tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21161159.post-1163464970459161552006-11-13T18:37:00.000-06:002006-11-13T18:42:50.463-06:00Minnesota Zoo Computer Program Allows Users To Live (And Maybe Die) In The Wild<br /><br />Mary Tan- WCCO-TV<br /><br /><br />(WCCO) Apple Valley, Minn. The Minnesota Zoo is developing a video game that simulates being in a pack of wolves in the middle of Yellowstone National Park. The computer-animated simulation, called Wolfquest, is designed to put players in real-life situations in the middle of the wild where the wrong decision may make all the difference between life and death.<br /><br />"We want our players to gain an empathy for wolves -- what it is to be a wolf, [to] gain an emotional connection, to be with them," said Grant Spickelmier, a naturalist at the Minnesota Zoo.<br /><br />The object of the game is fairly straightforward: find food, care for your offspring, avoid predators and otherwise stay alive.<br /><br />The backdrop of Yellowstone was chosen for its scenic and natural beauty.<br /><br />The game is designed as an educational tool for children -- boys and girls -- from 9 to 13.<br /><br />"We want to make a game that's attractive enough that they would pick it up on their own," said Spickelmier, adding, "they get hooked and, hey, maybe they'll learn something about wolves."<br /><br />The game is expected to be finished and beta-tested by December 2007.<br /><br />The goal is to put Wolfquest on the zoo's Web site and free for anyone to use.<br /><br />Local zoo educators are also working with the Phoenix Zoo, the National Zoo in Washington D.C., and the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minn.<br /><br /><li><a href="http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_316142529.html">WCCO-TV</a></li><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/21161159-116346497045916155?l=wolfsaga.blogspot.com'/></div>wolf sagahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08438677788684162110noreply@blogger.com2