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{{Short description|2004 business simulation video game}}
{{Infobox VG
{{Infobox video game
|title = Zoo Tycoon 2
|image = [[Image:Zoo Tycoon 2 Coverart.png]]
| title = Zoo Tycoon 2
|caption = '''''Zoo Tycoon 2''''' boxart
| image = Zoo Tycoon 2 Coverart.png
|developer = [[Blue Fang Games]] (original)<br>[[MacSoft]] ([[Mac]] version)
| developer = [[Blue Fang Games]]<br/>Rapan
|publisher = [[Microsoft Game Studios]] (original)<br>[[MacSoft]] ([[Mac]] version)
| publisher = [[Microsoft Game Studios]]{{efn|Mac OS X port developed and published by [[MacSoft]]}}.
|series = ''[[Zoo Tycoon (series)|Zoo Tycoon]]''
| series = ''[[Zoo Tycoon]]''
|engine = ''[[Gamebryo]]''
| engine = ''[[Gamebryo]]''
| platforms = [[Windows]], [[Mac OS X]]
|version = 2
| released = '''Windows'''{{vgrelease|NA|November 9, 2004<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zoo Tycoon 2 limited edition announced |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/zoo-tycoon-2-limited-edition-announced/1100-6111929/ |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}</ref>|EU|November 26, 2004<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zoo Tycoon 2 sur PC |url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/jeux/pc/00012459-zoo-tycoon-2.htm |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=Jeuxvideo.com |language=fr}}</ref>}}'''Mac OS X'''{{vgrelease|NA|December 8, 2005<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zoo Tycoon 2 ships for the Mac |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/178026/zootycoon2-3.html |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=Macworld |language=en}}</ref>}}
|released = [[November 2004]]
|genre = [[Economic simulation game|Economic simulation]]
| genre = [[Business simulation game|Business simulation]]
|modes = [[Single player]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
|ratings = [[Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]]: E<br />[[Office of Film and Literature Classification (Australia)|OFLC]]: PG<br />[[Office of Film and Literature Classification (Australia)|OFLC]]: G ([[Nintendo DS|DS]])<br />[[Pan European Game Information|PEGI]]: 3+<br />[[Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle|USK]]: Unrestricted<br />
|platforms = [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]<br>[[Apple Mac]]
|media = [[CD-ROM]]<br />[[Nintendo DS Game Card]]
|requirements = [[Windows 2000]]/[[Windows XP|XP]]:<br />1 GHz [[central processing unit|CPU]], 512 MB [[random access memory|RAM]], 1 GB [[hard disk drive|HDD]], 32 MB graphics card with Hardware Transform & Lighting, [[DirectX]] 9.0, [[Internet access]] to download optional content, [[CD-ROM drive]]
|input = [[Computer keyboard|Keyboard]], [[Computer mouse|mouse]]
}}
}}
'''''Zoo Tycoon 2''''' is a [[Business simulation game|business simulation]] [[video game]] developed by [[Blue Fang Games]] and published by [[Xbox Game Studios|Microsoft Game Studios]] and [[MacSoft]]. Originally released in 2004 for [[Microsoft Windows]], ''Zoo Tycoon 2'' is also available for [[Windows Mobile]], [[Personal digital assistant|PDA]], and [[MacOS|Mac OS X]], although expansions are not included in the Mac version. A [[Nintendo DS]] version, titled ''[[Zoo Tycoon 2 DS]]'', was released in 2008.


'''''Zoo Tycoon 2''''' is a simulation computer 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".
Similar to its predecessor, 2001's ''[[Zoo Tycoon (2001 video game)|Zoo Tycoon]]'', the objective is to build and operate a [[zoo]] by creating [[exhibits]] and [[aquariums]], keeping guests and animals happy, and maintaining employees, finances, terrain, foliage, and scenery.

It is the sequel of the 2001 game ''[[Zoo Tycoon]]''.

''Zoo Tycoon 2'' is also available for the [[Zoo Tycoon 2: Mobile|mobile phone]], Mac and [[Zoo Tycoon 2 DS|Nintendo DS]].


==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==
The gameplay revolves around creating suitable exhibits for animals through habitat modifications (ground cover, water, elevation, foliage, and rocks, plus a variety of other items including food, shelters, and toys/enrichment items) which fulfill the animal's needs (habitat, hunger, thirst, stimulation, privacy, sleep, social, and exercise). Guests will visit the zoo to see the animals, and they also have needs that need to be fulfilled through scenery and buildings (hunger, thirst, bathroom, seating, and entertainment).
There are a number of different modes in the game. Each mode has limitations (with the exception of freeform) and the player can choose which mode depending on the experience and age of him or her.


''Zoo Tycoon 2'' features three gameplay modes: Campaign, Challenge, and Sandbox. In Campaign mode, the player plays through scenarios in existing zoos and is assigned different objectives to complete, such as achieving a certain fame level, caring for rescued animals, or breeding endangered species. In Challenge mode, the player starts a zoo from scratch and is given random challenges which can be accepted or rejected. In both of these modes, players have limited money and start with limited access to animals and items, with more becoming available as zoo fame level increases. The last mode, Sandbox, allows the player to create a zoo from scratch with unlimited money and access to all animals and items from the start.
A freeform game in ''Zoo Tycoon 2'' allows you to create the zoo of your choice, the only restriction being space, animals and objects. The player's money supply is unlimited, and all items are available from the beginning of the game play (except those that can only be unlocked in Scenario and Challenge games). Freeform games begin with an empty zoo, to which the player adds animal exhibits and guest facilities (such as restaurants and bathrooms), hiring employees to staff and maintain them.


