Microsoft Game Studios Awards Tulsa Zoo

November 24, 2004; 02:52 PM

Microsoft® Game Studios announced today that the Tulsa Zoo is the winner in the "Zoo Tycoon® 2" America's Favorite Zoo contest. A $25,000 (U.S.) grant has been awarded to the zoo to help fund habitat maintenance, assist with animal care and repopulate endangered species.

In the search for the "Zoo Tycoon 2" America's Favorite Zoo, 50 zoos from across the United States were selected to participate in the competition in which one lucky zoo would be awarded the grant. The nationwide contest consisted of three rounds, the first of which called on the knowledge of four expert judges to pare down the selected zoos to 15 semifinalists on Oct. 4.

"We are so proud of the many facets of our organization and the staff who have helped make the Tulsa Zoo so successful," said Mary Collins, executive director of Tulsa Zoo Friends and spokesperson for the Tulsa Zoo.

"Zoo Tycoon 2," the long-awaited sequel to the award-winning "Zoo Tycoon" game for the Windows® operating system, was released to store shelves throughout the United States on Nov. 16.

Developed by Blue Fang Games (TM) LLC, "Zoo Tycoon 2" improves upon one of the most successful Windows-based games of all time with all-new enhanced 3-D graphics, and new first-person gameplay modes that allow players to get even closer to the animals and zoo exhibits they create.

"Zoo Tycoon 2" is the perfect addition to the wildly popular "Zoo Tycoon" franchise, which has earned accolades from Child magazine, Children's Software Revue and the Parents' Choice Foundation. Most recently, "Zoo Tycoon 2" was included in Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products and Top 10 High-Tech Products of 2004.

Blue Fang Games develops high-quality, award-winning PC games. Founded in 1998 by veterans of Papyrus Design Group, Blue Fang is dedicated to delivering high-quality, interactive computer game titles to consumers around the world.