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Game Type: Simulation / Strategy
System Requirements: System requirements pending
Game / Developer Homepage: Blue Fang / Microsoft
Game Notes:
 Blue Fang does it again with another tycoon game. With the plethora of current tycoon games like Pizza Tycoon, Ski Resort Tycoon, and Golf Resort Tycoon, Zoo Tycoon looks to be a standout from the rest. Zoo Tycoon is scheduled for release in the fall of 2001, but we had a chance to take a look at the most recent beta. It's up to you to build a zoo from the ground up. Taking care of the animals and guests, and making sure that they're happiness levels are high.
The game isn't as easy as it sounds, as in all Tycoon games, there are obstacles that you must get over. There are more than 40 animals to choose from, and they all come from different habitats. There are 60 different habitat foliage. You can choose from trees, bushes, rocks and even monkey bars for the chimpanzee's. You also have the ability to edit the terrain making lots of hills or flat deserts. To keep the guests happy you can build picnic areas, fountains and flowers.
Gameplay:
The game controls are very easy to use. Which is Blue Fangs goal to make the interface as easy as possible. You can choose if you want to play in Scenario mode or in Free Play. In either mode the ultimate goal is to get the endangered animals to your zoo, which is not an easy task.
It's also essential pay attention to regular stuff such as feeding your guests, keeping them happy, squeeze every penny from them as you can, and keeping the park clean and running smoothly, but you'll also have all of your animals to take care of and keep happy. There are a lot ofconsiderations when planning out an enclosure for animals. Not all of them will appreciate the same things, you must build their habitat large enough and with the right terrain. The best way to find what's adequate for each animal is in the adoption menu as your selecting them. Once you highlight one of these creature types, you'll be able to click on the information icon at the bottom of the menu window. This will open up an information window that will give you a bit of info on each of the creatures. From the information given, you'll not only get a quick lesson in zoology, but will also be able to judge from the info what kind place they would like to live in.
You'll have to complete scenarios if you want to unlock new animals and building materials in Zoo Tycoon, such as building an urban zoo, or renovating a late 50's concrete zoo. There's even a cool fantasy scenarios that you can unlock.
The character animations are fantastic, with the animals wandering around, resting, fighting and relaxing, while visitors walk, point, and interact with their animal entertainment. The only animations missing were mating rituals, which i'm sure you won't see due to game ratings.
Summary:
Blue Fang and Microsoft are hoping that Zoo Tycoon will have the mass following that previous tycoon games have received like Roller Coaster Tycoon. In my opinion the game was not as good as Roller Coaster Tycoon, but they still have time to do some tweaking. They certainly need to work on harder scenarios or a way to control game levels. Time will tell if this game ends up a big hit when it's released in the fall.
ScreenShots: (Click To Enlarge)
     
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