DLC 19 Speculation

[Markiz]

I think with the no substance he means that you cant really do anything with them aside placing them down.

Like i too would like more sizes and stuff, but at the end of the day the exhibits are basicly little more than a scenery piece

I get that, there is other zoo scenery that you just place down, but is necessary component of zoos.

I haven't built a zoo without a reptile house, for example, and shallow roster of exhibit animals in combination with rigid dimensions of exhibit boxes gets a bit stale.

More variety in exhibit species and exhibits themselves is perfectly reasonable ask. It's not a top priority for sure, but it's popular topic for a reason.

 

[Marvinb]

I get that, there is other zoo scenery that you just place down, but is necessary component of zoos.

I haven't built a zoo without a reptile house, for example, and shallow roster of exhibit animals in combination with rigid dimensions of exhibit boxes gets a bit stale.

More variety in exhibit species and exhibits themselves is perfectly reasonable ask. It's not a top priority for sure, but it's popular topic for a reason.

Yeah i agree that terrariums are an important part of zoos.
But i think the point of an exhibt dlc, even if it came alongside new sizes, getting rather boring pretty quickly still stands. The types of animals are essential to zoos, but imo they just arent exciting to engage with in pz and i assume im not alone on this

 

[Artemisya]

I truly believe a good send off for the game would be:
Brand New Exhibit System with different exhibit sizes
MAKE ALL EXHIBIT ANIMALS INCLUDING CURRENT MOVE AROUND THEIR EXHIBITS
Brand New Exhibit pack with the following 10 animals:
Tokay Gecko [Headliner]
Savannah Monitor
Naked Mole Rat
King Cobra
Silky Anteater
Jackson Chameleon
Slow Loris
Ili Pika
Tuatara
Elephant Shrew
90+ Exhibit Scenery Pieces and New Terrarium backgrounds
DLC TOTAL COST: 15$ USD

[Would be an Awesome Base for Aviary's in the future hopefully]

i dont dislike this idea but i would prefere it to be split into two packs just for the reason i dont think i would buy a pack with just exhibits but if we split the content and put some enclusure animals im okay with it

 

[Milurian]

something that hasn’t been brought up in a while (unless I missed it). Small mammals. If frontier could make a new type of exhibit that is bigger then our current exhibits and maybe smaller then the WTE that could accommodate small mammals. Think loris, shrews, rats, mink, weasels, ferrets, squirrels, hedgehogs etc.
would anyone like that idea?

mink, weasels, ferrets are all bigger then meerkats and move effectively so have no reason to be in the box of shame. arguably some bigger squirrels and rats could work but yeah some of them are too small. loris is also fine as a walkthrough.

The real problem with exhibits is that the animals dont more so every mammal will look dumb inside it.
The exhibit boxes as they currently stand are completely and utterly horrible way too big for half the animals since as others have pointed out its bigger than some apartments at 16m2.
they offer no customisability its a box with some decorations repeated in pretty much every exhibit box.
the animals themselves are subpar compared to habitat animals since they dont move have babies or make noise making them about as interactive as the mech kangaroo.

Exhibit boxes are in a perpetual state of being a boring box so no one use them so frontier puts no effort in so no one uses them. The second there was more customisability with the walkthroughs people actually used and built for exhibits.

 

[Milurian]

I can guarantee you people only care about exhibits for two seconds then move on. they provide no substance.

If frontier actually but more effort into the exhibit boxes they would definitely get more use bats, butterflys and the sloth all got a lot of coverage and build when they came out because the exhibit boxes are at least somewhat better

 

[Iben]

If frontier actually but more effort into the exhibit boxes they would definitely get more use bats, butterflys and the sloth all got a lot of coverage and build when they came out because the exhibit boxes are at least somewhat better

It's not about effort though, it's by design.

The animals that were originally put in exhibit boxes (snakes, insects, spiders, frogs, etc.) are all animals that, when you visit them in a zoo, usually aren't moving much. Yes we've all seen a frog jump in a zoo, but let's be real and admit that for the vast majority you actually just spend time looking for the frog and it's sitting still somewhere on a branch. The same goes for the vast majority of the other animals that are in exhibit boxes.

So I disagree with the notion that exhibit animals like frogs etc. should be moving around exhibit boxes. It entirely defeats the purpose of the system and what it tries to emulate. I personally think it's the best system to incorporate these kind of animals in a zoo game with a big roster. It emulates reality with a limited set of animations, which means there's more room for animations for animals that do need it (and whilst we might not always see them ingame all the time, objectively the game has many unique animations for other animals that need it ). It's not due to a lack of effort, it's a design choice and in my eyes it's a good one.