== Development ==
Challenge games are the equivalent of previous ''[[Zoo Tycoon]]'' freeform games. In this type of game, the player's money supply is limited, and not all items are ready for immediate use and stocks of an animal species are limited. Game play is the same as freeform, except that the player must make a profit in order to keep the zoo running, and certain items must be researched before they become available for use.<br>
After the success of the original ''Zoo Tycoon'', a sequel was planned. Marketing materials showed an emphasis on 3D visuals as well as first-person perspective and photo modes.<ref>{{Citation|title=Zoo Tycoon 2 Announced - IGN|date=17 February 2004 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/02/17/zoo-tycoon-2-announced|language=en|access-date=2020-11-08}}</ref> The game's first-person Guest Mode was added due to many fan requests to get "closer" to the animals.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-09-28|title=Zoo Tycoon - Zoo Tycoon 2 Developer Diary—Zookeeper Mode|url=http://zootycoon.com/Community/devdiary_zt2_02.htm|access-date=2020-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928020344/http://zootycoon.com/Community/devdiary_zt2_02.htm|archive-date=2012-09-28}}</ref> The Photo Mode and Zookeeper Mode were refined after developers decided that the player should be able to interact with the world while walking around. First-person movement and controls were based on [[first-person shooter]]s, with developers citing [[Half-Life 2|''Half-Life'']] as an inspiration.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-01-15|title=Zoo Tycoon - Zoo Tycoon 2 Developer Diary—Zoo Guest Mode|url=http://zootycoon.com/Community/devdiary_zt2_01.htm|access-date=2020-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115132626/http://zootycoon.com/Community/devdiary_zt2_01.htm|archive-date=2012-01-15}}</ref>
This mode will occasionally give the player extra challenges. Some of them will involve creating habitats for specific animals. Other photo challenges will involve snapping a picture of a designated animal doing a specific behavior, such as running or hunting. <br>
When a specific number of regular challenges, expansion pack challenges (expansions are required for these challenges), or photo challenges are completed, a specific theme for buildings are available, allowing versions of the player's restrooms, food stands, scenery, and other items to be constructed altered for that theme.


The game was also designed to be more freeform than ''Zoo Tycoon'' was, with developer Shawn Stone citing that habitat building in the first game was a formulaic process that was improved upon in the sequel.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-07-10|title=Zoo Tycoon - Zoo Tycoon 2 Developer Diary—Habitat Editor|url=http://zootycoon.com/Community/devdiary_zt2_03.htm|access-date=2020-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100710073752/http://zootycoon.com/Community/devdiary_zt2_03.htm|archive-date=2010-07-10}}</ref> Terrain deformation and the Biome Brush were implemented to give the player more specific control over animal habitats by creating unique and individual exhibits, while still keeping them simple enough so as not to alienate players that were not as interested in the details of building an exhibit.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-08-29|title=Zoo Tycoon - Zoo Tycoon 2 Developer Diary—Biome Brush|url=http://zootycoon.com/Community/devdiary_zt2_04.htm|access-date=2020-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100829105101/http://zootycoon.com/Community/devdiary_zt2_04.htm|archive-date=2010-08-29}}</ref>
A campaign is a game form in which the player must complete a goal to win. Each campaign gives the player a certain task to achieve (such as constructing a particular exhibit or gaining a specific award), and when the goal is met, the player moves onto the next.Campaigns can range from simple construction tasks to creating and managing a popular zoo for several years. As the player progresses through the campaign, the scenarios become harder. After the player completes the last scenario, a reward is obtained, usually a new building or item, or allowing the player to take on an entirely new campaign. The campaign mode also includes game [[tutorial]]s.
[[Image:Biome Brush.jpg|thumb|250px|The original '[[biome]] brush'. This mode allows the player to create animal habitats easily. The biome brush was updated in the ''[[Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure]]'' expansion pack]]


The development team noted the change in conservation messages portrayed by zoos after the release of ''Zoo Tycoon'', and worked to make ''Zoo Tycoon 2'' feel up to date with current information and messaging.<ref name="egmnow.com">{{Cite web|date=2020-02-21|title=The Evolution of Animal Conservation in Games, from Zoo Tycoon to Planet Zoo|url=https://egmnow.com/the-evolution-of-animal-conservation-in-games-from-zoo-tycoon-to-planet-zoo/|access-date=2020-11-08|website=EGM|language=en-US}}</ref> Expansion packs were released for the game up to four years after its initial release, with designer Linda Currie citing the team working on three expansions simultaneously during development. Updated mechanics in each expansion required changes to be made to all animals, to ensure that each expansion pack would not break the game. The team worked to make changes without altering the core systems in place, in order to make updates and QA testing easier, and with lower risk.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Gamasutra - Postmortem: Blue Fang's Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1748/postmortem_blue_fangs_zoo_tycoon_.php?print=1|access-date=2020-11-08|website=www.gamasutra.com}}</ref>
==Animals==
''Zoo Tycoon 2'' contains 30 animals in total, although expansion packs and downloads add up to 130 animals so far. The animals are sorted into categories by [[biome]] ([[savannah]], [[tropical rainforest]], [[alpine]], [[scrubland|scrub]], [[grassland]], [[wetlands]], [[tundra]], [[desert]], [[boreal forest]] and [[temperate forest]], although [[benthic]], [[reef]], [[pelagic]] and [[coastal]] were all included in ''Marine Mania'').


==Marketing and promotion==
The animals can be mixed with each other in their exhibits, and the carnivores will only hunt the herbivores if they are hungry. However, some carnivores (such as lions) occasionally kill others of their species for competition over space or as reproduction needs have reached a peak.
Publisher [[Xbox Game Studios|Microsoft Game Studios]] ran several promotions involving the game, including a competition allowing kids to "Become a Zoo Keeper for the day" in the UK,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Get Closer To The Animals This Friday As Zoo Tycoon 2 Hits Store Shelves|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/get-closer-to-the-animals-this-friday-as-zoo-tycoon-2-hits-store-shelves|access-date=2020-11-08|website=GamesIndustry.biz|date=23 November 2004 |language=en}}</ref> and a competition to find "America's Favorite Zoo" in the US, an online vote which would result in a $25,000 grant from Microsoft to be put towards upkeep and maintenance.<ref>{{Citation|title=A Zoo Tycoon-worthy Zoo? - IGN|date=2 August 2004 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/08/02/a-zoo-tycoon-worthy-zoo|language=en|access-date=2020-11-08}}</ref> The contest consisted of three rounds, with the first round consisting of zoos being picked by a team of judges based on submitted press materials, which resulted in 15 semifinalists. Rounds two and three were done by fans in an online vote. In November 2004, the [[Tulsa Zoo]] was declared the winner of the polls, and was awarded the grant.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2004-11-24|title=Tulsa Zoo Is Crowned King of the Jungle In "Zoo Tycoon 2" America's Favorite Zoo Contest|url=https://news.microsoft.com/2004/11/24/tulsa-zoo-is-crowned-king-of-the-jungle-in-zoo-tycoon-2-americas-favorite-zoo-contest/|access-date=2020-11-08|website=Stories|language=en-US}}</ref>


