I'm sure many of us have nostalgia for the Zoo Tycoon games. Even though I was born after Zoo Tycoon 1 released, I grew up with it and had a fantastic time playing around in the Kid's Zoo and making dinosaurs eat people, and I know even more people are fond of the more robust building of Zoo Tycoon 2. In addition to all this nostalgia, both Zoo Tycoons both had fairly solid animal rosters. By now they've both been eclipsed by Planet Zoo, but there are still a few species that were featured in those games that haven't made the jump over to Planet Zoo yet. I want to get a sense of sentiment among the community- how many of these animals do you consider "essential?" How close should we be aiming for full completion of the eligible Planet Zoo roster?
Excluding any dinosaurs, mythical creatures, or fully marine fish/cetaceans, as well as the separate black panther and white tiger, here's a breakdown of what's still missing:
American Bighorn Sheep (ZT1): I think this would be a decent addition- we don't have a ton of caprids, and we're also generally low on animals from the American Southwest- the one area of North America that still needs addressing. Only question is what the best pack to fit it in is, but it could also work very well as an anniversary animal.
American Black Bear (ZT1): Very likely addition IMO. Probably the single most likely choice for an anniversary animal.
Emperor Penguin (ZT1, ZT2): Minimal point in this one. I doubt many people are asking for something that's almost identical to the king penguin just so the babies look different.
Leopard (ZT1): The African leopard specifically. I'm surprised I've seen people be so negative towards this one- in my mind it's an icon of African wildlife, and I personally would welcome it just to build a different sort of exhibit.
Markhor (ZT1, ZT2): Practically guaranteed, I think. Slots perfectly into a speculated mountain pack, adds more caprids, super distinctive appearance while also being fairly easy to make, highly requested.
Olive Baboon (ZT1): Not too likely, I think. I feel a baboon is almost guaranteed, but it would more than likely be the Hamadryas Baboon, which is more commonly kept in zoos. If support randomly goes on for a couple more years I could see it sneaking in, though.
Blackbuck (ZT1): Very likely- it's the best representative of Asian antelopes, from parts of Asia that could be represented better, and I've always been a big advocate of an India pack.
Elephant Seal (ZT1): I don't see too many people requesting this one, possibly because it isn't common in zoos? I could see it being an oddball pick, though. Maybe about a 25% chance.
Green Sea Turtle (ZT1, ZT2): Begging for these, but they'd require a big shift in game mechanics that I'm not sure is possible at this stage of development.
Pacific Walrus (ZT1, ZT2): Pros and cons to this one, but I think ultimately its extreme popularity will lead to it being squeezed in eventually.
Sea Otter (ZT1, ZT2): Decently likely, I think. Very very popular and would make a fantastic headliner for some kind of coastal pack. Does face some concerns with there already being two otters (though their niches don't overlap.)
West Indian Manatee (ZT1, ZT2): Same issues as the sea turtle.
Japanese Serow (ZT1): I wanted this one until I saw that the ZT1 model is totally inaccurate and it's really a fairly standard small goat. I don't think this one is too important to add.
Javan Rhinoceros (ZT1, ZT2): Forget being uncommon in zoos, this guy isn't in any zoos and is barely seen in the wild. While I would be totally open to putting it in the game for educational purposes, I think there would be a lot of backlash from others.
Mexican Wolf (ZT1): This is just a grey wolf subspecies. Doubtful they'd add a second of those.
Onager (ZT1 DS exclusive): I'm not gonna count these for completion because nobody played this version, but I thought it was interesting to note. Not super likely now that the Somali wild ass has been added.
Kouprey (ZT1 DS exclusive): Possibly extinct. Don't think Frontier wants to try that.
Mountain Gorilla (ZT2): Nearly the same as the lowland gorilla. No point adding this.
Nile Crocodile (ZT2): A worthwhile clone, though many people are opposed to more crocodilians especially in DLC packs. Would be a fantastic anniversary animal, though.
Musk Ox (ZT2): A very popular choice among fans and would add to an unfilled niche for a large tundra ungulate. Only issue I could see is there not being a "tundra pack" coming- would they try to throw one together, or to throw the musk ox into the highlands pack just to get it in the game?
