Has your mother ever said that play those darn video games will never save the planet? No, she hasn’t? Oh, well – Zoo Tycoon is teaming up with Microsoft and fellow gamers to do just that. The virtual zoo community game that launched on Xbox One will be helping to save endangered animals through a selection of upcoming community challenges.
The goals of the community challenges are to choose a non-profit organization then have Microsoft donate $10,000 based on the engagement of players within Zoo Tycoon. Gamers and the rest of the community, will be updated with how funds are being spent and get to enjoy pictures and write-ups about the animals they have helped to save.
The community is beginning to vote on their first non-profit charity of choice. The current options include Rhino Rescue, Komodo Survival Program, and the Tiger Species Survival Program. Everyone will have a bit under two weeks to decide which non-profit they would like to have the money donated towards.
Microsoft has set three conditions for each charity based on which gets picked:
- Release 1,000 Rhinos to the wild in “Zoo Tycoon” and Microsoft and AZA will donate $10,000 to help protect and deter further poaching of rhino horns in Africa.
- Adopt 1,000 Komodo Dragons in “Zoo Tycoon” and Microsoft and AZA will donate $10,000 to support the Komodo Survival Program’s work with the Indonesian Government to protect this species.
- Release 1,000 Sumatran Tigers into the wild in “Zoo Tycoon” and Microsoft and AZA will donate $10,000 to the Tiger Species Survival Program to help reduce the number of Sumatran Tigers killed, displaced or caught in snares.
Vote for the non-profit you like most by heading to the “Community” page within the Xbox One game. You can check the progress of voting by visiting the achievement app on your console.
The next challenge will begin in New York early 2014, so make sure to check back then!
If you haven’t picked up Zoo Tycoon yet, you can download it from the Xbox One Marketplace or at your favorite brick and mortar retailer.
Which charity will you be voting for?
Source: Xbox