== Expansion packs ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 60%;"
|-
! [[Animal]]
! [[Biome]]
! Star rating required
|-
| [[African elephant]]
| [[Savannah]]
| 4
|-
| [[American beaver]]
| [[Wetlands]]
| 3
|-
| [[Bengal tiger]]
| [[Tropical rainforest]]
| 3.5
|-
| [[Black rhinoceros]]
| [[Savannah]]
| 3
|-
| [[Cheetah]]
| [[Savannah]]
| 2.5
|-
| [[Chimpanzee]]
| [[Tropical rainforest]]
| 3.5
|-
| [[Common peafowl]]
| [[Temperate forest]]
| 0.5
|-
| [[Common zebra]]
| [[Savannah]]
| 1.5
|-
| [[Dromedary camel]]
| [[Desert]]
| 0.5
|-
| [[Emperor penguin]]
| [[Tundra]]
| 1
|-
| [[Gemsbok]]
| [[scrubland|Scrub]]
| 1
|-
| [[Giant panda]]
| [[Temperate forest]]
| 5
|-
| [[Greater flamingo]]
| [[Wetlands]]
| 1
|-
| [[Grizzly bear]]
| [[Boreal forest]]
| 3.5
|-
| [[Hippopotamus]]
| [[Wetlands]]
| 2.5
|-
| [[Ibex]]
| [[Alpine]]
| 1.5
|-
| [[Jaguar]]
| [[Tropical rainforest]]
| 2
|-
| [[Lion]]
| [[Savannah]]
| 2.5
|-
| [[Moose]]
| [[Boreal forest]]
| 0.5
|-
| [[Mountain gorilla]]
| [[Tropical rainforest]]
| 4
|-
| [[Nile crocodile]]
| [[Wetlands]]
| 1.5
|-
| [[Okapi]]
| [[Tropical rainforest]]
| 2
|-
| [[Ostrich]]
| [[Savannah]]
| 2
|-
| [[Polar bear]]
| [[Tundra]]
| 3
|-
| [[Red kangaroo]]
| [[scrubland|Scrub]]
| 2
|-
| [[Red panda]]
| [[Temperate forest]]
| 4
|-
| [[Reticulated giraffe]]
| [[Savannah]]
| 2.5
|-
| [[Ring-tailed lemur]]
| [[Tropical rainforest]]
| 3
|-
| [[Snow leopard]]
| [[Alpine]]
| 4
|-
| [[Thomson's gazelle]]
| [[Savannah]]
| 0.5
|}


===''Endangered Species''===
On October 18, 2005, Microsoft released ''Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species'', the first expansion pack for the game. The expansion adds many new rare and endangered animal species, including the [[koala]], [[wolf|gray wolf]], [[Komodo dragon]], [[Scimitar oryx|scimitar-horned oryx]], [[American bison]], and [[orangutan]], as well as a number of new forms of transportation, including sky trams, jeep tours, and elevated paths. The expansion also has a feature called "variant skins", which means that when the player adopts an animal, it may look different from normal members of its species (such as a [[white tiger]] and [[cheetah|King Cheetah]]).


===''African Adventure''===
===Bonus downloads and extras===
The second expansion pack, ''Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure'', was released on May 16, 2006. It adds various new [[Africa]]n animals such as the [[bongo (antelope)|bongo]], [[secretarybird]], [[honey badger|ratel]], and [[meerkat]], and allows the player to drive through exhibits with African-themed Jeep tours to get closer to them. The expansion pack also includes new maps based on well-known African locations, as well as new desert-themed buildings, lizard live food, and a new set of challenges and campaigns. The Jeep vehicle tours originally included in ''Endangered Species'' are featured prominently in this expansion, with the addition of the new [[Jeep Liberty]].
Bonus downloads are additional animals, objects and other features that can be downloaded via the in-game menus.<ref name=bonus>{{cite web|url=http://www.zootycoon.com/downloads/bonusdownloads|title=Zoo Tycoon.com - Bonus Downloads|accessdate=2007-06-02}}</ref> Extras are additional animals that can only be downloaded via the 'Extras' section of the ''Zoo Tycoon'' website.<ref name=extras>{{cite web|url=http://www.zootycoon.com/downloads/extras|title=Zoo Tycoon.com - Extras<!--Extinct Animals Prima guide on Amazon.com-->|accessdate=2007-07-16}}</ref>
[[Image:Bonus Download Asian Elephant.JPG|thumb|The [[Asian Elephant]] bonus download]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 60%;"
! Animal
! Biome
! Star rating
! Downloaded from


===''Dino Danger Pack''===
|-
The ''Dino Danger Pack'' was released as a premium download at the end of July 2006, meaning it could only be downloaded from the ''Zoo Tycoon'' website via [[credit card]]. It added four new extinct dinosaurs to the game: ''[[Tyrannosaurus]]'', ''[[Triceratops]]'', ''[[Carnotaurus]]'', and ''[[Styracosaurus]]'', as well as new objects to be used for them and a new campaign scenario.<ref name=premium>{{cite web|url=http://zootycoon.com/Downloads/premiumdownloads.htm|title=Zoo Tycoon.com - Premium Downloads|access-date=2007-10-18}}</ref> Following the release of ''[[Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals]]'', which includes more updated versions of all of the animals included in the pack as well as additional content, ''Dino Danger'' was removed from the ''Zoo Tycoon'' website and can no longer be downloaded there. However, other sites still offer this pack.
| [[Asian elephant]]
| [[scrubland|Scrub]]
| 3.5
| In game <ref name="bonus">[http://zootycoon.com/Downloads/bonusdownloads.htm]</ref>
|-
| [[Black panther|Black leopard]]
| [[Tropical rainforest]]
| 3
| In game <ref name="bonus">[http://zootycoon.com/Downloads/bonusdownloads.htm]</ref>
|-
| [[Musk ox]]
| [[Tundra]]
| 0.5
| In game <ref name="bonus">[http://zootycoon.com/Downloads/bonusdownloads.htm]</ref>
|-
| [[Addax]]
| [[Desert]]
| 2
| Website <ref name="extras">[http://zootycoon.com/Downloads/extras.htm]</ref>
|}


