That would also explain where birds have been this whole time. We all agree we want them, but no one could agree on what habitat bird we wanted. The habitat part is very important, we could spend days arguing over flying birds, but considering they aren’t coming to the game Frontier assumes we don’t care about habitat birds either. We now have one bird in the #1 spot, and a total of 4 in the top 20. Similar to the howler monkey and other NWM, popular birds like ducks are broken up over multiple species on the meta wishlist. So everyone could argue how much waterfowl/ ducks are needed, but no one could agree on the one species. I’m honestly hoping with the increased bird discussions it causes a change. Now we seem to be in a lot more agreement over which species should be coming, or at least what bird groups need expanding on.
Spring 2024 DLC Speculation
- Thread starter The Carcharodontogenius
- Start date
Mammals
Père David’s deer
Lion tailed macaque
Coati
Birds
Pelican
Grey crowned crane
Ground hornbill
Reptiles
Chinese alligator
Frilled lizard
Chameleon
Amphibians
Giant salamader
Surinam toad
Tomato frog
Insects
Chinese mantis
Hercules beetle
Atlas moth
Other Vertebrates
Tree kangaroo
Echidna
Yellow footed rock wallaby
Deluxe: African civet
Arctic: Musk ox
South America: Coati
Australia: Echidna
Aquatic: Walrus
Southeast Asia: Lowland anoa
Africa: Serval
North America: NA porcupine
Europe: Great white pelican
Wetlands: Père David’s deer
Conservation: Lion tailed macaque
Twilight: Tufted deer
Grasslands: Guanaco/Vicuña
Tropical: Mantled guereza
Arid: Baboon
Oceania: Tree kangaroo
Eurasia: Golden snub nosed monkey
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Where's my dlc! I've finished a zoo
I think that's probably part of it! I also wonder if people didn't include certain species of birds on their wishlists because they assumed they wouldn't come. Had we gotten the mute swan earlier in the game's development... Things might be different on that front.
When putting together wishlists too, I also think people don't pick fully strategically as far as numbers go. They really shouldn't have to but... When I was putting my most recent one together I picked a different species of tree kangaroo over the one I really wanted because that one was voted in by more folks already while the other was much further down the list. So voting for the one I wanted felt like a toss-off vote. I figure modders can take care of the other subspecies (and if not, I'll just commission it LOL).
Anyway, this is my way of saying that all of the duck supporters should just band together and revolt. LOL
- Mammals:
- Golden Lion Tamarin: I love tamarins and see them often in real life. This was one of my first zoo memories. These endangered icons would be great to have in the game.
- American Black Bear: It's my local star animal and I like its color morphs. I think it would be a great starter bear that should be cheaper to purchase, cheaper to feed, and require a bit less space than some of the other species. They also climb.
- Serval: It's a pretty basic zoo animal and happens to be one of my favorites. It would bring some variety to the small-sized cat roster.
- Birds:
- Grey Crowned Crane: They look cool, and I've seen them.
- Scarlet Ibis/Roseate Spoonbill/American Flamingo: I change my mind often on which I think would be best. All of them would be nice.
- Mandarin Duck: The game needs a duck, and this one is a favorite.
- Reptiles:
- Spurred Tortoise: I see them so often in zoos and it would be nice to have a proper desert tortoise. I keep forgetting they haven't added them yet.
- Perentie: A desert monitor could be fun.
- Sea Turtle: I know they're unlikely, but they would be so cool.
- Amphibians
- Blue Poison Frog: I want one to complete the SA colorful frog set.
- Hellbender/Asian Giant Salamander: One of these would be interesting.
- White's Tree Frog: I just like them.
- Insects:
- Orchid Mantis: They are pretty and interesting.
- Emerald Swallowtail: It would add a green thing to the butterfly house.
- Luna Moth: It's a pretty moth.
- Gastropods:
- Maybe a banana slug? I don't need it, though.
- Arachnids/Centipedes: No, thank you
- Other Vertebrates:
- Tree Kangaroo: The first time I saw a picture of one, I really wanted it in the game.
- Geoffroy's Spider Monkey: They would be fun to watch, and I could pretend the different colors (cream, brown, orange, and black) are different species.
- South American Coati: I've been seeing them more often lately. I like them.
- Other Invertebrates: These would be fun exhibit animals.
