Spring dlc Speculation 2023

[jcp011c]

As I’ve said before I think Oceania being overrepresented in an Islands Pack is fine given it’s literally a region defined by islands, but I agree that expecting more than 2 species may be a bit unrealistic. Devil and kiwi would be my two choice picks, with the tree kangaroo hopefully coming later in some sort of rainforest/tropical/arboreal pack.

Good point about the more popular Oceanian wants are not on Australia’s mainland or even not even in Australia at all in most cases. I’d like a grey kangaroo and numbut but am also not going to be disappointed without the them.

An island pack works really well you’re right. Tasmanian Devil for the sole Australian representative and that’s pretty much covered most wants

Pointing out this doesn’t include flying bird though

 

[AlexSea]

I'd say we might get an aviary pack, but I feel like I'd be setting myself up for disappointment. And out of curiosity, how would you all feel about a shift to just animal packs? We have roughly 2,700 building pieces right now, do we really need any more? Having a year's worth of animal packs would really grow the roster. That would mean that we'd get 28 total habitat animals in the span of a year, and a lot more fan favorite animals would be added.

 

[Marvinb]

I'd say we might get an aviary pack, but I feel like I'd be setting myself up for disappointment. And out of curiosity, how would you all feel about a shift to just animal packs? We have roughly 2,700 building pieces right now, do we really need any more? Having a year's worth of animal packs would really grow the roster. That would mean that we'd get 28 total habitat animals in the span of a year, and a lot more fan favorite animals would be added.

I think im personaly fine with the amount of actual building pieces we have. What i would like to see would be more along the lines of the Conservations Backstage stuff, just more geared towards gift shop and so on. Also some general props would be cool, like cars, something to make the Zoo feel lived in

 

[NZFanatic]

do we really need any more?

Yes, but they needn't come in a DLC.

I'm still waiting for two full sets in particular: mesh, and horizontal clapboard (flexicolour).

 

[peafowl]

Uhhh.. Islands pack would be interesting. Lots of unique wildlife. Fossa could be a solid flagship.

 

[paul78]

I believe in the spring dlc we get our first flying bird. I don’t think it’s a dedicated bird pack but with birds and spring going together I’d say it makes sense. This is just a prediction so take it with a grain of salt but that’s my guess.

 

[SuzieSky]

They keep teasing me with Latin American animals as headliners. I'm hoping for a proper Latin American animal pack with a howler monkey, ocelot, coati, sloth, tamarins, macaws, toucans, and a hoatzin.

 

[NZFanatic]

They keep teasing me with Latin American animals as headliners. I'm hoping for a proper Latin American animal pack with a howler monkey, ocelot, coati, sloth, tamarins, macaws, toucans, and a hoatzin.

I don't see them returning to 'regions' as a theme, being honest. That ship has sailed.

 

[NZFanatic]

Looking at the new butterflies, I feel like hummingbirds would perfectly fit that same model (five species in a mixed walkthrough exhibit). That's something I'd love to see.

 

[biggest_dreamer]

And out of curiosity, how would you all feel about a shift to just animal packs?

I've been hoping this would happen ever since the Southeast Asia Animal Pack was announced, and I'll never stop.

 

[Aramar]

I have no idea what's next. I'm going to expect a scenery pack to avoid being disappointed, but I wish it is an animal pack.

An island pack with Tasmanian devil, fossa, tree kangaroo, kiwi and chameleon and some Polynesian building set sounds quite likely. However, I think an island pack fits better in summer than in spring.

I must be alone on this, but I want the next pack to include a "normal" exhibit again. Bats and butterflies are awesome, but I still want chameleon, cobra, tortoises and lizards.

 

[SpookDoc]

Below I have laid out common/popular DLC themes and their likelihoods now that we know the content of PZ’s 2022 Winter DLC. The listed themes are not a reflection of what I personally want, but instead simply ones that are commonly suggested/requested by community members. Additionally, their ranking of likelihood is based strictly upon the number of popular/highly-requested species that could fit within said theme.

Themes that aren’t happening:

• Middle East Pack
• Oceania Pack / Australia Animal Pack
• Pampas / Cerrado Pack
• Nocturnal Pack

Themes that now seem pretty unlikely:

• Savannah Pack
• Prairie Pack
• Scrubland Pack
• Drylands Pack
• Wild West / American Southwest Pack

Themes that seem slightly unlikely:

• Desert Pack

Those aside, there are still a ton of others that could be on the table for Spring 2023, and if we’re lucky, support beyond. It’s clear now that Frontier doesn’t feel tied to any “seasonal” theming.

Themes that seem likely:

• Islands Pack
• Rainforest / Tropical Pack
• Mountain / Highlands / Alpine Pack
• Petting Zoo Pack
• Coastal Pack

Themes that could bring together many popular species, but may be too “specific” in theme:

• Garden / Urban Pack
• Arboreal Pack
• Temperate / Woodlands Pack
• Taiga / Tundra Pack
• Mediterranean Pack
• Madagascar Pack
• Himalayas Pack
• Caribbean Pack
• Amazon Pack
• Central / Latin America Pack

Themes that would bring together many popular species, but require new mechanics (new mechanics lessen their likelihood):

• Aquarium / Freshwaters / Ocean Pack
• Aviary / Avian Pack
• Recently Extinct Pack

It’s entirely uncertain what to expect from Frontier for this Spring’s DLC (and if we even get one). Additionally, we’ve likely got quite the wait ahead of us. If memory serves right all PZ’s Spring DLC comes out within a tight window of one-to-two weeks before Easter. Easter 2023 falls on April 9th, over 4 months from the Grassland Pack’s December 13th release.