===Ambient animals===
===''Zookeeper Collection''===
The ''Zookeeper Collection'' was released on October 17, 2006. It includes the ''Endangered Species'' and ''African Adventure'' expansions as well as all animals and content from the base game.
Ambient animals fly over and run around in the zoo. These are non-adoptable and cannot be selected or manipulated by the player.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 65%;"
! Animal
! Land/Air
! Biome 1
! Biome 2
! Biome 3
! Biome 4
|-
| [[Rock dove]]
| Air
| [[Grassland]]
|
|
|
|-
| [[Herring gull]]
| Air
| [[Grassland]]
|
|
|
|-
| [[Yellow-billed oxpecker]]
| Air
| [[Savannah]]
|
|
|
|-
| [[Blue-and-yellow macaw]]
| Air
| [[Tropical rainforest]]
|
|
|
|-
| [[Mallard duck]]
| Air
| [[Wetlands]]
| [[Boreal forest]]
| [[Temperate forest]]
|
|-
| [[Common loon]]
| Air
| [[Boreal forest]]
| [[Alpine]]
|
|
|-
| [[Springhare]]
| Land
| [[Desert]]
|
|
|
|-
| [[Red Squirrel]]
| Land
| [[Boreal forest]]
| [[Temperate forest]]
|
|
|-
| [[King vulture]]
| Air
| [[Desert]]
| [[Savannah]]
| [[Scrubland|Scrub]]
|
|-
| [[Monarch butterfly]]
| Air
| [[Grassland]]
| [[Alpine]]
| [[Boreal Forest]]
| [[Temperate Forest]]
|}


==Expansion packs==
===''Marine Mania''===
Released on October 17, 2006, ''Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania'' features 20 new aquatic animals, new marine options, marine shows, and several other new gaming features. The expansion also includes marine plants, the ability to build tanks, animal shows, mini-games to teach behaviors to some of the marine animals, and four new [[aquatic ecology|aquatic biomes]] ([[reef]], [[coastal]], [[pelagic]], and [[benthic]]), and new scenarios and challenges. Changes were made to the original method of biome layout, allowing the ability to toggle the visibility of rocks, flowers, and/or trees, as well as enhancing water effects and improving the way animals move through water in a 3D space, affecting the new animals included in the pack as well as various semi-aquatic animals from the base game such as [[Nile crocodile]]s and [[polar bear]]s.<ref name=":0" /> New animals range from the giant [[whale shark]]s to the tiny [[rockhopper penguin]]s.
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Jeep Tour Through Savannah.jpg|thumb|A [[Jeep Commander]] tour from ''[[Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species|Endangered Species]]''.]] -->
===Endangered Species===
{{main|Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species}}
In October 2005, [[Microsoft]] released the ''Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species'' expansion pack. This expansion pack adds more rare animals, including the [[komodo dragon]], [[scimitar-horned oryx]], and [[orangutan]], as well as a number of new forms of transportation, including sky trams, jeep tours and elevated paths. The expansion also has a feature called "variant skins", which means that when the player adopts an animal, it may look different from normal members of its species (such as a [[White]] [[Bengal tiger]] and [[King Cheetah]]).


===African Adventure===
===''Extinct Animals''===
[[Image:Styracosaurus ans Short Faced Bear.jpg|thumb|A typical zoo in ''Extinct Animals'', with ''[[Styracosaurus]]'' and a [[Arctodus|short-faced bear]]]]
{{main|Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure}}
''Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals'' was released on October 17, 2007. It is the latest expansion in the [[Zoo Tycoon (series)|''Zoo Tycoon'' series]], with 34 adoptable animal species and one bonus species. The player can find [[fossil]]s or get staff to find them. The player can then assemble the fossils, and can also create normal and "Super" extinct animals in an extinct research lab. The player can also stop rampaging dinosaurs by using the tranquilizer gun.
''Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure'', released May 2006, adds various new African animals such as the [[bongo (antelope)|bongo]], [[secretary bird]], [[Ratel]] and the [[meerkat]], allows the player to drive through exhibits with African-themed jeep tours to get closer to them. The expansion pack also includes new maps based on well-known African locations, as well as new desert-themed buildings and lizard live food, and a new set of challenges and campaigns. The Jeep vehicle tours originally included in ''Endangered Species'' are featured in this expansion, with the addition of the new [[Jeep Liberty]].


===Zookeeper Collection===
===''Ultimate Collection''===
''Ultimate Collection'' contains the original game plus all four official expansions and a new menu theme exclusive to it, similar to ''Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection''.<ref>[http://zootycoon.com/Community/Zoo+News+-+Ultimate+Collection+Announce.htm Zoo Tycoon - ZOO NEWS - JUNE 19, 2008] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080711045641/http://zootycoon.com/Community/Zoo+News+-+Ultimate+Collection+Announce.htm |date=July 11, 2008 }}</ref> This title was released on September 30, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Tycoon-2-Ultimate-Pc/dp/B001BZ2F56/|title=Zoo Tycoon 2: Ultimate Collection: Video Games|author=Zoo Tycoon 2: Ultimate Collection|website=Amazon|access-date=2012-08-17}}</ref> Some users reported disk problems, whereby the third disk was the same as the second one. Microsoft sent free disk replacements at their support site.
{{main|Zoo Tycoon 2: Zookeeper Collection}}
The ''Zookeeper Collection'' was released in [[October 2006]]. Rather than being an expansion, it's more of a large standalone pack featuring the ''[[Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species|Endangered Species]]'' and ''[[Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure|African Adventure]]'' expansions, as well as all animals and content from ''Zoo Tycoon 2''. It includes some ''[[Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania|Marine Mania]]'' features, such as the new mode of biome layout.


Microsoft subsequently licensed the game to [[Ubisoft]], who re-released the Ultimate Collection in a variety of formats across multiple territories including a single disk DVD-ROM for Windows PCs.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}
===Marine Mania===
{{main|Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania}}
Released on [[October 17]] [[2006]], ''Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania'' features 20 new aquatic animals, new marine options, marine shows and several other brand new gaming features. The expansion also includes marine plants, the ability to build tanks, animal shows, minigames to teach some of your marine animals behaviors,and 4 new [[aquatic ecology|aquatic biomes]] ([[reef]], [[coastal]], [[pelagic]],and [[benthic]]), and new scenarios and challenges. Changes have been made to the original method of biome layout allowing the ability to turn off rocks , flowers and/or trees.