- Hermit Crabs
- Jellyfish
- Octopus
This is so true it hurts... For the past 8 months I've launched 3 projects, starting to build big ass entrance and I stopped right after that everytime because I wasn't into it anymore
I even have a zoo that is just a parking 
But I feel next time is going to be the good one. I swear! So Frontier you can give me my DLC now.
Mammals
- Ethiopian Wolf (EN)
- Spectacled Bear (VU)
- Markhor (NT) or Muskox (LC)
- King Vulture (LC)
- Ocellated Turkey (NT)
- Helmeted Guineafowl (LC)
- Alligator Snapping Turtle (VU)
- Chinese Cocodrile Lizard (EN)
- Rhinoceros Viper (VU) or Emerald Tree Boa (LC)
- Blue Poison Dart Frog (Not evaluated)
- Chinese Giant Salamander (CR)
- Emperor Spotted Newt (VU)
- Arapaima
- Napoleon Fish (EN)
- Picasso Triggerfish (LC)
- Peacock Tarantula (CR)
- Achrioptera Fallax (stick insect)
- Orchid Mantis
Had a dream last night that we got a free update with modular exhibit box customisation and I got very excited then I woke up. This was a on a livestream and they also announced a poll on stream for one of the following to be added for free: Markhor, Blackbuck or Siberian Musk Deer and the musk deer won lol.
So if they only look at the top 10 or so of the meta wishlist, how does it explain this poor fella?
Tell me about it dude! Considering how much people have been wanting them I’m amazed how low even the most popular duck is on the meta wishlist. I believe the mandarin duck isn’t even in the top 50 (if I remember right). Granted a lot of the meta wishlist was made when Planet Zoo was a very different game. We can even see that, on SuzieSky’s meta list the mandarin duck shoots up all the way to in the top 30!
I think that also doesn’t take that into account how, say we get a different duck species, people would still be happy with it. I imagine that’s what created a lot of the issue though, we couldn’t decide a single species.
Like I really, really, really want the white faced whistling duck but if we got the mandarin or mallard I wouldn’t complain.
Oh, you mean the primate that just barely cracked the top 10 with the release of the Oceania pack and even then is tied at the #10 spot with a crane? That primate? Haha.So if they only look at the top 10 or so of the meta wishlist, how does it explain this poor fella?
I still find it really weird that it wasn't part of the Arid pack but I don't think people really cared about their absence until after that pack dropped.
Yup, the meta wishlist has shifted and changed over the years. I bet if you were to re-do it again then ducks would be even higher... Because of the swan.
I also wonder how much modding has impacted the choices. Because, by the same beat... An epic mallard duck mod dropped this week that is really, really great. Formally added species are always phenomenal. But if something feels "moddable" based on what we have in-game? I can see some people dialing back the ask.
Yeah similar situation to monkeys here. Where there are multiple species that people want, but none that is agreed upon to be the definete one to get.
On the 2024 one the mandarin climbed even higher into place 23. Which is kinda another example how these types of lists can get kinda outdated over time. As more and more animals get added the want/need shifts around, like the want for more birds grew exponentially with how much focus is on mammals. Or like the lar gibbon definetly wasnt a top 10 animal after the siamang was added
It started with the absence from grasslands at least, I remember I made a meme voicing out the absence of the baboon in a pack that would of suited it great. After the arid pack, people definitely got much more vocal about frontier actively avoiding the baboon for some odd reason but hey let's give Africa another antelope, something that's definitely lacking in the game roster.
I didnt miss the baboon specificly in grasslands but i was kinda sad they didnt include any primate in that pack. Especially since where so many cool options like different baboons, grivet and vervet monkeys, grey langurs, patas monkey, with some strechting even howlers and guerezas
I think people started widely clamoring for more primates after the continent packs. Once a lot of zoo staples and old favorites were knocked out, people started looking to see what else was missing. Gibbons held the top spot followed by baboons, howler monkeys, and tamarins. Spider monkeys have surged in popularity more recently. Squirrel monkeys, golden snub-nosed monkeys, guerezas, and grey langurs/lion-tailed macaques were some popular choices among monkeys (which were generally kind of low), too. There was also support for geladas, sifakas, and aye-ayes, but I don't think they've ever been widely regarded as necessary, just popular.
Similar to the ducks, I think part of the reason for their initial low popularity is that they didn't seem possible or likely. The base game didn't have many, and we don't have a precedent for zoo management sims with a good primate roster. Also, if I'm being honest, I know a lot of people find monkeys a bit creepy and birds a bit boring. However, with Planet Zoo, I can build interesting climbing frames. Primates are very useful and fun for that, and they are needed for creating realistic zoos. A few more birds are also necessary for realistic zoos.
