Big Buck Hunter

Lore & Background

Big Buck Hunter's concept came from Play Mechanix founder George Petro. After the release of Midway's Invasion: The Abductors in 1999, 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 handling the manufacture of the arcade machine. Incredible Technologies partnered with Play Mechanix to release the rest of the games until Call of the Wild in 2005. Needing financial support to make Big Buck Hunter Pro, the developers contacted Raw Thrills in January 2006. As part of the agreement, Play Mechanix continued to design the games, while Raw Thrills took over production and distribution.

Inspired by Duck Hunt, the game's goal is to shoot male animals as they run across the screen. The round ends after a period of time when all the male animals are killed or if some get away. If a player shoots a female animal, they are out. Each scene begins with a couple of animals walking without suspicions; after a first shot, the animals begin running. Big Buck Hunter is separated into five screens called 'treks'. A hunting session concludes in a bonus round. Players can participate solo or one on one using two plastic rifles. Points depend on factors like distance, weight, and accuracy. There are different states to choose from with animals like antelope or moose, and conditions from fog to snow, with 16 bonus rounds.

Big Buck HD, released in 2012, combined elements from Pro and Safari, featured 1080p resolution and online connectivity enabling matchmaking and tournaments. All Big Buck HD machines are networked to track player rankings through online leaderboards. Big Buck HD was the first edition to integrate Facebook and Twitter, allowing players to share and compare scores via social networks. The developers partnered with Anheuser-Busch InBev, offering a special permit that unlocks a 'Great White Buck' level, with proceeds donated to the National Forest Foundation.

Reader's Guide

Big Buck Hunter's significance lies in its long-running arcade presence and its pioneering use of networked tournaments. Beginning in 2008, a World Championship Tournament brought 64 people from around the world in an elimination format, with regional qualifiers in August and September and the finals held in cities like Chicago, New York City, Minneapolis, Austin, and Las Vegas. The tournament system evolved over time: starting in 2013, players were no longer divided by region but instead played five national tournaments themed to specific animals. The Ladies' Tourney was introduced in 2011 with its own qualifier. In 2018, Pro mode was introduced to allow easier World Championship qualification, using a Skill leaderboard based on top scores per trek, and a Wildcard leaderboard for cumulative scores. The series also saw home releases on iOS (2009), Windows 8 (2013), and consoles (2016), as well as an Arcade1Up cabinet announced in 2019 and released in 2020. The game's legacy includes its role in sustaining the arcade rail-shooter genre and its integration of social media and online leaderboards starting with Big Buck HD.

Did You Know?

• Big Buck Hunter was inspired by Duck Hunt.
• The World Championship Tournament began in 2008, bringing 64 players from around the world.
• A special 'Great White Buck' level was offered through a partnership with Anheuser-Busch InBev, with proceeds donated to the National Forest Foundation.

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