REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 24, 2004 — Microsoft
®
Game Studios announced today that the Tulsa Zoo is the winner in the “Zoo Tycoon®
2” America’s Favorite Zoo contest. A $25,000 (U.S.) grant has been awarded to the zoo to help fund habitat maintenance, assist with animal care and repopulate endangered species.
In the search for the “Zoo Tycoon 2” America’s Favorite Zoo, 50 zoos from across the United States were selected to participate in the competition in which one lucky zoo would be awarded the grant. The nationwide contest consisted of three rounds, the first of which called on the knowledge of four expert judges to pare down the selected zoos to 15 semifinalists on Oct. 4. Rounds two and three relied on zoo fans nationwide, who were encouraged to log onto http://www.zootycoon.com to learn more about and vote for their favorite zoos. After much consideration, Americans chose the zoo that most impressed them, and Tulsa Zoo now reigns as America’s Favorite Zoo.
“We are so proud of the many facets of our organization and the staff who have helped make the Tulsa Zoo so successful,” said Mary Collins, executive director of Tulsa Zoo Friends and spokesperson for the Tulsa Zoo. “To be named America’s Favorite Zoo is an honor. Not only has the excitement of this contest really brought the community together, it’s been positive for the city and for us.”
“Zoo Tycoon 2,” the long-awaited sequel to the award-winning “Zoo Tycoon” game for the Windows®
operating system, was released to store shelves throughout the United States on Nov. 16. Developed by Blue Fang Games (TM) LLC, “Zoo Tycoon 2” improves upon one of the most successful Windows-based games of all time with all-new enhanced 3-D graphics, and new first-person gameplay modes that allow players to get even closer to the animals and zoo exhibits they create. With more than 300 building objects and the terrain-building Biome Brush, players can get even more creative while building and managing habitats and zoo attractions, making guests happier and animals more entertaining.
“Zoo Tycoon 2” is the perfect addition to the wildly popular “Zoo Tycoon” franchise, which has earned accolades from Child magazine, Children’s Software Revue and the Parents’ Choice Foundation. Most recently, “Zoo Tycoon 2” was included in Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children’s Products and Top 10 High-Tech Products of 2004.
About Blue Fang Games
Blue Fang Games develops high-quality, award-winning PC games. Founded in 1998 by veterans of Papyrus Design Group, Blue Fang is dedicated to delivering high-quality, interactive computer game titles to consumers around the world. Blue Fang Games, developer of the leading Games for Windows franchise “Zoo Tycoon,” recently celebrated surpassing the 2-million-unit mark in U.S. retail sales, according to The NPD Group. Blue Fang’s experienced team of game developers and designers prides itself on its proprietary project management system that delivers high-quality games that are on time and on budget.
About Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox®
video game system, the Windows operating system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows ( http://www.microsoft.com/games ), including such franchises as “Age of Empires®
,” “Flight Simulator” and “Zoo Tycoon”; Xbox ( http://www.xbox.com ), including such games as “Fable” and such franchises as “Halo® ,” “Project Gotham Racing® ” and “MechAssault® “; and MSN®
Games ( ttp://www.games.msn.com ), the official games channel for the MSN network and home to such hits as “Bejeweled” and “Hexic (TM) .”
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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