Winter 2023 DLC Speculation

[MarkedTurf]

I'd think a pack which adds new elements to the gameplay loop would be interesting, rather than just the "new animal, new building pieces, new minor free update" recipe.
What those could be that wouldn't be too groundbreaking for the current formula, I'm not sure. Maybe something that builds on the idea of Conservation and Reputation or new random events.

Spoiler: Randomly Spitballing Ideas

Maybe a gameplay addition like after a period of in-game years, maintained star ratings, inspections etc we could get a boost to a new "worldwide reputation" resulting in proposals and invites into breeding programs and rescure adoptions etc. If we then reach a quota of "sent to programme" rather than "released to wild" of suitable new offsprings, we will then gain a boost in appeal to guests etc for that specific species and an increase to donations around that habitat. For adopted animals, they'll be less quality specimins or elder, but they themselves have high appeal due to their story.

Maybe it could add in unlocks to franchise, with a range of clone species being unlocked. Fulfilled a quota for reticulated giraffe breeding? unlocked a future chance for "adoption offers' ' for the Masai giraffe that isnt usually on the market. If not that, maybe just that species gets more sculptures / signs unlocked in a consistent art scheme.. Maybe even a costume for educators of that species to promote them to "Mascots' which make people more likely to listen to them and improve their job satisfaction?

Maybe the introduction of "Nursery" enclosures and specific non-display enclosures that guests won't complain about not being able to see, but are there for research, breeding etc. An ability to split single habitats up so that the more aggressive gender of a species is removed from young/partners at appropriate times etc. A focus on Night Gameplay vs Day Gameplay.. I think it's the core managment and progression loop that needs looking at rather than adding to the existing pile of animals.

New random events like 'School Trips' where there is an increase in children in the zoo with more disposable income than usual that will temporarily buy at higher priced gift shops etc, but who will also not wait long between bins before dropping rubbish.
Pull us away from building on occasion and give us something else to look forward to / manage!

 

[CharlieXGaming]

What makes you think that?

Idk it just still feels very fresh.

 

[CharlieXGaming]

I'd be cautious about pinning down a specific day right now. We may get the announcement 11 days from now, but it could also be anywhere from Nov 27th (if the pack is very early on the 5th, though unlikely I think) to December 12 (if the pack is released on the 19th and is a scenery pack). I can't see a new update/feature/pack announcement before Nov. 27th and after Dec.12th But yeah, anywhere from a little over a week to a little more than 3 weeks.

Yep I know, but it’s most probable for the 12th. They need around 10 days between launch and announcement assuming it’s an animal pack. Looking at the calendar, if the pack comes on the 12th we get an announcement on the 30th or 1st, meanwhile if it’s the 19th as the launch we’ll see a an announcement of the 7th or 8th.

19th seems too late though, cause it’s 6 days away from Christmas which doesn’t give the buyer a lot time to purchase.

 

[YesIndeed]

New and Old? Well anything that adds new gameplay, that is the biggest cause of players leaving the game. Lots of new animals and scenery pieces but it's all the same gameplay no matter how good the animals look. Naturally new gameplay (in theory) comes with proper aviaries not restricted to the walkthrough exhibit - very unlikely to ever happen, same with aquariums and fully marine animals like introducing manatees, dolphins, whales, sharks, and fish.

Anything else though, it's a thin line between new gameplay features and the exact same dlc we have been receiving for say 2-3 years straight.

Obviously their not now but when they released walkthrough exhibits were Def a new ganeplay feature. We had nothing like the bats at that point in time.

 

[Captain Callum]

Obviously their not now but when they released walkthrough exhibits were Def a new ganeplay feature. We had nothing like the bats at that point in time.

Yeah they were, it's been a year now and still nothing that really expanded on what the walkthrough exhibit tried to do with new content being added. But considering how it was still just an exhibit box at heart with looping animations, the potential of the new gameplay features it added was rather limited.

 

[jcp011c]

Yeah they were, it's been a year now and still nothing that really expanded on what the walkthrough exhibit tried to do with new content being added. But considering how it was still just an exhibit box at heart with looping animations, the potential of the new gameplay features it added was rather limited.

