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Zoo Tycoon factors charity into its dynamic achievements

"We could set an achievement asking players to save 10,000 rhinos, and when unlocked money would be given to the related charity." - Frontier's Jonny Watts talks dynamic achievements in Zoo Tycoon.

Mike Rose, Blogger

August 30, 2013

1 Min Read
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"Take for example the recent Rhino killings in Nairobi Park - we could set a community based achievement asking players to save 10,000 rhinos, and when unlocked money would be given to the park or a related charity."

- Jonny Watts, CCO at Frontier Developments, discusses the possibilities of "dynamic" achievements in the upcoming Zoo Tycoon. The achievements system on Xbox One will feature dynamic capabilities, such that achievements can be modified, updated and added after a game is released. This will allow developers to base achievements on what players are doing -- for example, Skyrim's "arrow to the knee" meme could have been turned into an achievement post-launch. Talking to ExpansiveDLC, Watts explained that Frontier is planning to take dynamic achievements a step further, introducing charity-based incentives to make earning achievements more rewarding for players. The team will aim to introduce dynamic achievements based on real-world animal-related events, and for each player who unlocks each specific achievement, money will be donated to the corresponding cause. "This isn't just a token gesture," Watts added. "Microsoft are investing a substantial pot of money [into these charity donations]. They are really behind us with this."

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