Expansion packs were built onto the original game up to 4 years after its initial release, with designer Linda Currie citing the team working on three expansions simultaneously during development. The development team noted the change in conservation messages portrayed by zoos after the release of Zoo Tycoon, and worked to make Zoo Tycoon 2 feel up to date with current information and messaging. The game's terrain deformation and Biome Brush were implemented to give the player control over their habitats by making them unique and individual, while making them simple enough to not alienate players that weren't as interested in the details of building an exhibit. The game was also designed to be more freeform than Zoo Tycoon was, with developer Shawn Stone citing that habitat building in the first game was a formulaic process that was improved upon in the sequel.

first person movement and controls were designed around first-person shooters, with developers citing Half-Life as an inspiration. The Photo Mode and Zookeeper Mode were refined after developers found out that the player should be able to interact with the world while walking around. The game's first person Guest Mode was added due to many fan requests to get 'closer' to the animals. Marketing materials showed an emphasis on 3D visuals, as well as the first person perspective and photo mode.

The last mode, Freeform, allows the player create a zoo from scratch with unlimited money and access to all animals and items from the start.Īfter the success of Zoo Tycoon, a sequel was planned. In both of these modes, players will have limited money to manage and will start with limited access to animals and items, with more becoming available as zoo fame level increases. In Challenge mode, the player starts a zoo from scratch and will be given random challenges which can be accepted or rejected. In Campaign mode, the player plays through a scenario in an existing zoo and is assigned different goals to complete, such as achieving a certain fame level, caring for rescued animals, or breeding endangered species. Zoo Tycoon 2 features three gameplay modes: Campaign, Challenge and Freeform. Guests will visit the zoo to see the animals, and they also have needs that need to be fulfilled through scenery and buildings (hunger, thirst, bathroom, seating, entertainment). The Zoo Tycoon 2 gameplay revolves around creating suitable exhibits for animals through habitat modifications (ground cover, water, elevation, foliage and rocks and a variety of items including food, enrichment and shelter) which fulfill the animal's needs (habitat, hunger, thirst, stimulation, privacy, sleep, social, exercise). See List of animals in Zoo Tycoon 2 for a full list of animals in the Zoo Tycoon 2 games.

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