===Extinct Animals===
{{main|Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals}}
[[Image:Styracosaurus ans Short Faced Bear.jpg|thumb|A typical zoo in ''Extinct Animals''.]]
''Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals'', was released on October 17, 2007. It is the largest and latest expansion in the [[Zoo Tycoon (series)|''Zoo Tycoon'' series]], with 34 adoptable animals, plus two bonus animals. All of the animals from the ''[[Dino Danger Pack]]'' are included; all of them are updated.
====Dino Danger Pack====
{{main|Zoo Tycoon 2: Dino Danger Pack}}
The ''Dino Danger Pack'' was released at the end of July 2006. The pack could only be downloaded from the ''Zoo Tycoon'' website via credit card. It added four new animals to the game, ''[[Tyrannosaurus Rex|Tyrannosaurus]]'', ''[[Triceratops]]'', ''[[Carnotaurus]]'', and ''[[Styracosaurus]]'', as well as new objects to be used for them and a campaign game. The ''Dino Danger Pack'' could be purchased for US$4.99 and downloaded at ''Zoo Tycoon'' premium downloads<ref name=premium>{{cite web|url=http://zootycoon.com/Downloads/premiumdownloads.htm|title=Zoo Tycoon.com - Premium Downloads|accessdate=2007-10-18}}</ref>. Since the release of ''[[Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals]]'', which includes more updated versions of all of the animals included in the pack, ''Dino Danger'' was taken offline from the ''Zoo Tycoon'' website and can no longer be downloaded.


==Reception==
==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
The release of ''Zoo Tycoon 2'' in 2004 received mixed views. Many parents played the game with their children, which resulted in the numerous awards for the sequel. Although the game is aimed at children and teenagers, the educational side of the game was the rise to popularity.<br> However, the numerous bugs for the sequel were a major turning point. Reviews on sites like [[GameSpot]] and [[IGN]] complain of poor performance of lower-res computers, unimpressive sound system and acceptable graphics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/zootycoon2/review.html|title=GameSpot - Zoo Tycoon 2 Review|accessdate=2007-06-02}}</ref>
| MC = 72/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/zoo-tycoon-2/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Zoo Tycoon 2 for PC Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=November 11, 2019}}</ref>
| EuroG = 7/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Gillen|first=Kieron|date=December 22, 2004 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_zootycoon2_pc |title=Zoo Tycoon 2 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=November 11, 2019}}</ref>
| GameRev = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite web |last=Radakovic|first=Nebojsa|date=November 11, 2004 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33126-zoo-tycoon-2-review/ |title=Zoo Tycoon 2 Review |website=[[Game Revolution]] |access-date=November 10, 2019}}</ref>
| GSpot = 7.2/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Park|first=Andrew|date=November 29, 2004 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/zoo-tycoon-2-review/1900-6113977/ |title=Zoo Tycoon 2 Review|website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=November 10, 2019}}</ref>
| GSpy = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name=Spy>{{cite web|last=Harker |first=Karla |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/zoo-tycoon-2/571194p1.html |title=Zoo Tycoon 2 |publisher=[[GameSpy]]|date=2004-12-06 |access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref>
| IGN = 7.5/10<ref name=IGN>{{cite web|last=Adams |first=Dan |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/18/zoo-tycoon-2-review-2?page=1 |title=Zoo Tycoon 2 Review |publisher=[[IGN]] |date=2004-11-17 |access-date=2018-01-12}}</ref>
}}
According to [[The NPD Group]], ''Zoo Tycoon 2'' was the 19th best-selling computer game of 2004.<ref name=npd2004>{{cite report | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051104094022/http://www.theesa.com/files/2005EssentialFacts.pdf | url=http://www.theesa.com/files/2005EssentialFacts.pdf | title=Essential Facts about the Computer and Video Game Industry; 2005 Sales, Demographics and Usage Data | date=May 18, 2005 | publisher=[[Entertainment Software Association]] | archive-date=November 4, 2005 | page=5 | url-status=dead }}</ref> It rose to 13th place on NPD's annual computer game sales chart for 2005,<ref name=npd2005>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821024019/http://theesa.com/archives/files/Essential%20Facts%202006.pdf | url=http://theesa.com/archives/files/Essential%20Facts%202006.pdf | title=Essential Facts about the Computer and Video Game Industry; 2006 Sales, Demographic and Usage Data | date=May 10, 2006 | publisher=[[Entertainment Software Association]] | archive-date=August 21, 2006 | url-status=dead | page=5 }}</ref> a position it maintained for 2006.<ref name=npd2006>{{cite report | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080326170659/http://www.theesa.com/archives/files/ESA-EF%202007.pdf | url=http://www.theesa.com/archives/files/ESA-EF%202007.pdf | title=Essential Facts about the Computer and Video Game Industry; 2007 Sales, Demographic and Usage Data | date=June 2007 | publisher=[[Entertainment Software Association]] | archive-date=March 26, 2008 | page=6 | url-status=dead }}</ref>


The game received generally positive reviews. [[IGN]] gave the game a score of 7.5/10, praising the game's lasting appeal while criticizing it for being too easy,<ref name=IGN/> while [[GameSpy]] noted the improved 3D graphics.<ref name=Spy/>
===Awards===
''Zoo Tycoon 2'' received numerous awards from various points of view. Multiple awards from parent organizations for being a family-friendly game that could be played by young children (with the assistance of an adult). The sequel also received [[Dean Takahashi]]’s "Top 10 Games of 2004". The expansion packs for ''Zoo Tycoon 2'', in particular ''Marine Mania'', also strut over 5 different family friendly gaming awards.


''Zoo Tycoon 2'' received a "Silver" sales award from the [[Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association]] (ELSPA),<ref name=silverelspa>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221154943/http://www.elspa.com/?i=3942 |url=http://www.elspa.com:80/?i=3942 |title=ELSPA Sales Awards: Silver |work=[[Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association]] |archive-date=February 21, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> indicating sales of at least 100,000 copies in the United Kingdom.<ref name=gamasutrasales>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918063107/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php |title=ELSPA: ''Wii Fit'', ''Mario Kart'' Reach Diamond Status In UK | author=Caoili, Eric | date=November 26, 2008 |work=[[Gamasutra]] |archive-date=September 18, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Competition ==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Zoopedia.jpg|thumb|The educational 'Zoopedia'. The 'Zoopedia' contains information on each ''Zoo Tycoon 2'' animal, which contributes to the game's educational properties.]] -->
Since the release of ''[[Zoo Tycoon]]'' in 2001, many other companies have imitated the gameplay, and the concept of running a zoo. The followers since include ''[[Rollercoaster Tycoon 3: Wild!]]'', ''[[Zoo World]]'', ''[[Wildlife Park 2]]'', its expansion packs ''[[Wildlife Park 2: Crazy Zoo|Crazy Zoo]]'' and [[Wildlife Park 2: Marine World|''Marine World'']], ''[[Zoo Empire]]'' and its platinum pack ''[[Marine Park Empire]]''. All of these have different gameplay and content, but all have the same basic concept.