Now, that being said, I fully agree with the lack of customizability and especially the lack of different sizes. But in all honesty I still count WTEs with that as well. They're an improvement, but only slightly. They're still bulky and much much larger than they need to be, you're still stuck with predetermined pieces that are incredibly annoying to work with (looking at you, sloth) and the single path option also bothers me a lot especially given that you can't really put a different path over it even when you sink in the WTE because guests get stuck.

Secondly, I also fully agree that the exhibit system has been underutilized. Frankly, I don't understand how including 2 or 3 exhibit animals per pack would have inflated the budget, especially if it's animals that can reuse so much animations, but if they had we would have had a much larger roster by now. It's one of the biggest missed opportunities in this game if you ask me.

 

[Angeł]

I can’t lie (and I don’t know if this opinion is popular or unpopular) but I’d rather, after this last DLC, they wrap things up and move onto PZ2 development.

It’s not that I don’t love this game. I really really do. But it’s getting to be more stressful than it’s worth. It’s clear that Frontier won’t put any love into it anymore, and will continue to disappoint the fans by longing out the gaps between DLC and pushing them out with mediocre rosters of mid effort animals.

Additionally, there are so many mistakes from base game and early DLC that need to be fixed, and likely will not be fixed before PZ2. Bad models, bad inclusions, UI and pathing tool clunkiness. I’d rather see the release of a new game where all of these are fixed sooner than later, and the longer we keep flogging the dead horse of PZ1, the longer we go without it.

I just want to see the Planet Zoo title be revitalised. I want it to be a game I am excited about. At the moment, I don’t think it’s that for anyone. I’d rather this game not die slowly and messily. So yeah, I think after this last DLC I’ll be done, and will be hoping to move onto PZ2 quickly.

 

[Milurian]

It's not about effort though, it's by design.

The animals that were originally put in exhibit boxes (snakes, insects, spiders, frogs, etc.) are all animals that, when you visit them in a zoo, usually aren't moving much. Yes we've all seen a frog jump in a zoo, but let's be real and admit that for the vast majority you actually just spend time looking for the frog and it's sitting still somewhere on a branch. The same goes for the vast majority of the other animals that are in exhibit boxes.

So I disagree with the notion that exhibit animals like frogs etc. should be moving around exhibit boxes. It entirely defeats the purpose of the system and what it tries to emulate. I personally think it's the best system to incorporate these kind of animals in a zoo game with a big roster. It emulates reality with a limited set of animations, which means there's more room for animations for animals that do need it (and whilst we might not always see them ingame all the time, objectively the game has many unique animations for other animals that need it ). It's not due to a lack of effort, it's a design choice and in my eyes it's a good one.

Now, that being said, I fully agree with the lack of customizability and especially the lack of different sizes. But in all honesty I still count WTEs with that as well. They're an improvement, but only slightly. They're still bulky and much much larger than they need to be, you're still stuck with predetermined pieces that are incredibly annoying to work with (looking at you, sloth) and the single path option also bothers me a lot especially given that you can't really put a different path over it even when you sink in the WTE because guests get stuck.

Secondly, I also fully agree that the exhibit system has been underutilized. Frankly, I don't understand how including 2 or 3 exhibit animals per pack would have inflated the budget, especially if it's animals that can reuse so much animations, but if they had we would have had a much larger roster by now. It's one of the biggest missed opportunities in this game if you ask me.

my lack of effort comment was entirely directed at the only option being an ugly cube with very little decoration diversity. I completely understand the intention of emulating the limited movement patterns of snakes frogs and insects in game and recognise that it isnt a lack of effort but a deliberate choice.

What makes me say they are effortless is the fact that there are only a handful of exhibits that are immediately recognisable a majority reuse almost all the decorative assets, almost all enrichment items are just the same plant or rock variations, the is no complexity to the gameplay, and every box is essentially the same gameplay wise.
The walkthroughs added complex enrichment items that animals actually used, it added null walls floors and ceilings allowing us to actually build something in a building game, it added complexity with the ways guest interact with the habitat being walkthrough. I still have many problems with them including the huge size and inability to turn of the walking path but they are much better and are just about the only time the community has cared for exhibits.

sure moving animals would make things better but only because then the boxes would feel alive and purposeful. I definitely would want to see more animations that involve animals moving around sort of like the sloth has now but this is by no means my main or even in my top 5 problems with the boxes.

