Spring 2024 DLC Speculation

[RightWhale]

This is a tough one, the Ratel has always been indifferent to me, I don't want it but I don't not want it and would be happy with it.

Yeah I’ve never been huge on the honey badger, but it is too funny as an animal for me to be mad at.

Same with the shoebill to be honest. I would prefer other African birds over the shoebill or secretary bird, but if Frontier hands me the shoebill you wouldn’t find me complaining!

Same way I feel about the echidna too.

 

[CharlieXGaming]

And to play my own game:

16 Animal Pack (Best possibility):

• Hamadryas Baboon
• Geoffroys Spider Monkey
• Australian Pelican
• Pallas Cat
• Markhor
• Spectacled Bear
• Ocelot
• Goodfellows Tree Kangaroo
• Walrus
• Secretary Bird
• Grey Crowned Crane
• Duck species
• African Dwarf Goat
• Scarlet Ibis
• South American Coati
• Chameleon Species (E)

12 Animal Pack (Lucky scenario):

• Hamadryas Baboon
• Geoffroys Spider Monkey
• Australian Pelican
• Goodfellows Tree Kangaroo
• Grey Crowned Crane
• Duck Species
• African Dwarf Goat
• South American Coati
• Markhor
• Scarlet Ibis
• Pallas Cat
• Chameleon Species (E)

Regular Animal Pack (most realistic outcome):

• Hamadryas Baboon
• Geoffroys Spider Monkey
• Australian Pelican
• Duck Species
• South American Coati
• Scarlet Ibis
• Grey Crowned Crane
• Chameleon Species (E)

Scenery Pack (Worst outcome):

• Hamadryas Baboon
• Geoffroys Spider Monkey
• Australian Pelican
• Scarlet Ibis (think this would benefit the game more than the coati tbh)
• Chameleon Species (E)

 

[Markiz]

Now here is a question, to match what I said above, is there any animal you don’t particularly want but would actually be happy with their inclusion?

Bunch of community favorites actually. But there are rarely picks that don't make me happy in some way at least. So anything goes really. I was a happy man after Europe pack, I am completed man after Eurasia. Anything new is just a bonus

 

[jcp011c]

So lets turn this into a game then:

Make a finale pack that has your ideal 16 animals, arguably the best number of animals realistically.
Then, sacrifice 4 from it and bring it down to 12, the "if we get lucky" number of animals.
Cross off another 4 and bring it down to 8, probably the most realistic number of animals outcome.
And finally the worst outcome, remove 3 and be left with 5, the disaster outcome of the finale pack being a scenery pack.
You must have 1 exhibit animal from the 16 list all the way to the last 5.

16 and 12 are easy enough for me.
16:
Spectacled Bear
Coatimundi species
Black Howler Monkey
Squirrel Monkey species
Wild Turkey
Secretary Bird
Duck species
Pelican Species
Hamadryas Baboon
Musk ox
Tree Kangaroo species
Temperate otter
Golden Lion tamarin (wte)
Two toed sloth species (wte)
Cobra species (e)
Chameleon species (e)

12:
Spectacled Bear
Coatimundi
Howler Monkey
Squirrel Monkey
Secretary bird
Duck
Pelican
Wild turkey
H. Baboon
Muskox
Cobra(e)
Chameleon (e)

8 is painful
Spectacled Bear
Howler Monkey
Coatimundi
Baboon
Secretary Bird
Duck
Pelican
Cobra (e)

5 is devastating but would switch up to latin American scenery pack. If there’s only 5 coming I’d rather it all just go together the region i feel needs it most
Spectacled Bear
Howler Monkey
Squirrel Monkey
Coatimundi
Twotoed sloth (wte)

Sorry for typos I’m doing this by phone while on a treadmill

 

[KönigDerKaffeebohnen]

Here's one question for everyone:

If the next DLC is last, is there a version of that pack (not making it into an unrealistic 30 animal expansion) that would completely satisfy you or come close to it? Or do you believe that there are too many holes to be plugged by one pack?

Yes but i wont get that pack.

While we can never be 100% satisfied something that covers primates, domestics and birds would make me very happy.

