Microsoft Game Studios Gets "Totally Wild," Announces Five Finalists in Zoo Tycoon 2 America's Favorite Zoo Contest
Limited Edition Zoo Tycoon 2 Game Includes Bonus DVD Featuring National Geographic's "Totally Wild"
REDMOND, Wash - November 1, 2004 - Microsoft® Game Studios today announced the five finalists in the Zoo Tycoon® 2 America's Favorite Zoo contest. The finalists were selected from a pool of 15 semifinalists by zoo lovers across the country who logged on to cast their vote at the official Zoo Tycoon 2 Web site. The contest winner will not only boast the title of America's Favorite Zoo, but also earn a $25,000 grant to fund its animal and habitat care.
You can vote on which zoo you think deserves the title of America's Favorite Zoo below. Online voting will be open from Nov. 1 through Nov. 10. The winner will be announced the week of Nov. 15 to coincide with the launch of Zoo Tycoon 2, the sequel to the Windows®-based game Zoo Tycoon, in retail stores across the country.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
North Carolina Zoo
Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Toledo Zoo
Tulsa Zoo
To further celebrate this milestone and reward animal lovers everywhere, Microsoft Game Studios will launch a limited edition of Zoo Tycoon 2 that includes a bonus interactive DVD with segments from the National Geographic series "Totally Wild" and a Zoo Tycoon 2 ballpoint pen. The pens, specially created for Zoo Tycoon 2, are hand-painted with one of three animals: koala, tiger or monkey. Only 200,000 limited-edition pens are available, and they are expected to go fast.
"Animal lovers everywhere will enjoy our alliance with National Geographic, which couples great DVD entertainment along with our highly anticipated Zoo Tycoon 2 game," said Ben Arndt, product manager at Microsoft Game Studios. "Zoo Tycoon continues to be one of the highest-selling Windows-based games franchises of all time, and we are committed to providing zoo enthusiasts with the best possible experience with the newest version, Zoo Tycoon 2."
Fifty zoos nationwide were invited by a panel of judges to participate in the initial round of the America's Favorite Zoo contest Aug. 2-27. Judges included Jonathan Gilmour, winner of the 2002 Zoo Tycoon Ultimate Zookeeper Challenge; Bill Street, of the National Wildlife Federation; Shane Kim, of Microsoft Game Studios; and Adam Levesque, CEO of Blue Fang Games LLC, which is developing Zoo Tycoon 2.
The winning zoo selected from among the five semifinalists will receive a $25,000 (U.S.) grant at the contest's conclusion the week of Nov. 15.