The Game Mechanics of Fishing

I have tried fishing in a lot of games. Hell, I remember Bass Hunter for the SNES. At least I think it was Bass Hunter. Either way, I remember being really bad at it and unable to afford a lot of the lures and staring at that really pixelated fish tracher on a thirteen-inch television screen. Kids have it great today. You don't even see thirteen inch computer monitors. My iMac has a 24 inch screen. Ridiculous.

At any rate, I remember fishing in Harvest Moon for the SNES. The kind of fishing where you stare at a blurry screen for the slightest wiggle on your fishing pole and praying that when you reel it in, you'll actually have something. The same goes with the other Harvest Moon games AND Animal Crossing.

World of Warcraft's fishing system also pisses me off. Not only do I have to cast and stare at the cast time, watch bobber, but I also have to CLICK the bobber to reel it in...I don't fish. It feels like a colossal waste of time for me.

Which is why I always stay away from fishing in most video games. Take, for example, the Sims 3 has a fishing aspect, including an 'Angler' personality trait which makes all angler Sims want to fish. A lot. I deny those Sims that right because I assumed it was going to be a giant waste of my time (although, isn't that what the Sims really is? A giant waste of time, with you running around getting Sims to the bathroom before they piss their pants and off to work on time so they don't get fired?) Anyway, I was at the graveyard with my goth teen Sim (who is a burial specialist) and there was a pond nearby. I noticed some large dark objects swimming around. Curious, I right clicked and got the option to fish. After months of playing the game, I had my first fishing Sim.

And it was fucking easy. In fact, I could just leave her alone for hours. I didn't have to click ANYTHING.

I love fishing now.

I went and created a brand new garden type Sim who fishes, gardens, and loves being outside. It's so easy!

Thank you, EA, because although you are a horrid, blood-sucking video game 'developer' who is out to destroy every video game you touch, you did make a nice fishing experience. (Although the fish tier system of 'Nice' 'Great' 'Very Nice' 'Excellent' 'Perfect' fish is a bit annoying. Nice try, though.)