John Deere American Farmer - The Game

Thanks to GameSpot for its story discussing the new release of agriculture-themed PC videogame John Deere American Farmer, "the first game to be licensed by agricultural equipment manufacturer Deere & Company", which "charges players with establishing and maintaining a successful farm." The official videogame site has much more information on this Harvest Moon-esque value-price PC title with a great box cover, noting the player must "overcome bug infestations, unpredictable weather and disgruntled employees", all the while "purchasing and controlling authentic John Deere branded equipment - tractors, combines, planters, cultivators and more."

Comments

Cool, but.....

[Steve Cox]

Looking at the game feature is appears to be missing a couple of important items you would have to deal with:

1. GM crop protestors attempting to destroy your crops whilst wearing fake biohazard suits (do you get these people in the US?)

2. Travellers setting up their caravans on your land, leaving rubbish around & allowing their dogs to attack your livestock. (is this another UK thing?)

Yep. If it had these, I'd buy it right away!

Steve

SimFarm

[BigZaphod]

Sounds maybe a bit like SimFarm... My girlfriend was just playing it tonight, too. Fun old game.. old... Gosh.. I remember when it was a modern game! Wow..

How long will it be...

[howman]

before Caterpiller gets into the action? I am really supprised that none of the auto manufacturers have not put out their own games. I mean, you buy a mini van and it comes with a tv screen now, and some of them come with playstations... so how far is it for General motors, or Ford to use some of thier profits to create a game to go with the car...
I guess the one down side could be that they will want to keep everything proprietary just like their on board computer diognostics...
Good for Deer, anyone know if the option gun rack on their utility 4 X 4's comes loaded in the game for "killin' them there gaters"? or shotin' up some dinner?

Rednecks

[Detritus]

My Uncle thought it was entertaining when people thought he was a "dumb redneck". He had a law degree, realtor's license, taught courses at the university, ran his own farm, owned a bunch of real estate, and always seemed to have several successful part-time businesses in operation. He may have looked like a redneck, but he was one of the smartest businessmen that I've ever known.

yeah...

[Rage Maxis]

okay, so I downloaded it, blatantly pirating of course, and tried it out.

Having grown up on a farm, I noticed there were many concepts totally missing.

I.e. manure management (and the ability to use manure as fertilizer), custom cropping, equipment RENTAL, pig farrowing, etc.

The next problem is that the game is so damn limited in terms of what you can buy and what you can do it is repetitive in under an hour. Wow! I can get a slightly bigger tractor! and 4 different leisure activity items which can't even be used!

The game is too limited to be fun.

Sim Farm was funner.

You just know this is exemplifying the trends the corporations are pushing in farming - you need to own $500K worth of equipment to even start, you need to be a million in debt to the bank, and lots of chemicals and fertilizers are the best solution to crops!