 

[Milurian]

personally I think the boxes are so bad that even with the best possible free update they could never make them what I would want but here is a list of what changes I want to see

1. a map of where animals will stand so you can plan decorations
2. null everything
3. the props used in exhibits free to use as normal decor
4. smaller and non cube boxes and ranging from 0.5m - 8m
5. ability to select theming for animals with multiple biomes
6. have temperature and humidity actually do something have it cost more or need a mechanic to maintain or have walls be forced if you need to alter them
7. actually have babies even if its as simple as hiding them away in a nursey it seriously breaks my immersion that frogs just give birth to full mature frog especially when 90% of the exhibit animals have distinct larval states.
8. enrichment being more than just foliage and more unique animations associated.
9. noises at least the frogs should make some noise.

10. controversial choice but have the ability for some animals to be backwards compatible both iguana are fully viable as habitat animals and at least the pangolin at is viable as an exhibit animal since that is how its predominately displayed same with bats and butterflies to smaller exhibits as well as walkthroughs.

 

[Iben]

my lack of effort comment was entirely directed at the only option being an ugly cube with very little decoration diversity.

This I do agree with, there is very little diversity. I think I would have preferred it if it just had the bare minimum in terms of decoration like the WTEs so that you could more easily adjust it yourself.

The walkthroughs added complex enrichment items that animals actually used

This less so, because the only thing that is different is that the animation is longer and does more; but there's nothing different between how a spider slept under a log vs a bat sleeping in a box and leaving it to go back again. Both are just pretty simple animations, but given their subject the one does more than the other.

IDK, I've never been that impressed by the WTE, I see too much of the original exhibits core in it to really amaze me. There's cool things like the guests being able to walk in it and the interaction between animal and guest (butterflies); but all the other stuff is just the exactly the same mechanic but slightly visually different and I'm not really convinced the core mechanic of exhibits really works for anything but what they were originally meant for. Like, if a sequel introduces free flying I hope we ditch the WTE for flying animals all together.

But the one thing we both agree on is that the exhibits itself can be vastly improved and do really need it to be more interesting

 

[RightWhale]

How I’m gonna look down at my phone to see it’s another 7 habitat animal + scenery prop pack without any of the stuff I have wanted for the past year and a half.

 

[Mjmannella]

How I’m gonna look down at my phone to see it’s another 7 habitat animal + scenery prop pack without any of the stuff I have wanted for the past year and a half.
View attachment 418721

Pretty much how I felt about the Zookeeper Animal Pack minus the sulcata tortoise

 

[NachoB]

Pretty much how I felt about the Zookeeper Animal Pack minus the sulcata tortoise

Yeah.. like i wasn't surprised about baboon and bear, but despite getting the cat and markhor that were on my list and now really liking the tortoise and dik dik, none of this animals were particullary exciting or high priority for me. Ever since the swan and sloth bear i haven't been excited about the animals in DLCs and ever since Ocenia i haven't been impressed or happy about the DLCs.

Also the same time that i have been waiting for the animals i want for the game i've also been waiting for up to date good rhea and mara mods.

 

[RightWhale]

Pretty much how I felt about the Zookeeper Animal Pack minus the sulcata tortoise

I get my opinions are mine and I am not the master of the 100% correct Planet Zoo opinions. Still, even if I get one or two animals that I want it may not be able to save whatever the rest of this pack will be. Here are some of the stuff I have remembered talking about since the last year or so:

1. New World Monkey
2. Old World Monkeys
3. Rodents
4. Asian deer species
5. Habitat reptiles
6. Birds
7. Waterfowl
8. Exhibit boxes/ exhibit animals (fish have been focus)
9. Museum pieces
10. Educational pieces
11. American building themes (log cabin, Wild West)
12. South America/ Latin America/ the Americas

Honestly it’s a pretty large list, unfortunately I feel like I can already guess how this is gonna go. It’s just the last two packs being 6/7 mammals, and some of the mammals have just felt iffy to me. IDK I just don’t think it’s gonna go my way. It has been over a year since I felt super hyped for Oceania. I loved the mix of birds, marsupials, and bats. Not to mention the Polynesian theme was a lot of fun.

Even over at the hot takes thread, I mentioned just making a pack 4/7 mammals would be such a massive improvement! I just feel like I’m taking crazy pills, because I don’t feel like I’m a hard consumer to please? I’ll see how this goes, I still enjoy talking to y’all. So I’ll be on the forum. I just don’t have super high hopes for this upcoming pack. The ZooKeeper pack having no exhibit animals, no birds, and no New World monkey kind of did it for me. (Not to mention barnyard having only the chicken, and no duck or rabbit).

 

[SMK96]

Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum!

Getting into the subject, one of my biggest wishes in this game since 2019 has always been to create a local zoo, but I'm Brazilian, so you can already imagine my complicated situation.

Although we have added DLC that made me jump for joy, like the maned wolf, capybaras and jaguars, there are still some basic things missing..

