Zoo keeper

Zoo keeper
Original title	ズーキーパー
Studio	2002 Robot Communications 2003–2005 Success since 2011 Kiteretsu; ; ; ; ;
Publisher	Robot Communications (Browser, 3DS); Success (Japan) ; Taito (Arcade) ; Ignition Entertainment (USA and Europe) ; 505 Games (PS2 in Europe); Kiteretsu (iOS, Android)
Erstveröffent- ; lichung	Browser; 2002 ; Game Boy Advance October 31, 2003 August 4, 2005 PlayStation 2 February 12, 2004 August 2005 Arcade 2004 Nintendo DS December 2, 2004 January 18, 2005 March 11, 2005 iOS June 10, 2011 Android November 25, 2011 Nintendo 3DS 26 January 2012; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
platform	Web browser , Game Boy Advance , PlayStation 2 , Nintendo DS , Nintendo 3DS , iOS , Android
genre	puzzle
Game mode	Single player , multiplayer
medium	Download , module , DVD-ROM
language	i.a. German English
USK	PEGI

Zoo Keeper ( English for, Zoo Keeper ') a puzzle computer game is from 2002. Originally from Japanese companies Robot Communications as a Flash game developed for the web browser, it was later implemented for various game consoles, mobile phones and as an arcade machine. Depending on the platform and region, it also appeared as Zooo , Zoo Puzzle , Zookeeper DX, and Zoo Keeper 3D . The implementation for the Nintendo DS is a launch title for the handheld console in Japan and Europe .

game

The game principle corresponds to the so-called match-3 game, on which Bejeweled and Candy Crush Saga are also based. The square playing field consists of 64 grid-like tiles with different symbols, each representing one of eight zoo animals . In each turn, two adjacent tiles can be swapped with one another. The aim is to create a series of three or more identical symbols next to or on top of each other. If no row is formed, the swap is automatically reversed. If such a row is created, all the tiles that make up the row disappear. The tiles above move up to fill the empty space and new tiles appear at the top of the screen to fill up the playing field again.

After successfully connecting a certain number of tiles per animal species, the player is moved to the next higher level . The playing field will be refilled. In Zoo Keeper is beyond the screen a timeline, the one depending on the game stage Countdown counts from several minutes to seconds down. With every successfully formed row and every level up, the counter is increased by a certain period of time. If the counter reaches 0, the game is over and the number of points reached is saved in the high scores .

Modifications

In the later implementations, the connection of tiles of a certain animal species is rewarded with additional bonus points for each level. In the Nintendo DS and 3DS versions, an artwork of this animal is shown on the upper screen during play. In addition, three hints are available to the player for each playthrough, which highlight all the tiles for a possible move on the playing field.

In addition to the standard game mode, there are others depending on the implementation, such as the quest mode. A predetermined goal must be met in order to advance at each level of the game. Examples are catching a certain number of an animal species or matching each animal species only once . The game mechanics described above remain the same.

plot

The game is embedded in a sparsely designed framework that puts the player in the role of the zoo keeper . As the latter, he is driven to ever harder work by the strict director of the zoo and keeps the zoo's wild animals in check by playing. In the game mode Quest short appearing between the level cutscenes in which the Director with the zoo keeper talks.

history

Japanese production company Robot Communications Inc. released a free web browser puzzle game called Zoo Keeper in 2002 . It appeared as part of the Kiteretsu label , under which the company published games, animations, and websites, and enjoyed great popularity in Japan.

The company, which actually specializes in film and television productions, outsourced these activities to its subsidiary Buddiez, Inc., which was founded in March 2003 for this purpose. Buddiez, Inc. then licensed the Japanese video game developer Success Inc. to develop and publish Zoo Keeper games.

Mobile phones

In a December 15, 2003 press release, Buddiez, Inc. reported over 100,000 players daily and announced the launch of a new paid online service in partnership with Bandai . The service was named after its most successful game to date, Zookeeper & the full load of games (analogously, orig. " ZOOKEEPER & ゲーム満載") and offered games for direct download to mobile phones via the Internet channels of the Japanese mobile network operators .

About this service also appeared on April 16, 2004 Battle Zookeeper , which included a multiplayer mode for the first time . In December 2005, after the console versions were released there, Zookeeper for mobile phones was also released in North America and South Korea.

Arcade and consoles

Since another game called Zoo Keeper was released in the USA as early as 1983 , the name Zooo was chosen for the console version . On October 31, 2003, Zooo was released for the Game Boy Advance, initially exclusively in Japan. On February 12, 2004, the implementation followed under the same name for the PlayStation 2 as part of the company's own label SuperLite 2000 , under which a selection of low-priced titles for the home console was released.

A version for arcade machines developed by Success appeared in 2004 as Zooo and was distributed by Taito .

