Zoo Tycoon sells 1 million
by Jolex Del Pilar

Wednesday, October 23, 2002

Who knew running a Zoo could be so popular?

More than 20 new aquatic creatures soon will have gamers nationwide glued to their PCs. The "Zoo Tycoon(TM): Marine Mania(TM)" expansion pack hits store shelves this week as Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT - News) announces that more than 1 million licensed units of its family-friendly "Zoo Tycoon" PC game have been sold. Since its debut in October 2001, "Zoo Tycoon" has reached top-selling* status on the software charts, and it continues to grow in popularity with players of all ages. The latest addition to the franchise, "Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania," adds aquatic-themed content and oceans of fun to this award-winning series that challenges players to create and manage the ultimate zoo.

"'Zoo Tycoon' is a fun and imaginative game for players of all ages," said Chuck Frizelle, product manager at Microsoft. "Everyone enjoys creating their perfect zoo and watching what happens when they let the lions loose."

"Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania" increases the fun and excitement of running a zoo with new features such as customizable killer whale and dolphin shows and whimsical marine-themed buildings and attractions. Marine specialists are on hand to ensure the aquatic creatures are well taken care of and provide players with tips on keeping them happy and healthy, both of which are vital to a successful zoo. The zoo visitor's experience is awash with interactive activities including strolling through a shark tunnel, paddling around in rented boats and even swimming with dolphins. In addition, an abundance of sea objects are available to enhance exhibits. Guests can be awed by vibrant coral displays as they watch dolphins jump through hoops and sharks navigate through sunken treasures.

Caring for marine animals also presents players with new challenges, from learning proper care of aquatic animals to carefully considering water depth and filtration. Eleven marine-specific scenarios put players' zoo management abilities to the test as they strive to harmonize animal and guest needs to keep their zoo thriving.

Developed by Blue Fang Games LLC, the "Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania" expansion pack integrates seamlessly with the original "Zoo Tycoon," which is required for play. "Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania" also includes all the prehistoric content available in "Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs," an expansion pack that was released earlier this year. "Zoo Tycoon" players can now merge land animals, prehistoric beasts and aquatic creatures in a quest to build the ultimate zoo.