• Shetland Pony
• African Dwarf Goat
• Bunny/Guinea Pig
• Mallard/Muscovy Duck
• Budgie (WE)
• Baboon/Gelada
• SA monkey
• Coati

Thats an 8 animal roster that atleast in my opinion would do the best job at putting a bandaid on the games last large holes
Would i be 100% satisfied?
No, imo for that atleast 3 more monkeys and a few birds would be needed, aswell as some personal favorites which im willing to put aside.
Imo every continent should for example have atleast 2 species of water birds for the option of mixed wetland aviarys which are super common or just mixed "wild" pond birds.
Europe: Swan + Mallard (Honorable mention to an oystercatcher)
Asia: Mandarin duck + bar headed goose/ruddy shell duck
Africa: White Faced Whistling Duck + great white Pelican
Australia: Black Swan + Magpie Goose
South America: Scarlet Ibis + Roseate Spoonbill
North America: Wood Duck + American Flamingo

Now that would be a minimum amount of birds that would make me happy, shame it will never happen offically

 

[RightWhale]

Bunch of community favorites actually. But there are rarely picks that don't make me happy in some way at least.

I feel the same way honestly, I think the only way I would be not as happy is if it’s once again a very ungulate heavy pack. Not that there aren’t ungulates that doesn’t deserve to be in the game, and that’s not to say I wouldn’t enjoy their inclusion. It’s just we really need the smaller animal groups to be expanded in the game. Also not shade to those who liked it, last year was planet zoos ungulate year. I wouldn’t mind if the monkeys/ reptiles/ birds/ rodents got a little more representation before the game ends.

 

[RightWhale]

Imo every continent should for example have atleast 2 species of water birds for the option of mixed wetland aviarys which are super common or just mixed "wild" pond birds.
Europe: Swan + Mallard (Honorable mention to an oystercatcher)
Asia: Mandarin duck + bar headed goose/ruddy shell duck
Africa: White Faced Whistling Duck + great white Pelican
Australia: Black Swan + Magpie Goose
South America: Scarlet Ibis + Roseate Spoonbill
North America: Wood Duck + American Flamingo

Now that would be a minimum amount of birds that would make me happy, shame it will never happen offically

Took this animal list out of my own heart, the horrible things I would do to get these guys in the game. The awful, horrible things I would do.

 

[KönigDerKaffeebohnen]

How is the coati not getting a "common in zoos" point when according to ZTL it is held in over 450 zoos? Way more common than the howler. Also I do not see why it would need a new rig, coati could easily use the raccoon rig.

Cause many people go by what they see in their local zoos and dont bother to actually check up how common they are.
Still remember the guy who claimed one animal to be super common in the us, because its in all 3 of their local zoos when in actually these 3 zoos where the only 3 zoos in the us keeping that species

 

[KönigDerKaffeebohnen]

I'm waiting for console edition. I've a handed down laptop that can't really run many games, but I don't really want to replace it.

I've been playing the JWEs since 2018, got a used PS4 before launch to play it (as a kid I played on a PS2, so it was a comfort/nostalgia choice), been a little too invested in its future, up until December (I got so much more out of other games, but the continued support format is addictive to talk about).

I remember seeing the South America pack launch for PZ, even though I wasn't really that interested at the time, the scale just seemed to blow JWE1 out of the water. I was loosely following DLCs until about the Europe pack (when JWE2 released).

I've looked up a fair bit about the game and DLCs, I was strongly compelled to a week or two ago.

If im not wrong there will be no ps4 release, only ps5

 

[RightWhale]

Cause many people go by what they see in their local zoos and dont bother to actually check up how common they are.
Still remember the guy who claimed one animal to be super common in the us, because its in all 3 of their local zoos when in actually these 3 zoos where the only 3 zoos in the us keeping that species

I remember thinking the kea and kiwi were common in zoos, because Franklin Park Zoo had them. Which is weird the local zoo for Boston has them but not a ton of others. Color me surprised when I found out they are actually super rare in zoos!

 

[NachoB]

Now here is a question, to match what I said above, is there any animal you don’t particularly want but would actually be happy with their inclusion?

The spectacled bear is the main ones here. I honestly think there are a lot more species from SA that are way more important to get but if we get the bear i would not complain and be happy with it.

The tree kangaroo is the other one. I don't personally have any desire for it but it would be a really nice addition to the game.

