A few of us were reminiscing on what led us to finding and becoming a member of ZKL. I thought it might be interesting to hear the stories of other members. If you want to share your story, feel free. To start things off, here was my story. It is a bit long and extremely different from others, so it will probably be boring. But here it is for posterity.
In the very early days of the Internet, I had extremely bad experiences with MS Windows and Internet Explorer. They corrupted my main hard disk partition. I had everything backed up on tapes. But Murphy's Law kicked in and my tape drive failed when I tried to restore my system. And, of course, that tape drive was no longer made. I had the original programs and backups on floppies as well. But MS Windows is extremely finicky about reloading things in the same order that they were loaded in the first place. So I was able to restore most of the system (including the most important things), but not everything. Plus it was extremely time consuming. So I made the decision to use MS Windows only for simple multimedia applications and simple games, but move to Linux for everything else.
As the world knows, most multimedia applications and games are made for MS Windows. So a few MS Windows emulators were created for Linux. Many things will not work with these emulators, but some things will. I decided in 2001 to take a look at how many things worked with these emulators. So a quest began to look at all demos and free programs to see what looked interesting; then to download them and test them. Eventually I found the Zoo Tycoon demo. It sounded interesting. Therefore, I downloaded and tested it. Of course, I was immediately impressed... something that was both educational and entertaining. Therefore, I bought the game.
Since the Zoo Tycoon manual mentioned getting new animals and objects via the Internet, I looked at the MS Zoo Tycoon web site. There were a few downloads there. There was also a list to other Zoo Tycoon sites. A few even had some user created items. A number of the objects looked as good as those in Zoo Tycoon. The animals were not as detailed as those in Zoo Tycoon, but some were still educational and some even came with actual animal photos. So began a new quest... to monitor these Zoo Tycoon web sites daily for new downloads.
Within a couple weeks, I noticed a web site emerging as my favorite. (Gee, I wonder which one.) I liked ZKL for three reasons. One was some interesting downloads. But a number of sites fit into that category. It was the other two reasons that were unique at that time. Whenever a member found a new download elsewhere, they would mention it here. It became an easy way to find new downloads everywhere. This practice eventually changed to the "other web sites, please come and tell us about your updates" approach that is used today. Although that approach is not as inclusive as the first approach, it gets the bulk of the downloads.
The third reason this site stood out was how much effort was put forth by members to help others solve their problems and answer their questions. I remember one in particular from the very early forums. I believe the member was called "animallover". (This was an earlier member; I believe that name has been reused a couple times since.) She would try to give an answer, no matter what the question or problem. Eventually, however, "animallover" left because she had her own Zoo Tycoon problems that she could not resolve. When she left, she talked about too much corruption caused by the game. I felt extremely sad for her. Here she spent so much time helping others, and didn't get help herself. Her description sounded like hitting a virtual memory limit, which is especially common in older MS Windows and, as it turns out, in my Linux testing. I think I was hitting most of the various Zoo Tycoon limits before others because of my Linux environment (it takes more memory to emulate a different environment) and because I was downloading almost everything. I probably could have helped her, but I was not a member.
So I decided to become a member. I wanted to be here to help anyone else hitting these limits. But I am an extremely shy individual. Plus, since I am using a Linux environment, I did not know how much of my experiences would apply to others. So I only helped others occasionally, usually whenever a question was left unanswered.
However, it was rare that a question was left unanswered. Another impressive individual was answering them. "animallover" would try to answer all questions by her personal experiences. But this other person, in addition to trying to answer all questions, would go and do research on the Internet or go do some experimentation in the game in order to find the answers. She also has a fantastic ability to make people feel good about themselves, a gift that is especially useful in a technical support area. Her effort and gift amazed me then and amaze me now. She goes by the name of "searain".
It was because of searain that I took a more active role here. But there are so many other members that have made the stay so enjoyable. I still get satisfaction by helping people with the technical support questions. I still look at downloads at other sites when they are mentioned here. But now I also enjoy looking at information and news articles about real animals and zoos that are posted by members. I enjoy helping a couple of the animal and object creators with reviewing and sometimes configuring their items. I enjoy participating in a couple of the word games. And I enjoy hearing some of the adventures others have outside the Zoo Tycoon world.
So that is my story. (I hope it wasn't too boring.) What is your story?
Reminiscing on finding and joining ZKL
My story will not be as long as your story, Jay. But isn't wasn't boring! I loved how you showed your appreciation for the site and its members. That was really nice of you!
Well, it all began on one day where my mother and I had to go to Wal-mart for a few things. Nothing much. I decided to look around the store, especially electronics. I had always loved that section... for some reason... hint hint. But anyhoo, looking through the computer games I came across this game that had a giant elephant on it and Zoo Tycoon written across the top of it, and so I thought "animals... this has got be a nice game." So, I looked on the back to see it was for building and simulating your very own zoo. Of course, I loved it right then and there. But I didn't get it immediately. I saved my money over time (it was a good call for ol' Mom there
) and finally bought the game.
Playing the game over and over, building my zoos with great excitement, I decided that perhaps it would allow downloads. And so I searched on the MS ZT official site, downloaded soem really neat things, but decided I wanted more. I searched on Google for some more possible sites for ZT, and I was led here. Of course, I bought ZT way back when it first came out, and this site was still in its old skin.
