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Zoo Tycoon (series)
Encyclopedia
The Zoo Tycoon series is a video game series that began in 2001. All of the games in the series focus around building up a successful zoo and running it, although scenarios may have other goals.
was founded in 1998 and then decided that there were little animal-related games. They were inspired by RollerCoaster Tycoon
to create a money-related game.
Blue Fang developed Zoo Tycoon
, which became available in 2001. It was followed by two expansion packs, Dinosaur Digs
and Marine Mania
, in 2002. In 2003, Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection was released, which included the original game, the Dinosaur Digs and Marine Mania expansion packs, as well as the bonus Endangered Species downloadable, also freely available from Microsoft.com.
In 2004, a sequel for Zoo Tycoon was released, Zoo Tycoon 2
. In 2005, a Nintendo DS
version of Zoo Tycoon
was released, as well as the first expansion pack for Zoo Tycoon 2, Endangered Species
. In following year, three expansions were released. They were African Adventure
, the Dino Danger Pack
and a second Marine Mania
. The Dino Danger Pack was a premium download, bought by credit card from the Zoo Tycoon website.
On October 16, 2007, another Zoo Tycoon 2 expansion, Extinct Animals
was released. The DS version of Zoo Tycoon 2, Zoo Tycoon 2 DS
, came out in February.
In June 2008, the announcement that the official forums, started in September 2006, would be closed to all incoming posts. It is unknown if posts will be accepted again, or if any more games will come out after Ultimate Collection, as Blue Fang's contract with Microsoft ended in 2009.
As well as having the original PC
versions of the Zoo Tycoon franchise, Zoo Tycoon
and Zoo Tycoon 2
are both available for the Nintendo DS
, as well as another version Zoo Tycoon 2
being available for the Apple Mac. Zoo Tycoon 2
and its expansion Marine Mania
are both available for the mobile phone
. None of these games on other platforms (with the exception of 2 DS) were developed by Blue Fang Games
like the original versions. However, Blue Fang recently announced they would be expanding to include games on Nintendo DS
and Wii
, possibly pointing towards a Zoo Tycoon outside the PC.
released Zoo Tycoon 2: The Ultimate Sticker Collection book. The original Zoo Tycoon 2
box set included a bonus animal pen.
Development history
Blue Fang GamesBlue Fang Games
Blue Fang Games, often shortened to Blue Fang, is a computer game developer .Blue Fang is noted for the popular Zoo Tycoon series.-Games:*Zoo Tycoon **Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs **Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania...
was founded in 1998 and then decided that there were little animal-related games. They were inspired by RollerCoaster Tycoon
RollerCoaster Tycoon
RollerCoaster Tycoon may refer to:*RollerCoaster Tycoon - a series of video games in which a player must manage an amusement park**RollerCoaster Tycoon - the first game, which came out in 1999...
to create a money-related game.
Blue Fang developed Zoo Tycoon
Zoo Tycoon
Zoo Tycoon is a business simulation developed by Blue Fang Games and released by Microsoft Game Studios. It is a 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...
, which became available in 2001. It was followed by two expansion packs, Dinosaur Digs
Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs
Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs is an expansion pack released for the PC game Zoo Tycoon. It included dinosaurs and ice age creatures, as well as prehistoric themed items.-Gameplay:...
and Marine Mania
Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania
Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania is an expansion pack for Zoo Tycoon, which includes aquatic animals and themed buildings.Players can create and manage underwater exhibits or merge aquatic tanks with traditional land habitats. Interactive tutorials and virtual marine specialists are available to help...
, in 2002. In 2003, Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection was released, which included the original game, the Dinosaur Digs and Marine Mania expansion packs, as well as the bonus Endangered Species downloadable, also freely available from Microsoft.com.
In 2004, a sequel for Zoo Tycoon was released, Zoo Tycoon 2
Zoo Tycoon 2
Zoo Tycoon 2 is a video game in which the player may create and operate a zoo by managing its finances, employees and animal exhibits. The goal is to become a "zoo tycoon". Originally released for Windows, Zoo Tycoon 2 is also available for Windows Mobile, PDA, Mac OS X and Nintendo DS...
