| A tranquil lake. The sound of rippling water. | | | | This game was next as Atari launched the |
| Waves lulling you to sleep as they slap | | | | first fishing game with any hint of realism. |
| against the sides of your small boat. The | | | | Using a color display and blocks, the Fishing |
| sound of leaves rustling in some far off | | | | Derby was played using an Atari Joystick. |
| distance. The smell of damp earth. A moment | | | | |
| later, a sharp tug at the end of the pole is | | | | 3. Fishing by Gakken |
| felt. Man then pits his strength and cunning | | | | |
| against one of nature's most slippery | | | | LCD/LED was introduced to the scene by Japan. |
| creatures. Ah, the joys of fishing. | | | | In 1981, Gakken released it's small, |
| | | | electronic, hand held fishing game. |
| But then, not all people have the time nor | | | | |
| the inclination to travel a long way to | | | | 4. Virtual Fishing (1997) |
| experience said joys. Fear not. I present to | | | | |
| you, computer fishing games! | | | | In the middle of the 1990's, computer |
| | | | monitors leveled up. They became bigger, |
| With the vast technological advancements we | | | | clearer and more colorful. Graphics became |
| are enjoying right now, the world of the | | | | more and more realistic and appealing. |
| computer fishing game has become more fun, | | | | Fishing games, of course, upped their |
| more exciting and more challenging. | | | | standards by producing better quality games |
| | | | for the DOS interface. |
| Change is brought about by the advent of such | | | | |
| features such as a wide variety of fishes to | | | | 5. TNN Tournament of Champions |
| choose from, realistic actions and events, | | | | |
| cool underwater scenes and beautiful color | | | | Made for the consoles Super Nintendo and Sega |
| displays. The player is introduced to | | | | Genesis, the TNN Tournament of Champions was |
| lifelike sound effects and an interesting | | | | made using help from various professional |
| assortment of game equipment. | | | | fishermen and manufacturers of tackles. |
| | | | |
| The appearance of the life like fishing rod | | | | 6. Sega Bass Fishing Duel |
| used as the game controller revolutionized | | | | |
| the scene. With sensors mounted on the ends, | | | | With the release of Playstation 2, Sega |
| the player can actually feel the vibrations | | | | launched the Sega Bass Fishing Duel last |
| and forces acting upon his line as the | | | | 2002. The use of joysticks heightened the fun |
| virtual fishes struggle to break loose from | | | | as vibrations and shakes were included in the |
| his hook's trap. | | | | features. |
| | | | |
| Indeed, virtual fishing has come from a long | | | | 7. Wireless Fishing Games |
| way. From the old DOS discs to the dynamic | | | | |
| game consoles we have today, the industry of | | | | Using their cell phone, the player can choose |
| computer fishing games may have faltered a | | | | of lure and a location anywhere in Japan and |
| few times but for now, it's still going | | | | try to catch the fishes. A ring or a |
| strong. | | | | vibration of his phone would signal a catch. |
| | | | |
| Let's take a look back at the path virtual | | | | The arrival of newer and more sophisticated |
| fishing has taken. | | | | game consoles would probably never end. Thus, |
| | | | the market for games such as fishing games |
| 1. Gone Fishing by William Engel | | | | will always be open for developers as the |
| | | | market demands more from them. The evolution |
| Made by Radio shack in 1977 for the TRS 80 | | | | of computer games therefore, from the ancient |
| Model I, Gone fishing is the first of its | | | | Gone Fishing to high end virtual simulators, |
| kind. | | | | will continue and will still be enjoyed by |
| | | | adult and youngsters alike for a long time to |
| 2. Fishing Derby by David Crane | | | | come. |
| | | | |