Zoo Tycoon
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<!-- Please do not add the list of animals, as it is unencyclopedic, Wikipedia is not a game guide, and the information is more suitable on Wikibooks or StrategyWiki. See [[WP:CRUFT]], [[WP:LISTCRUFT]], [[WP:GAMECRUFT]], and [[WP:CVG/GL]] for more information on why a list of animals does not belong in the article.-->
{{Infobox VG
|title = Zoo Tycoon
|image = [[Image:zootycoon.png]]
|caption = Zoo Tycoon boxart
|developer = [[Blue Fang Games]]
|publisher = [[Microsoft Game Studios]]
|designer =
|series = ''[[Zoo Tycoon (series)|Zoo Tycoon]]''
|version = 1.0
|released = [[October 17]], [[2001]]
|genre = [[Business simulation game]]
|modes = [[Single player]]
|ratings = [[Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]]: E
|platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Nintendo DS]], [[Macintosh]]
|media = [[CD-ROM]]
|requirements = [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] 95/98/ME/2000/XP, 233 [[MHz]] processor, (300 MHz recommended), 250 [[Megabyte|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 = [[Computer keyboard|Keyboard]], [[Computer mouse|mouse]]
}}
{{for|the series of video games|Zoo Tycoon (series)}}
'''Zoo Tycoon''' is an [[business simulation game|business simulation]] [[computer game]] developed by [[Blue Fang Games]] and released by [[Microsoft Game Studios]]. It is a [[business simulation game|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.<ref name="gamespotPC">{{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=}}</ref><ref name="gamespotDS">{{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=}}</ref> It was followed by two expansion packs, ''[[Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs]]'' and ''[[Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania]]'', which were released in 2002, as well as a sequel, ''[[Zoo Tycoon 2]]'', released in 2004.<ref name="ZT2">{{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=}}</ref>
==Gameplay==
[[Image:Zoo tycoon screen shot.PNG||left|thumb|150px|A basic Zoo in Zoo Tycoon]]
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.<ref name="gamespotPC"/> 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. [[Mod]]s 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==
[[Image:ztcccover.jpg|left|150px|thumb|''Zoo Tycoon Complete Collection'' Boxart]]
Zoo Tycoon was created in the wake of the success of the 1999 [[Hasbro Interactive]] game ''[[RollerCoaster Tycoon]]'', which sold well for many years.<ref name="IGN"/> Zoo Tycoon did well enough for Microsoft and Blue Fang Games to release two expansion packs: ''[[Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs]]'', which added prehistoric-themed items and animals, and ''[[Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania]]'', 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: ''[[Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals]]'', ''[[Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania]]'', ''[[Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species]]'', and ''[[Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure]]''. The latter two were bundled in the ''[[Zoo Tycoon 2: Zookeeper Collection]]''.<ref name="zootycoon2site">{{cite web |url=http://zootycoon.com/default.htm |title=Zoo Tycoon - Home |accessdate=2007-11-21 |format= |work=}}</ref>
==Reception==
<div style="font-size: 90%;float:right;border-left:1em solid white">
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Review scores'''
!Publication
!Score
!Comments
|-
|<center>[[IGN]]
|<center>6.9 out of 10<ref name="IGN">{{cite web |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/166/166183p1.html |title=IGN: Zoo Tycoon |accessdate=2007-11-20 |format= |work=}}</ref>
|Passable
|-
|<center>[[GameSpot]]
|<center>7.1 out of 10<ref name="gamespotPC" />
|Good
|-
|<center>[[GameSpy]]
|<center>67 out of 100<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/october01/zootycoon/index3.shtm |title=GameSpy.com - Reviews: Zoo Tycoon (PC) |accessdate=2008-04-14 |format= |work=}}</ref>
|
|-
|<center>[[Metacritic]]
|<center>68%<ref name="meta"/>
|Based on 18 reviews
|-
|<center>[[Game Rankings]]
|<center>70.1%<ref name=Gamerankings>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/472139.asp?q=zoo%20tycoon |title=Zoo Tycoon Reviews |accessdate=2007-11-20 |format= |work=}}</ref>
|Based on 26 media outlets
|}
</div>
''Zoo Tycoon'' was received with average reviews, gaining an average 68 out of 100 at [[Metacritic]].<ref name="meta">{{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=}}</ref> 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.<ref name="CGM90">{{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=}}</ref><ref name="gamezone">{{cite web |url=http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r18380.htm |title=Zoo Tycoon Review - PC |accessdate=2007-11-20 |format= |work=}}</ref> The more negative reviews came from [[Adrenaline Vault]] and [[PC Gamer]].<ref name="meta"/> 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]].<ref name="sellbig">{{cite web |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/zoo-tycoon/529739p1.html |title=GameSpy: Zoo Tycoon Sells BIG |accessdate=2007-11-21 |format= |work=}}</ref>
''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 [[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences|AIAS]] Computer Family Title of the Year Interactive Achievement Award - 2004, the [[Scholastic Corporation|Scholastic]] Parent & Child Teacher’s Pick – 2004, and the Children’s Software Revue All Star Award – 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bluefang.com/company_awards.htm |title=Blue Fang Games ~ Awards |accessdate=2007-11-21 |format= |work=}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.zootycoon.com Official website]
* [http://www.microsoft.com/games/pc/zootycoon.aspx Official overview]
* {{StrategyWiki}}
* {{moby game|id=/zoo-tycoon|name=''Zoo Tycoon''}}
* [http://zootycoon.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page Zoo Tycoon Wiki]
{{Zoo Tycoon}}
[[Category:Blue Fang Games]]
[[Category:2001 video games]]
[[Category:Mac OS games]]
[[Category:Mac OS X games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Isometric video games]]
[[Category:Business simulation games]]
[[Category:Educational video games]]
[[Category:Interactive Achievement Award winners]]
[[Category:Zoo Tycoon]]
[[Category:Video games with expansion packs]]
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