But I was amazed at the site. Not only did it have some of the best user-created downloads, but its members were some of the nicest people I had ever seen. I didn't join right away, because I thought I wouldn't fit in; then I had never joined a forum before. But as years passed and the forum grew larger and larger, I wanted to join. But it wasn't until the last day of August in 2003 that I joined. But before then, I watched members come and go, chat, and behave so nicely. I was really in awe. Everybody was an assistance to the forum. To this day, I don't know exactly why I didn't join when the forum was very "young". Yes, I know because I thought I wouldn't fit in, but over time I grew out of that.
And because of this site, I have come out of my shell and joined other forums, but I would like to say thank you to EVERYBODY for being the people you are and being such wonderful friends. Even those who have never met me. Yes, sounds weird, but it's true. And thank you so much for all the hard work and effort you have been doing all these years not only for Zoo Tycoon, but for the sake of others as well.
You guys truly are the best.
Well, it all began on one day where my mother and I had to go to Wal-mart for a few things. Nothing much. I decided to look around the store, especially electronics. I had always loved that section... for some reason... hint hint. But anyhoo, looking through the computer games I came across this game that had a giant elephant on it and Zoo Tycoon written across the top of it, and so I thought "animals... this has got be a nice game." So, I looked on the back to see it was for building and simulating your very own zoo. Of course, I loved it right then and there. But I didn't get it immediately. I saved my money over time (it was a good call for ol' Mom there
) and finally bought the game. Playing the game over and over, building my zoos with great excitement, I decided that perhaps it would allow downloads. And so I searched on the MS ZT official site, downloaded soem really neat things, but decided I wanted more. I searched on Google for some more possible sites for ZT, and I was led here. Of course, I bought ZT way back when it first came out, and this site was still in its old skin.
But I was amazed at the site. Not only did it have some of the best user-created downloads, but its members were some of the nicest people I had ever seen. I didn't join right away, because I thought I wouldn't fit in; then I had never joined a forum before. But as years passed and the forum grew larger and larger, I wanted to join. But it wasn't until the last day of August in 2003 that I joined. But before then, I watched members come and go, chat, and behave so nicely. I was really in awe. Everybody was an assistance to the forum. To this day, I don't know exactly why I didn't join when the forum was very "young". Yes, I know because I thought I wouldn't fit in, but over time I grew out of that.
And because of this site, I have come out of my shell and joined other forums, but I would like to say thank you to EVERYBODY for being the people you are and being such wonderful friends. Even those who have never met me. Yes, sounds weird, but it's true. And thank you so much for all the hard work and effort you have been doing all these years not only for Zoo Tycoon, but for the sake of others as well.
You guys truly are the best.
<b>Do you smell that smell? A kind of smelly smell that smells... smelly.
Life is just a big bowl of fancy assorted cashews.</b>
Life is just a big bowl of fancy assorted cashews.</b>
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Rudynoname
- zoo member
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2004 5:14 pm
- Location: San Diego
hmmm..oh yea i remember. well it all started like this. this was about november, the month after zoo tycoon came out
when i first got internet on my comp the first thing was did was download as many games as i could find. well the problem is it's rare to find actual full games online so most i downloaded demos and played them till i got bored. anywyas i downloaded the demo for zoo tycoon and me and my sister loved it instantly. we made a bunch of really creative zoos with just the 4 animals provided to us. well anywyas we kept playing and knew we had to get the full version so we put our money together and bought it.
now onto zkl. now that we had the game i remeber i wanted some morre info on it like the best ways to beat the scenarios, cheats, animal list, and all the official downloads. so i went to the main site's lnks sections and i found a few sites i really liked and bookmarked them. now the other sites (like admin and unlimited) were mostly normal websites but zkl was , as it still is, mostly centered around it's forums. so i joined and starte posting in topics that interested me. mostly there was a core group of people that talked and little by little we got to know each other and became friends. it eventually for me became just as much a forum for talking with ppl as it was a forum for talking about zoo tycoon. zookeeper was around a lot back then, Rainbow Cheesecake the Winged Leprechaun had just joined and zookeeper made him a mod. anywyas time wen on and ppl had began to make user-created animals, however msot were not the best quality and not worth keeping. so a bunch of us started talking about ahving quality user made animals that were official from zkl and it led to what we have today.
anyways then came the crash and we lost a lot of the old members, but new people came, (as most of you all know ) and i became a mod. and its been that way ever since. now we have new admins and a new forum site but things are still the same. people are friends that expand beyond zoo tycoon and thats why i've stayed. 
when i first got internet on my comp the first thing was did was download as many games as i could find. well the problem is it's rare to find actual full games online so most i downloaded demos and played them till i got bored. anywyas i downloaded the demo for zoo tycoon and me and my sister loved it instantly. we made a bunch of really creative zoos with just the 4 animals provided to us. well anywyas we kept playing and knew we had to get the full version so we put our money together and bought it.
now onto zkl. now that we had the game i remeber i wanted some morre info on it like the best ways to beat the scenarios, cheats, animal list, and all the official downloads. so i went to the main site's lnks sections and i found a few sites i really liked and bookmarked them. now the other sites (like admin and unlimited) were mostly normal websites but zkl was , as it still is, mostly centered around it's forums. so i joined and starte posting in topics that interested me. mostly there was a core group of people that talked and little by little we got to know each other and became friends. it eventually for me became just as much a forum for talking with ppl as it was a forum for talking about zoo tycoon. zookeeper was around a lot back then, Rainbow Cheesecake the Winged Leprechaun had just joined and zookeeper made him a mod. anywyas time wen on and ppl had began to make user-created animals, however msot were not the best quality and not worth keeping. so a bunch of us started talking about ahving quality user made animals that were official from zkl and it led to what we have today.
anyways then came the crash and we lost a lot of the old members, but new people came, (as most of you all know
) and i became a mod. and its been that way ever since. now we have new admins and a new forum site but things are still the same. people are friends that expand beyond zoo tycoon and thats why i've stayed. Your connection to the Zoo Tycoon community.
