Recently, Capcom, the developers behind famed games such as Street Fighter, Resident Evil, and Mega Man, recently released the latest installment of the Monster Hunter series, Monster Hunter: World. And, the game is essentially what it sounds like. Beside major plot points, players explore a vast fantasy world hunting down monsters of all shapes and sizes. The game has done very well critically, receiving a 91 percent Metacritic score and a 9.5 out of 10 from IGN.
Now, Capcom is giving people the opportunity to become real-life monster hunters. In a partnership with Jon Downes of The Centre of Fortean Zoology, Capcom is offering $70,000 to anyone who can provide conclusive evidence of the existence of one of 10 real-life monsters. The contest goes until June 30 and Jon Downes and his team will review all submitted evidence for validity. The list of monsters ranges from fan-favorites like Bigfoot to obscure beasts such as the Cornish Owlman.
Bigfoot – Bigfoot is likely one of the most famous mythical beasts potentially wandering our world. Also called “Sasquatch,” Bigfoot is a simian-like creature who has long been a part of American folklore.
Scottish Lake Monster – As another monster of international renown, the Loch Ness Monster is rumored to inhabit the Loch Ness lake in the Scottish Highlands. However, there have been sightings of similar monsters in lakes all over Scotland and even in Britain and Siberia.
Mongolian Death Worm – Rumored to inhabit the Gobi Desert, this creature first was brought to western attention with Roy Chapman Andrew’s 1926 book On the Trail of Ancient Man. The worms operate underground and are quite similar to those worms of the movie Tremors.
Mermaid – While movies and books have largely romanticized mermaids, Capcom isn’t sending people out to hunt Ariel. Rather, the mermaids they are referring to are “grotesque humanoid creatures,” as described by Jon Downes.
Earth Hound – The Earth Hound is another piece of Scottish folklore. The terrier-sized beast is believed to mostly live in graveyards, burrowing into the ground and devouring dead bodies.
Yeti – Described as an ape-like creature with dark fur, Yeti sightings first came out of the Himalayan mountains. It’s considered one of the most human-like monsters and has even been rumored to be a very primitive form of human.
Chupacabra – In 1995, there was a series of mysterious animal killings outside of Canovenas, Puerto Rico. The perpetrator was said to be a grotesque, semi-bipedal beast with spines going down its back. It was dubbed Chupacabra (chupa: suck, cabra: goats) due to its meal of choice.
The Flying Snake of Namibia – “Flying” snakes aren’t exactly uncommon. In Southern Asia, there are five well-known species of small snakes that are able to launch themselves out of trees. However, there are stories that Namibia is home to a flying snake of around 25 feet in length.
Yowie – The Yowie is another ape-like creature native to Australia. The Yowie is quite similar to Bigfoot, but descriptions have varied, even more, hurting the credibility of the Yowie’s existence.
Cornish Owlman – Originally sighted in 1976, the Cornish Owlman is said to be a grotesque, feathered bird-man who was seen around the old Church of the Mawnan Smith village in Cornwall. The Owlman has even been linked to a Phoenician cult which sacrificed small children to an owl god.
And there you have it! So, if feel like you could tackle monsters in the real world or if you just need a new hobby, then monster hunting (and $70,000) may be in your future. Or, if you’re like me, you can just stay home and fight virtual monsters in Monster Hunter: World. Regardless, happy hunting!
