As an educational tool the Minnesota Zoo and eduweb has combined efforts to create WolfQuest which has been designed to create an authentic recreation of how wolves behave in the wild. In the first chapter, titled WolfQuest: Amethyst Mountain players of the game can turn themselves into a wolf, either male or female, and with a color or fur pattern of their choice. Each wolf has three stats-strength, stamina, and speed which can all be adjusted to the player’s  Once that has been down the player can control their wolf or, with up to four other players, can operate in a pack through over four kilometeres of lands recreated to resemble the wilds of Yellowstone Park and includes wide meadows, thickly planted forests of fir trees, and soaring cliffs.

Players can also participate in hunting, elk to be exactly, by locating and tracing the scent left by the heard and engaging the weakest member while avoiding it’s counterattacks before bringing it down. You will also have to defend your kill from coyotes who try to consume your recently brought down prey or just because they are in your way. All of this behaviors earn you Experience Points but killing and fighting isn’t all there is to WolfQuest: there is also a social component that revolves around locating other wolves and broadcasting your intentions to them with sounds and attitude along with mating and creating a brood of wolves.

Other chapters of the game will be released as time goes on bringing with it new locations to explore, such as the Lamar Valley during the winter and the denning grounds while in the spring. Players will also have the option in the future to engage a bull elk with the player’s wolf and it’s mate without being killed by the elk’s hooves. A siege type gameplay mode is also slated to be added which will involve creating a territory through marking it and fending off other wolf packs that wish to take it from your wolf. Players will also have the responsibility of making a safe den and protecting the pups therein from foes such as grizzly bears and from starvation by defending your kills and raiding ranchland for sheep.

Fore more information on WolfQuest visit the official site at http://www.wolfquest.org/