AOE III, Zoo Tycoon 2 expanding

At the recent D.I.C.E. Summit in Las Vegas, Microsoft interactive division corporate vice president Peter Moore apologized to PC gamers and promised that the software giant had not abandoned them in favor of the Xbox 360. Microsoft Game Studios today backed that claim up with the announcement of four new expansions for its PC strategy games.

This fall, Age of Empires III will see its first expansion pack, and while it doesn't have a name yet, Microsoft and Ensemble Studios have offered a few details about it. The big addition looks to be the new playable Native American civilizations. The expansion will also include new content for the existing European civilizations, new maps and units, and a new single-player campaign.

Zoo Tycoon 2 fans may already have access to lions and tigers and bears, but soon their virtual menageries will be able to accommodate more exotic fare. Microsoft Game Studios will release the Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure expansion pack in May, with 20 new African animals including the meerkat and Ethiopian wolf, as well as dozens of new buildings, objects, and gift items. African Adventure will be followed later in the year by another retail expansion pack, Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania, and the downloadable Zoo Tycoon 2: Dino Danger Pack. They will feature aquatic and prehistoric fauna, respectively.

Pricing on the expansion packs has not been announced yet, but all three Zoo Tycoon 2 expansions will also be rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older.