It's a funny thing about tapir's - you think you are providing well for them and all of a sudden they become very unhappy. And tapir's are not quiet when they are unhappy.

I always thought that running a zoo would be a fun thing to do. One of those jobs where you really enjoy going to work in the morning. Turns out that it's really work... hard work. There are more moving parts to a zoo than I ever imagined. I guess I always took it for granted that the zoo would be a fun place to go and see interesting animals frolicking in their pens and never thought of the logistics that go into it. I have a whole new appreciation for this job now and realized how lucky I am that when my co-workers are unhappy they don't squeal.

Zoo Tycoon: Complete Edition is our first game on the site from Microsoft and it's a winner. There is a very nice tutorial that walks you through the basics of the game. Unfortunately, I thought I was too smart for it and skipped tutorial #3. That was the one that talked about how to keep your animals happy. I will be revisiting that one when I get back to the game.

Essentially, you are running the zoo - from selecting the animals and their environs to strategically stationing garbage cans. Plan your zoo well and you will have plenty of people visiting. Neglect your tapir's and it's just not a fun place to visit. Once you have mastered the zoo business you can try your hand at a dinosaur or marine park. Now, back to those tapir's!

Don't skip Tutorial #3 and pay attention to your zookeepers.

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This is probably one of the most engrossing games that I have ever played. Unplug the tv, turn off the phone, this game demands your full attention.

In Zoo Tycoon complete collection you play the role of a zoo manager. You decide which animals to display, where to put them and how the entire park is designed. The game allows you to micro-manage everything, from the layout of the park, down to picking up your guests and moving them where you want them to be.

This kind of complexity usually comes across as bulky or hard to manage. Zoo Tycoon has a fluid, logical feel to it and everything is easily found and used. It also includes a wonderful tutorial system that teaches the basics up to more advanced techniques in a manner that is both fun and informative.

You can play a pre-designed scenario, with a set timeline or goals to achieve. Or you can play freely, with only your imagination as your guide. I suggest running a few of the scenarios before you dive into the time-consuming mode that is freeplay.

The gameplay is first-rate, graphics are bright and colorful while still being detailed. Watching your animals run around the habitats you lovingly created for them is very rewarding.

Of course there are some of us who every now and again "accidentally" remove a fence from the lion or, worse, the T-rex exhibit. What can I say, I felt that the crowds needed to be thinned out a bit.

New stuff one must have
Research toys for animals
Happy they will be

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