. In 2005, a Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
version of Zoo Tycoon
Zoo Tycoon DS
Zoo Tycoon DS is the Nintendo DS version of the popular business simulation game, Zoo Tycoon.A sequel to the game, titled Zoo Tycoon 2 DS, was released in 2008.-Content:...
was released, as well as the first expansion pack for Zoo Tycoon 2, Endangered Species
Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species
Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species is the first of the Zoo Tycoon 2 expansion packs...
. In following year, three expansions were released. They were African Adventure
Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure
Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure is the second expansion pack for the video game Zoo Tycoon 2. Developed by Blue Fang Games, work for the game began in early 2005 for a May 2006 release....
, the Dino Danger Pack
Zoo Tycoon 2: Dino Danger Pack
Zoo Tycoon 2: Dino Danger Pack is a bonus pack for the game Zoo Tycoon 2 released on July 2006. It could be downloaded from the Zoo Tycoon website and Oberon Media website...
and a second Marine Mania
Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania
Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania is the third expansion pack for the video game Zoo Tycoon 2. The expansion focuses around marine animals, as did the Marine Mania expansion for the first Zoo Tycoon game.-Animal shows:...
. The Dino Danger Pack was a premium download, bought by credit card from the Zoo Tycoon website.
On October 16, 2007, another Zoo Tycoon 2 expansion, Extinct Animals
Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals
Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals is a video game expansion pack for Zoo Tycoon 2 released October 17, 2007. The expansion focuses around extinct animals, mainly dinosaurs or ice age creatures, as well as more recently extinct creatures like the dodo, thylacine and quagga.This expansion pack follows...
was released. The DS version of Zoo Tycoon 2, Zoo Tycoon 2 DS
Zoo Tycoon 2 DS
Zoo Tycoon 2 DS is a Nintendo DS game based on the PC game Zoo Tycoon 2. It is the sequel to Zoo Tycoon DS.-Gameplay:In Zoo Tycoon 2 DS, the player edits and builds the zoo in a main mode resembling Zoo Tycoon. Zookeeper mode is more like Zoo Tycoon 2 graphics-wise, but has five minigames:...
, came out in February.
In June 2008, the announcement that the official forums, started in September 2006, would be closed to all incoming posts. It is unknown if posts will be accepted again, or if any more games will come out after Ultimate Collection, as Blue Fang's contract with Microsoft ended in 2009.
Games
- Zoo TycoonZoo TycoonZoo Tycoon is a business simulation developed by Blue Fang Games and released by Microsoft Game Studios. It is a 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...
(2001)- Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur DigsZoo Tycoon: Dinosaur DigsZoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs is an expansion pack released for the PC game Zoo Tycoon. It included dinosaurs and ice age creatures, as well as prehistoric themed items.-Gameplay:...
(2002) - Zoo Tycoon: Marine ManiaZoo Tycoon: Marine ManiaZoo Tycoon: Marine Mania is an expansion pack for Zoo Tycoon, which includes aquatic animals and themed buildings.Players can create and manage underwater exhibits or merge aquatic tanks with traditional land habitats. Interactive tutorials and virtual marine specialists are available to help...
(2002) - Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection (2003) (compilation)
- Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs
- Zoo Tycoon 2Zoo Tycoon 2Zoo Tycoon 2 is a video game in which the player may create and operate a zoo by managing its finances, employees and animal exhibits. The goal is to become a "zoo tycoon". Originally released for Windows, Zoo Tycoon 2 is also available for Windows Mobile, PDA, Mac OS X and Nintendo DS...
(2004)- Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered SpeciesZoo Tycoon 2: Endangered SpeciesZoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species is the first of the Zoo Tycoon 2 expansion packs...
(2005) - Zoo Tycoon 2: African AdventureZoo Tycoon 2: African AdventureZoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure is the second expansion pack for the video game Zoo Tycoon 2. Developed by Blue Fang Games, work for the game began in early 2005 for a May 2006 release....
(2006) - Zoo Tycoon 2: Dino Danger PackZoo Tycoon 2: Dino Danger PackZoo Tycoon 2: Dino Danger Pack is a bonus pack for the game Zoo Tycoon 2 released on July 2006. It could be downloaded from the Zoo Tycoon website and Oberon Media website...