Brazilian zoos have many primates and birds, and even the Colombian capuchin monkey is not common here, we have marmosets, howler monkeys, lion tamarins, spider monkeys, among many others.

So, realistically, the ones I would most like to receive right now are monkeys, ocelots, coatis, anteaters and some smaller rodents, like agoutis.

And I admit that I hope to receive one or two of them in the next pack, I hope I'm not being too optimistic.

But I try to be a positive girl, so let's have hope!

(Sorry for the english - google translate)

 

[RightWhale]

Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum!

Getting into the subject, one of my biggest wishes in this game since 2019 has always been to create a local zoo, but I'm Brazilian, so you can already imagine my complicated situation.

Despite the DLC addition terms that made me jump for joy, like the maned wolf, capybaras and jaguars, there are still some basic things missing.

Brazilian zoos have many primates and birds, and even the Colombian capuchin monkey is not common here, we have marmosets, howler monkeys, lion tamarins, spider monkeys, among many others.

So, realistically, the ones I would most like to receive right now are monkeys, ocelots, coatis, anteaters and some smaller rodents, like agoutis.

And I admit that I hope to receive one or two of them in the next pack, I hope I'm not being too optimistic.

But I try to be a positive girl, so let's have hope!

(Sorry for the english - google translate)

Hello welcome to the forum! The topic of South American wildlife (especially birds, and monkeys) is quite a common one! Unfortunately many find that aspect lacking, though getting an ocelot and agouti would be very cool!

 

[Britches]

Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum!

Getting into the subject, one of my biggest wishes in this game since 2019 has always been to create a local zoo, but I'm Brazilian, so you can already imagine my complicated situation.

Although we have added DLC that made me jump for joy, like the maned wolf, capybaras and jaguars, there are still some basic things missing..

Brazilian zoos have many primates and birds, and even the Colombian capuchin monkey is not common here, we have marmosets, howler monkeys, lion tamarins, spider monkeys, among many others.

So, realistically, the ones I would most like to receive right now are monkeys, ocelots, coatis, anteaters and some smaller rodents, like agoutis.

And I admit that I hope to receive one or two of them in the next pack, I hope I'm not being too optimistic.

But I try to be a positive girl, so let's have hope!

(Sorry for the english - google translate)

Welcome to our wonderful community

 

[zom03]

American building themes (log cabin, Wild West)

I'm aware there's absolutely no precedent of Frontier doing this beforehand, but since we know now that PC2 is set to receive Western-themed scenery in their next update, it might be neat if PZ's next DLC kind of followed the same theme, with something like a...

Southwestern Animal Pack?

• Desert bighorn sheep
• Coyote
• American black bear
• Ocelot
• White-nose coati
• Black-tailed jackrabbit
• Greater roadrunner
• Western American scenery pieces

Tried to keep it semi-realistic; only one ground-dwelling bird, presumably quite a few reused rigs, and bare minimum South American reps

 

[synthetase]

I'm aware there's absolutely no precedent of Frontier doing this beforehand, but since we know now that PC2 is set to receive Western-themed scenery in their next update, it might be neat if PZ's next DLC kind of followed the same theme, with something like a...

Southwestern Animal Pack?

• Desert bighorn sheep
• Coyote
• American black bear
• Ocelot
• White-nose coati
• Black-tailed jackrabbit
• Greater roadrunner
• Western American scenery pieces

Tried to keep it semi-realistic; only one ground-dwelling bird, presumably quite a few reused rigs, and bare minimum South American reps

I'd do a full on Western theme...

• Pryor Mountain Mustang
• Grey Fox (or Kit Fox)
• American Black Bear
• Desert Bighorn Sheep
• White-nosed Coati
• Black-tailed Jackrabbit
• Wild Turkey

Edit: Or rather than Focusing on North American western it could be a worldwide "Frontiers" Pack LOL.

• Pryor Mountain Mustang
• Desert Bighorn Sheep
• Arctic Hare
• Musk Ox
• Wild Turkey
• Short-beaked Echidna
• Perentie

IDK if this theme is cohesive to anyone else...

 

[NachoB]

I'm aware there's absolutely no precedent of Frontier doing this beforehand, but since we know now that PC2 is set to receive Western-themed scenery in their next update, it might be neat if PZ's next DLC kind of followed the same theme, with something like a...

Southwestern Animal Pack?

• Desert bighorn sheep
• Coyote
• American black bear
• Ocelot
• White-nose coati
• Black-tailed jackrabbit
• Greater roadrunner
• Western American scenery pieces

Tried to keep it semi-realistic; only one ground-dwelling bird, presumably quite a few reused rigs, and bare minimum South American reps

If by bare minum you mean one animal then yes.