Design Analysis Kristen Gardner CSE 197 12 April

Design Analysis Kristen Gardner CSE 197 12 April 2007

Why did I choose Zoo Tycoon? • My first game: Dino. Park 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…

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

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=afn. PWS 6 ug. Y 4

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

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

Free-form Game • Overview: – Player begins with nothing but land 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

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

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

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

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

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” • Educational features – Learn about animals • Habitat and diet needs – Learn about business and economics • Supply and demand • Fixed versus variable cost • Managing scarce resources

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

Scenario Game Information

Choose Animals

Learn about Animals

What does the animal need?

Watch your animals interact

An example of bad accounting…

Conclusion • A great game • Despite being 6 years old and 2 D 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)