[img]http://www.lunamanar.com/signatures/rudy/rudysig02.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.lunamanar.com/signatures/rudy/rudysig02.jpg[/img]
ROFL.... Rudy, the autocensor got to your post... Garg-oyle is something it censors... hahahaha...
Jay, this is a great idea for a thread, thank you!
Sheesh, this is a long and strange story. Well, I first got interested in ZT from an ad in one of my brother's video game magazines (I believe it was PC Gamer) I thought that a game where you make a zoo, exhibits and all, sounded great, but I didn't want to buy it myself because (*gasp*) Microsoft made it. So out of the technicality that I didn't want to buy anything from Microsoft myself (I am but have been more a Macintosh anti-Microsoft person... except at this point the two computers that are "mine" are both PCs)... so I waited for Christmas. When of course I got Zoo Tycoon because I had hinted at wanting it since seeing the ad, before it even came out
I was happy with Zoo Tycoon for a while without anything helping me with it. Then I found a couple things... Some bogus cheat sites and the Zoo Tycoon official site. Well I tried the cheats but 99% of them didn't work because they were fake. But at the official site there were downloads and cool stuff like that... well, I'm a downloading fiend. If I can add to something with free downloads and good ones, I'll go out looking for them. So I looked, especially at the sites list on the official site. ZKL was on that list and I found a lot of great downloads here. I registered (may 4, 2001 I believe) because I either had to to download or I wanted to because I got some stuff on there (can't remember)... anyway, I posted an intro and then it all went downhill from there
Someone (Kenn actually, who I am still friends with) replied to my introduction (acknowledging my existance! Nobody did that at the time because I had just moved back to California from England... I was the 'new kid' at school and nobody seemed to want to be my friend...) It was nice to have someone say hi and so I started posting in the other forums and made a bunch of friends here. It was really great to have friends somewhere, and it made me feel a lot better about everything and I even managed to make a couple of friends at school. It was a really nice place just to sort of hang out and chat about whatever came around. And there were some really cool and interesting people to talk to (Bluememaw, Garg, Searain, Kenn, Wally (Poepie at the time) and MAK, to name a few).
And you ask how I became a mod? Well easy, I never asked to be one... but when the position was offered, I excitedly accepted! I had for a long time pointed out when anyone used inappropriate language and the basic (not nit-picky) things like that to the mods or admins, and I'd been here for a while and had a chance to sort of get to know the admins pretty well. And they dropped me in GD (the busiest board on the forum from the beginning and still is now!) and I caught up with what and how to do everything.
And now I am still a mod (by managing not to make the admins too mad... though I may have come close a couple of times... okay, very close.), and I have two forums of my own. They're doing fairly well, but not nearly as well as this one (much smaller!)... and I've even gotten to meet one person I met here, Kandy21! (This June I went to Vermont for her graduation) But it's not a pressure of having to meet these people, it's great to talk to them on the forums (and some on IM) and just unwind.
Jay, this is a great idea for a thread, thank you!
Sheesh, this is a long and strange story. Well, I first got interested in ZT from an ad in one of my brother's video game magazines (I believe it was PC Gamer) I thought that a game where you make a zoo, exhibits and all, sounded great, but I didn't want to buy it myself because (*gasp*) Microsoft made it. So out of the technicality that I didn't want to buy anything from Microsoft myself (I am but have been more a Macintosh anti-Microsoft person... except at this point the two computers that are "mine" are both PCs)... so I waited for Christmas. When of course I got Zoo Tycoon because I had hinted at wanting it since seeing the ad, before it even came out
I was happy with Zoo Tycoon for a while without anything helping me with it. Then I found a couple things... Some bogus cheat sites and the Zoo Tycoon official site. Well I tried the cheats but 99% of them didn't work because they were fake. But at the official site there were downloads and cool stuff like that... well, I'm a downloading fiend. If I can add to something with free downloads and good ones, I'll go out looking for them. So I looked, especially at the sites list on the official site. ZKL was on that list and I found a lot of great downloads here. I registered (may 4, 2001 I believe) because I either had to to download or I wanted to because I got some stuff on there (can't remember)... anyway, I posted an intro and then it all went downhill from there
Someone (Kenn actually, who I am still friends with) replied to my introduction (acknowledging my existance! Nobody did that at the time because I had just moved back to California from England... I was the 'new kid' at school and nobody seemed to want to be my friend...) It was nice to have someone say hi and so I started posting in the other forums and made a bunch of friends here. It was really great to have friends somewhere, and it made me feel a lot better about everything and I even managed to make a couple of friends at school. It was a really nice place just to sort of hang out and chat about whatever came around. And there were some really cool and interesting people to talk to (Bluememaw, Garg, Searain, Kenn, Wally (Poepie at the time) and MAK, to name a few).And you ask how I became a mod? Well easy, I never asked to be one... but when the position was offered, I excitedly accepted! I had for a long time pointed out when anyone used inappropriate language and the basic (not nit-picky) things like that to the mods or admins, and I'd been here for a while and had a chance to sort of get to know the admins pretty well. And they dropped me in GD (the busiest board on the forum from the beginning and still is now!) and I caught up with what and how to do everything.
