Zoo Tycoon (series)

Zoo Tycoon is a business simulation game series of video games. The games focus around building up and running successful zoos. The series was initially developed by Blue Fang Games and published by Microsoft Studios; this cooperation spawned nine titles consisting of two standalone video games and seven expansion packs for PC and Macintosh platforms, from 2001 to 2008. In June 2008, Blue Fang announced that the official forums would be closed to all incoming posts.^[1] Their contract with Microsoft ended in 2009. In 2013, Microsoft Studios released a new Zoo Tycoon game, developed by Frontier Developments exclusively for Xbox One and Xbox 360 in 2013.^[2]

Gameplay

Zoo Tycoon is a series of zoo simulation video games that put the player in control of fictional zoo business. The gameplay formula introduced in the original Zoo Tycoon in 2001 received updates throughout the series but its theme and main motifs remained unchanged: Player must build, expand and/or upgrade a zoo by purchasing animals, creating suitable living environments for each and allocate staff and resources for their maintenance and care. As the ultimate goal of the game is revenue, the player must also provide for the visitors by building food and drink stands, sanitary facilities, picnic areas and an aesthetically pleasing environment. Higher revenue is generated by keeping both animals and visitors happy.

Zoo Tycoon features three modes: A scenario mode, a challenge mode and a freestyle mode. The scenario mode puts player in control of a preset setting in which the player has to accomplished objectives, sometimes within a time period. New items are unlocked as the scenario progresses. The freestyle mode differs in each game but in general, leaves the player free to build a zoo however he or she sees fit, from scratch. The challenge mode, first introduced in Zoo Tycoon 2, resembles the scenario mode in that the player is in a preset setting with limited funds and must accomplish certain goals; it differs in that it is not progressive.

Games

Zoo Tycoon (2001)

Zoo Tycoon was released in 2001. It was followed by two expansion packs, Dinosaur Digs and Marine Mania, in 2002. An Endangered Species downloadable was available for free from Microsoft.com. In 2003, Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection was released, which included the original game, the expansion packs, as well as the downloadable.

Zoo Tycoon 2

Zoo Tycoon 2 was released in 2004.^[3]

The first expansion pack, Endangered Species was released in 2005. The African Adventure, and Marine Mania were released the following year. Also available was the Dino Danger Pack premium download, bought by credit card from the Zoo Tycoon website. Extinct Animals was released in 2007.^[4]

Zookeeper Collection was a compilation of the original game, and the Endangered Species and African Adventure expansions. Ultimate Collection was a compilation of the original game and all of its expansions.

Zoo Tycoon (2013)

Microsoft released a new Zoo Tycoon game exclusive for Xbox One and Xbox 360 in 2013.^[5]

Zoo Tycoon: Friends

Zoo Tycoon: Friends is a new free-to-play Zoo Tycoon title developed by Behaviour Interactive and published by Microsoft and is scheduled to release in 2015.

Handheld and mobile editions

In addition to the main series, there are several handheld and mobile games. Zoo Tycoon DS was released in 2005.^[6] Zoo Tycoon 2 DS came out in February 2008. Zoo Tycoon 2 and its expansion Marine Mania are both available for the mobile phone. None of these games, with the exception of Zoo Tycoon 2 DS, were developed by Blue Fang Games.

Merchandise

There are several Zoo Tycoon mousemats available on Amazon.co.uk. DK released Zoo Tycoon 2: The Ultimate Sticker Collection book. The original Zoo Tycoon 2 box set included a bonus animal pen.

References

External links

• Official website
• Zoo Tycoon guide at StrategyWiki