Crested Gibbon (ZT2): Not different enough from the Lar Gibbon to be worth adding. The only difference is that the color variation is sexually dimorphic instead of random.
Spanish/Iberian Lynx (ZT2): Probably overlaps too much with the Eurasian lynx, and there are better felid choices.
Spectacled Bear (ZT2): If he doesn't come within the next two packs I will be flabbergasted.
Wolverine (ZT2): Ditto.
African Spurred Tortoise (ZT2): This would be a pretty decent addition! It's a smaller species, lives in a different biome to the two island tortoises, and looks pretty cool in my opinion. The only issue is finding room for it- there have already been two fully African packs.
Barbary Macaque (ZT2): Are people interested in this one? There are a ton of primate species in line before this one, although it does have the somewhat interesting niche of being the only non-human primate that can technically be found in Europe.
Ethiopian Wolf (ZT2): I personally think these guys are really pretty and would make a beneficial addition, but I'm, like, the only guy that thinks that. I don't think they have anywhere near the popularity for Frontier to consider and are an unlikely addition- but man, I want them!
Gelada (ZT2): Currently being discussed for the next pack, usually in competition with the Hamadryas Baboon. In my opinion, though, I think we're getting both eventually- they both serve different niches and will add great content to the game. More primates are ALWAYS better than being picky with our primates!
Gerenuk (ZT2): I think these are super cool and I'm always down for antelopes, but they've missed like three suitable packs. Is there any room for these? The outlook may be grim, but I've got my fingers crossed due to decent popularity.
Masai Giraffe (ZT2): Easy if unexciting clone. Could pop up on any anniversary or be thrown into a random pack.
Honey Badger (ZT2): A popular choice who's well known among the general public. Doesn't run into many of the same problems as other currently overlooked African animals, because they range into the Middle East and even as far as India! I expect this to pop up sometime in the future.
Secretary Bird (ZT2): A top 3 most wanted animal. Say what you will about Frontier and their love of fun oddball species- they've shown that they will actively tailor a pack around a top meta wishlist animal. I'm 100% confident in these.
Leatherback Sea Turtle (ZT2): Same issue as the other sea turtle.
Rockhopper Penguin (ZT2): We just got a penguin, of course, but I think we could do with a second cold habitat penguin for mixed habitats. I think the likelihood of the rockhopper is more likely than not.
That's all of them! Are there any you feel are more or less important than I presented them? How close do you think we'll get to finishing the roster of the Zoo Tycoon games? How much do you want to?
Excluding any dinosaurs, mythical creatures, or fully marine fish/cetaceans, as well as the separate black panther and white tiger, here's a breakdown of what's still missing:
American Bighorn Sheep (ZT1): I think this would be a decent addition- we don't have a ton of caprids, and we're also generally low on animals from the American Southwest- the one area of North America that still needs addressing. Only question is what the best pack to fit it in is, but it could also work very well as an anniversary animal.
American Black Bear (ZT1): Very likely addition IMO. Probably the single most likely choice for an anniversary animal.
Emperor Penguin (ZT1, ZT2): Minimal point in this one. I doubt many people are asking for something that's almost identical to the king penguin just so the babies look different.
Leopard (ZT1): The African leopard specifically. I'm surprised I've seen people be so negative towards this one- in my mind it's an icon of African wildlife, and I personally would welcome it just to build a different sort of exhibit.
Markhor (ZT1, ZT2): Practically guaranteed, I think. Slots perfectly into a speculated mountain pack, adds more caprids, super distinctive appearance while also being fairly easy to make, highly requested.
Olive Baboon (ZT1): Not too likely, I think. I feel a baboon is almost guaranteed, but it would more than likely be the Hamadryas Baboon, which is more commonly kept in zoos. If support randomly goes on for a couple more years I could see it sneaking in, though.
Blackbuck (ZT1): Very likely- it's the best representative of Asian antelopes, from parts of Asia that could be represented better, and I've always been a big advocate of an India pack.
Elephant Seal (ZT1): I don't see too many people requesting this one, possibly because it isn't common in zoos? I could see it being an oddball pick, though. Maybe about a 25% chance.
Green Sea Turtle (ZT1, ZT2): Begging for these, but they'd require a big shift in game mechanics that I'm not sure is possible at this stage of development.
