Zoo Tycoon

Infobox VG
title = Zoo Tycoon


caption = Zoo Tycoon boxart
developer = Blue Fang Games
publisher = Microsoft Game Studios
designer =
series = "Zoo Tycoon"
version = 1.0
released = October 17, 2001
genre = Business simulation game
modes = Single player
ratings = ESRB: E
platforms = Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, Macintosh
media = CD-ROM
requirements = Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP, 233 MHz processor, (300 MHz recommended), 250 MB of hard drive space (600 MB recommended), 32 MB of RAM (64 MB for Windows ME or 128 MB for Windows XP), 4 MB SVGA 16-bit color video card, DirectX 8.0a
input = Keyboard, mouse

Zoo Tycoon is an business simulation computer game developed by Blue Fang Games and released by Microsoft Game Studios. It is a tycoon game in which the player must run a zoo, and try to make a profit. Although first released for Microsoft Windows and Macintosh in 2001, it was ported to the Nintendo DS in 2005.cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/zootycoon/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;review |title=Zoo Tycoon for PC Review - PC Zoo Tycoon Review |accessdate=2007-11-20 |format= |work=] cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/ds/strategy/zootycoon/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=tabs&tag=tabs;reviews |title=Zoo Tycoon DS for DS Review - DS Zoo Tycoon DS Review |accessdate=2007-11-20 |format= |work=] It was followed by two expansion packs, ' and ', which were released in 2002, as well as a sequel, "Zoo Tycoon 2", released in 2004.cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/zootycoon2/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;review |title=Zoo Tycoon 2 for PC Review - PC Zoo Tycoon 2 Review |accessdate=2007-11-20 |format= |work=]

Gameplay

The goal of "Zoo Tycoon" is to create a thriving zoo by building exhibits to accommodate animals and keeping the guests happy. Exhibit building is one of the primary goals of "Zoo Tycoon". To keep the guests and animals happy, exhibits should be suitable to the animal; for example, a lion is best suited to a savanna environment. Choices in terrain, foliage, rocks, shelters, and toys all contribute to the suitability of an exhibit and the happiness of the animal. Guest happiness is dependent on animal choice, buildings, and scenery. Buildings may include bathrooms, restaurants and food stands, shops, or entertainment buildings such as movie theaters. Scenery involves aesthetics that raise guest happiness slightly, such as topiary art, lightposts, or benches. Keeping both animal and guest happiness allows the player to gain monetary awards and steady income.

There are three modes in "Zoo Tycoon": Tutorial, Scenario, and Freeform. Tutorial teaches the player how to build exhibits and keep guests happy. Scenario mode has the player complete a series of objectives, sometimes within a specific timeframe. These objectives may include achieving a certain guest and animal happiness, achieving a certain exhibit suitability, displaying a certain number of animals, or breeding a certain animal. Freeform allows the player to choose the amount of money and the map that they start with. They are presented with an open lot with a limited selection of animals, buildings, and scenery. As the game progresses, more animals and items become playable. Additional animals and items may be researched, where money is invested to make them playable.

Third-party creations

The success of Zoo Tycoon also led to the creation of new features by fans, both fact and fiction. Mods were created to fix problems with the game and unlock new features. Many of these mods were made possible by an official program created by Blue Fang named Animal Project Editor (APE), which allows the player to easily create one's own animals, with either simply re-naming a premade animal or creating frames for another animal.

Expansion packs and sequels

Zoo Tycoon was created in the wake of the success of the 1999 Hasbro Interactive game "RollerCoaster Tycoon", which sold well for many years. Zoo Tycoon did well enough for Microsoft and Blue Fang Games to release two expansion packs: ', which added prehistoric-themed items and animals, and ', which allowed aquatic-themed items and animals. Eventually, Microsoft bundled the expansion packs with Zoo Tycoon to create "Zoo Tycoon Complete Collection" which had the functionality of both expansion packs and bonus content.

"Zoo Tycoon 2" was released on November 2004. Although released with fewer animals than "Zoo Tycoon", more animals were introduced in its expansion packs: ', ', ', and '. The later two were bundled in the "".cite web |url=http://zootycoon.com/default.htm |title=Zoo Tycoon - Home |accessdate=2007-11-21 |format= |work=]

Reception

"Zoo Tycoon" was received with average reviews, gaining an average 68 out of 100 at Metacritic.cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/zootycoon?q=zoo%20tycoon |title=Zoo Tycoon (pc: 2001): Reviews |accessdate=2007-11-20 |format= |work=] Positive reviews came from Computer Games Magazine and GameZone, which gave the game scores of 4.5 out of 5 and 8 out of 10, respectively.cite web |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20040818083731/http://www.cgonline.com/reviews/zootycoon-01-r1.html |title=CG Online-- Zoo Tycoon Review |accessdate=2007-11-20 |format= |work=] cite web |url=http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r18380.htm |title=Zoo Tycoon Review - PC |accessdate=2007-11-20 |format= |work=] The more negative reviews came from Adrenaline Vault and PC Gamer. Commercially, "Zoo Tycoon" did quite well, with 4 million units sold worldwide from its initial release to 2004. It was also one of the top 15 best selling PC titles in the US.cite web |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/zoo-tycoon/529739p1.html |title=GameSpy: Zoo Tycoon Sells BIG |accessdate=2007-11-21 |format= |work=]

"Zoo Tycoon" and its compiled "Complete Collection" also garnered several awards and accolades, gaining the Bologna New Media Prize in 2002. "Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection" received the Parents' Choice Foundation Gold Award - 2003, the AIAS Computer Family Title of the Year Interactive Achievement Award - 2004, the Scholastic Parent & Child Teacher’s Pick – 2004, and the Children’s Software Revue All Star Award – 2004. [cite web |url=http://www.bluefang.com/company_awards.htm |title=Blue Fang Games ~ Awards |accessdate=2007-11-21 |format= |work=]

References

External links

* [http://www.zootycoon.com Official website]
* [http://www.microsoft.com/games/pc/zootycoon.aspx Official overview]
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* [http://zootycoon.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page Zoo Tycoon Wiki]
* [http://zaqwsc.proboards41.com/index.cgi?board=zootycoon CMEForums - Zoo Tycoon Forums]
* [http://zaqwsc.proboards41.com/index.cgi?board=submitztfile CMEForums - Submit Zoo Tycoon File]