And now I am still a mod (by managing not to make the admins too mad... though I may have come close a couple of times... okay, very close.), and I have two forums of my own. They're doing fairly well, but not nearly as well as this one (much smaller!)... and I've even gotten to meet one person I met here, Kandy21! (This June I went to Vermont for her graduation) But it's not a pressure of having to meet these people, it's great to talk to them on the forums (and some on IM) and just unwind.
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Troyminator
- dino recovery team!
- Posts: 306
- Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2004 8:49 pm
*dips toe in water and prepares to take the plunge...*
I brought myself a computer.
That's how it started.
Unfortunately I made the error of getting one built for me and it turned out to be HUGELY bogus. A couple of days and THREE new hard drives later I'd said to heck with it (ok I said MUCH worse) and sent it back.
So I went out again andthis time I hit a reputable store.
And went home with lots of boxes and a new toy
It was a VERY nice one, with a scanner and a printer and a pile of new software (and a monitor that died on me shortly after I switched it on for the first time gah!).
It was great.
I could do all those neat things I always wanted to do including that internet thing.
Now, I looked at my software and put the disc with all the games on to one side.
I had tons of consoles, why would I ever want to play games on my expensive new PC?
What a dummy!
Eventully I caved and loaded up this free software disc, and found ZT for the first time.
I fell in love with the game from the get-go, and was soon scoutring the net for hints, tips and new content (as you do).
ZKL was one of the first sites I found and I like the stuff on offer and the people seemed really friendly, so I joined.
It was my first forum and I was scared to death the first time I made a post!
But it got better, and I made some friends.
I made some VERY good friends.
I also tried to make some stuff with APE and realised VERY quickly that I had NO talent in that department whatsoever.
When Garg and Mak bowed out as forum Admin I got my arm twisted by a couple of dear friends into helping run ZKL and get it back on it's feet (I STILL owe you big-time for that guys), so jwa and searain and I took over. That was when I learned to do rotation fixing, and I now sit here in the knowledge that there are people across the world with something I helped with sitting in their zoos (most cool ).
When Zookeeper decided to bow out I stayed on and I'm still here (duh!) helping out and causing trouble as I go.
ZKL got me started on forums, and I'm now a member of 18! I help run/ Admin on 6 of those and I finally have my own web-site too! Heck, I've been running a gaming forum (in various incarnations) with Twilight Star for years now, and searain has just joined us again over at TRes (the lunatics RUN that particular asylum!).
At the end of the day, this forum has a feeling of "family" about it and I am incredibly pleased that it was the first one I ever joined (and the one I measure others by) and I'm damn proud to have had a hand in shaping ZKL over the years.
I brought myself a computer.
That's how it started.
Unfortunately I made the error of getting one built for me and it turned out to be HUGELY bogus. A couple of days and THREE new hard drives later I'd said to heck with it (ok I said MUCH worse) and sent it back.
So I went out again andthis time I hit a reputable store.
And went home with lots of boxes and a new toy
It was a VERY nice one, with a scanner and a printer and a pile of new software (and a monitor that died on me shortly after I switched it on for the first time gah!).
It was great.
I could do all those neat things I always wanted to do including that internet thing.
Now, I looked at my software and put the disc with all the games on to one side.
I had tons of consoles, why would I ever want to play games on my expensive new PC?
What a dummy!
Eventully I caved and loaded up this free software disc, and found ZT for the first time.
I fell in love with the game from the get-go, and was soon scoutring the net for hints, tips and new content (as you do).
ZKL was one of the first sites I found and I like the stuff on offer and the people seemed really friendly, so I joined.
It was my first forum and I was scared to death the first time I made a post!
But it got better, and I made some friends.
I made some VERY good friends.
I also tried to make some stuff with APE and realised VERY quickly that I had NO talent in that department whatsoever.
When Garg and Mak bowed out as forum Admin I got my arm twisted by a couple of dear friends into helping run ZKL and get it back on it's feet (I STILL owe you big-time for that guys), so jwa and searain and I took over. That was when I learned to do rotation fixing, and I now sit here in the knowledge that there are people across the world with something I helped with sitting in their zoos (most cool
).When Zookeeper decided to bow out I stayed on and I'm still here (duh!) helping out and causing trouble as I go.
ZKL got me started on forums, and I'm now a member of 18! I help run/ Admin on 6 of those and I finally have my own web-site too! Heck, I've been running a gaming forum (in various incarnations) with Twilight Star for years now, and searain has just joined us again over at TRes (the lunatics RUN that particular asylum!).
At the end of the day, this forum has a feeling of "family" about it and I am incredibly pleased that it was the first one I ever joined (and the one I measure others by) and I'm damn proud to have had a hand in shaping ZKL over the years.
<span style='color:red'>Beware of the kipper!</span>
[img]http://www.lunamanar.com/signatures/troy/troysig.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.lunamanar.com/signatures/troy/troysig.jpg[/img]
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cosmichedgehog
- zoo docent
- Posts: 234
- Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2004 2:08 pm
- Location: Memphis, Tennessee, USA
hmmmmmm, lets see..... I had originally joined in January or February of 2002... I had found the site earlier, and because I was looking for help because my guests couldn't see the stupid bathrooms even if I blocked them in a square with 4 of them. ... But I only posted a couple of times, because I had joined at work (I was a little bored one day).. and all my information was on my pc there and one day the systems admin came along and "cleaned" everyone's system. 