Though it’s difficult to say what will be next for PZ, I do think there are a handful of species that are givens if support does last through 2023. The Tasmanian Devil, Crested Porcupine, and Two-Toed Sloth feel almost certain to make an appearance in DLC if Frontier remains focused strictly on terrestrial species. Beyond these three species though it’s hard to tell with any sense of certainty. All this said, DLC with themes that allow for any or all of these mentioned species seem the most probable for what’s to come next.

 

[NZFanatic]

Recently Extinct Pack

I don't think this would require any new mechanics. Any animals included would just be regular habitat and exhibit animals, presumably.

 

[Cynogale bennettii II]

If we got an Islands Pack, which I quite like the idea of, I would probably go for much the same species list as everyone else seems to have chosen - the Tasmanian devil, North Island brown kiwi, fossa and one of the tree kangaroos.

If we had to get a single bird for the walkthrough exhibit in this pack, I would choose the Montserrat oriole, from the Caribbean island of the same name. They are able to be kept in walkthrough aviaries, are kept in sixteen European zoos, have a lovely-sounding song, they have their beautiful orange-and-black plumage (in males, the females are bright yellow) and they are a great conservation success story - until 2015 they were listed as Critically Endangered but now, because of genuine population increases, they are considered Vulnerable. It is still important to have a backup population in captivity though, as their entire wild range is at risk of hurricanes and also sits on top of an active volcano.

There are a couple of recordings of the song in this link:

Montserrat Oriole (Icterus oberi) :: xeno-canto

xeno-canto.org

 

[peafowl]

If we got an Islands Pack, which I quite like the idea of, I would probably go for much the same species list as everyone else seems to have chosen - the Tasmanian devil, North Island brown kiwi, fossa and one of the tree kangaroos.

If we had to get a single bird for the walkthrough exhibit in this pack, I would choose the Montserrat oriole, from the Caribbean island of the same name. They are able to be kept in walkthrough aviaries, are kept in sixteen European zoos, have a lovely-sounding song, they have their beautiful orange-and-black plumage (in males, the females are bright yellow) and they are a great conservation success story - until 2015 they were listed as Critically Endangered but now, because of genuine population increases, they are considered Vulnerable. It is still important to have a backup population in captivity though, as their entire wild range is at risk of hurricanes and also sits on top of an active volcano.

View attachment 335515

There are a couple of recordings of the song in this link:

Montserrat Oriole (Icterus oberi) :: xeno-canto

xeno-canto.org

I would love to see bird of paradise species for walk in

 

[Cynogale bennettii II]

I would love to see bird of paradise species for walk in

That's a good idea. It would perhaps be sensible to make a few more birds that could be based off a bird-of-paradise (the female specifically, without the long tail streamers).

From that more basic shape could be made the male bird-of-paradise (I would probably choose the lesser bird-of-paradise - one of the most commonly-kept species in captivity worldwide and by no means 'lesser' in terms of appearance than any other), the Montserrat oriole (simply make the female bird-of-paradise model smaller, recolour it for both sexes and give it a different call) and the Javan green magpie (a very pretty, Critically Endangered bird now being increasingly kept and bred in European zoos).

And voila! Three beautiful smaller birds, all island endemics, and all is well in the world.

 

[peafowl]

That's a good idea. It would perhaps be sensible to make a few more birds that could be based off a bird-of-paradise (the female specifically, without the long tail streamers).

View attachment 335523

From that more basic shape could be made the male bird-of-paradise (I would probably choose the lesser bird-of-paradise - one of the most commonly-kept species in captivity worldwide and by no means 'lesser' in terms of appearance than any other), the Montserrat oriole (simply make the female bird-of-paradise model smaller, recolour it for both sexes and give it a different call) and the Javan green magpie (a very pretty, Critically Endangered bird now being increasingly kept and bred in European zoos).

View attachment 335525View attachment 335526

And voila! Three beautiful smaller birds, all island endemics, and all is well in the world.

View attachment 335524

THANK YOU FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATION

 

[Iben]

Additionally, we’ve likely got quite the wait ahead of us. If memory serves right all PZ’s Spring DLC comes out within a tight window of one-to-two weeks before Easter. Easter 2023 falls on April 9th, over 4 months from the Grassland Pack’s December 13th release.

All Spring Planet DLCs (including Planet Coaster) are released in the week of Easter. So by that metric the week of the 20th of March should be the week we get news in. If we don't... well then we know something else about the state of the game

 

[NZFanatic]

Do any zoos actually keep birds-of-paradise?

 

[Captain Callum]

Do any zoos actually keep birds-of-paradise?

San Diego zoo does - Raggiana bird of paradise along with magnificent and superb