(2006) - Zoo Tycoon 2: Zookeeper Collection (2006) (compilation)
- Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine ManiaZoo Tycoon 2: Marine ManiaZoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania is the third expansion pack for the video game Zoo Tycoon 2. The expansion focuses around marine animals, as did the Marine Mania expansion for the first Zoo Tycoon game.-Animal shows:...
(2006) - Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct AnimalsZoo Tycoon 2: Extinct AnimalsZoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals is a video game expansion pack for Zoo Tycoon 2 released October 17, 2007. The expansion focuses around extinct animals, mainly dinosaurs or ice age creatures, as well as more recently extinct creatures like the dodo, thylacine and quagga.This expansion pack follows...
(2007) - Zoo Tycoon 2: Ultimate Collection (2008) (compilation)
- Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species
- Zoo Tycoon DSZoo Tycoon DSZoo Tycoon DS is the Nintendo DS version of the popular business simulation game, Zoo Tycoon.A sequel to the game, titled Zoo Tycoon 2 DS, was released in 2008.-Content:...
(2005) - Zoo Tycoon 2 DSZoo Tycoon 2 DSZoo Tycoon 2 DS is a Nintendo DS game based on the PC game Zoo Tycoon 2. It is the sequel to Zoo Tycoon DS.-Gameplay:In Zoo Tycoon 2 DS, the player edits and builds the zoo in a main mode resembling Zoo Tycoon. Zookeeper mode is more like Zoo Tycoon 2 graphics-wise, but has five minigames:...
(2008)
As well as having the original PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
versions of the Zoo Tycoon franchise, Zoo Tycoon
Zoo Tycoon DS
Zoo Tycoon DS is the Nintendo DS version of the popular business simulation game, Zoo Tycoon.A sequel to the game, titled Zoo Tycoon 2 DS, was released in 2008.-Content:...
and Zoo Tycoon 2
Zoo Tycoon 2 DS
Zoo Tycoon 2 DS is a Nintendo DS game based on the PC game Zoo Tycoon 2. It is the sequel to Zoo Tycoon DS.-Gameplay:In Zoo Tycoon 2 DS, the player edits and builds the zoo in a main mode resembling Zoo Tycoon. Zookeeper mode is more like Zoo Tycoon 2 graphics-wise, but has five minigames:...
are both available for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
, as well as another version Zoo Tycoon 2
Zoo Tycoon 2
Zoo Tycoon 2 is a video game in which the player may create and operate a zoo by managing its finances, employees and animal exhibits. The goal is to become a "zoo tycoon". Originally released for Windows, Zoo Tycoon 2 is also available for Windows Mobile, PDA, Mac OS X and Nintendo DS...
being available for the Apple Mac. Zoo Tycoon 2
Zoo Tycoon 2
Zoo Tycoon 2 is a video game in which the player may create and operate a zoo by managing its finances, employees and animal exhibits. The goal is to become a "zoo tycoon". Originally released for Windows, Zoo Tycoon 2 is also available for Windows Mobile, PDA, Mac OS X and Nintendo DS...
and its expansion Marine Mania
Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania Mobile
Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania Mobile is a 2007 mobile phone game based on the popular PC game expansion pack Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania....
are both available for the mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
. None of these games on other platforms (with the exception of 2 DS) were developed by Blue Fang Games
Blue Fang Games
Blue Fang Games, often shortened to Blue Fang, is a computer game developer .Blue Fang is noted for the popular Zoo Tycoon series.-Games:*Zoo Tycoon **Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs **Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania...
like the original versions. However, Blue Fang recently announced they would be expanding to include games on Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
and Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
, possibly pointing towards a Zoo Tycoon outside the PC.
Merchandise
In addition to the game, there are several mousemats available on Amazon.co.uk. DKDorling Kindersley
Dorling Kindersley is an international publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 51 languages. It is currently part of the Penguin Group....
released Zoo Tycoon 2: The Ultimate Sticker Collection book. The original Zoo Tycoon 2
Zoo Tycoon 2
Zoo Tycoon 2 is a video game in which the player may create and operate a zoo by managing its finances, employees and animal exhibits. The goal is to become a "zoo tycoon". Originally released for Windows, Zoo Tycoon 2 is also available for Windows Mobile, PDA, Mac OS X and Nintendo DS...
box set included a bonus animal pen.