I and couldn't remember my login name or anything like that, because I'm a little goofy sometimes. So around august I rejoined as Loren0808 (that was in the days before Cosmic assumed the role as dominate personality).
This was the first forum that i had ever joined. ANd after several months of snooping around, I had joined because I liked the community that existed here. There were alot of very nice people and it was a friendly place to be. I've met many people here who I consider friends and I'm very glad that I decided to join.
... But I only posted a couple of times, because I had joined at work (I was a little bored one day).. and all my information was on my pc there and one day the systems admin came along and "cleaned" everyone's system. 
I and couldn't remember my login name or anything like that, because I'm a little goofy sometimes. So around august I rejoined as Loren0808 (that was in the days before Cosmic assumed the role as dominate personality). This was the first forum that i had ever joined. ANd after several months of snooping around, I had joined because I liked the community that existed here. There were alot of very nice people and it was a friendly place to be. I've met many people here who I consider friends and I'm very glad that I decided to join.
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I Adopted Sundance's Horses! Click the banner for more info
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Raindragon
- zoo docent
- Posts: 298
- Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2004 5:15 pm
- Location: Who knows?
Hmm, how did I come to ZKL?
Well, after I first bought Zoo Tycoon I was very happy with it and played it for hours every day. I didn't actually even know about the user created objects and animals or even the official downloads until a friend mentioned that she got some of them. So, after that I decided to search the Net for some of these cool downloads (particularly the animals). I found a variety of sites - ZKL being one of them - and started to download user-created animals.
But, unlike other sites, I found myself drawn back to ZKL. It wasn't because of the downloads. I just enjoyed reading what others had posted and realised that the members seemed extremely friendly and helpful. At this time I was a member of no other forum as I'm a very shy person in real life and I didn't think I'd be much better online. I'd also seen other forums where people seemed to just argue and swear at each other - this was the first forum with kind, loving members I had ever seen. My friend did tell me about how fun forums can be though and I finally got round to joining after skulking in the shadows for so long.
I immediately found myself warming to the site, as soon as people replied to my introduction. I became more talkative online and I'm trying to be more like that in real life. Thanks everyone for being such good friends!
I definitely don't regret joining!
Well, after I first bought Zoo Tycoon I was very happy with it and played it for hours every day. I didn't actually even know about the user created objects and animals or even the official downloads until a friend mentioned that she got some of them. So, after that I decided to search the Net for some of these cool downloads (particularly the animals). I found a variety of sites - ZKL being one of them - and started to download user-created animals.
But, unlike other sites, I found myself drawn back to ZKL. It wasn't because of the downloads. I just enjoyed reading what others had posted and realised that the members seemed extremely friendly and helpful. At this time I was a member of no other forum as I'm a very shy person in real life and I didn't think I'd be much better online. I'd also seen other forums where people seemed to just argue and swear at each other - this was the first forum with kind, loving members I had ever seen. My friend did tell me about how fun forums can be though and I finally got round to joining after skulking in the shadows for so long.
I immediately found myself warming to the site, as soon as people replied to my introduction. I became more talkative online and I'm trying to be more like that in real life. Thanks everyone for being such good friends!
I definitely don't regret joining!
<b>~I won't turn away from pain anymore.~</b>
Here's an interesting little twist. When I first saw Zoo Tycoon at the store I looked at it and decided I didn't want it! 
I didn't think there was too much playability to it. I ended up buying another game that day which I rarely ever play.
A couple months later I was vacationing and visiting my cousins house. They had Zoo Tycoon and were playing it. This was right after Dino Digs came out so they had some dinos in their zoo. I was enthralled when I saw them playing it. SO when I got back from vacatoining the first thing I did was chew myself out for not getting the game the first time I saw it and then went out and bought the game and the expansion.
I then read on the box to visit Microsoft forbonus downloads and stuff. It was there I stumbled across the Zoo fan sites section and came here to ZKL. I got the downloads and then joined.
I didn't think there was too much playability to it. I ended up buying another game that day which I rarely ever play. A couple months later I was vacationing and visiting my cousins house. They had Zoo Tycoon and were playing it. This was right after Dino Digs came out so they had some dinos in their zoo. I was enthralled when I saw them playing it. SO when I got back from vacatoining the first thing I did was chew myself out for not getting the game the first time I saw it and then went out and bought the game and the expansion.
I then read on the box to visit Microsoft forbonus downloads and stuff. It was there I stumbled across the Zoo fan sites section and came here to ZKL. I got the downloads and then joined.
"Close your eyes,Let your spirit start to soar,And you'll live,As you never lived before" The Phantom of the Opera
"I'm not going out there without a bulletproof couch" -Sid Freedman; M*A*S*H*
"I'm not going out there without a bulletproof couch" -Sid Freedman; M*A*S*H*
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Twilight_Star
- warthog keeper
- Posts: 360
- Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2004 8:48 pm
Hmm... oiye where to start.
Actually I still don't own the game to my name.. However, wayyy back in the day years and years ago, in a galaxy far far away.. My mother bought it. She bought the original Zoo Tycoon. And would spend countless days playing it nonstop.
I was still working where I am now and I'd come home at 10:00 and play ZT as if you work a long enough shift you tend not to be tired when you get off so I used it to burn off some steam.. I then decided to go to work one day and look up information about it and to see if it allowed downloads. It led me to the Microsoft site, and the other game site links.
