Aquatic Creatures Splash Into Microsoft Game Studios' Top-Selling Family PC Game

July 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dolphins, elephant seals and jellyfish are swimming into cyberspace. Microsoft Game Studios today announced it will launch "Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania," an expansion pack for use with the "Zoo Tycoon" PC game, in October 2002. "Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania" is an entertaining and engaging game for the entire family, with more than 20 aquatic creatures including sea otters and octopuses, additional zoo-enhancing objects such as aquatic shows and marine scenery, and 10 new scenarios to test players' zoo-building skills.

Microsoft "Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania" continues the tradition of family fun started by "Zoo Tycoon," the top-selling "tycoon" game title by dollars for the last three quarters since its release in October,* and "Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs," which allows players to add prehistoric beasts to the everyday zoo.

The "Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania" expansion pack seamlessly integrates with "Zoo Tycoon," allowing players to immediately add aquatic creatures to their ultimate zoo. In addition to offering new creatures, ranging from the great white shark to the giant squid, "Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania" allows players to enhance their zoos with customizable aquatic shows including a dolphin show. Zoo guests can now enjoy attractions such as the shark tunnel and the dolphin ride, which enables them to swim with the dolphins. Players can enrich their marine exhibits with a variety of objects, including 21 species of underwater organisms (including kelp and sea anemone), five new animal toys and sunken treasure.

Players are challenged to create and manage underwater exhibits or merge aquatic tanks with traditional land habitats. Interactive tutorials and marine specialists are on hand to help players maintain animal happiness. In addition, 10 new scenarios test players' ability to manage and maintain a successful zoo.

"Playing computer games is a great way for parents to stay connected with their kids," said Chuck Frizelle, product manager at Microsoft Game Studios. "'Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania' continues the family fun of the 'Zoo Tycoon' franchise, stimulating creativity and encouraging players of all ages and skill levels to build and manage the ultimate zoo."

"Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania" also includes all the prehistoric content available in "Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs." Players can merge prehistoric and contemporary land and aquatic animals to create a zoo they could never visit in real life. "Zoo Tycoon" and "Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania" were developed for Microsoft by Blue Fang Games LLC.