Microsoft Game Studios and Blue Fang Games announced today that the next Zoo Tycoon expansion pack, Marine Mania, has gone gold and will be released in North America on October 17. The Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania expansion pack seamlessly integrates with Zoo Tycoon, allowing players to immediately add aquatic creatures to their ultimate zoos. In addition to offering new creatures ranging from the great white shark to the giant squid, Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania allows players to enhance their zoos with customizable aquatic shows including a dolphin show. Zoo guests can now enjoy attractions such as the shark tunnel and the dolphin ride, which enables them to swim with the dolphins. Players can enrich their marine exhibits with a variety of objects, including more than 20 new marine animals, five new animal toys and sunken treasure.

In other news, and to hold over zealous Zoo Tycoon fans for the next few weeks until Marine Mania actually appears on store shelves, Microsoft and Blue Fang today made available the North African Theme Pack for Zoo Tycoon. The Pack includes a plethora of items such as the African wild dog and snake pit, and even monuments such as obelisks and sphinxes. The Pack can be downloaded by visiting the official Zoo Tycoon site at www.zootycoon.com. The Pack requires players to either have Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs or the 10.9 update to Zoo Tycoon.

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