This was the first and only link I clicked on.. Dunno why I guess I didn't bother.
But I took a look around at the downloads, having been new to forums (yeah this was my first one actually) I actually was very very shy, I posted an intro and kinda spent days actually reading the posts and maybe one or two posts. This time was spent more on getting a feel for the members and their own personalities. As well as scooping up the downloads
. Eventually I just warmed up to the members and I began posting regularly.. Since then I've joined many forums, and started my own.. But the friends I have made here has pretty much carried with me.. And trust me they have to be good friends to put up with a spaz like me for almost two years every day 
Actually I still don't own the game to my name.. However, wayyy back in the day years and years ago, in a galaxy far far away.. My mother bought it. She bought the original Zoo Tycoon. And would spend countless days playing it nonstop.
I was still working where I am now and I'd come home at 10:00 and play ZT as if you work a long enough shift you tend not to be tired when you get off so I used it to burn off some steam.. I then decided to go to work one day and look up information about it and to see if it allowed downloads. It led me to the Microsoft site, and the other game site links.
This was the first and only link I clicked on.. Dunno why I guess I didn't bother.
But I took a look around at the downloads, having been new to forums (yeah this was my first one actually) I actually was very very shy, I posted an intro and kinda spent days actually reading the posts and maybe one or two posts. This time was spent more on getting a feel for the members and their own personalities. As well as scooping up the downloads
. Eventually I just warmed up to the members and I began posting regularly.. Since then I've joined many forums, and started my own.. But the friends I have made here has pretty much carried with me.. And trust me they have to be good friends to put up with a spaz like me for almost two years every day 
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KittyCatt
- zoo tour guide
- Posts: 136
- Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2004 7:30 pm
- Location: Massachusetts, US
- Contact:
Hmm... well... I don't exactly know HOW I first got to the Lounge... but AS WELL AS I REMEMBER... heres how it went.
I went to our local Wal-Mart here in Westfield Ma. and I always head straight for the electronics and the software. At the time, I didn't have my own PC like I do now, but my brother said that if I bought a game, I could use his PC. *huggles brother* I lurve my bro!! Anyway, I went over to to games, and I saw this brown paper shipping box full of a new game. The lady was putting the new shipment up on the shelf, so I waited for her to finish, and then i nonchalantly walked over to see what it was. It was a big, square box with a elephant on the front. It was called Zoo Tycoon. I looked at it and looked at it, carrying it around the store with me. (I have to do that to decide if I want something, I carry it around with me while I do my other shopping.) I found my brother in the hunting and fishing section and ran over with the game. He looked at it and he said that it was ok. SO I bought it that day. I don't remember what the date was, probably early 2002 sometime.
So I loaded it when we got home, and started playing. My brother and I loved it! We were building zoo's like crazy! Later that day, I went online to look for downloads and found a like to the "ZooKeepers Lounge" on the MS site. So thats how I found the site! But that was back when it was still green and yellow...
Then... something terrible happened...
My dog chewed the CD into a little pile of silver bits. We don't know why he liked to eat CD's but he did... *mumbles* Crazy dog...
So anyway, we went out to go buy the original game again, but we found the expansion pack. We looked at each other and grinned. Needless to say, we bought the exp. pack.
So, thats my story! My brother never found out about this site... I should probably tell him eh? Lol, he would love this place... hmm... I think I'll tell him today.
I went to our local Wal-Mart here in Westfield Ma. and I always head straight for the electronics and the software. At the time, I didn't have my own PC like I do now, but my brother said that if I bought a game, I could use his PC. *huggles brother*
I lurve my bro!! Anyway, I went over to to games, and I saw this brown paper shipping box full of a new game. The lady was putting the new shipment up on the shelf, so I waited for her to finish, and then i nonchalantly walked over to see what it was. It was a big, square box with a elephant on the front. It was called Zoo Tycoon. I looked at it and looked at it, carrying it around the store with me. (I have to do that to decide if I want something, I carry it around with me while I do my other shopping.) I found my brother in the hunting and fishing section and ran over with the game. He looked at it and he said that it was ok. SO I bought it that day. I don't remember what the date was, probably early 2002 sometime.So I loaded it when we got home, and started playing. My brother and I loved it! We were building zoo's like crazy! Later that day, I went online to look for downloads and found a like to the "ZooKeepers Lounge" on the MS site. So thats how I found the site! But that was back when it was still green and yellow...
Then... something terrible happened...
My dog chewed the CD into a little pile of silver bits. We don't know why he liked to eat CD's but he did... *mumbles* Crazy dog...
So anyway, we went out to go buy the original game again, but we found the expansion pack. We looked at each other and grinned. Needless to say, we bought the exp. pack.
So, thats my story! My brother never found out about this site... I should probably tell him eh? Lol, he would love this place... hmm... I think I'll tell him today.
~*~Furcadian For Life~*~
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->America? Pfft. Although I live in it, that doesn't mean I have to like it. <i>KittyCatt, 2004</i><!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='signature'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->America? Pfft. Although I live in it, that doesn't mean I have to like it. <i>KittyCatt, 2004</i><!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='signature'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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Wolfyu
- zoo docent
- Posts: 207
- Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2004 7:15 pm
- Location: Northwestern Missouri
- Contact:
Very interesting stories you all have here. 
I'll have to post mine now (please note that I was kind of immature since I was only eleven-ish when I bought the game).