 

[Fallax]

Cause many people go by what they see in their local zoos and dont bother to actually check up how common they are.
Still remember the guy who claimed one animal to be super common in the us, because its in all 3 of their local zoos when in actually these 3 zoos where the only 3 zoos in the us keeping that species

I wonder what species lol. Zootierliste is only a few clicks away people.

 

[TheNamesJonas]

I wonder what species lol. Zootierliste is only a few clicks away people.

Zootierliste only recently added US zoos, so they wouldn't be able to check back then, and that is if they knew about it

 

[Fallax]

Zootierliste only recently added US zoos, so they wouldn't be able to check back then, and that is if they knew about it

Yea I know, but now its easier to check.

 

[SuzieSky]

So lets turn this into a game then:

Make a finale pack that has your ideal 16 animals, arguably the best number of animals realistically.
Then, sacrifice 4 from it and bring it down to 12, the "if we get lucky" number of animals.
Cross off another 4 and bring it down to 8, probably the most realistic number of animals outcome.
And finally the worst outcome, remove 3 and be left with 5, the disaster outcome of the finale pack being a scenery pack.
You must have 1 exhibit animal from the 16 list all the way to the last 5.

Ideal: (I've got most of my favorites, but Argentina and South Asia rep is weaker, and the echidna seems missing.)

1. Golden Lion Tamarin: I'm hoping they add a few tamarins in one go. They are popular zoo staples around the world, conservation icons, decently well-known for a monkey species, add an awesome new rig, would be fun to build for, and are my favorite zoo animals.
2. American Black Bear: I want my local bear with all of its color morphs and like the idea of it being the "starter" bear
3. Serval: It's one of my favorite zoo animals.
4. Grey Crowned Crane: My favorite habitat bird
5. Geoffroy's Spider Monkey: One of my favorite monkeys that would be hard for modders to do well.
6. South American Coati: Adorable and popular zoo icon for SA
7. Margay/Ocelot: Another very nice cat I would use often.
8. Tree Kangaroo: I've been wanting them for ages.
9. Mandarin Duck: It's a pretty duck that would probably sell well.
10. Reeves's Muntjac: I want to put them with red pandas, and would add a good rig.
11. Hamadryas Baboon: ABC zoo animal.
12. American Flamingo/Roseate Spoonbill/Scarlet Ibis: SA needs one, and they are pretty.
13. Markhor: My favorite goat.
14. Pallas's Cat: I like building for smaller cats, and smaller cats are very common in zoos. A cold-weather tiny cat would be nice.
15. Brown Pelican: I don't know that I would use it often, but I think modders want the rig? It would give the Nearctic a single bird.
16. WTE: Macaws: One of the few options for this that could stand alone.

If we get lucky: (I'm missing a few favorites, but I'd be somewhat happy.)

1. Golden Lion Tamarin
2. American Black Bear
3. Serval
4. Geoffroy's Spider Monkey
5. Grey Crowned Crane
6. South American Coati
7. Tree Kangaroo
8. Mandarin Duck
9. Hamadryas Baboon
10. American Flamingo/Roseate Spoonbill/Scarlet Ibis
11. Margay/Ocelot
12. WTE: Macaws

Realistic: (I need monkey and bird mods and would probably install domestics while I'm at it. This would be sad., but at least the duck mods will quack.)

1. Golden Lion Tamarin
2. American Black Bear
3. Serval
4. Tree Kangaroo
5. South American Coati
6. Geoffroy's Spider Monkey
7. Mandarin Duck
8. WTE: Macaws

Worst: (If I at least get my tamarins and probably black bear, I will be ok.)

1. Golden Lion Tamarin
2. American Black Bear
3. Geoffroy's Spider Monkey
4. Mandarin Duck
5. WTE: Macaws

Edited to change the Emerald tree boa to macaws. I forgot about WTEs for a second.

 

[NachoB]

So lets turn this into a game then:

Make a finale pack that has your ideal 16 animals, arguably the best number of animals realistically.
Then, sacrifice 4 from it and bring it down to 12, the "if we get lucky" number of animals.
Cross off another 4 and bring it down to 8, probably the most realistic number of animals outcome.
And finally the worst outcome, remove 3 and be left with 5, the disaster outcome of the finale pack being a scenery pack.
You must have 1 exhibit animal from the 16 list all the way to the last 5.

