Neat Things: Zoo Tycoon II

So, Chris came home last weekend with a surprise for me. I found the box on my desk Friday night. It's fun, it's a bit addictive, and it's called Zoo Tycoon 2. A video game? Yes, a video game...and I'm officially hooked, my friends. H-O-O-K-E-D.

My hubby's a tail-end baby boomer and I'm an early Gen-X'er. The advent of MTV (with actual music videos!), personal computers, a little company called Apple, and the new "fad" of video games...they all came to be in our era. Of course, back then, we didn't switch on the TV, juice up the console or log on to the Internet. We went to the arcade. Those big, black rooms pulsing with neon, music, pinging, blooping, blipping and scores of bug-eyed kids pumping the change machines for quarters, quarters, quarters. Donkey Kong, Galaga, Centipede, Space Invaders, Frogger, Burger Time, Pole Position, Paper Boy, Dig Dug and the list goes on including, my all-time fave, Ms. Pacman! We'd save up the pop cans (Oregon has the bottle bill), flip the couch cushions and check my dads pockets in the laundry hamper--all in pursuit of that "High Score".

Fast forward 25 years (give-or-take), and I'm playing Zoo Tycoon 2 on my Macbook. Building my zoo, creating exhibits, adopting animals, entertaining my guests. Care for the animals, win awards, manage finances, check my stats, go on a photo safari...it's all 3D, very interactive. It's not just kid stuff; I'm learning a lot...really!

My hubby, the gamer, strikes again. Thanks, Chris!