ZT for me all started out when I was looking around in a Best Buy for nothing in particular and ran across the package. "Ommigosh, a ZOO tycoon! How kewll!" I thought, with my strange, eleven year old dialect. Later that day I walked out of the store with a new game in my arms.
After playing the wonderful game for many hours the next day, I decided to check out the fan base of the game and came along ZooTycoon.com. From there I found Zoo Admin, and I believe it was from Zoo Admin that I finally came across ZKLounge.
Now, back then I was one of those 'Japanese/Anime-obsessed preteens that really needed to learn to spell', and I also used those stupid Japanese words "Ja Ne" after every sentence. I look back at my past in shame.
Oh well. I can't change the past, I suppose. But as ZKLounge has grown as a site, I have grown as a person, and I want to thank all of my fellow ZKL members for being members of the kindest internet community I've ever known.
I'll have to post mine now (please note that I was kind of immature since I was only eleven-ish when I bought the game).ZT for me all started out when I was looking around in a Best Buy for nothing in particular and ran across the package. "Ommigosh, a ZOO tycoon! How kewll!" I thought, with my strange, eleven year old dialect. Later that day I walked out of the store with a new game in my arms.
After playing the wonderful game for many hours the next day, I decided to check out the fan base of the game and came along ZooTycoon.com. From there I found Zoo Admin, and I believe it was from Zoo Admin that I finally came across ZKLounge.
Now, back then I was one of those 'Japanese/Anime-obsessed preteens that really needed to learn to spell', and I also used those stupid Japanese words "Ja Ne" after every sentence. I look back at my past in shame.
Oh well. I can't change the past, I suppose. But as ZKLounge has grown as a site, I have grown as a person, and I want to thank all of my fellow ZKL members for being members of the kindest internet community I've ever known. I have no signature.
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gbay999
- bunny rabbit keeper
- Posts: 329
- Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2004 8:12 pm
- Location: Louisiana; and no, I don't live in a swamp (but we do need to do something about those gators th
ahh the recounting of the tale of how I became a lounger.
Much like Kielo's story mine started one day at either Wal-Mart or Target just going through the electroics section as I always do when my mom is off getting what she needs. Just browsing through the computer games I came across a game by the name of zoo tycoon. After a thorough inspection of the box, I decided that I was going home with a new game that day. The game became an instant hit with me; throughout the school day I would sit in class daydreaming about what kinds of exibits I could create once I got home. Needless to say, I was hooked.
One day as my friend had spent the night at my house I was showing him this astounding game I had discovered. We decided to check out the go to website button on the autorun setup. On the official website I discovered that they had downloads for this awesome game which looked as if it made the game even more interesting. As I continued to browse the site, I noticed the fansites section and decided to see what other addicts had to offer. This was the moment that I discovered the world of user-created downloads. One site stood above the rest and that one site went by the name of the zookeepers lounge. The downloads offered here seemed to be of exceptional value especially those created by a designer named Devona. I hadn't even noticed the forums section. I was a big downloader for a while, but new items were not put out as fast as I downloaded. After some time, I was back into playing the game.
One day I ventured back onto the official website and scanned the fansites list and guess what site I saw there; you guessed it. As I went to the site, the whole thing was done over. The front was a huge forum and you couldn't get access unless you were a member. Simple problem; simple solution. I joined the site, and, boy, am I glad I did.
To this day this is the site I visit the most often. When I get online (unless I have some, other thing I need to do)the first thing I do is go to my favorites list and make a beeline to the lounge. Even though I do not play the game very often anymore, the lounge is still my favorite online spot.
The lounge would not be nearly what it is without all of you, thank you for providing such a great site I really enjoy hanging out with all of you.
Much like Kielo's story mine started one day at either Wal-Mart or Target just going through the electroics section as I always do when my mom is off getting what she needs. Just browsing through the computer games I came across a game by the name of zoo tycoon. After a thorough inspection of the box, I decided that I was going home with a new game that day. The game became an instant hit with me; throughout the school day I would sit in class daydreaming about what kinds of exibits I could create once I got home. Needless to say, I was hooked.
One day as my friend had spent the night at my house I was showing him this astounding game I had discovered. We decided to check out the go to website button on the autorun setup. On the official website I discovered that they had downloads for this awesome game which looked as if it made the game even more interesting. As I continued to browse the site, I noticed the fansites section and decided to see what other addicts had to offer. This was the moment that I discovered the world of user-created downloads. One site stood above the rest and that one site went by the name of the zookeepers lounge. The downloads offered here seemed to be of exceptional value especially those created by a designer named Devona. I hadn't even noticed the forums section. I was a big downloader for a while, but new items were not put out as fast as I downloaded. After some time, I was back into playing the game.
One day I ventured back onto the official website and scanned the fansites list and guess what site I saw there; you guessed it. As I went to the site, the whole thing was done over. The front was a huge forum and you couldn't get access unless you were a member. Simple problem; simple solution. I joined the site, and, boy, am I glad I did.
To this day this is the site I visit the most often. When I get online (unless I have some, other thing I need to do)the first thing I do is go to my favorites list and make a beeline to the lounge. Even though I do not play the game very often anymore, the lounge is still my favorite online spot.
The lounge would not be nearly what it is without all of you, thank you for providing such a great site I really enjoy hanging out with all of you.
