Zoo Keeper Shrine

c1983 Taito Corporation
CPU: M6809 (x2)
Sound: M6802, DAC
Res: 256 x 240
Emulation: M.A.M.E. 0.30 (01/98)
From History.dat:
Designed by
John Morgan and
Keith Egging

Programmed by
John Morgan

Music by Tom Fosha

Originally called King Crab,
Zookeeper was one of the few
American- designed games that
Taito released (with Space
Dungeon and Qix being two
others.

While Zoo Keeper was graphically unimpressive to many and had what one magazine article quotes as "annoying sounds," it was its game-play that set it apart from all others. Those who played Zoo Keeper became addicts. The premise was that you got more points for the more animals you jumped. This glued many a die-hard gamer to this game, trying to get that elusive million point jump (I've seen it only once, when all the planets in the Solar System were perfectly aligned! ->>ALAN M. reported that he once had a 2.5 million point jump!!! John I. reported a 4 million jump!!!!) And, with each different type of animal running at different speeds and directions, this game can be one of the most chaotic and nerve jerking games around.

Zoo Keeper stars our main man, Zeke (pictured above), who also shows up in the subsequent games Tin Star (1983, Taito) and the vertical mechanical challenge game, Zeke's Peak (1983, Taito).

John Morgan autograph from Classic Gaming Expo '99 in Las Vegas.

Zoo Keeper Cabinet
One version of the cabinet.


TITLE SCREEN	DEMO1	DEMO2

INTRO	EASY LEVEL	COCONUT LEVEL 1

MID LEVEL	COCONUT LEVEL 2	BONUS STAGE

	HI SCORE SCREEN

ZOO KEEPER SCOOPERS
Charlie M. [camilty@netzero.net] Keith G. [kgalocy@bayarea.net] Brian D. [beavis@pathwaynet.com] Larry S. [metallik@iglou.com] Robbie R. [bronxx@rocketmail.com] James T. [jtwine@bettynet.com] Chris H. [chris431@execpc.com] Jim H. [cracked@onslowonline.net] Shaun H. [shaun.halladay@city411.com] Tim B. [ue451@freenet.victoria.bc.ca] Gregg N. [zephyr@voicenet.com] Mark W. [m.wied@ix.netcom.com] Brian M. [brianm@kuci.org] Steven Z. [szeunet@cyberenet.net] John F. [sonofjenga@juno.com] Jeff M. [mcsinc@dasia.net] Sean A. [sc633296@oak.cats.ohiou.edu] Alan M. [aemonroe@prodigy.net]	Dan A. [danamrich@aol.com] Shane M. [no-sleep@televar.com] Fred [ochs@yakko.cs.wmich.edu] Kurt P. [kurtp@humongous.com] James H. [c665848@showme.missouri.edu] John I. [imby@dplus.net] Tom H. [ba01162@binghamton.edu] Ryan S. [rscott@netcreations.com] Matt J. [mattski7@aol.com] Brian H. [bhearn@freed.org] Steve H. [tini_hart@hotmail.com] weatherhead@netzero.net Brian [bibbs@mctcnet.net] (4 million point jumper) Dave D. [DDRUM@carolina.rr.com] (14 million high score) Scott [vwall@family.net] Mike M. [MMcDermott@ChannelOne.com]

	At left is an excerpt from Atari Age Magazine (March/April 1984, V2, #5). It lists Zoo Keeper as being planned for the Atari 2600. In a later issue, box artwork is shown for both the 2600 and 5200. So does a version of Zoo Keeper exist for these consoles? I hope so!
	HI SCORES
	According to Twin Galaxies, the record for Zoo Keeper is held by Jack Gale with a score of 20,063,920 (June 28, 1985). The high score for M.A.M.E. is 2,420,170 as listed at Mame Replay.
	DOWNLOADS
	Partial Manual (zoofax.zip, 726Kb) - requires a fax viewer. Sampled Sounds (748Kb) Copies of the complete manual are available for a small copy fee.



SHRINE

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