Steer Madness

Steer Madness is an animal rights inspired adventure game developed and published by Johnathan Skinner, with the latest version released on April 24, 2023 for mobile and desktop.[1] The original version of the game was developed under the name Veggie Games Inc. and was released in December 2004.[2][3][4] It joined the ranks of games made by PETA, Greenpeace, and others.[4]

Steer Madness
Developer(s)Johnathan Skinner
Publisher(s)Johnathan Skinner
Designer(s)Johnathan Skinner
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, Macintosh, Android, iOS
ReleaseOriginal version: December 2004, Remake: April 2023
Genre(s)Adventure
Mode(s)single-player

Gameplay

Steer Madness is a single-player video game where the player assumes the role of Bryce the Cow, a walking, talking bovine determined to put an end to animal exploitation and turn everyone vegan.[5][6] During gameplay, the player goes on a series of missions to save the animals using many different tactics. The game is a 3D side-scroller based in a modern city environment and features several transportation methods. Players have the option to walk, use a bicycle, or take the metro through the city to get to different areas of the game. Missions involve many gameplay elements, including puzzle solving and item collection.

Original Version

The original version of the game from 2004 was similar in theme but differed in gameplay style; it was based in an open city environment with gameplay similar to Grand Theft Auto III (without the guns or violence), making it a nonviolent video game.[7] Players could drive a vehicle in select missions, and could also climb, jump, race and operate heavy machinery.

Development

The latest version of Steer Madness was developed in London, UK. The majority of the game was made by just one person, solo independent game developer Johnathan Skinner.[4] This includes all of the programming (which was done from scratch), story, design and a significant portion of the artwork. It was noted that the game development was powered exclusively on solar power while working off-grid aboard a narrowboat.[8] The game has been published for mobile on Google Play and the App Store, and for desktop on Steam.[1]

Original Version

The original version of Steer Madness was also developed by Johnathan Skinner but in Vancouver, BC, Canada under the company name Veggie Games Inc. Also developed primarily solo,[4] he worked on the game in his spare time for about a year and a half while working other jobs,[9] then decided to focus all his time into finishing and publishing the game. He registered the company, rented a small office and hired an artist to help. After about 6 months of full-time development and the help of a few student interns, the game was complete and ready for release. Skinner, when interviewed by The Globe and Mail, hoped that the game would "sway a few people."[7] He later said he ran the game on a shoestring budget, funding Veggie Games "with a Visa card."[10]

Taking the self-publishing route, game CDs were printed in small batches and sold through the website. Various animal rights groups in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Germany purchased wholesale quantities in order to resell the game CDs through their online stores as a form of fundraising, while it was also presented at the 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.[7]

Awards

Steer Madness received two awards shortly after the 2004 release. The first award was Best Animal-Friendly Video Game from the 2004 PETA Proggy Awards,[11] and the second was Innovation in Audio from the 2005 Independent Games Festival.[12][9]

Reception

Some scholars described it as an example of "an activism game" and said it aligns with "mass-market entertainment game genres."[13] Others recommended it to "animal conscious parents"[14] and said it encourages veganism.[15]

References
  1. Steer Madness Press Kit, May 9, 2023
  2. Bathroom Readers' Institute (2012). Uncle John's Certified Organic Bathroom Reader. Simon and Schuster. p. 370. ISBN 9781607106807.
  3. "Steer Madness - Entrant 2005", Independent Games Festival, 2020, archived from the original on September 7, 2020, retrieved September 6, 2020
  4. Lavender, Terry (August 22, 2019), "Steer Madness, the videogame", Vancouver Sun, archived from the original on September 7, 2020, retrieved September 6, 2020
  5. "A Cow On A Mission!", Steer Madness Official website, Veggie Games Inc., March 27, 2016, archived from the original on March 27, 2016, retrieved September 6, 2020
  6. Animal Voices Radio (October 5, 2004), "Activism Through Entertainment Part II: Compassionate "Veg-ucation" and Veggie Video Games!", Official Animal Voices website, archived from the original on September 7, 2020, retrieved September 6, 2020 Transcript of interview is here.
  7. Nutall-Smith, Chris (2 February 2016), "Nintendo for soy lovers", The Globe and Mail, archived from the original on September 7, 2020, retrieved September 6, 2020
  8. Steer Madness - Behind the Scenes (YouTube), May 9, 2023
  9. Mecklin, Josh (March 16, 2005), "Game On", SF Weekly, archived from the original on September 7, 2020, retrieved September 6, 2020
  10. Terdiman, Daniel (March 12, 2005), "Game Creators Going (for) Broke", Wired, archived from the original on September 7, 2020, retrieved September 6, 2020
  11. Morton, Brian. Steer Madness – Non-violent video game top pick for PETA award. The Vancouver Sun. 27 January 2005. Archived 21 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  12. "The 5th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards", GameSpot, 2005, archived from the original on August 12, 2020, retrieved September 6, 2020
  13. Sherlock, Lee (2008). "Overview of Game Genre Approaches". "Gaming" genre : serious games, genre theory, and rhetorical action (Masters). Michigan State University. pp. 52–3. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  14. Ellwood, Fay-Ellen (February 2005). "Review: Steer Madness". The Peaceable Table: A Vegetarian Journal for Quakers and Other People of Faith. 2 (2). Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  15. Deloura, Mark (January 29, 2008), "What If Everyone Could Make Videogames?", Escapist Magazine, archived from the original on February 12, 2019, retrieved September 6, 2020
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