During the [[8th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards]], the [[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] awarded ''Zoo Tycoon 2'' with "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Family Game of the Year|Computer Family Game of the Year]]". The game also received a nomination for "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Character|Outstanding Character Performance - Female]]" for Linda Currie's work on the game.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2005&idGame=138 |title=D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details Zoo Tycoon 2 |publisher=[[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] |website=interactive.org |access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref> At the [[9th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards|following year's awards ceremony]], the expansion ''Endangered Species'' received a nomination for "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Technical Achievement|Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2006&idGame=138 |title=D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species |publisher=[[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] |website=interactive.org |access-date=30 October 2023}}</ref>
However, ''Zoo Tycoon'' seems to have become more popular and better known. ''[[Rollercoaster Tycoon 3]]'' has recently stopped producing expansion packs, and ''[[Zoo Empire]]'' was a relative failure, while the ''Zoo Tycoon'' franchise has continued to expand since it first came out. The franchise is still expanding, with more expansion packs coming out. The largest competition at the moment is [[Deep Silver]]'s ''[[Wildlife Park 2]]'', originated in [[Germany]], which has produced two expansions in two years.


===Reboot===
==Third-party creations==
A reboot of the franchise, simply titled [[Zoo Tycoon (2013 video game)|''Zoo Tycoon'']] and developed by [[Frontier Developments]], was released in 2013 for the [[Xbox 360]] and [[Xbox One]] consoles.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-06-11|title=Zoo Tycoon announced for Xbox One and Xbox 360|url=https://www.vg247.com/2013/06/11/zoo-tycoon-announced-for-xbox-one-and-xbox-360/|access-date=2020-11-08|website=VG247}}</ref> An enhanced edition titled ''[[Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection]]'' was released in 2017 for the Xbox One and [[Windows 10]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-08-20|title=Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection coming to Xbox One and Windows 10 on October 31|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2017/08/zoo-tycoon-ultimate-animal-collection-coming-xbox-one-windows-10-october-31|access-date=2020-11-08|website=Gematsu|language=en-US}}</ref> ''Zoo Tycoon 2'' was cited as a major influence, and Frontier Developments hoped the game would be a homage to the previous game, while enhancing the core experience.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=Xbox Wire|date=2013-07-10|title=An Inside Look at Zoo Tycoon with Frontier Developments|url=https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2013/07/10/games-inside-look-at-zoo-tycoon/|access-date=2020-11-08|website=Xbox Wire|language=en-US}}</ref> The entry was met with mixed reviews, with many citing the loss of customizability compared to the previous games.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Zoo Tycoon Review|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/zoo-tycoon-review/1900-6415578/|access-date=2020-11-08|website=GameSpot|language=en-US}}</ref>
The game files can be edited and expanded using no more than [[WinRAR]] and a simple text editor. This lead to the creation of new animals and objects for ''Zoo Tycoon 2''. There have been numerous websites created for this purpose and many "designers" will upload the animals or objects for download. Unlike ''[[Zoo Tycoon]]'', where an official program designed to help users create animals, ''Zoo Tycoon 2'' has no such program. Object and animal "skins" can be made with no more than a [[DDS]] converter and a [[Microsoft Paint|paint program]], whilst object and animal models can be changed with [[Blender (software)|Blender]] or other [[NIF]] program. The animal model files in ''[[Zoo Tycoon 2: Dino Danger Pack|Dino Danger Pack]]'', ''[[Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania|Marine Mania]]'', and ''[[Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals|Extinct Animals]]'' have been compressed to protected, uneditable files, precluding any model editing for marine and extinct animals.


===Cancelled sequel===
Shortly before the release of ''[[Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals|Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals]]'', a method for editing ''[[Zoo Tycoon 2: Dino Danger Pack|Dino Danger Pack]]'' files was found. This ''Zoo Tycoon 2'' "designing", allowing a larger variety of animals to be made. It is now possible for a player to create complete unofficial [[expansion packs]], with 20-30 model edited animals, with fossils and objects, staff members, and enrichment items.
After the success of ''Zoo Tycoon 2'', preliminary design work was started on a third game. The game was canceled as the company shifted direction away from PC development and towards mobile and [[Social-network game|social games]]. Former Blue Fang Games designer [[Shawn Stone]] stated that he sees the influence of and many ideas from the scrapped ''Zoo Tycoon 3'' in the franchise's spiritual successor ''[[Planet Zoo]]''.<ref name="egmnow.com"/>


{{clear}}
==See also==
*[[Zoo Tycoon franchise]]


==Notes==
{{notelist}}
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071116023413/http://zootycoon.com/default.htm Official website] (archived)
{{Wikibooks|Zoo Tycoon}}
*[http://www.zootycoon.com/ Zoo Tycoon 2]
*[http://zootycoon.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page Zoo Tycoon Wiki]
*[http://zootycoon.freeweb7.com Zoo Tycoon Wiki's Forum]


{{Zoo Tycoon}}
{{Zoo Tycoon}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:2004 video games]]
[[Category:2004 video games]]
[[Category:Blue Fang Games]]
[[Category:Blue Fang Games games]]
[[Category:Economic simulation games]]
[[Category:Gamebryo games]]
[[Category:Educational video games]]
[[Category:Games for Windows]]
[[Category:Interactive Achievement Award winners]]
[[Category:MacOS games]]
[[Category:Mac OS X games]]
[[Category:Microsoft games]]
[[Category:Microsoft games]]
[[Category:Mobile phone games]]
[[Category:Mobile games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video game sequels]]
[[Category:Video game sequels]]
[[Category:Video games with expansion packs]]
[[Category:Video games about animals]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games set in zoos]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Windows Mobile games]]
[[Category:Zoo Tycoon]]
[[Category:Zoo Tycoon]]
[[Category:MacSoft games]]

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Latest revision as of 21:02, 21 December 2024

Zoo Tycoon 2
Developer(s)Blue Fang Games
Rapan
Publisher(s)Microsoft Game Studios[a].
SeriesZoo Tycoon
EngineGamebryo
Platform(s)Windows, Mac OS X
ReleaseWindows
Mac OS X
Genre(s)Business simulation
Mode(s)Single-player

Zoo Tycoon 2 is a business simulation video game developed by Blue Fang Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios and MacSoft. Originally released in 2004 for Microsoft Windows, Zoo Tycoon 2 is also available for Windows Mobile, PDA, and Mac OS X, although expansions are not included in the Mac version. A Nintendo DS version, titled Zoo Tycoon 2 DS, was released in 2008.