16 pack:

1. SA coati
2. Greater rhea
3. Patagonian mara
4. Ocelot
5. Howler monkey
6. Golden lion tamarin /Squirrel monkey
7. Scarlet ibis
8. Brown pelican
9. Mandarín duck
10. Secretary bird
11. Grey crowned crane
12. Blackbuck
13. Musk ox
14. Palla's cat
15. Ex: a cobra
16. WTE: Hummingbirds

14 Pack:

1. SA coati
2. Greater rhea
3. Patagonian mara
4. Howler monkey
5. Scarlet ibis
6. Brown pelican
7. Mandarín duck
8. Secretary bird
9. Blackbuck
10. Musk ox
11. Palla's cat
12. WTE: Hummingbirds

8 animal pack

1. SA coati
2. Greater rhea
3. Patagonian mara
4. Howler monkey
5. Scarlet ibis
6. Brown pelican
7. Mandarín duck
8. WTE: hummingbirds

Regular pack

1. Coati
2. Rhea
3. Mara
4. Howler
5. WTE: hummingbirds

And uala we end up with the perfect SA scenery pack

 

[SuzieSky]

Now here is a question, to match what I said above, is there any animal you don’t particularly want but would actually be happy with their inclusion?

For me:

• Musk Ox and Walrus: I like them and kind of feel like they should be in the game as Arctic icons, but I know I wouldn't use them much.
• Mara and Rhea, Blackbuck and Indian Monkey: The animals/options seem necessary for regional rep, but they aren't my personal favorites.
• Hamadryas Baboon: They scare me, but I know I would probably use them sometimes because an arid primate habitat would be fun and different.
• Lagomorphs and domestics: I would be fine either way. I would prefer not to receive domestics as a final pack, though.
• Marsupials other than the tree kangaroo: Beyond my favorite, rock wallabies, bilbies, and brushtail possums with the yellow color morph would be kind of fun.
• Cervids other than the muntjac and maybe wapiti if they get the sounds right, caprids other than the markhor and bighorn sheep: Beyond my favorites, there are a few I'd be happy to see, but I know I wouldn't use them much. Monkeys and birds take priority
• Many birds fall into this category: see below

My habitat bird needs/strong wants only include four species. If I get the grey crowned crane or secretary bird, one of the pink trio, at least one duck (plus some quacking waterfowl mods if Frontier doesn't want to capitalize on their swan rig for whatever reason), and one for temperate North America, I would be pretty happy with the habitat bird lineup. However, I'm fully aware that a good lineup for a zoo game would include many more. Habitat birds aren't my favorite. I don't personally need more than what I listed, but I would be happy to see/purchase a good bird roster. I would imagine a dream bird roster would include (correct me if I'm missing something):

• 5 Ratites: Ostriches, cassowaries, emus, kiwis, and rheas are all pretty important.
• ≥ 2 Flamingos: The American and greater are the two big ones, but lesser flamingoes and other SA species exist.
• 5-12 Waterfowl: The mute and black swan are needed, as are 3 ducks and perhaps a goose or 2. More would be welcome.
• 3-7 Pheasants/Fowl: Peafowl are the obvious ones. If we get domestics, turkeys chickens/junglefowl, and guineafowl become very important and useful. Asian pheasants are also cool. Capercallies and grouse are two options for Europe and NA.
• 4-5 Cranes: The grey-crowned and red-crowned are the two big ones, but the demoiselle, one of the NA ones, and perhaps Kegu would also be useful for regional rep and to build a good rotation.
• 2-4 Storks/Shoebill: I think the European players want their white stork, there are a bunch of cool ones from Africa/Asia, and Jabirus are an interesting choice from SA. I, too, am not a fan of the shoebill, but I wouldn't mind it as long as we got at least 1-2 better African birds.
• ≥ 2 Pelican(s): The brown and great white seem to be the most useful. I would not mind the Australian either.
• ≥ 3 Other Wading Birds: Herons, egrets, ibises, and spoonbills would be fun.
• ≥ 1 Other: Secretary birds are super popular. There are some other interesting oddball picks, such as roadrunner.
• 3-5 Penguins: King, little blue, and African penguins are great to have. Rockhopper and a brush-tailed species are also requested.

