A couple of Press Releases came in today, both of them from Legacy Interactive announcing the release of Zoo Vet: Endangered Animals and Pet Pals: Animal Doctor for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii respectively.

Zoo Vet: Endangered Animals:

LEGACY INTERACTIVE LAUNCHES ITS FIRST NINTENDO DS TITLE WITH ZOO VET: ENDANGERED ANIMALS
A Percentage From The Sale of Each Game Is Donated To The African Wildlife Foundation

LOS ANGELES, CA (November 4, 2008) ­ Legacy Interactive announced today the launch of their first game on Nintendo DS, Zoo Vet: Endangered Animals, a breakthrough title for animal lovers and aspiring vets that will provide both children and adults with compelling educational experiences that emphasize learning through activity. In this new simulation game set in an urban zoo, players will quickly find out that being a zoo vet is an adventurous and exciting job as they do things like watch a baby flamingo take her first steps, amputate an orangutan¹s finger and they even get to stick their heads in a hippo¹s mouth!  A portion of the game’s proceeds will be donated to the African Wildlife Foundation that provided fascinating conservation information used in the game.

In the game players assume the role of a newly employed veterinarian caring for a diverse group of animals, like gorillas, elephants, penguins, polar bears, komodo dragons and more. They will get to move around the zoo performing check-ups to treat the animals–some require treatment in their habitats, while others are transferred to the animal hospital for further care.

The game includes 30 newly written medical cases contributed by veterinarians practicing throughout the world, with two levels of difficulty. As players succeed in caring for the animals, the cases become increasingly difficult and they unlock more of the sophisticated medical tools players¹ need to progress through the levels to achieve the highest vet ranking. The game takes full advantage of the Nintendo DS capabilities allowing players to make precise incisions with the stylus during critical surgeries and also taking advantage of the dual screen capabilities, which allow users to see animal stats while they continue with their procedures.

Zoo Vet: Endangered Animals also includes six different mini-games, played on the office computer, where players interact with the animals in their natural habitats. For example, in one game you can use the microphone to blow on the animal¹s fur to check and remove their fleas, in another you can use the stylus to brush and clean the animal¹s teeth, and in another you use it to fling fish into a penguin¹s mouth.  There are also jigsaw puzzles, trivia and memory games.

“We are proud to add Zoo Vet: Endangered Animals to our library of Zoo Vet titles and to be donating a portion of the sales from each game to the African Wildlife Foundation which is a worthy cause. This title is perfect for Nintendo DS and we are pleased that we chose this title as our first on the platform,” stated Ariella Lehrer, President and CEO, Legacy Interactive. “Zoo Vet: Endangered Animals is easy to learn and fun for both casual gamers and animal lovers, an ideal game for the entire family.”

Zoo Vet: Endangered Animals has an MSRP of $29.99 is rated E 10+ and is available at retailers nationwide.  For more information on the game, visit legacygames.com.

About the African Wildlife Foundation
Founded in 1961, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is the leading conservation organization focused solely on the African continent.  AWF’s programs and conservation strategies are based on sound science and designed to protect both the wild lands and wildlife of Africa and ensure a more sustainable future for Africa’s people. Since its inception AWF has protected endangered species and land, promoted partnerships with the private sector for ecotourism to benefit local African communities as a means to improve livelihoods, and trained hundreds of African nationals in conservation – all to ensure the survival of Africa’s unparalleled wild life heritage. AWF is a non-profit organization headquartered in Kenya with offices in South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Washington, DC, and Zambia and is a registered 501(3) in the United States. Visit www.awf.org to learn more about the work of the African Wildlife Foundation.

About Legacy Interactive
Legacy Interactive (www.legacyinteractive.com) is a leading developer and publisher of casual games. Entertaining customers since 1998, the company has built a reputation for creating intelligent, realistic and engaging games for a broad audience.  Located in Los Angeles, Legacy is known for its TV-branded games, such as Law & Order and The Apprentice, as well as for its realistic simulation games Emergency Room®, Pet Pals, and Zoo Vet. Through Legacy’s popular game network at www.legacygames.com, customers can play more than 500 games plus read and write reviews, share play lists, and create their own gaming profiles.  Legacy games are also available at retailers nationwide on a variety of platforms including PC, Mac, handheld, and console. The company¹s games are distributed worldwide, in more than 12 languages, through its partners Ubisoft, Mindscape, 505 Games, and JoWood.

Pet Pals: Animal Doctor

LEGACY INTERACTIVE¹S PET PALS: ANIMAL DOCTOR¹ FOR Wii SHIPS TO RETAIL TODAY
Holding the Wii Remote and Nunchuk Lets Players Operate Like a Real Vet

LOS ANGELES, CA (November 4, 2008) ­ Casual games developer and distributor Legacy Interactive today announced that their award-winning vet simulation game, Pet Pals: Animal Doctor, is now available for Wii.

Pet Pals: Animal Doctor gives animal lovers and aspiring animal doctors the chance to assume the role of a veterinarian.  The simulation videogame is comprised of 30 true-to-life medical cases where players treat multiple animal patients brought in for minor problems like sunburn, cuts and infections to more serious ailments like diabetes, tumors and snakebites.

Players heal over 30 animals, including a Saint Bernard, a Shetland pony, rabbits, turtles, hamsters, clown fish, and many more familiar and exotic breeds.  The healing is done using an assortment of realistic medical tools that, for the first time, are available via the Wii Remote, making it seem as if players are performing actual surgeries when they are holding the controller and Nunchuk in their hands.

The situations that the players encounter are incredibly interesting yet very realistic.  For example serious conditions such as, a cat having a seizure or a German Sheppard with a bone tumor; and more out of the ordinary cases like a bullfrog with a sunburn.  First, the players will listen to a short introduction from the owner about the animals¹ problem and then they choose which three questions are the more relevant to ask out of five possible questions. The players then have to decide a plan of action and pick the correct tools in order, out of more than 50, to best cure their animal patient.

Gamers also get to care for pets in recovery where they are responsible for the animals¹ health, grooming and food. In this area they can also play with the pets and provide some much needed TLC.

The game offers three different levels of play along with mini games, including puzzles and matching games, as well as a variety of interesting animal trivia.  As the game progresses, players are rewarded with job promotions, awards, and new game features as it gives the player the feeling of actually being a vet in a practice.

“Pet Pals: Animal Doctor is great for pet-lovers, not only do they get to treat animals, but the players also learn helpful facts about pet diseases,” Ariella Lehrer, President and CEO, Legacy Interactive.  “This is our first foree onto this platform and players will get a game that is not only fun to play, but that also takes full advantage of Wii¹s unique capabilities.”

Available at retailers nationwide, Pet Pals: Animal Doctor is rated E 10+ and has an MSRP of $29.99.  For more information visit legacygames.com.