Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania and Zookeeper Collection Go Gold

Aquatic Animals Splash into Retailers on Oct. 17

Microsoft Game Studios today announced that the “Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania”* and "Zookeeper Collection" expansion packs have gone gold. Making waves on store shelves Oct. 17, this newest addition to the award-winning “Zoo Tycoon 2” franchise lets gamers of all ages turn their dream zoo into an aquatic adventure.

From Blue Fang Games, LLC, this new, E10+ rated expansion pack introduces 20 new marine animals into the “Zoo Tycoon 2” experience, including green sea turtles, black tip reef sharks and West Indian manatees, for $29.99. Watch an orca breach the surface of its tank, while dolphins teach each other new tricks. In addition to building new captivating tanks, gamers can also customize their own aquatic shows, teaching animals to entertain zoo guests and increase their zoo ratings.

New scenarios and challenges allow players of all ages and skill levels to test their aquatic expertise, such as rescuing marine animals, restoring their health and releasing them back into the wild. Children and parents alike can broaden their knowledge of the animal kingdom with the exclusive Zoopedia feature, with excerpts from Encarta®, that educates gamers on the dietary and habitat needs of the animals.

Also available at retailers on Oct. 17 will be the “Zoo Tycoon 2: Zookeeper Collection” featuring three franchise favorites: “Zoo Tycoon 2,” “Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species” and “Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure.” Available for $39.99, this ultimate “Zoo Tycoon” experience allows players to step directly into their zoo, where they will come face-to-face with 70 animals and hundreds of building objects to customize their zoo. For more information and free downloadable content, including new animals, scenery and demos, please visit the newly updated Zoo Tycoon Web site at http://www.zootycoon.com.
 
Blue Fang Games is an independent game developer dedicated to creating compelling, emotionally engaging games focused on the animal kingdom that set the benchmark for broad-based family entertainment. Blue Fang’s “Zoo Tycoon” franchise, published by Microsoft Game Studios, has established itself as one of the most popular PC gaming franchises and has sold over 5 million units worldwide. Founded in 1998, Blue Fang Games is located in Waltham, MA. For more information visit Blue Fang Games on the Web at www.bluefang.com.

Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox® and Xbox 360™ video game systems, the Microsoft Windows operating system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/games), including such franchises as “Age of Empires®,” “Flight Simulator” and “Zoo Tycoon”; Xbox and Xbox 360 (http://www.xbox.com), including such games as the upcoming “Gears of War” and franchises such as “Halo®,” “Fable®,” “Project Gotham Racing®” and “Forza Motorsport™”; and MSN® Games (http://www.games.msn.com), the official games channel for the MSN network and home to such hits as “Bejeweled” and “Hexic®.”

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* “Zoo Tycoon 2” is required to play “Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania”

For more information, press only:
Bethany Nielson, Edelman, (206) 223-1606, bethany.nielson@edelman.com
Erica Zelaya, Microsoft, (425) 882-8080, ericaz@microsoft.com