J.C.Spooner's Fishing Simulator
www.fishsim2.comA fan review by Gary Buckner- USA
Hi, everybody. My name is Gary and, I live in the United States. I'm new to Bobi's fishing page but, I'm not new when it comes to fishing games for both the PC and the Play Station. I own almost every game which has been published for the PC since 1997 and everyone I can find for the two Play Stations I own. There is probably games out there which I don't have but, only because I haven't found them yet. While we're on the subject of me. I'm not new to the world of writing either. I have ten semesters and tweleve quarters of English to my credit. Most of which consisted of Creative Writing. I also took a home correspondence course from Famous Writers School and attended News Paper Institute of America for a time. In addition to this, I am a former member of the local writiers club and, have had experience on both the local and national level in writing. Whether this did me any real good or not we'll soon find out. I have never written many reviews but, I will say this. I will tell it like it is, when it comes to a game or anything else. If I think that game has flaws I'll mention these. And if I think the game would be better at the bottom of the sea I'll tell you this as well. So now let's get started.
So far, I haven't seen a lot about Jason Spooner's Fishing Simulator in the game reviews. And I think it is high time someone wrote an in depth interview of Jase's fine product. Of all the computer and video games I own, some of which are good and others really great. Fishing Simulator is beyound a doubt the best of any of these I have ever seen or, used. The graphics are good, the way in which the game is set up is good and, no where else can you find a game that contains as many fishing venues for one price as this one does. Jase also has a swell Fish Sim home page in which he keeps you up to date on the happenings with Fish Sim. And he also creates new venues and other fishing utensils which he allows registered users of the game to down load absolutely free. He also runs a column for the record catches, has a photo section in which he publishes users pics if they care to send these in, and runs weekly fish sim contests for members to participate in. Lately others have begun to send in self created venues of their own for publication, and more users have started fish sim contest pages. It's really a great page and if you haven't done so already, be sure to check it out.
The game comes preloaded on CD ROM or, can be downloaded directly from the Fish Sim web page. There is also a Share Ware version which gives you the chance to try before you buy. The SW version contains one venue with six pegs, or, fishing spots to give you a feel of what the full version game is like with a limited number of fish and some of the features found on the full version unavailable. I used it for a time before getting the full version and it is a really fun game even in the limited edition. The full version of Fishing Simulator contains 5 additional pegs, with 18 more varities of fish, and all of the options on. This means you can go to the FS web page and download additional venues when these are available, along with bait and other fishing essentials.
When you launch the full version of Fish Sim, either from CD ROM or from the download version, you are greeted with the FS screen and thanked for registering the program. You are then taken to an Angling Association screen, which contains a members list with 22 empty slots and a guest slot. You can press the New Member button and sign your name, which will appear each time you log in or, you can fish as a guest by hitting Continue. Whichever you select, you will go from here to the Fishing Simulator Options. Here you will find a number of selection buttons which, will allow you to Go Fishing, select your tackle setup, or decide which venue and peg you want to fish by hitting the Match Settings button. This option also contains a Realisim setting which by pressing will permit you to select difficulty level, chose whether or not you want to reel in before casting, use an audible bite warning indicator, select whether the conditions affect the tackle you are using, and, give you the option of using the No Line Snaps feature. This last option is really great if you're just in the mood to fish without having to worry about line snaps. I use it a lot and, unlike, some of the other games or cheat codes, containing no line breaks, this one does work.
This is also where you will find the Advanced Options Setting button. Selecting this option will allow you to import other venues, lures, etc., you have downloaded from the Fish Sim Page, Rest options, get help if you need it plus export or use the off line options. There is also a feature in the Fish Sim Options which lets you display rod quality, light effects, and turn the current weather in the venue you are using on and off. A handy feature if you prefer fixed weather without having to worry about rain or, in some cases snow. You can also set the sound and mouse sensitivity here.
Once you've finished here, you can go to the Tackle Select screen and choose what lure or bait you want to use from a wide varitety of lures and baits. If you're trout fishing, the FS page now has a Lure or Fly Fishing Pack which will give you several more flies for fishing at different times of the year. Or if you prefer to still fish, or ledger fish I guess it's called, you can select a Lug Worm, a maggot or some other live bait. Once you've selected your bait you go to the Venue Screen, where you are greeted with a small picture of the peg which you can fish, along with options for selecting Peg info, depth, records, statistic and so on. You can check the number of pegs in the venue and, look at the Match Rule settings, if you decide to take on the computer in an AI vs human fishing tournament. There are three types of match in this respect. Single Match, Speciman Match and Tournament Match. There is also the Free Practice slot which will allow you to go fish with no time limit and, you can select the month you wish to fish in.
The game contains venues and pegs which contain almost every type of fish imaginable. Some of these will have more of a certain kind of fish for instance, such as Carp, of which there are several different varities. And there are some pegs in which you can catch a monster lunker, while in others the fishing will be limited to smaller or more normal sized fish. This doesn't mean that you won't catch the BIG ONE, however no matter what venue or peg you are fishing. The big one is always there and there is the chance that you'll luck out and hook a record catch 50lb Carp or some other fish. This is one of the things which makes the game so interesting. Of course there are other things. Because this is an interesting and educational game. Actually I refer to it as a simulation rather than a game, because in my opinion it surpasses a mere fishing game. The interface, is easy to use and, the graphics are of a superb quality for the most part as are the setting. Jase and Terese have spared no effort in seeing to this and, now that others are contributing venues which they have created, (another of the sims features found on the FS web page in which Jase tells you how to make your own venues.) things are really getting interesting. You won't find a lot of bog holes or unattractive fishing spots in this one.
The one thing that really impresses me with this particular fishing simulator is, what you get for your money.
All pictures taken from the official homepage