1. Design Analysis Kristen Gardner CSE 197 12 April 2007

2. Why did I choose Zoo Tycoon? My first game: DinoPark Tycoon –Came out in 1993 (Same year as Jurassic Park) –Ran on DOS and Windows 3.1 –Great game But really not meant for 8 year olds…

3. Zoo Tycoon Complete Collection Released 2001 –Expansion packs Dino Digs and Marine Mania released in 2002 Single player game ESRB rating: E (Everyone) Platforms –Windows, Nintendo DS, and Macintosh 2-D graphics

4. Game Play Tycoon games are economic simulations Build a successful zoo –Choose animals and buildings –Modify exhibits to make them suitable to the animal –Change the price of tickets, food, and merchandise Keep your animals and guests happy, while still making a profit –Not everyone plays that way - http://youtube.com/watch?v=afnPWS6ugY4 http://youtube.com/watch?v=afnPWS6ugY4

5. Is it a game? Our definition: A system in which players engage in an artificial conflict defined by rules that results in a quantifiable outcome Zoo Tycoons has two different modes –Scenario game –Free-form game Therefore, the question has two different answers

6. Scenario Game Overview: –Player is given a task, starting setup, and frequently a time limit Is it a game? –System Multiple different parts (animals, guests, environment, etc) closely interacting Player actions affects the balance of these different parts –Players Single player game, but computer simulation creates the opponent –Conflict Player tries to make money Natural tendency of the system is to lose money –Rules Computer constrains what the user can do –Outcome Player wins if he or she completes the tasks Player loses if zoo becomes bankrupt or the player is out of time Yes, the scenario version of Zoo Tycoon is a game

7. Free-form Game Overview: –Player begins with nothing but land and money, and can choose to create the zoo anyway he or she wishes Is it a game? –System Multiple different parts (animals, guests, environment, etc) closely interacting Player actions affects the balance of these different parts –Players Single player game, but computer simulation creates the opponent –Conflict Player tries to make money Natural tendency of the system is to lose money –Rules Computer constrains what the user can do –Outcome Player loses if zoo becomes bankrupt If the zoo is successful, the player can continue playing indefinitely No, the free-form version of Zoo Tycoon is not a game

8. Artificial Intelligence Perspective Deterministic –Player chooses exactly where everything goes Imperfect information –Player does not necessarily know what the outcome of a choice will be Example: increase the price of food –Deterministic because the player chooses exactly how much money food should cost –Imperfect information because the player does not know how guests will react Might still buy food – higher profits Might think food is too expensive – lower profits, angry guests

9. Zoo Tycoon on the Internet For a single player game, there is lots of player interaction on the web –Trade challenges, tips, Easter eggs, and cheats Name a guest “Bill Gates” and he will donate money Name guests after Reservoir Dogs characters and all the other guests’ shirts will change color Name an exhibit Xanadu, and you can buy unicorns

10. Zoo Tycoon on the Internet Players pose challenges and submit zoos for judging Players offer starter zoos or already successful zoos Players create new content –New animals Werewolves Weasels –New scenery

11. Eat Chase Angry Attack Escape Wander Play Eat Swim Wants to Eat Wander Wants to Play Wants to Swim Attack Fence repaired Fence breaks See person Don’t see person Catch person Become hungry Find Food Can’t Find Food Full Becomes cool Becomes bored Can’t Find Water Find Water Become Hot Can’t Find Toy Find Toy Entertained Start FSM for Tiger

12. Is it educational software? Not originally marketed as such However, featured on several educational software sites for kids –www.softwareforkids.com calls it “Edu-Tainment”www.softwareforkids.com Educational features –Learn about animals Habitat and diet needs –Learn about business and economics Supply and demand Fixed versus variable cost Managing scarce resources

13. Meaningful Play The good –Placement of foliage and scenery actually matters Trees next to fences will allow animals to escape Must arrange objects to give animals privacy, but still allow guests to see them The bad –Sometimes told you need an item that is unavailable, with no hint as to how to get the item Breakdown in the anatomy of choice – how to make a choice The indifferent –Player can change the colors of buildings Result is not integrated – no affect on happiness, profits or any other scoring feature

14. Scenario Game Information

15. Choose Animals

16. Learn about Animals

17. What does the animal need?

18. Watch your animals interact

19. An example of bad accounting…

20. Conclusion A great game Despite being 6 years old and 2D graphics Zoo Tycoon still has a relatively large fan base –Players still actively creating and exchanging new features on the web Considered to have better game-play than other similar games, such as Zoo Tycoon 2 and Zoo Empire (which have better graphics)