Tag: Zoo »

It’s always nice to see something a little different in a market saturated with a bunch of “Me, Too” freemium titles. Chillingo's Zooniverse is one such deviation for a couple of different reasons, not just because of the unobtrusive tutorial. Seriously, it’s incredible how many developers think interrupting the player with pop-up boxes is “good.” *deep breaths*

While Zooniverse is about running a zoo first and foremost, it’s also about keeping the customers happy. These core customer demographics are divided into three main categories: men, women, and children. Each group has its own preferences when it comes to facilities and adorable critters to ogle, so it’s important to find a balance that caters to everyone. Making more people happy means more money, and more money means being able to expand the zoo with more enclosures, animals, and just space in general.

A great deal of critters ranging from woodland to aquatic, and even prehistoric and outright impossible, can be housed in the many available enclosures. Once an animal is settled in, be it through a purchase or breeding, players have to make sure to keep it well fed. Starvation won’t result in horrible complex-forming consequences, but it will cause the creatures to stop earning cash. So, you know, don’t be a jerk and keep them well-fed.

The burning question of what happens with a mouse is bred with a hippo (a Hippopotamouse) will finally be answered for free later this summer.

Wait for one new Zynga game and two come bouncing along, just like a cuddly animal would. Note the tenuous link? Yup, Zynga's new title is all about taking care of exotic and zany animals in a zoo.

Dream Zoo is another first for Zynga. Their first zoo themed game to be exact, presumably ensuring that casual gamers with all types of interests will be hooked by at least one Zynga game at some time. Interestingly, it's also the first Zynga title to offer bonuses and in-game rewards based upon playing in multiple different locations.

Players are given the opportunity to breed and collect thousands of different animal varieties in a way that's bound to hook 'gotta catch em all' style addicts. A selection of mini-games give the player the chance to pet and tend to their animals with feeding and washing games simple yet fun to play.

All manners of animals are catered for from aardvarks to zebras. Going on safari enables players to discover these different species while also having plenty of fun along the way! Players can even breed different animals together to create all new and unique types of creatures. Along the way, players can also collect up other items on safari, thus boosting their zoo's looks or finances. Once everything is arranged just how the player wants it, they can take photos of their animals to show off to others.

We all know and love what Zynga has to offer the freemium gaming world and it looks like the magic has transferred to the world of zoo keeping in Dream Zoo. Like other Zynga titles, it's a free app with plenty of in-app purchase based options. Fortunately, it's not essential to progression, it just speeds things up a little.

For those looking for a new free to play fix, Dream Zoo is out now.