Zoo Tycoon (2013 video game)

Zoo Tycoon is a business simulation video game developed by Frontier Developments and published by Microsoft Studios. The game was released on November 22, 2013 for Xbox One and Xbox 360.[2][3][4] It was also released for Microsoft Windows on October 31, 2017.

This article is about the 2013 game. For the series, see Zoo Tycoon. For the 2001 game, see Zoo Tycoon (2001 video game).

Zoo Tycoon
North American cover art
Developer(s)Frontier Developments
Asobo Studio (Ultimate Animal Collection)
Publisher(s)Microsoft Studios
SeriesZoo Tycoon
Platform(s)Xbox 360
Xbox One
Microsoft Windows
ReleaseNovember 22, 2013
Genre(s)Business simulation
Mode(s)Single-player (Xbox One, Xbox 360, Windows), multiplayer (Xbox One,[1] Windows)

Development

Zoo Tycoon was revealed at E3 2013 In June 2013. The gameplay that was shown included elements similar to Zoo Tycoon 2, such as a first person view, and new elements such as feeding animals in first person view. Also like its predecessor, the game allows the player to care for their animals by monitoring their mood, hunger, and thirst. Tycoon Mode, which was introduced in the first Zoo Tycoon, has also returned.[5]

Gameplay

Xbox One

The Xbox One version features both a 15-hour story campaign mode, the traditional freeform mode (infinite money), and challenge modes (short tasks lasting about 15 minutes). In addition, there are also real-time events and challenges that match real-world events. Microsoft will donate to animal charities for completion of community events, "For example, the recent Rhino killings in Nairobi park – we could set a community based achievement asking players to save 10,000 rhinos, and when unlocked, money would be given to the park or a related charity." Jonny Watts, Frontier’s Chief Creative officer, explained."[6][7]

The Xbox One version features Kinect-based minigames, an option to share and upload pictures that you take on Xbox One, supported Xbox Live Online from players 1-4, and more than 100 animals in the game.[8]

The Xbox One version allows traditional Zoo Tycoon navigation as well as a Disneyland Adventures-style 3D free roam of the park, where the player's avatar runs through the park. Interactions with the animals are similar to Kinectimals in that they include feeding, bathing, etc. The player can see the status of the animals by pressing the X button to see if they're happy and healthy, view their food and water meters, as well as social and boredom ratings.[9][10]

The Xbox One version allows gamers to upload their zoos to the cloud and share them. Up to four players can work on a given zoo simultaneously. Friends can continue to work on the zoo even when the owner is not present.[6][11]

Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 version of Zoo Tycoon is almost identical to the Xbox One version. However, it only features 65 animals out of the 101 that are featured in the Xbox One version. Also, the graphics of this version are inferior to the Xbox One. This version also only features a single-player mode.[12]

Reception

Zoo Tycoon received mixed to positive reviews upon release. IGN gave it a 5.5/10,[13] Official Xbox Magazine UK gave the game a 7/10,[14] Polygon.com gave the game an 8/10,[15] Hardcore Gamer gave the game a 3.5/5,[16] Eurogamer gave the game an 8/10[17] while metro.co.uk gave the game a 6/10[18] and videogamer.com gave it a 5/10.[19] GameZone gave the Xbox One version a 6/10, stating "Where Zoo Tycoon cuts corners to appeal to a wider audience, it also alienates it with overly cumbersome menus."[20]

References
  1. Xbox 360 (August 27, 2013). "Xbox 360 Version of Zoo Tycoon a Stripped Down, Single-player Experience". Egmnow.com. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  2. "An Inside Look at Zoo Tycoon with Frontier Developments". News.xbox.com. July 10, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  3. "Xbox One Launch Titles - Xbox One Wiki Guide". IGN. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  4. "Zoo Tycoon". Xbox.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  5. "Gamescom 2013: Zoo Tycoon Demoed". 123Kinect.com. August 30, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  6. ManPac (September 16, 2013). "Preview: Zoo Tycoon". Electronic Theatre. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  7. "Zoo Tycoon On Xbox One To include Achievement Based Charity Donations | ExpansiveDLCExpansiveDLC". Expansivedlc.com. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  8. "Zoo Tycoon". Xbox.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  9. Lowe, Mike. "Zoo Tycoon Xbox One preview: If we could talk with the animals". Pocket-lint. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  10. Everybody Plays (September 4, 2013). "Zoo Tycoon Hands-On Preview (360)". Everybody Plays. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  11. "An Inside Look at Zoo Tycoon with Frontier Developments". News.xbox.com. July 10, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  12. "Zoo Tycoon". Xbox.com. November 22, 2013. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  13. Jackson, Leah B (November 22, 2013). "Zoo Tycoon Review". IGN. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  14. Wilson, Aoife (November 18, 2013). "OXM UK- Zoo Tycoon Review". Official Xbox Magazine UK. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  15. Plante, Chris (November 18, 2013). "Zoo Tycoon review: animal collective". Polygon. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  16. Hannley, Steve (December 1, 2013). "Review: Zoo Tycoon (Xbox One)". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  17. Facchetti, Filippo (November 18, 2013). "Zoo Tycoon - review" (in Italian). Eurogamer.it. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  18. Hargreaves, Roger (November 18, 2013). "Zoo Tycoon review – animal attraction". Metro. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  19. Bratt, Christopher (November 18, 2013). "Zoo Tycoon Review". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  20. Splechta, Mike (December 1, 2013). "Zoo Tycoon Review: We bought a Zoo". GZ. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
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