Most of the conversations about baboons were comparing them to geladas and other competition in various pack ideas. Now that the focus has turned more strongly on monkeys, habitat birds, and the degree to which both are missing, people care about baboons and other species a lot more.
Similar to the ducks, I think part of the reason for their initial low popularity is that they didn't seem possible or likely. The base game didn't have many, and we don't have a precedent for zoo management sims with a good primate roster. Also, if I'm being honest, I know a lot of people find monkeys a bit creepy and birds a bit boring. However, with Planet Zoo, I can build interesting climbing frames. Primates are very useful and fun for that, and they are needed for creating realistic zoos. A few more birds are also necessary for realistic zoos.
Most of the conversations about baboons were comparing them to geladas and other competition in various pack ideas. Now that the focus has turned more strongly on monkeys, habitat birds, and the degree to which both are missing, people care about baboons and other species a lot more.
Has there been any animals in-game that you were initally apathetic or even disliked, but slowly either admired or fell in love with?
I'll admit I didn't think we needed a second gibbon when the Lar gibbon dropped with Tropical, but between the color morphs, the improved brachiation, and walk cycle, they absolutely won me over. I can absolutely say they were a necessary addition to the siamang, and makes apes one of the few, truly complete animal clades.
When Grasslands came out, I was bitter it wasn't an aviary pack, since bats came out in Twilight lolololololol, and thought the emu felt like a consolation prize. I saw them little more than fuzzier ostriches. But after a few minutes playing with them? EASILY a top tier addition.
There's also animals I think we take for granted as we expect to be in a zoo game, but on closer inspection, they just exude so much charisma, I could spend hours just watching their animations - a few that come to mind include kangaroos, elephants, flamingoes, meerkats, fennec foxes, red pandas, alligators, and penguins.
I'll admit I didn't think we needed a second gibbon when the Lar gibbon dropped with Tropical, but between the color morphs, the improved brachiation, and walk cycle, they absolutely won me over. I can absolutely say they were a necessary addition to the siamang, and makes apes one of the few, truly complete animal clades.
When Grasslands came out, I was bitter it wasn't an aviary pack, since bats came out in Twilight lolololololol, and thought the emu felt like a consolation prize. I saw them little more than fuzzier ostriches. But after a few minutes playing with them? EASILY a top tier addition.
There's also animals I think we take for granted as we expect to be in a zoo game, but on closer inspection, they just exude so much charisma, I could spend hours just watching their animations - a few that come to mind include kangaroos, elephants, flamingoes, meerkats, fennec foxes, red pandas, alligators, and penguins.
Same here.
No DLC before or after Tropical has managed to disappoint me, but I would be lying if I said that Tropical didn't come pretty close.
With Gibbon as main offender.
But very rapidly, not only it pushed out Siamang out of all my zoos, but almost became staple. And for all the reasons you mentioned, to not repeat them here. Mainly animations. But looks as well.
They can't possibly put in every animal that ever reaches the upper regions. As soon as one got crossed off, another rises to take its place. Admitted they've been up there, as have a few others, a lot longer than other animals have, but still..point stands.So if they only look at the top 10 or so of the meta wishlist, how does it explain this poor fella?
I'd like to remind everyone that as of the Eurasia pack, we have gotten every single animal in the top 20 of the first meta list, which was late 2020. It took 3 years to get there, and some obvious picks (Cougar, Moose, Meerkat, Capybara etc), but Frontier's done a really good job of picking animals from the upper regions of the lists.When there's only 7 animals left that have had a large amount of support for some time, considering all the animals we got, that's pretty good. Yes, Muskox, Tree Kangaroo, Coati, Walrus, Hamadryas Baboon, Secretary Bird and Howler Monkey are still pretty visible on the lists, but again, they can't put every cyclical animal in the game. It's a logical cycle of the lists persistent existance.
Yeah gibbon for me aswell. When they released the tropical pack i was pretty mad that the chose another gibbon over a new world monkey.
But the lar was such an improvement over the siamang, which just wasnt it, that i couldnt stay mad at it for long and now its one of my absolute favorite animals.
Still thinks it was a crime to release a tropical themed pack and not give SA a monkey, or any habitat animal really
Because is creepy. It scares childrenSo if they only look at the top 10 or so of the meta wishlist, how does it explain this poor fella?
not that marketable.