REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 22, 2001 — “Zoo Tycoon™ ,”
a wild new computer game from Microsoft Corp., is now available on store shelves, bringing roaring lions, sprinting cheetahs and waddling penguins together to test the creativity and business acumen of players of all ages. A simulation-style game,
“Zoo Tycoon”
challenges players to turn a bunch of animals into a million (or more) dollars by building a personal and profitable animal park.
The fun of
“Zoo Tycoon”
is building a thriving zoo business where zoo popularity and profitability depend on several factors: proper animal care, appropriate habitats, diverse and entertaining attractions, exotic animals, an affordable entry price and a satisfying number of zoo amenities ranging from gift shops and food options to benches and bathrooms. Ultimate success depends on a player’s ability to keep the animals happy.
“‘Zoo Tycoon’ has something for everyone; the only limits are a player’s imagination, and the needs and wants of the animals and guests,”
said Stuart Moulder, general manager of the PC Games Division at Microsoft.
”
‘Zoo Tycoon’ strengthens Microsoft’s varied lineup of
high-quality computer games, and we expect it to be a holiday blockbuster.”
Players become engaged in the game immediately upon starting, either by selecting a scenario to solve, or by designing their own free-form zoo right away. The intuitive design and realistic graphics trigger creativity, enabling players to easily design the definitive zoo destination: an enticing Arctic landscape, a pristine Japanese garden, or an elaborate food and gift shopping area replete with topiaries and fountains.
More than 40 animals are available to build exhibits, ranging from traditional favorites such as elephants and giraffes to more exotic creatures such as giant pandas and white Siberian tigers.
“Zoo Tycoon”
also features more than 175 habitat and zoo-building materials, and exhibits can be modified with diverse terrain options, including forest floor, sand, orchid trees and waterfalls. With a click of the mouse, elevations can be adjusted to create a tree-lined mountain with a freshwater stream or a low-lying jungle.
In addition, players can keep the gaming experience exciting with new content including completed zoos and new animals downloadable via the
“Zoo Tycoon”
Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/games/zootycoon/ .
“Zoo Tycoon”
was developed for Microsoft by Blue Fang Games LLC.
About Microsoft Games
Microsoft’s Games Division is a leading worldwide games company with three core businesses: games development and publishing, the Microsoft® Xbox™
video game system, and Zone.com. Zone.com ( http://www.zone.com/ ) is the Internet’s largest game site.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft, Zoo Tycoon and Xbox are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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