The scenarios are a great way to get your feet wet. Your goals vary in each of them, and your cash is limited. You may find yourself having to pinch pennies as the manager of an existing zoo that needs improvement, or make room for new animals which arrive in cages every so often at a new zoo. The skill level ranges widely, from dead easy to scenarios that would challenge even the best Tycoons. Although there are only about thirteen of them, there is something for everyone.
Now, building your zoo is truly a piece of cake. The interface is pretty easy to use, and the pop-up help is indeed a great help. If something in the game is puzzling you, finding information is usually only a pop-up help message or a couple of clicks away.
A poorly maintained zoo from a scenario, and the construction menu...
You will get to know the construction menu very well. It is here that you will create paths, buy the appropriate vegetation for your exhibits, modify terrain, and choose fences to keep the visitors and animals safe. There is a wide variety of structures, terrain, plants, and paths to choose from. This is where knowing something about the animals you will be exhibiting is a must, and Zoo Tycoon provides just that. If you choose a low fence or a weak type of fence, such as simple yet cheap chain link, to house an animal such as an Elephant, you can expect repeated escapes. A warning message will appear and you'll find a gaping hole in your fence with an animal on the loose. Your zoo staff will contain the animal and repair the fence, but changes will have to be made in order to prevent future escapes.
The animal adoption menu contains an amazing number of different species you can exhibit. African, Asian, North American, and Arctic animals are available in great numbers. It can be quite cheap to adopt some animals, but very costly to create a habit for them that will keep them happy. This menu also provides information about the animals, such as what kinds of terrain and vegetation they prefer, which is invaluable. You can also choose to read detailed descriptions of each of the animals that describe their diet and preferred living conditions, such as their natural predators or whether they are solitary or prefer groups.
Another very important menu contains all sorts of extras to keep your visitors happy and entertained. The zoo objects menu contains all sorts of facilities such as Petting Zoos, Japanese Gardens, and Reptile Houses which serve as a great source of revenue, and an additional draw to visitors. You will also need to make sure that people can find a place to drink, eat, sit and rest, and dispose of...wastes, otherwise they won't remain in your zoo for long. At your disposal are drink stands, hamburger huts, benches, full fledged restaurants, and gift shops which are all fantastic additional sources of revenue. There are also at least 101 ways to beautify your zoo, with flower beds, fountains, duck ponds, and much more.
To maintain things, you're going to need a dedicated staff. Zoo keepers ensure all of your animals are healthy, fed, and come to the rescue when there are escapes. They also provide invaluable advice on creating the right terrain in the right proportions to keep animals happy. Maintenance workers repair broken fences and clean up after your visitors by emptying trash cans and such. Lastly, tour guides will keep your visitors occupied and make sure they view all of what your zoo has to offer. All of these people don't come cheap, so having too many staff members can cause nearly as many problems as having too few to take care of things.
Building An Exhibit & Conclusion »