Big part of the appeal with the Walk Through Exhibits and Flying Bats was the expectation birds were almost certainly coming. Sure, the bat was great and had fans but let's be honest, how much people really thought exhibit birds were coming? I'd say a huge majority. Then we got the butterflies but we though they were still testing out the feature. Then the Sloth, and while it was a hit with the WTE system, it was surprising at the lack of birds. Still, many were hopeful it was coming, just ironing out some of the bugs, etc. At that point i thought that they were still likely but possible they were not. Then we got the snake and that's when many people really started to lose hope - why would they go back to a standard exhibit, it felt like a step backwards (and wasn't a Cobra or Chameleon, the two most requested types of Standard Exhibit animals). At that point I felt it was very likely that birds weren't coming, but still had some hope just a lot less. Then with Oceania and it being four full packs since the WTE were introduced, it kind of sealed the deal for me personally, that exhibit birds will not be a thing.

All that's just tying into that and reiterating why many people were excited for the WTE. What could be "new" now though? Feeling like an exhibit overall would be well received but at this point isn't going to happen. Gift shops would be great, but wouldn't add all that much gameplay. Marine animals would be very well received and definitely introduce new features, albeit not game changing ones (you'd still build habitats and care for animals in the same way you do now), and at this point in the game I don't see it happening. Two other big features that could affect gameplay are a "zoo keeper" mode, where you have control over a staff member and do their job on your direction, and a rescaling feature for build items. One is very animal oriented and one is very build oriented. But I feel like they're both too complex to do at this point, when the release cycle is likely winding down (even if we get content all of next year I still see it as winding down).

 

[frank1055]

I would like to start a new topic, what are the new mechanisms of animal species that can be added at present (such as lizards that can dive deep)
Small cats that can use caves, crocodiles that can dig holes, lizards that can climb, A pangolin that can climb trees and sea turtles?

 

[Captain Callum]

Two other big features that could affect gameplay are a "zoo keeper" mode, where you have control over a staff member and do their job on your direction, and a rescaling feature for build items. One is very animal oriented and one is very build oriented. But I feel like they're both too complex to do at this point, when the release cycle is likely winding down (even if we get content all of next year I still see it as winding down).

All great points but these 2 are especially interesting because these were subject to some arguments on ruining the game/being unbalanced to the existing game mechanics over on my feature metawishlist. Both were suggested as one of the few game changing features that could change the way we build, I'll go over what was mentioned.

First up is the zookeeper mode. A dose of zoo tycoon nostalgia and the ability to interact more personally with our animals is an often loved suggestion. However how does one balance a player doing keeper tasks for free and much faster than the keeper ai, when staff management and finance is a core part of the business simulation of running our zoos? We saw it as essentially a cheat mode for franchise players to not hire any keepers to do tasks much faster and saving lots of money in the process.

Secondly, the scaling. Builders love the idea of being able to scale virtually any scenery object in game to make complex builds without the need for lots of separate building pieces. The main issues is the gargantuan task of introducing a system for over 5000 very diverse scenery pieces, and how exactly to deal with the existing multi size pieces, advertised scenery pieces in dlc updates, store pages will be advertising false information if the multi sizes are removed, if not then scaling renders these different sizes useless.

 

[jcp011c]

All great points but these 2 are especially interesting because these were subject to some arguments on ruining the game/being unbalanced to the existing game mechanics over on my feature metawishlist. Both were suggested as one of the few game changing features that could change the way we build, I'll go over what was mentioned.

First up is the zookeeper mode. A dose of zoo tycoon nostalgia and the ability to interact more personally with our animals is an often loved suggestion. However how does one balance a player doing keeper tasks for free and much faster than the keeper ai, when staff management and finance is a core part of the business simulation of running our zoos? We saw it as essentially a cheat mode for franchise players to not hire any keepers to do tasks much faster and saving lots of money in the process.

Secondly, the scaling. Builders love the idea of being able to scale virtually any scenery object in game to make complex builds without the need for lots of separate building pieces. The main issues is the gargantuan task of introducing a system for over 5000 very diverse scenery pieces, and how exactly to deal with the existing multi size pieces, advertised scenery pieces in dlc updates, store pages will be advertising false information if the multi sizes are removed, if not then scaling renders these different sizes useless.

Oh for sure, all sorts of challenges, which is why I say they're too complex at this point. I feel like if those were going to be introduced to the game it would have been done long ago. Especially scaling. Now instead of having to do base game items, they now have to do all the DLC scenery pieces and signs/statues that come with animal packs. I guess foliage could be left alone without the scaling but it would be odd to have it for many things and not that.

Honestly what might could work on scaling at this point is just rescaling the various art shapes - the ones that have several size options already, just make them scalable. That may be few enough it would not be too difficult a task. Those, and the letters/numbers too.

