Zt2: America's Favorite Zoo

[jwa1107]

Microsoft Game Studios Sounds Call of the Wild In Search of America’s Favorite Zoo

“Zoo Tycoon 2,” Sequel to Best-Selling* Windows Game, Seeks Entries To Honor America’s Most Impressive Zoo With a $25,000 Grant

REDMOND, Wash. — Aug. 3, 2004 — In preparation for the release of the highly anticipated Windows®-based game “Zoo Tycoon™ 2,” Microsoft® Game Studios today announced that the search for America’s Favorite Zoo has officially begun. Fifty zoos have been invited by a panel of expert judges to participate in the nationwide contest, which will award the winning zoo a $25,000 (U.S.) grant to fund its habitat and animal care.

Selected zoos that submit materials to Microsoft from Aug. 2 to Aug. 27 will be considered by the panel of judges, which is composed of the former Ultimate Zookeeper Challenge winner, a member of the National Wildlife Federation, a Microsoft Game Studios employee and a Blue Fang Games LLC employee. Submission materials can include press kits, case studies, articles, overviews, presentations, videos and photos. Fifteen zoos chosen by the panel and announced Sept. 20 will continue on to the semifinal round.

“Zoos are the gateway of information and exploration to some of the most precious and scarce animals on the planet,” said Ben Arndt, marketing manager for Microsoft Game Studios. “In participating in the ‘Zoo Tycoon’ search for America’s Favorite Zoo, animal lovers across the country can recognize and help contribute to their favorite zoo, thus furthering our efforts to improve animal care and revitalize zoo habitats.”

From Sept. 20 to Oct. 15, the choice of America’s Favorite Zoo will rest in the hands of animal lovers across the country, as zoo fans of all ages will be invited to visit http://www.zootycoon.com/ to vote for their favorite zoo. The top five finalists will be chosen by the exclusively online voting, and their names will be announced and posted on the official “Zoo Tycoon” Web site Oct. 18.

“As the winner of the ‘Zoo Tycoon’ Ultimate Zookeeper Challenge in November 2002, I was honored to be recognized and thanked among zookeepers for our tireless effort and dedication in maintaining these animal habitats,” said Jonathan Gilmour, Ultimate Zookeeper Challenge winner from Zoo New England. “As a judge in this year’s competition, I’m looking forward to helping award a zoo the title of America’s Favorite Zoo. After all, there wouldn’t be any great zookeepers without great zoos to create and nurture them.”

In the final round, America’s Favorite Zoo will be chosen by zoo aficionados voting online from Oct. 18 to Nov. 2. The winner, to be determined exclusively by the number of online votes received, will be announced Nov. 2. A $25,000 grant will then be awarded to America’s Favorite Zoo to assist in the upkeep and maintenance of the zoo and its inhabitants. As part of the voting process, visitors also will be able to enter a sweepstakes to win a variety of prizes. Details will be available throughout the contest on the official “Zoo Tycoon” Web site.

[jwa1107]

see if your zoo is on the list:

PARTICIPATING ZOOS
Austin Zoo
Beardsley Zoo
Bergen County Zoological Park
Binder Park Zoo
Brandywine Zoo
BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Buffalo Zoo
Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo
Central Florida Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Como Zoo
Dakota Zoo
Dallas Zoo
Dickerson Park Zoo
El Paso Zoo
Fort Wayne (Ind.) Children's Zoo
Fort Worth Zoo
Honolulu Zoo
Kansas City Zoo
Lake Superior Zoo-Duluth
Lincoln Park Zoological Gardens
Little Rock Zoological Gardens
Los Angeles Zoo
Miami Metro Zoo
National Aviary
National Zoo
North Carolina Zoo
Oakland Zoo
Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Oregon Zoo
Palm Beach Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
Pocatello Zoo
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Pueblo Zoo
Reid Park Zoo, Tuscon
Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens
Roosevelt Park Zoo
Sacramento Zoo
Salisbury Zoological Park
San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium
San Francisco Zoo
Santa Barbara Zoo
The Oklahoma City Zoo
Toledo Zoo
Topeka Zoo
Tulsa Zoo
Washington Park Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo

both the Dallas & Fort Worth Zoos are on the list!