Zoo Tycoon 2
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| Zoo Tycoon | |
|---|---|
| File:B000300HK0.01. SCLZZZZZZZ .jpg | |
| Developer(s) | Blue Fang Games |
| Publisher(s) | Microsoft Game Studios |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release | November 2004 |
| Genre(s) | 3D Simulation |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
- For information about the original Zoo Tycoon see Zoo Tycoon.
- For other uses of the term Zoo, please see Zoo (disambiguation).
Zoo Tycoon 2 is a simulation computer game in which the player must successfully create and run a zoo. That player must manage the zoo's finances, employees and animal exhibits. The goal is to become a "Zoo Tycoon". It was developed by Blue Fang Games and produced by Microsoft Games after Zoo Empire succeeded Microsoft's Zoo Tycoon with 3D graphics in August 2004. Zoo Tycoon 2 has many more features than the previous Zoo Tycoons and Zoo Empire, which didn't gather many profits due to Microsoft's quick release of Zoo Tycoon 2 [citation needed].
Technical Specifications
General
- Windows 98SE/2000/Me/XP
- 733 MHz processor
- 256 MB RAM
- 900 MB of available hard disk space
- 4X or higher CD-ROM drive
- Internet access required for optional downloads
Graphics
- DirectX® 9.0 or higher
- 16 MB graphics card
General game play
Freeform
A freeform game in Zoo Tycoon 2 is probably the most commonly used game form. Freeform games allow you to create the zoo of your dreams, with the only restriction being space. The players money supply is unlimited, and all items are available from the beginning of the game play. When you create a new game, you will start off with an empty zoo, ready for development. From there on, you may create animal exhibits and guest facilities (such as restaurants and bathrooms), hire employees, and landscape. This game form is favored for two reasons: First, it allows you to create a zoo, and see if it will do well enough to develop a similar zoo in a challenge game (see below). Lastly, there are no money restrictions, which allows you to buy without waiting for your profits to increase.
Challenge
Challenge games are the equivalent of previous Zoo Tycoon freeform games. In this type of game, your money supply is limited, and not all items are ready for immediate use. Game play is the same as Freeform with the exception that you must try to make a profit in order to keep your zoo running, and you must research certain items for them to be available for use. This mode will occasionally give the player challenges such as "Take a photograph of a running zebra".
Scenario/Goal
A scenario game (also called a goal game) is a game form in which the player must complete a goal to win. When you start off, you have certain tasks to do (e.g. Create a New Hippo Exhibit, Get a Blue Ribbon Award). Once you have completed the tasks, you unlock another scenario in which there are more goals. To win the scenario games, you must achieve the tasks in the last scenario. The scenarios are as varied as just running a zoo, to creating and managing a five star zoo for 4 years.
Bonus downloads
Periodically, Blue Fang, the company which makes the game will release an animal/object which anyone can download using the in-game download option, or they could go to zoo.ogresnet.com and download them there. Three animals have been released so far, the asian elephant, black leopard, and musk ox. These animals can be automatically attained if the expansion is bought. Also, many users make their own animals for Zoo Tycoon 2. Many are available at zoo.ogresnet.com, like the Indian rhino, Saola etc.. Users can create their own animals for this game, but it is much harder than making animals for the first Zoo Tycoon.
Expansions
Endangered Species
In November 2005, Microsoft released the Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species expansion pack. This expansion pack adds more animals, especially endangered ones. The other main feature of this expansion pack is its transportation. It includes sky trams, jeep tours as well as elevated paths. The expansion also has a feature called "variant skins". Because of this feature, when you adopt an animal, it may look different from the others. For example, when adopting a Bengal Tiger, you might get the orange and black color, or you may get a white one.
New Tour Possibilities
With the addition of this expansion pack, you can create a Jeep (c) Wrangler or Commander tour through your exhibits along with a sky tram tour. Elevated paths will let you walk right above the exhibits, giving you a very good view of the animals. They also enable you to build food courts right above the exhibits.
Technical Specifications
General
- Zoo Tycoon 2 Required
- Windows 98SE/2000/Me/XP
- 733 MHz processor
- 256 MB RAM
- 900 MB of available hard disk space
- 32X or higher CD-ROM drive
- Internet access required for optional downloads
Graphics
- DirectX® 9.0 or higher
- 16 MB graphics card
Upcoming Expansions
African Adventure
Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure adds various new African animals and allows the player to drive through savannah exhibits with African-themed tours. The expansion pack also includes new maps based on well-known African locations, as well as new desert-themed buildings and scenery, and a new set of challenges and campaigns. The new hunting and herding behaviours are a much-needed extra for the game. Releases May 16th 2006.
Animals announced for this expansion are :
- Bongo - Tropical Rainforest - Low Risk
- Warthog - Savannah - Low Risk
- Wildebeest - Savannah - Low Risk
- Caracal - Scrub - Low Risk
- Aardvark - Scrub - Low Risk
- Gerenuk - Scrub - Low Risk
- Mandrill - Tropical Rainforest - Vulnerable
- Barbary ape - Temperate Forest - Vulnerable
- African buffalo - Wetlands - Low Risk
- Ethiopian wolf - Alpine - Critically Endangered
- Meerkat - Scrub - Low Risk
- White rhinoceros - Scrub - Low Risk
- Masai giraffe - Savannah - Low Risk
- Nile monitor - Wetlands - Low Risk
- Secretary bird - Grassland - Low Risk
- Striped hyena - Desert - Low Risk
- African Spurred Tortoise - Desert - Vulnerable
- Pygmy hippopotamus - Tropical Rainforest - Critically Endangered
- Gelada - Alpine - Low Risk
- There is a twentieth animal which Blue Fang have not yet publicised, but judging by the official screenshots (which show some animals in the 'adopt an animal' panel - in alphabetical order), it's name probably starts with a letter between M (Monitor) and Z.
And the objects and buildings:
- Live Prey Lizards
- Desert theme objects
- Kopje shelter
- Savannah burrow
- Wetlands burrow
- Reptile Pond
- Jeep Liberty
- Zebra painted Liberty
- Giraffe painted Liberty
- Rhino painted Liberty
.
=Marine Mania
<--!Editors note: Do not add the sea lion or the conversation status of the animals as they have not been confirmed in any screenshot, video, or BF yet. If you add them you must provide a screenshot, article, or info from video before you do so.-->
Zoo Tycoon 2 : Marine Mania, expected to release in the 4th quarter of 2006, will introduce an all new marine theme. Like it's predecessor, it will have tanks and marine shows. So far, animals which will be included are :
- Orca performs in shows
- Bottlenose Dolphin performs in shows
- Leatherback Sea Turtle
- Blacktip Reef Shark
- Manta Ray
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Pilot Whale performs in shows
- False Killer Whale
New stuff:
- seahorse bouncy ride
- new animal house with sea horses
- whale education hut
- new fences and tank fences
- underwater foliage/rocks
- new show employees
- new food
- animal shows
- coral fountain
- take pics underwater
- turtle gift cart
- beach biome
Screenshots here : http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/zootycoon2marinemania/screenindex.html
Dino Danger
Downloadable expansion which will release later in 2006.