43:. However, there are unique aspects and challenges to depicting animals within a game. The behavior and appearance of animals must be digitally recreated rather than simply recorded, a difficult task that may detract from other aspects of the game, leading to discussion on whether interactivity with animals should be prioritized. At the same time, many video game developers specifically seek to include animals in their games despite the additional work involved, sometimes due to personal interest in them.
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that can be used to get quickly from one place to another. They are often used as glorified tools that are a similar part of the player's arsenal as weapons and armor. While still memorable companions, they immediately acquiesce to the player's demands while not requiring anything in return. They are
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concessions are made to preserve a game's story and gameplay. For example, animals cannot be too skilled at hiding themselves or the player will have difficulty hunting them successfully, and they are typically restricted from entering certain places where they may disrupt important story moments.
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Realistic-seeming animals in a video game world are seen as critical for building player immersion and a very important part of worldbuilding, as a lack of them can cause the level to appear dull and lifeless. This becomes even more important when the game is set in a natural environment. However,
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Some games feature animals with realistic appearances but unrealistic behavior. A lot of them feature dogs or cats as the main character, but other animals get starring roles as well. These animals include deer, wolves, sharks, and foxes. Examples of this type of animal game include
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of the same name, and a movement to add greater interactivity to in-game animals. The meme resulted in some game designers adding petting mechanics, sometimes at the expense of other elements of the game. In particular, the lack of dog-petting seen in
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games revolve around animals that require similar care and attention as a real creature, and may even substitute for one, offering the feeling of pet ownership that one may not be able to experience in real life. The first virtual pet program,
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75:. Humans can identify with them as memorable characters while they allow for unique gameplay or plot developments stemming from their animal-inspired special powers, forms, or abilities - i.e.,
244:, has been named as one of the best video game animal companions. The character had "attitude", refusing to go into its Pokéball and attempting to bite the player if they pull on its tail.
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In recent years, games began exploring the idea of animal autonomy, rather than simply having the player expect mindless obedience, reflecting evolving real-world views on
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267:(2017), unlike earlier games in the series, horses must be bonded with in order to unlock the ability to customize them or use them to their full potential.
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game about a cat that becomes lost in an abandoned city. These games often require significant attention to detail so that players are fully immersed.
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Historically, most games featuring animals as protagonists anthropomorphized them with human-like behavior and speech, with
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for going out of its way to avoid depicting any form of animal harm. Some people have also complained about hunting rare
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91:. Their appearance may also simply serve a symbolic role, emphasizing their character traits in visual form.
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Some people believe that different animals are held to different standards of coverage. Mark
Delaney from
35:. Animals are depicted with varying degrees of intelligence, from realistic to possessing human levels of
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However, a smaller group of games feature animals that exhibit relatively realistic behavior, including
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main character can allow for a compromise between human and animal gameplay, as shown in such games as
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being famous examples. The stories of such games typically play out like those of human characters. A
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290:(2005) added significantly more realistic graphics and behavior. Modern virtual pet games include
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mechanic, as hooking fish has been proven to cause them pain. In contrast, they praised the game
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393:"From Ghost of Tsushima to Stray, here's how devs design the most realistic in-game animals"
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One of the most common uses of animal companions in games is the concept of a mount, a
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account listing whether dogs or other creatures can be pet, sparked an accompanying
109:(2013), fish are depicted as NPCs. The player must catch as many fish as possible.
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426:"Wholesome Games Are Awkwardly Comfortable Depicting Violence Against Animals"
296:(2014), in which the player collects cats that interact with various objects.
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to do an interview with the game's director on why they cannot be petted.
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513:"Zelda: Breath of the Wild Director Explains Why You Can't Pet the Dogs"
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650:"How animals in gaming went from cartoon characters to real creatures"
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261:-like creature, may disobey the player and show "stubbornness". In
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609:"From Tamagotchi to 'Nintendogs': Why People Love Digital Pets"
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prompted a large response from the community, causing
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457:"The 11 cutest animals we've hunted in video games"
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57:games, including best-selling franchises such as
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280:, was created in 1995, quickly followed by the
216:also occasionally used in battles, like in the
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203:, an example of an animal companion and mount.
27:. Games feature animals in roles ranging from
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314:(2019), is an anthropomorphic bird, and can
579:"The ten best video game animal companions"
549:"Video games are creating smarter animals"
488:"Every game needs a pet-the-dog mechanic"
199:(2016), the main character rides a giant
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153:where the protagonist clubs baby seals.
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264:The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
174:The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
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337:The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
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511:Goldfarb, Andrew (9 December 2017).
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257:(2016), in which Trico, an enormous
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87:possessing superhuman durability or
16:Depictions of animals in video games
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228:received backlash for including a
121:questioned the "wholesomeness" of
23:has echoed the wider symbolism of
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467:from the original on 22 July 2023
436:from the original on 22 July 2023
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284:, which became a widespread fad.
39:. They are considered crucial to
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525:from the original on 11 May 2023
455:Hartup, Andy (11 October 2013).
662:from the original on 2023-05-10
627:from the original on 2023-05-11
589:from the original on 2021-10-10
559:from the original on 2023-05-06
403:from the original on 2023-05-10
391:Mercante, Alyssa (2022-06-28).
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424:Delaney, Mark (29 July 2022).
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49:are also common characters in
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486:Stoeber, Jenna (2020-10-29).
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308:Claire, the protagonist of
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147:, as well as the level in
687:Video games about animals
547:Joho, Jess (2017-05-17).
144:Cabela's Dangerous Hunts
47:Anthropomorphic animals
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31:to companion and even
21:animals in video games
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156:The 2019 creation of
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159:Can You Pet the Dog?
300:Use as protagonists
251:. Examples include
238:, as he appears in
85:reptilian humanoids
66:The Legend of Zelda
577:Mercante, Allysa.
328:Sonic the Hedgehog
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106:Ridiculous Fishing
72:Sonic the Hedgehog
25:animals in culture
356:Catlateral Damage
254:The Last Guardian
222:series. The game
185:Use as companions
19:The depiction of
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664:. Retrieved
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311:A Short Hike
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343:Divinity II
293:Neko Atsume
271:Virtual pet
95:Use as NPCs
33:protagonist
666:2023-05-15
631:2023-05-11
593:2023-05-15
583:GamesRadar
563:2023-05-11
497:2023-05-11
461:GamesRadar
407:2023-05-11
397:gamesradar
375:References
367:(2022), a
340:(2006) or
287:Nintendogs
282:Tamagotchi
232:minigame.
211:such as a
150:Overlord 2
621:1059-1028
225:Far Cry 6
681:Category
660:Archived
625:Archived
587:Archived
557:Archived
523:Archived
465:Archived
434:Archived
430:GameSpot
401:Archived
346:(2009).
196:Epistory
119:GameSpot
89:strength
553:Polygon
492:Polygon
471:22 July
440:22 July
259:griffin
236:Pikachu
219:Pokémon
164:Twitter
134:Ooblets
129:fishing
51:fantasy
619:
529:11 May
139:duiker
55:sci-fi
613:Wired
364:Stray
316:glide
213:horse
83:, or
60:Mario
617:ISSN
531:2023
473:2023
442:2023
354:and
326:and
277:Dogz
162:, a
69:and
53:and
518:IGN
201:fox
193:In
179:IGN
141:in
103:In
81:fly
29:NPC
683::
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