If I have hurt or offended any of you I am truly sorry...
to the rest of you please forgive me in advance
to the rest of you please forgive me in advance
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Capt.Rutlinger
- dromedary keeper
- Posts: 1241
- Joined: Fri Jan 30, 2004 1:48 pm
- Location: Bruges, Belgium
well my story isn't that interesting as some of yours but I'll post it anyway
I think the first time (end of 2001) I've heard of Zoo Tycoon was when I was reading a games magazine of a friend. I think it was a revieuw. I was interested but not excited about the game. Months later (when I got internet) I went to the games site of my internet provider, I went through all the demos when I suddenly saw the ZT demo, I remembered the game so I decided to download it. I LIKED it!
But it was only until december 2002 that I bought the game together with marine mania. A few months later I bought Dino Digs.
On a sunny evening may or june 2003 I sat before my computer and did not know what to do, so I opened internet explorer and went to www.google.be, typed in Zoo Tycoon ( don't know why ) and saw hundreds of results appear. I went to the first one: the official site, read it and saw a link to zookeepers lounge.
I read some topics and decided to join my first forum. It was not a zoo tycoon related post that kept me here but a game posted in GD: a game where you had to solve mysteries. I think I fell in love with zkl because in the beginning I was like for 7 hours in a row online replying to almost every topic. I made some friends in some strange ways the first one: Buck, I send him a pm ( dont laugh) asking him what time it was where he lived. Then came other: Animalmaker, dinwrest, Anjan and someone I still have contact with Vash but his name here was vash^^v or something like that. But like al love it cools down a bit so now I'm just a regular member.
sadly I've seen so many senior members leave before I've even got the change to have known them: Rainbow Cheesecake the Winged Leprechaun, mak, ballaw,...
also all my friends I've made at the beginning either left, are non-active or were banned.
but this is still a great forum!
I think the first time (end of 2001) I've heard of Zoo Tycoon was when I was reading a games magazine of a friend. I think it was a revieuw. I was interested but not excited about the game. Months later (when I got internet) I went to the games site of my internet provider, I went through all the demos when I suddenly saw the ZT demo, I remembered the game so I decided to download it. I LIKED it!
But it was only until december 2002 that I bought the game together with marine mania. A few months later I bought Dino Digs.
On a sunny evening may or june 2003 I sat before my computer and did not know what to do, so I opened internet explorer and went to www.google.be, typed in Zoo Tycoon ( don't know why ) and saw hundreds of results appear. I went to the first one: the official site, read it and saw a link to zookeepers lounge.
I read some topics and decided to join my first forum. It was not a zoo tycoon related post that kept me here but a game posted in GD: a game where you had to solve mysteries. I think I fell in love with zkl because in the beginning I was like for 7 hours in a row online replying to almost every topic. I made some friends in some strange ways the first one: Buck, I send him a pm ( dont laugh) asking him what time it was where he lived. Then came other: Animalmaker, dinwrest, Anjan and someone I still have contact with Vash but his name here was vash^^v or something like that. But like al love it cools down a bit so now I'm just a regular member.
sadly I've seen so many senior members leave before I've even got the change to have known them: Rainbow Cheesecake the Winged Leprechaun, mak, ballaw,...
also all my friends I've made at the beginning either left, are non-active or were banned.
but this is still a great forum!
A fact is a simple statement that everyone believes. It is innocent, unless found guilty. A hypothesis is a novel suggestion that no one wants to believe. It is guilty, until found effective.
Edward Teller (1908 - 2003)
Ah, the good old days when I discovered ZKL. The boy gave me the first ZT for my birthday a few years ago. My youngest son had played the game for a while s he came over to show me what to do. ZT was the first computer game I'd ever played. He told me M$ had more information about the game. You all know how I like to do research, so I did. I clicked on every link there was. Two stood out...Zookeeper's Lounge and Wisco's site.
I was a tad leery of joining a forum having watched the boy on chat rooms and disapproving. I read posts on other sites but they seemed too technical for me. I still don't speak the language. I read every post I could on ZKL before deciding to join. The people here were warm and friendly and very helpful and I could understand what was being said in the help sections.
The downloads are incredible. Sundance knows how I love flowers and trees. I was even a tester for about a year. That was fun. Getting to see the new things before anyone else.
I have made many friends while being an active member. I've had hours of fun trying this thing and that in the game on the suggestion of a ZKL friend. I've corrected problems with your advice. I helped win a contest!
Most of you know I am a "mature" member of the lounge. During all my years there hasn't been any part of my life where I have found the friendship and caring that I found on ZKL.
Thank you for allowing me to have a part in this.
I was a tad leery of joining a forum having watched the boy on chat rooms and disapproving. I read posts on other sites but they seemed too technical for me. I still don't speak the language. I read every post I could on ZKL before deciding to join. The people here were warm and friendly and very helpful and I could understand what was being said in the help sections.
The downloads are incredible. Sundance knows how I love flowers and trees. I was even a tester for about a year. That was fun. Getting to see the new things before anyone else.
I have made many friends while being an active member. I've had hours of fun trying this thing and that in the game on the suggestion of a ZKL friend. I've corrected problems with your advice. I helped win a contest!
Most of you know I am a "mature" member of the lounge. During all my years there hasn't been any part of my life where I have found the friendship and caring that I found on ZKL.
Thank you for allowing me to have a part in this.
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cosmichedgehog
- zoo docent
- Posts: 234
- Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2004 2:08 pm
- Location: Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Actually, Blue is one of the reason that I decided to join the Lounge. I figured any place that a member that was so nice, and helpful, and genuinely caring, that it had to be okay.
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