Name: Charles Miles
Title: Senior Designer
Responsible For: Scenarios and Challenges, New Content, Conservation Areas

Topic 4: Conservation Areas

Questions:

What are “Conservation Areas” and how do they impact the gameplay in Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species?

Conservation areas are protected areas on the zoo map that are enclosed by a conservation fence. Special rules apply inside these environmentally sensitive areas—you can’t go in and just flatten everything with a bulldozer! In a conservation area you cannot destroy foliage or rocks, raise or lower terrain, or place buildings on the protected terrain.

There’s still a lot you can still do with a conservation area. You can put animals inside it, for example, so with a little ingenuity you can turn a conservation area into a great animal exhibit. As a bonus your guests will donate slightly more to your zoo if they view the appropriate animals inside a conservation area.

What was the inspiration for Conservation Areas?

Conservation areas came up while we were brainstorming for the expansion pack. We knew we wanted to reinforce the game’s endangered animals theme, and we also knew we wanted to add new twists to the building side of the game. When conservation areas were suggested we realized they would allow us to do both things at once.

Many of the animals in the game are endangered because of loss of habitat, so conservation areas help remind you that there’s more to saving endangered species than just the animals—you have to preserve their habitats as well. For example, one scenario begins with the discovery of a pair of Baird’s tapirs near a small Central American town. The town decides the best way to help the tapirs is to create a conservation area for them and then build a small zoo around the conservation area.

On the building side you really have to adjust your strategy when you can’t alter every piece of terrain. Instead of just flattening everything in sight you have to stop and think, “How will I make this conservation area fit in with the rest of my zoo?” It adds a little dash of extra challenge.

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