Similar to its predecessor, 2001's Zoo Tycoon, the objective is to build and operate a zoo by creating exhibits and aquariums, keeping guests and animals happy, and maintaining employees, finances, terrain, foliage, and scenery.

Gameplay

[edit]

The gameplay revolves around creating suitable exhibits for animals through habitat modifications (ground cover, water, elevation, foliage, and rocks, plus a variety of other items including food, shelters, and toys/enrichment items) which fulfill the animal's needs (habitat, hunger, thirst, stimulation, privacy, sleep, social, and exercise). Guests will visit the zoo to see the animals, and they also have needs that need to be fulfilled through scenery and buildings (hunger, thirst, bathroom, seating, and entertainment).

Zoo Tycoon 2 features three gameplay modes: Campaign, Challenge, and Sandbox. In Campaign mode, the player plays through scenarios in existing zoos and is assigned different objectives to complete, such as achieving a certain fame level, caring for rescued animals, or breeding endangered species. In Challenge mode, the player starts a zoo from scratch and is given random challenges which can be accepted or rejected. In both of these modes, players have limited money and start with limited access to animals and items, with more becoming available as zoo fame level increases. The last mode, Sandbox, allows the player to create a zoo from scratch with unlimited money and access to all animals and items from the start.

Development

[edit]

After the success of the original Zoo Tycoon, a sequel was planned. Marketing materials showed an emphasis on 3D visuals as well as first-person perspective and photo modes.[4] The game's first-person Guest Mode was added due to many fan requests to get "closer" to the animals.[5] The Photo Mode and Zookeeper Mode were refined after developers decided that the player should be able to interact with the world while walking around. First-person movement and controls were based on first-person shooters, with developers citing Half-Life as an inspiration.[6]

The game was also designed to be more freeform than Zoo Tycoon was, with developer Shawn Stone citing that habitat building in the first game was a formulaic process that was improved upon in the sequel.[7] Terrain deformation and the Biome Brush were implemented to give the player more specific control over animal habitats by creating unique and individual exhibits, while still keeping them simple enough so as not to alienate players that were not as interested in the details of building an exhibit.[8]

The development team noted the change in conservation messages portrayed by zoos after the release of Zoo Tycoon, and worked to make Zoo Tycoon 2 feel up to date with current information and messaging.[9] Expansion packs were released for the game up to four years after its initial release, with designer Linda Currie citing the team working on three expansions simultaneously during development. Updated mechanics in each expansion required changes to be made to all animals, to ensure that each expansion pack would not break the game. The team worked to make changes without altering the core systems in place, in order to make updates and QA testing easier, and with lower risk.[10]

Marketing and promotion

[edit]

Publisher Microsoft Game Studios ran several promotions involving the game, including a competition allowing kids to "Become a Zoo Keeper for the day" in the UK,[11] and a competition to find "America's Favorite Zoo" in the US, an online vote which would result in a $25,000 grant from Microsoft to be put towards upkeep and maintenance.[12] The contest consisted of three rounds, with the first round consisting of zoos being picked by a team of judges based on submitted press materials, which resulted in 15 semifinalists. Rounds two and three were done by fans in an online vote. In November 2004, the Tulsa Zoo was declared the winner of the polls, and was awarded the grant.[13]

Expansion packs

[edit]

Endangered Species

[edit]

On October 18, 2005, Microsoft released Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species, the first expansion pack for the game. The expansion adds many new rare and endangered animal species, including the koala, gray wolf, Komodo dragon, scimitar-horned oryx, American bison, and orangutan, as well as a number of new forms of transportation, including sky trams, jeep tours, and elevated paths. The expansion also has a feature called "variant skins", which means that when the player adopts an animal, it may look different from normal members of its species (such as a white tiger and King Cheetah).

African Adventure

[edit]

The second expansion pack, Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure, was released on May 16, 2006. It adds various new African animals such as the bongo, secretarybird, ratel, and meerkat, and allows the player to drive through exhibits with African-themed Jeep tours to get closer to them. The expansion pack also includes new maps based on well-known African locations, as well as new desert-themed buildings, lizard live food, and a new set of challenges and campaigns. The Jeep vehicle tours originally included in Endangered Species are featured prominently in this expansion, with the addition of the new Jeep Liberty.

Dino Danger Pack

[edit]

The Dino Danger Pack was released as a premium download at the end of July 2006, meaning it could only be downloaded from the Zoo Tycoon website via credit card. It added four new extinct dinosaurs to the game: Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops, Carnotaurus, and Styracosaurus, as well as new objects to be used for them and a new campaign scenario.[14] Following the release of Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals, which includes more updated versions of all of the animals included in the pack as well as additional content, Dino Danger was removed from the Zoo Tycoon website and can no longer be downloaded there. However, other sites still offer this pack.

Zookeeper Collection

[edit]

The Zookeeper Collection was released on October 17, 2006. It includes the Endangered Species and African Adventure expansions as well as all animals and content from the base game.

Marine Mania

[edit]

Released on October 17, 2006, Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania features 20 new aquatic animals, new marine options, marine shows, and several other new gaming features. The expansion also includes marine plants, the ability to build tanks, animal shows, mini-games to teach behaviors to some of the marine animals, and four new aquatic biomes (reef, coastal, pelagic, and benthic), and new scenarios and challenges. Changes were made to the original method of biome layout, allowing the ability to toggle the visibility of rocks, flowers, and/or trees, as well as enhancing water effects and improving the way animals move through water in a 3D space, affecting the new animals included in the pack as well as various semi-aquatic animals from the base game such as Nile crocodiles and polar bears.[10] New animals range from the giant whale sharks to the tiny rockhopper penguins.

Extinct Animals

[edit]
A typical zoo in Extinct Animals, with Styracosaurus and a short-faced bear

Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals was released on October 17, 2007. It is the latest expansion in the Zoo Tycoon series, with 34 adoptable animal species and one bonus species. The player can find fossils or get staff to find them. The player can then assemble the fossils, and can also create normal and "Super" extinct animals in an extinct research lab. The player can also stop rampaging dinosaurs by using the tranquilizer gun.