For the Nintendo DS released on December 2 of the same year, Zoo Keeper appeared - again under this name - as the launch title . As such, the game was first launched on the European and North American markets a few months later by the British publisher Ignition Entertainment . In Europe, localizations for the Game Boy Advance and PlayStation 2 ports appeared just a few months later . The GBA version was released as Zooo by Ignition Entertainment, the PS2 version as Zoo Puzzle by the Italian publisher 505 Game Street (now 505 Games ).

The Nintendo 3DS version Zoo Keeper 3D , developed this time by the rights holder - now Kiteretsu Inc. - was released exclusively for the Japanese market in 2012. The publisher is Robot Communications.

Smartphones

In 2011, ports for iOS and Android also developed by Kiteretsu were released as Zoo Keeper DX - Touch Edition . In 2012, Zookeeper Battle was also released, a free version of the game with online multiplayer mode for iOS and Android as well as on Facebook . Via the online service Mobage from Yahoo! Japan can also be played in the web browser. The game allows you to compete against foreign players as well as friends.

reception

The Nintendo DS version received mostly positive reviews from the professional world and achieved a Metascore of 74 out of 100, based on 40 reviews. In its test of this implementation, GameSpot praised the simple yet fun game principle, the design, the harmonious music and suitable sound effects. The control with the Nintendo DS stylus is "much, much better" than with buttons. The lack of originality of the game mechanics is criticized compared to the better known and free-to-play Bejeweled .

The iOS version achieved a Metascore of 76 based on five ratings.

According to owner Kiteretsu, Zoo Keeper has been played by over 30 million players worldwide, mostly in Asia.

Web links

Original version, playable on the Internet Archive (English)
Kiteretsu Game Website (Japanese)
Arcade version website (Japanese)
GBA version website (Japanese)
PS2 version website (Japanese)
DS version website (Japanese)
3DS version website (Japanese)

Individual evidence

↑ Buddiez inc. Corporate Profile. Accessed March 26, 2021 .
↑ Buddiez, Inc. press release (archived). December 15, 2003, accessed March 26, 2021 (Japanese).
↑ Website of the iZoo portal. Retrieved March 26, 2021 (Japanese).
↑ Buddiez, Inc. News (archived). December 20, 2005, accessed March 26, 2021 (Japanese).
↑ Website of the GBA version. Retrieved March 26, 2021 (Japanese).
↑ Website of the PlayStation 2 version. Retrieved March 26, 2021 (Japanese).
^ Arcade version in the International Arcade Museum. Accessed March 25, 2021 .
↑ Ricardo Torres: Nintendo DS launch titles officially revealed. In: Gamespot. May 17, 2005, accessed March 24, 2021 .
^ Gregor Thomanek: Zoo Keeper 3D announced. In: Nintendo-Online. November 21, 2011, accessed March 24, 2021 .
↑ Website of the 3DS version. Retrieved March 25, 2021 (Japanese).
↑ Press release from Kiteretsu on the release of Zookeeper Battle. In: Businesswire. August 23, 2012, accessed March 24, 2021 .
^ Zoo Keeper (DS) on Metacritic.com. Accessed March 24, 2021 .
↑ Jeff Gerstmann: Zoo Keeper Review. In: GameSpot. January 21, 2005, accessed March 24, 2021 .
↑ Zookeeper DX (iOS) on Metacritic.com. Accessed March 24, 2021 .
^ Company Outline Kiteretsu. Accessed March 25, 2021 .

[1] Buddiez inc. Corporate Profile. Accessed March 26, 2021 .

[2] Buddiez, Inc. press release (archived). December 15, 2003, accessed March 26, 2021 (Japanese).

[3] Website of the iZoo portal. Retrieved March 26, 2021 (Japanese).

[4] Buddiez, Inc. News (archived). December 20, 2005, accessed March 26, 2021 (Japanese).

[5] Website of the GBA version. Retrieved March 26, 2021 (Japanese).

[6] Website of the PlayStation 2 version. Retrieved March 26, 2021 (Japanese).

[7] Arcade version in the International Arcade Museum. Accessed March 25, 2021 .

[8] Ricardo Torres: Nintendo DS launch titles officially revealed. In: Gamespot. May 17, 2005, accessed March 24, 2021 .

[9] Gregor Thomanek: Zoo Keeper 3D announced. In: Nintendo-Online. November 21, 2011, accessed March 24, 2021 .

[10] Website of the 3DS version. Retrieved March 25, 2021 (Japanese).

[businesswire-11] Press release from Kiteretsu on the release of Zookeeper Battle. In: Businesswire. August 23, 2012, accessed March 24, 2021 .

[12] Zoo Keeper (DS) on Metacritic.com. Accessed March 24, 2021 .

[13] Jeff Gerstmann: Zoo Keeper Review. In: GameSpot. January 21, 2005, accessed March 24, 2021 .

[14] Zookeeper DX (iOS) on Metacritic.com. Accessed March 24, 2021 .

[15] Company Outline Kiteretsu. Accessed March 25, 2021 .