Linda Currie, Senior Game Designer at Blue Fang Games, answers a few questions about herself and the Campaign games in Zoo Tycoon 2.
What are you responsible for?
Currie: Campaigns, Game and Photo Challenges, and Zoopedia.
How’s a day in your life?
Currie: There's no one day that's exactly like another but every single one of them seems to end too fast! I wish 48 hour days existed! Of course this might be because I'm relatively new to Blue Fang and so every day is flurry of learning new things, absorbing everything that's been done before I got here and then getting all the work done that I need to!
What can fans expect in terms of gameplay?
Currie: When you start a new game you have the choice to play a Campaign, a Challenge game, or a Freeform game. In a Campaign game, there are usually a number of scenarios where you have a series of goals or accomplishments to complete. In a Challenge game, you receive optional challenges that are largely driven by what's going on in your zoo. And in a Freeform game, you can just build your dream zoo without worrying about goals or finances or other restrictions. Just having these three modes is a big change from the earlier version of Zoo Tycoon.
Another noteworthy change is that scenarios generally do not have a time element to them … or if they do, it won't require playing out the specified amount of time. For example, if there is a timed component it might work like this: you have a specific goal that invites you to build a new Big Cats exhibit section and do it within six months so that it can be used to host a Zoologist Scholarship presentation ceremony. If you build that section within two months, well, great, you've done it and can move on. In the earlier version of Zoo Tycoon you were required to play out the six months even if you did it in two months.
How many different scenarios and campaigns are there?
Currie: There are 20 different scenarios that can be played in Campaign mode. But in addition to these there is Challenge mode where you'll receive optional challenges to gain zoo awards, earn money, and a host of other benefits. But you won't be able to predict what challenges you receive or when you'll receive them, as its all driven by how you choose to build your zoo. The challenge system adds a whole new layer of gameplay to Zoo Tycoon 2. Of course, if you want to just build with no challenges or restrictions you can always play in Freeform mode.
What was the inspiration behind the scenarios?
Currie: Inspiration comes from many places…the shower, the drive to work, over lunch. Seriously, thoughts for scenarios can pop up at very strange times. On the most basic level, some of the ideas originate from what I know can be done in the game. Many other ideas come from reading about actual events that have occurred in real zoos or things that threaten animals around the world.
What’s one of the most fun campaigns in the game?
Currie: Hmm, tough question…does it have to be only one? Let's see, there's one scenario in which an animal smuggling ring has been identified and stopped. The myriad of animals that were being illegally exported need new homes and rehabilitative care before they can be returned to the wild. The scenario challenges the player to provide enough exhibits to handle the inflow of animals and rehabilitate them. Another fun scenario is the Rhino Escape Drill which tests how carefully the player has planned their zoo. Are zoo guests really safe if an animal escapes? Play this escape drill to find out if the necessary safety precautions have been taken!