ABSTRACT
Alan Weisman's 2007 thought experiment The World without Us imagines a world in which humankind has suddenly disappeared from the face of the earth. Japanese videogames have featured a multitude of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic scenarios. What's especially interesting about Tokyo Jungle is that it was released in Japan in the June of 2012, a little more than a year after the triple disaster earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown on March 11, 2011. Tokyo Jungle's producer and distributor, Studio Japan, is a well-known and well-respected team with direct ties to no less than Sony Computer Entertainment, which published the game. The mascot for Tokyo Jungle is a tiny, fluffy Pomeranian dog, one of the first animals the player is able to control and a lone spot of cuteness against a dreary urban backdrop. The story and gameplay features of Tokyo Jungle encourage the player to develop an antagonistic attitude towards humanity and its failed stewardship of the environment.