Filling out that lineup would take at least 21 animals, and I only deeply need 4 of them. I would say most habitat birds fall neatly into this category.

For exhibit birds, I would definitely want/need a snowy owl, eagle/horned owl, burrowing owl, bald eagle, kookaburra, macaws, toucans, and budgies. I would also very much like a falcon, a raven, other eagle species, vultures/condors, lorikeets, a hoatzin, and cockatoo(s). That's a pretty good lineup for flying birds with many popular species. I know there are a few other good options I would welcome, but I don't actively want/miss them.

 

[Stygi]

So lets turn this into a game then:

Make a finale pack that has your ideal 16 animals, arguably the best number of animals realistically.
Then, sacrifice 4 from it and bring it down to 12, the "if we get lucky" number of animals.
Cross off another 4 and bring it down to 8, probably the most realistic number of animals outcome.
And finally the worst outcome, remove 3 and be left with 5, the disaster outcome of the finale pack being a scenery pack.
You must have 1 exhibit animal from the 16 list all the way to the last 5.

5 is brutal
1. Geoffery’s Spider Monkey
2. South American Coati
3. Grey Crowned Crane
4. Greater Pelican
5. Parsons Chameleon

8 is also pretty bad
1. Geoffery’s Spider Monkey
2. South American Coati
3. Grey Crowned Crane
4. Greater Pelican
5. Gelada
6. White Faced Whistling Duck
7. Southern Tamandua
8. Parsons Chameleon

12 I’d be ok with
1. Geoffery’s Spider Monkey
2. South American Coati
3. Grey Crowned Crane
4. Greater Pelican
5. Gelada
6. White Faced Whistling Duck
7. Southern Tamandua
8. Mantled Guereza
9. Francois Langur
10. Patagonian Mara
11. Reeves Muntjac
12. Parsons Chameleon

16 is a roster I am decently happy with although I still think there are some notable exclusions
1. Geoffery’s Spider Monkey
2. South American Coati
3. Grey Crowned Crane
4. Greater Pelican
5. Gelada
6. White Faced Whistling Duck
7. Southern Tamandua
8. Mantled Guereza
9. Francois Langur
10. Patagonian Mara
11. Reeves Muntjac
12. Spectacled Bear
13. Secretary Bird
14. Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroo
15. Roseate Spoonbill
16. Parsons Chameleon

 

[Antimony96]

So lets turn this into a game then:

Make a finale pack that has your ideal 16 animals, arguably the best number of animals realistically.
Then, sacrifice 4 from it and bring it down to 12, the "if we get lucky" number of animals.
Cross off another 4 and bring it down to 8, probably the most realistic number of animals outcome.
And finally the worst outcome, remove 3 and be left with 5, the disaster outcome of the finale pack being a scenery pack.
You must have 1 exhibit animal from the 16 list all the way to the last 5.

Planet Zoo: Neotropica
1. Patagonian mara
2. Brazilian porcupine
3. Southern tamandua
4. Golden lion tamarin
5. Geoffroy's spider monkey
6. White-faced saki
7. Guianan squirrel monkey
8. Andean bear
9. Ocelot
10. South American coati
11. Guanaco
12. Greater rhea
13. Southern screamer
14. American flamingo
15. Red-footed tortoise
16. Emerald tree boa (E)

Planet Zoo: Neotropica
1. Patagonian mara
2. Golden lion tamarin
3. Geoffroy's spider monkey
4. White-faced saki
5. Andean bear
6. Ocelot
7. South American coati
8. Guanaco
9. Greater rhea
10. American flamingo
11. Red-footed tortoise
12. Emerald tree boa (E)

Latin American Animal Pack:
1. Patagonian mara
2. Geoffroy's spider monkey
3. Andean bear
4. Ocelot
5. South American coati
6. Greater rhea
7. American flamingo
8. Emerald tree boa (E)

Latin America Pack:
1. Patagonian mara
2. Geoffroy's spider monkey
3. South American coati
4. Greater rhea
5. Emerald tree boa (E)

 

[Spiderhawk]

Here’s to hoping the livestream on Wednesday can give us some type of clue