Pacific Walrus (ZT1, ZT2): Pros and cons to this one, but I think ultimately its extreme popularity will lead to it being squeezed in eventually.
Sea Otter (ZT1, ZT2): Decently likely, I think. Very very popular and would make a fantastic headliner for some kind of coastal pack. Does face some concerns with there already being two otters (though their niches don't overlap.)
West Indian Manatee (ZT1, ZT2): Same issues as the sea turtle.
Japanese Serow (ZT1): I wanted this one until I saw that the ZT1 model is totally inaccurate and it's really a fairly standard small goat. I don't think this one is too important to add.
Javan Rhinoceros (ZT1, ZT2): Forget being uncommon in zoos, this guy isn't in any zoos and is barely seen in the wild. While I would be totally open to putting it in the game for educational purposes, I think there would be a lot of backlash from others.
Mexican Wolf (ZT1): This is just a grey wolf subspecies. Doubtful they'd add a second of those.
Onager (ZT1 DS exclusive): I'm not gonna count these for completion because nobody played this version, but I thought it was interesting to note. Not super likely now that the Somali wild ass has been added.
Kouprey (ZT1 DS exclusive): Possibly extinct. Don't think Frontier wants to try that.
Mountain Gorilla (ZT2): Nearly the same as the lowland gorilla. No point adding this.
Nile Crocodile (ZT2): A worthwhile clone, though many people are opposed to more crocodilians especially in DLC packs. Would be a fantastic anniversary animal, though.
Musk Ox (ZT2): A very popular choice among fans and would add to an unfilled niche for a large tundra ungulate. Only issue I could see is there not being a "tundra pack" coming- would they try to throw one together, or to throw the musk ox into the highlands pack just to get it in the game?
Crested Gibbon (ZT2): Not different enough from the Lar Gibbon to be worth adding. The only difference is that the color variation is sexually dimorphic instead of random.
Spanish/Iberian Lynx (ZT2): Probably overlaps too much with the Eurasian lynx, and there are better felid choices.
Spectacled Bear (ZT2): If he doesn't come within the next two packs I will be flabbergasted.
Wolverine (ZT2): Ditto.
African Spurred Tortoise (ZT2): This would be a pretty decent addition! It's a smaller species, lives in a different biome to the two island tortoises, and looks pretty cool in my opinion. The only issue is finding room for it- there have already been two fully African packs.
Barbary Macaque (ZT2): Are people interested in this one? There are a ton of primate species in line before this one, although it does have the somewhat interesting niche of being the only non-human primate that can technically be found in Europe.
Ethiopian Wolf (ZT2): I personally think these guys are really pretty and would make a beneficial addition, but I'm, like, the only guy that thinks that. I don't think they have anywhere near the popularity for Frontier to consider and are an unlikely addition- but man, I want them!
Gelada (ZT2): Currently being discussed for the next pack, usually in competition with the Hamadryas Baboon. In my opinion, though, I think we're getting both eventually- they both serve different niches and will add great content to the game. More primates are ALWAYS better than being picky with our primates!
Gerenuk (ZT2): I think these are super cool and I'm always down for antelopes, but they've missed like three suitable packs. Is there any room for these? The outlook may be grim, but I've got my fingers crossed due to decent popularity.
Masai Giraffe (ZT2): Easy if unexciting clone. Could pop up on any anniversary or be thrown into a random pack.
Honey Badger (ZT2): A popular choice who's well known among the general public. Doesn't run into many of the same problems as other currently overlooked African animals, because they range into the Middle East and even as far as India! I expect this to pop up sometime in the future.
Secretary Bird (ZT2): A top 3 most wanted animal. Say what you will about Frontier and their love of fun oddball species- they've shown that they will actively tailor a pack around a top meta wishlist animal. I'm 100% confident in these.
Leatherback Sea Turtle (ZT2): Same issue as the other sea turtle.
Rockhopper Penguin (ZT2): We just got a penguin, of course, but I think we could do with a second cold habitat penguin for mixed habitats. I think the likelihood of the rockhopper is more likely than not.
That's all of them! Are there any you feel are more or less important than I presented them? How close do you think we'll get to finishing the roster of the Zoo Tycoon games? How much do you want to?
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