Ultimate Collection

[edit]

Ultimate Collection contains the original game plus all four official expansions and a new menu theme exclusive to it, similar to Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection.[15] This title was released on September 30, 2008.[16] Some users reported disk problems, whereby the third disk was the same as the second one. Microsoft sent free disk replacements at their support site.

Microsoft subsequently licensed the game to Ubisoft, who re-released the Ultimate Collection in a variety of formats across multiple territories including a single disk DVD-ROM for Windows PCs.[citation needed]

Reception

[edit]

According to The NPD Group, Zoo Tycoon 2 was the 19th best-selling computer game of 2004.[23] It rose to 13th place on NPD's annual computer game sales chart for 2005,[24] a position it maintained for 2006.[25]

The game received generally positive reviews. IGN gave the game a score of 7.5/10, praising the game's lasting appeal while criticizing it for being too easy,[22] while GameSpy noted the improved 3D graphics.[21]

Zoo Tycoon 2 received a "Silver" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),[26] indicating sales of at least 100,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[27]

During the 8th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences awarded Zoo Tycoon 2 with "Computer Family Game of the Year". The game also received a nomination for "Outstanding Character Performance - Female" for Linda Currie's work on the game.[28] At the following year's awards ceremony, the expansion Endangered Species received a nomination for "Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering.[29]

Reboot

[edit]

A reboot of the franchise, simply titled Zoo Tycoon and developed by Frontier Developments, was released in 2013 for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One consoles.[30] An enhanced edition titled Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection was released in 2017 for the Xbox One and Windows 10.[31] Zoo Tycoon 2 was cited as a major influence, and Frontier Developments hoped the game would be a homage to the previous game, while enhancing the core experience.[32] The entry was met with mixed reviews, with many citing the loss of customizability compared to the previous games.[33]

Cancelled sequel

[edit]

After the success of Zoo Tycoon 2, preliminary design work was started on a third game. The game was canceled as the company shifted direction away from PC development and towards mobile and social games. Former Blue Fang Games designer Shawn Stone stated that he sees the influence of and many ideas from the scrapped Zoo Tycoon 3 in the franchise's spiritual successor Planet Zoo.[9]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Mac OS X port developed and published by MacSoft

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Zoo Tycoon 2 sur PC". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  2. ^ "Zoo Tycoon 2 limited edition announced". GameSpot. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  3. ^ "Zoo Tycoon 2 ships for the Mac". Macworld. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  4. ^ Zoo Tycoon 2 Announced - IGN, 17 February 2004, retrieved 2020-11-08
  5. ^ "Zoo Tycoon - Zoo Tycoon 2 Developer Diary—Zookeeper Mode". 2012-09-28. Archived from the original on 2012-09-28. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  6. ^ "Zoo Tycoon - Zoo Tycoon 2 Developer Diary—Zoo Guest Mode". 2012-01-15. Archived from the original on 2012-01-15. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  7. ^ "Zoo Tycoon - Zoo Tycoon 2 Developer Diary—Habitat Editor". 2010-07-10. Archived from the original on 2010-07-10. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  8. ^ "Zoo Tycoon - Zoo Tycoon 2 Developer Diary—Biome Brush". 2010-08-29. Archived from the original on 2010-08-29. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  9. ^ a b "The Evolution of Animal Conservation in Games, from Zoo Tycoon to Planet Zoo". EGM. 2020-02-21. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  10. ^ a b "Gamasutra - Postmortem: Blue Fang's Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania". www.gamasutra.com. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  11. ^ "Get Closer To The Animals This Friday As Zoo Tycoon 2 Hits Store Shelves". GamesIndustry.biz. 23 November 2004. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  12. ^ A Zoo Tycoon-worthy Zoo? - IGN, 2 August 2004, retrieved 2020-11-08
  13. ^ "Tulsa Zoo Is Crowned King of the Jungle In "Zoo Tycoon 2" America's Favorite Zoo Contest". Stories. 2004-11-24. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  14. ^ "Zoo Tycoon.com - Premium Downloads". Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  15. ^ Zoo Tycoon - ZOO NEWS - JUNE 19, 2008 Archived July 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ Zoo Tycoon 2: Ultimate Collection. "Zoo Tycoon 2: Ultimate Collection: Video Games". Amazon. Retrieved 2012-08-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "Zoo Tycoon 2 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  18. ^ Gillen, Kieron (December 22, 2004). "Zoo Tycoon 2". Eurogamer. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  19. ^ Radakovic, Nebojsa (November 11, 2004). "Zoo Tycoon 2 Review". Game Revolution. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  20. ^ Park, Andrew (November 29, 2004). "Zoo Tycoon 2 Review". GameSpot. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  21. ^ a b Harker, Karla (2004-12-06). "Zoo Tycoon 2". GameSpy. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
  22. ^ a b Adams, Dan (2004-11-17). "Zoo Tycoon 2 Review". IGN. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
  23. ^ Essential Facts about the Computer and Video Game Industry; 2005 Sales, Demographics and Usage Data (PDF) (Report). Entertainment Software Association. May 18, 2005. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 4, 2005.
  24. ^ "Essential Facts about the Computer and Video Game Industry; 2006 Sales, Demographic and Usage Data" (PDF). Entertainment Software Association. May 10, 2006. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 21, 2006.
  25. ^ Essential Facts about the Computer and Video Game Industry; 2007 Sales, Demographic and Usage Data (PDF) (Report). Entertainment Software Association. June 2007. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2008.
  26. ^ "ELSPA Sales Awards: Silver". Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association. Archived from the original on February 21, 2009.
  27. ^ Caoili, Eric (November 26, 2008). "ELSPA: Wii Fit, Mario Kart Reach Diamond Status In UK". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017.
  28. ^ "D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details Zoo Tycoon 2". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  29. ^ "D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  30. ^ "Zoo Tycoon announced for Xbox One and Xbox 360". VG247. 2013-06-11. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  31. ^ "Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection coming to Xbox One and Windows 10 on October 31". Gematsu. 2017-08-20. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  32. ^ Staff, Xbox Wire (2013-07-10). "An Inside Look at Zoo Tycoon with Frontier Developments". Xbox Wire. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  33. ^ "Zoo Tycoon Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
[edit]
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