Big Buck Game Warden Program Seen As Success Participants Double In Year

GLEN ELLYN, IL -- It appears as if Play Mechanix has hit a bull's-eye with its Big Buck Hunter Game Warden program. On the first anniversary of the effort, the coin-op videogame company is reporting that the number of "warden" participants has more than doubled, from nine to 25. According to officials, the program, which launched at 2015's Amusement Expo, saw the boost in the social media-fueled program one year later.

"The cool thing is we selected the original nine game wardens to launch the program, hand selecting them," said Play Mechanix's Jessica Petro. "Our new Game Wardens are people who came to us asking to participate. So, the number not only more than doubled, but people were enthusiastic enough to reach out to us to become a part of the program."

The program is being spearheaded by Play Mechanix's community manager Callum Fletcher. Game Wardens are volunteers who act as Big Buck ambassadors tasked with creating and maintaining a viable and active player base in their communities. Working largely autonomously, they sign up new players for leagues and host social events, which include local, informal competitions. Although Fletcher and his team provide needed support and advice in these efforts, the individual player communities remain very much grassroots.

"Hopefully we'll see even more growth in the coming months and years," said Fletcher. "What we really want is to see more local events. And Play Mechanix is willing and able to help nurture these community events."

Play Mechanix social media efforts are an outgrowth of player communities that sprang up spontaneously around the country, with fans of the 15-year-old game posting to Facebook, tweeting and sharing their experiences on Instagram, and uploading videos to YouTube. Their efforts, Petro explained, have been keyed largely to the support of an enthusiastic fan base. These social media efforts, which have been closely followed by manufacturers and FEC operators alike, so far seem to be working.

BUCKIN' AROUND:Callum Fletcher (l.), Jessica Petr, and Jeff Tash of Raw Thrills/Play Mechanics invite Amusement Expo International 2016 visitors to take a turn at the "Buckin' Around." The wheel challenges players to compete on Big Buck Hunter with arbitrary video shooting challenges, such as Standing On Chair, No Thumbs or Standing On One Leg.