One step closer to birds for 2024

Yeah. I'm with the skeptics on this one.
We all thought the Red Crowned Crane was a sign of things to come...then nothing.
Many thought the inclusion of Bats was a sign of things to come...then nothing.
Some thought the Butterflies was a sign of things to come...then nothing.

At some point we just need to accept the fact that birds aren't coming.
The optimal time(imo) to release flying birds to maximize profit/returning players was probably around 1.5-2 years ago. Now we're allegedly close to the end of the game. It would honestly be a waste by Frontier to implement them now...unless somehow they are planning on extending support into 2025. They wouldn't get as much bang for their efforts, and they would spend a lot of effort working through the numerous inevitable bugs that arise with this new mechanic.
Of course anything is possible, and we will all be more than happy if they are added to the game. But I think if anyone is expecting flying birds at this point of the game, you are in for a disappointment.
When people said we needed to accept birds aren't coming at the beginning of last year, they also said to assume bats aren't coming. But low and behold.
 
When people said we needed to accept birds aren't coming at the beginning of last year, they also said to assume bats aren't coming. But low and behold.
Yes I do think it is possible to see birds in Walkthrough exhibit. If they can do bats, birds are also possible. But I don't expect to get much. And I also expect end of support next year so not much packs left.
 
Yes I do think it is possible to see birds in Walkthrough exhibit. If they can do bats, birds are also possible. But I don't expect to get much. And I also expect end of support next year so not much packs left.
I legit only need like 2 bird rigs then mods can just carry anymore that we'd want.
 
Reading how much work has been put into the Swan (and seeing it) it's save to say this rig will be reused.

I still have no reason to believe in flying birds or see any hints and I sure do not think the shops have anything to do with aviaries. In fact I see them as ported over from Planco 2, that's probably in the making. Just parallel work.

But I also can't deny the gut feeling that something is cooking behind the scenes re Planet Zoo. Something good.
 
Whilst I am also doubtful we’ll get much more in the way of birds (a few more at best), for me the reason this is so annoying is precisely that no new mechanics are needed.
First, and most obviously, waking birds like cranes and flamingos have always been in-game as have mostly ground dwelling birds like peafowl. Those groups alone would provide ample options for multiple dedicated bird animal packs. Add to those aquatic birds like the swan and there are literally dozens of great options.
Second, walk though exhibits (and even standard exhibits) would work perfectly well for dozens more species of flying birds like finches, hummingbirds, and many, many more.
Third, even free-navigating flying habitat birds wouldn’t require anything new - all deep diving species in-game can navigate in 3d and habitats can already be built with ceilings to prevent escapes (though, perhaps an aviary cage set of build pieces might make this easier for many people.
There is no need at all for new mechanics - plenty of bird species (numbering, literally in the hundreds) could be added using only the mechanics we already have in-game… they just haven’t been.
If we are getting aviaries that would require some new mechanics. But I largely agree with your assessment here. I don't understand why more birds similar to the ones we already have haven't been added. The player base has been pleading for them for years, and they would be very popular with the general fanbase as well. So they would sell very well and would revive plenty of interest.

That's why to me the conclusion is very clear that we aren't getting a lot of birds. Frontier doesn't want to - for reasons I won't speculate because I have no idea.
 
The developer journal was interesting because Oliver was describing how much work it is to get the feathers to all function together. I can only imagine how difficult it must be, but even more so for a free flying animal. The butterflies and bats have singular wings, so it’s a lot less work to rig and animate.

I think they’re working on exhibit birds behind the scenes, but they take their work seriously and would rather wait to have them perfect rather than release a bird that looks like it’s been stuck in a wind tunnel and half-plucked. I really believe they’ll come eventually, and they’ll be better than we expected.
 
Unpopular opinion: an only bird pack isn't going to sell great.


People have been asking for them forever but look at the reactions to the diverse packs we have now with a wide array of animals. People are saying there is nothing unique in the Eurasia pack or that the animals are boring even? Now imagine getting a bunch of birds that are mostly static or looped. I can imagine the backlash to that. I think they'd just be better off adding one to each DLC.
 
Unpopular opinion: an only bird pack isn't going to sell great.


