishing industry to team up with a recognized software publisher to expand brand awareness via a PC CD-ROM game. We've incorporated actual Zebco equipment throughout the game, tips from aZebco fishing pro, and a hot link directly to the Zebco web site."