 

[Marvinb]

Honestly what might could work on scaling at this point is just rescaling the various art shapes - the ones that have several size options already, just make them scalable. That may be few enough it would not be too difficult a task. Those, and the letters/numbers too.

And signs please. The recent ones are so beautiful, but i can rarely use them because they are so gigantic

 

[CaprinemasterAT]

And signs please. The recent ones are so beautiful, but i can rarely use them because they are so gigantic

True and it would be mega to get this new sign-designe for all the animals

 

[Marvinb]

True and it would be mega to get this new sign-designe for all the animals

Yeah that would be the dream. However id be already happy with just getting them for the "highlight animals" aka lion, tiger, elephant, penguin and so on.

Edit: Well i guess we kinda have those already whith the basegame head signs

 

[Doran]

Modders are working like right now on proper scaling feature l o l. Not sure if this is can be that complex.

 

[Fallax]

Honestly I think that a zookeeper mode would work better as a seperate game than a mode.

 

[CharlieXGaming]

Honestly I think that a zookeeper mode would work better as a seperate game than a mode.

Disagreed, I think it would be the perfect addition in a PZ2.

I could imagine having a new menu in your zoo that has “Standard Mode” which is your regular building mode, and a “Management Mode” where it spawns you as a keeper and gives you a bunch of stuff to do like deliver and prepare food.

There could even be a daily mission thing where you have to spend a certain amount of time as a keeper a day and if you complete the time period then you get a reward like a rare animal or something.

 

[Captain Callum]

Disagreed, I think it would be the perfect addition in a PZ2.

I could imagine having a new menu in your zoo that has “Standard Mode” which is your regular building mode, and a “Management Mode” where it spawns you as a keeper and gives you a bunch of stuff to do like deliver and prepare food.

There could even be a daily mission thing where you have to spend a certain amount of time as a keeper a day and if you complete the time period then you get a reward like a rare animal or something.

I still think its basically a cheat mode in franchise, would be a great sidegame in sandbox though.

 

[The Carcharodontogenius]

Disagreed, I think it would be the perfect addition in a PZ2.

Disagree that what Fallax said would appear in a sequel of Planet Zoo.

 

[KönigDerKaffeebohnen]

I still think its basically a cheat mode in franchise, would be a great sidegame in sandbox though.

Id say its propaply overestimated as a cheatcode because of the sheer time volume it would take, being only viable at a small scale and honestly who cares there
One of the major benefits would be that if keeper traverseable area sucks cause yk no doors the player could do that and fill up enritchment and clean by hand in for example a shelter, which would be a very usefull quality of life feature, eventhough being able to toggle hit boxes on objects would do the same job more clean and for both animals and keepers.
My main concern would be the actual development time and cost going into such a barebones minigame that is interesting for maybe 10 minutes and afterwards only used to cheat, but its requested, people would love it and it would defenetly add a small distraction to the games lacking gameplay loop so honestly who cares, its propaply among the better features left to add that wouldnt be either huge or a major management overhaul (eventhough i really do would love an overhaul to deepen pretty much every ingame aspect of the management side of the game as its pretty ignoreable or just cheating)

 

[Milurian]

I feel the turkeys in zoos are predominatedly the domesticated version. Which would be a cool addition either way, but would look a little lost without the chickens, geese and ducks they are usually kept with

Australian brush turkeys are where its at

I'll try to start another discussion that has not been repeated that much .
What pack, in your opinion, would make old and new players being so much interesed on it? Like for example, the aquatic Pack.
It's December and it means holidays, and it mean only one thing, that are the gifts. What would be the most interesting dlc for you that the community would freak out?

This is going to sound a bit harsh but there is not a single standard scenery or animal pack theme that could bring back substantial numbers of old and new players you will get some but without actively changing the game no pack theme has that much power.

pack ideas that have potential

• anything that add flying birds free flight birds pack would sell ridiculously well
• fully aquatics mainly cetaceans and fish
• exhibit rework this would bring back alot of old players maybe not so much new player
• petting zoo pack but only if it comes with lots of new and refurbished guest interactions such as feeding and petting

free update things that will bring back old players

• fix paths since this is the number one factor driving people from the game
• scaleable items or the ability to "cut" objects both of these will drastically reduce frustration with the building system and win people back
• exhibit rework

 

[The Carcharodontogenius]

• fully aquatics mainly cetaceans and fish

Since your talking about fully aquatic animals, how come Beluga Whales lifespan is shorter in captivity & which Sharks would you like to see? Sorry if what I asked you just now is redundant.