Big Buck Hunter is a hunting video game developed by Play Mechanix, Inc. Primarily developed for arcades, it centers on shooting up bucks without shooting a doe or female animal, thus ending the player's turn prematurely. The initial series of games from 2000-2006 operated on a single gun platform and allowed four players to compete round robin style through various treks and bonus stages. Big Buck Hunter Pro and Big Buck Safari introduced a two gun platform, allowing head-to-head competition in addition to a variety of new animals and critters to hunt.
Gameplay
Inspired by Duck Hunt, the game's goal is to shoot the male animals as they run across the screen. The round ends when a female one is shot. Each scene will begin with a couple of animals walking without any suspicions. After a first shot is done, the animals will begin running and the hunt starts. Big Buck Hunter is separated in five screens, also known as "treks". A hunting sessions concludes in a bonus round. The players can either participate solo or one on one by using two plastic rifles. How much points will be earned depends on certain factors like distance, weight and accuracy. There are different states to choose from with a variety of animals, like antelope or moose. The hunting can be done in different conditions varying from fog to snow, with overall 16 bonus rounds. All of the Big Buck HD machines are networked so they can track the players' rankings through online leaderboards. Big Buck HD was the first edition to integrate Facebook and Twitter. That allows players to share and compare scores and awards via social networks.
Tournaments
Big Buck Hunter game cabinets that have been connected to the CoinUp Network can support local and national tournaments. If a game cabinet is participating in a current tournament, the 'Tournaments' button will appear on the first Game Selection Screen. After selecting the Tournament button, the player can scroll through all tournaments currently playing on that game cabinet. The Big Buck Hunter National Tournament runs monthly. Players can find out about current tournament, prizes, participating locations and follow their tournament ranking at the Big Buck Hunter Website. Beginning in 2008, a World Championship Tournament was introduced. It brings in 64 people from all over the world in an elimination tournament, where the highest rated players in each region get to earn an invite for the event. Regional Qualifying tournaments occur in August and September, with winners advancing to the World Championship Tournament, which occurs every October in Chicago. On November 10, 2012, the Big Buck Hunter World Tournament was held in the Altman Building in New York City.
Development
Big Buck Hunter's concept came from George Petro, the Play Mechanix's founder, while thinking about what to do next with the company. Petro thought that hunting games were popular in homes but there was also a lack of those in arcades. He pitched the idea to the design team, and shortly after started developing the prototype with Incredible Technologies doing the manufacture of the arcade machine. Needing financial support to do an improved version of the game called Big Buck Hunter Pro, the developers contacted Raw Thrills in 2006. As a part of the agreement, Play Mechanic got a design role, while Raw Thrills took over the production and distribution. The game was intended for the adult drinking community, hence it was being marketed more to be used at than arcades.
Release
It spawned a series of new arcade versions including Big Buck Hunter Pro and Big Buck Safari. In 2012, Big Buck HD was released. It includes elements from both Big Buck Hunter Pro and Big Buck Safari in high-definition. In 2009, an iOS version of Big Buck Hunter Pro was released. Following that, an iOS version of Big Buck Safari was released in 2011. In 2016, the game was released as Big Buck Hunter Arcade for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 and then ported for Nintendo Switch in 2018. Play Mechanix also made a partnership with Tastemakers LLC in 2019, and both had announced that Big Buck Hunter Pro arcade will be part of Arcade1Up lineup in Fall 2020. The developers partnered with Anheuser-Busch InBev, offering a special permit that unlocks a special "Great White Buck" level. The money earned from purchases of those went to the National Forest Foundation to help preserving forests in the United States. Big Buck Hunter has sold around 7,500 units in 2006.
