Harvester

Year: 1996

Publisher: Merit Studios

Developer: DigiFX Interactive

Writer/Director: Gilbert P. Austin

Country: USA

Genre: Adventure game

Platforms: PC

Harvester is a horror adventure game whose protagonist is Steve, who wakes up in a strange town with amnesia. He must make several moral decisions throughout the game as he progresses through various puzzles. Written by Gilbert P. Austin, the game is meant to explore controversies surrounding violent media. In his own words, “I wanted the player to mull over whether he had internalized the over-the-top violence and surreal imagery of the game in the game manner that Steve had” (Malin, 2014). It uses live-action characters, and is notoriously gory (Elston, 2009).

LGBTQ references in the game:

Firemen

Citations: 

  1. Cobbett, R. (2011, May 13). Saturday Crapshoot: Harvester. PC Gamer. http://www.pcgamer.com/saturday-crapshoot-harvester/
  2. Elston, B. (2009, October 29). The bloodiest games you’ve never played. Games Radar. http://www.gamesradar.com/the-bloodiest-games-youve-never-played/?page=3
  3. Harvester (video game). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvester_(video_game)
  4. Hudak, C. (1996, August 29). Harvester Review. Gamespot. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/harvester-review/1900-2537444/
  5. Kalata, K. (2011, November 9). Harvester. Hardcore Gaming 101. http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/harvester/harvester.htm
  6. Malin, A. (2014, July 21). Inside Harvester: A fan interview with Gilbert P. Austin. GoG Tumblr. http://gogcom.tumblr.com/post/92424446858/harvester-gilbert-austin-interview