Switch
Zoo was dreamed up and created by artist Penny Kurtz and animator/musician
Guy Spataford, together known as Tubehead.
We live and work in Albany, New York, US. We both love to create interactive
multimedia and we also share a fondness for animals and an interest
in weird stuff (Fortean subjects such as cryptozoology and unexpected
things falling from the sky).
The idea of creating a zoo where visitors can make their own new animals just came to us one day, when we were contemplating fun things you could do with interactive multimedia. We started by making a small, nine-animal version of the zoo and publishing it online in 1999 (following a few rough early attempts).
We soon began receiving lots of email from players who loved the zoo but wanted more animals. We also heard from school children and teachers who enjoyed using Switch Zoo for language arts, science and art projects. Their enthusiasm and suggestions spurred us on to add more animals, and include animal facts and new capabilities like being able to name your animal and write a story.
While maintaining the online zoo, we took what we had learned and began developing the Switch Zoo app. This version of Switch Zoo was designed to be played offline, which enabled us to use much larger pictures and animations, and include new features like the Randomizer and My Switcheroos.
These days, we are busy expanding Switch Zoo Online to include more games and activities, animal videos, and information about animals including profiles of all the animals in Switch Zoo and a map of endangered species. We always enjoy hearing from visitors, so feel free to drop us a line!
Thanks for visiting Switch Zoo. We hope you have a great time here!
Contact info:
Tubehead Inc.
27 Oxford Place
Albany, New York 12203
US
518-227-0629