14 DAY TRIAL // There is a limited number of Panda bears left in the world. Most of them live in the relative safety of Zoo's and scientists have been trying for years to make male and female Panda bears mate in order to create sufficient numbers of offspring to save their species. It seems that humans create a very powerful bond with these animals because of the way their facial features, the huge black eye patches on the pure white background, are oversized, simplified representation of the faces of human babies.
Now Namco Bandai have announced their intention to create a Nintendo DS game where the player gets the task of taking care of the lovable bears from cub status to mating season. The game is called National Geographic Panda and will probably feel and play very much like fellow pet sim Nintendogs. The game will be set in a National park and the player will receive a lot of toys and treats that he can use to shape the personality of their Panda. You won't be able to spoil them too much, as there is a daily allotted sum that you can spend and it seems bamboo is trading a bit high these days on the IBTM (for those less knowledgeable International Bamboo Trade Market).
Apparently, the game also features a possible scenario where the Panda will run away if not properly cared for. A scenario that is highly unlikely to happen in real life. Much like that sex scenario which involves Panda bears matting. We have no word on whether the in-game Pandas will get a chance to express their unusually low sex drives.
The game will feature a ton of educational content, courtesy of National Geographic Magazine, offered through National Geographic Ventures. There will be articles, photos and videos of Panda both in the wild and in their artificial pens. As the player spends more and more time in the game, more of the unlockable content will become available and players will learn how to better take care of their own Panda.
The Nintendo DS title is expected to hit sometime in the fall. It's the first gaming venture for the National Geographic brand, so wish them luck. And keep some bamboo ready.