People have been asking for them forever but look at the reactions to the diverse packs we have now with a wide array of animals. People are saying there is nothing unique in the Eurasia pack or that the animals are boring even? Now imagine getting a bunch of birds that are mostly static or looped. I can imagine the backlash to that. I think they'd just be better off adding one to each DLC.
Yes but birds are diverse in themselves as a group. There are several popular birds that are very well recognizable and that has been requested to death here and in other social media

1. Secretary bird
2. Grey crowned crane
3. Greater rhea
4. American flamingo
5. Rockhopper or gentoo penguin
6. ANY PELICAN
7. ANY DUCK

with just that you have a selection of the most asked for birds and over half are basically clones.

Is not the pack i would like since i want more unique birds like ibis, spoonbill, storks, herons more galliformes.

But a pack with the above roster i think it will sello as well as any other since it has very popular, very well known and very requested birds.
 
Yes but birds are diverse in themselves as a group. There are several popular birds that are very well recognizable and that has been requested to death here and in other social media

1. Secretary bird
2. Grey crowned crane
3. Greater rhea
4. American flamingo
5. Rockhopper or gentoo penguin
6. ANY PELICAN
7. ANY DUCK

with just that you have a selection of the most asked for birds and over half are basically clones.

Is not the pack i would like since i want more unique birds like ibis, spoonbill, storks, herons more galliformes.

But a pack with the above roster i think it will sello as well as any other since it has very popular, very well known and very requested birds.
Very much so. I don't know why people look at "birds" and try to equate them with a more limited group size like Primates or Ungulates. Birds are on the same taxonomic level as Mammals. There's a lot, lot, lot more diversity there than some people think.
 
Very much so. I don't know why people look at "birds" and try to equate them with a more limited group size like Primates or Ungulates. Birds are on the same taxonomic level as Mammals. There's a lot, lot, lot more diversity there than some people think.
I am well aware of the diversity that exists within birds, but I think a fully bird pack just straight up wouldn't sell well to people outside the forum. It's essential to remember that frontier is trying to make their packs appealing to as many people as possible. I would personally like a bird pack, I love birds, I spend a significant portion of my time photographing them in the wild. I don't think it's a pack that would sell well especially if they put birds in the walkthrough. People are going to complain about that, because they'll be paying for several species that sit in boxes with looped animations. I don't think that will appeal to the more casual fan, or families with children, which are also two big components of frontiers marketing base

I think their best strategy is adding one bird per pack instead, it keeps more people interested in each pack, appeals to more players, keeps interest in the game, and makes them more money in the long run
 
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I am well aware of the diversity that exists within birds, but I think a fully bird pack just straight up wouldn't sell well to people outside the forum. It's essential to remember that frontier is trying to make their packs appealing to as many people as possible. I would personally like a bird pack, I love birds, I spend a significant portion of my time photographing them in the wild. I don't think it's a pack that would sell well especially if they put birds in the walkthrough. People are going to complain about that.
"Birds" as a pack theme is probably the single-most talked about idea outside the forums as well. I wouldn't sell it short.

That said this community is never going to be happy with however Frontier would implement aviaries (and I still do not think they're ever going to). Exhibit animals? "Too limited, not enough customisation!" Habitats? "Too buggy, flight looks weird, why are the bats still exhibit animals?"
 
There's a middle ground for bird inclusion, if we ever get them.

Small, loud, colorful, "flock-y" birds could pass as exhibit animals. In zoos they constantly flutter around and perch in groups. They don't need as much space. Parrots and everything smaller.

However I can't see inclusion Birds of Prey any other way than them being habitat animals. They don't fly as often, nor are they as active in general. They're usually not housed in larger groups, therefore looping would be much more noticeable. And they need bigger space.
 
The WTE is about as large or larger than most bird of prey exhibits I've seen IRL. Even for Steller's sea eagle, which is a veritable giant.

In any event I disagree with your logic entirely. If we can stomach small lizards and spiders sitting in position then there's no reason to think it wouldn't work for large birds.
No, definitely it could work, but I believe many would be annoyed with stationary raptors. Or looping ones.

We stomach sitting lizards and spiders, because that's compromise to have them in a game at all. But there's a reason why Komodo Drago and Galapagos Tortoise aren't exhibit animals, even tho irl they're as active as some of our exhibit species.

Stationary or looped raptors would be our biggest type of exhibit animals yet (I guess dependent on specific species), while not having as good of a excuse as Sloth had.
 
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