I assume that a sequel will keep the existing animal models, maybe with some updates to the Lion for example. But it wouldn't take much effort for them to port over all the existing assets, which would present as a major selling point for a sequel: the current 200+ species, with an additional 20, 30 (or whatever number) flying or aquatic species, on top of reworks to the path and terrain system as well as performance improvements. Honestly, I'd think a sequel would come with new construction pieces, gameplay changes, and so on, but I'd personally be pretty content with just a more polished version of the current game plus aquatic and aviary species, the majority of which would probably be DLC
DLC20 Discussion (maybe, but why not?)
- Thread starter DarthQuell
- Start date
I doubt that a sequel will have all of the current content. They have to save some heavy-hitters for DLC. It's part of their strategy as a company ("nurture").
So they won't give away everything for free. What they're doing now for PC2 isn't a sign that they want to do that in the future... It's a sign that they screwed up at launch with that specific game and want to make it right before pushing on DLC. Hopefully they've learned from this mistake and a Planet Zoo sequel can run while PC2 walked.
My current thinking is that we'll get a decent chunk of the current roster (say, 70% or so) with a focus on essential/common zoo animals and some that make great use of features the new game offers (for example polar bears might land it because they're super common in zoos). Others I'd expect get cut due to a lack of popularity (e.g., saiga and proboscis monkey come to mind immediately) or to save for future DLC (e.g., Tasmanian devils are great but people can still build comfortably for Australia without them and could drive a DLC in the future; siamang is good but the gibbon is generally preferred so you don't need both at launch).
Now, here's how they might be able to justify this. If they re-work the exhibit system such that it will allow for multiple sizes and, say, new animal types (e.g., small mammals) alongside the addition of aviaries... That opens things up. Because they would be adding new species to the roster for these situations, right? Not sure how many that would be, but that could pick up some of the initial slack. So the base game could have, say, 150-200 species (125-150 species from the current roster and 25-50 new exhibit and aviary species).
And when you think about DLCs that works too. Because you'd need slots for those two habitat-styles as well. So you might see animal packs with one "old favorite" habitat animal, three new-new habitat species, two aviary birds, and an exhibit species. Maybe not exactly that format and I'd need to think hard on the specific rosters but... You see the idea. There's a way to do it while leaving people feeling like the base game is still not starting from scratch and leaving something for DLC.
For the scenery too, assuming they implement the same new building features that PC2 has? A large chunk of the base game and early DLC scenery is going to be obsolete because of scaling, enhanced flexicolor, etc. So I'd almost rather they don't just blanket update everything and add it to the game. But if the new DLC model puts more of a focus on the animals (like they've done in the latest round of DLCs with 7 habitat species and ~60 scenery pieces) then there's no reason they couldn't give us the bulk of what we have in-game. Scaling is a gamechanger in that regard...
Honestly for the sequel I think if they do add DLC they should really focus on roster diversity.
I’m sorry but waiting years in between certain birds or mammals, or maybe never getting another exhibit animal, is a huge bummer. If every DLC cycle I have to wait to maybe get one bird, which may or may not be a duck, it gets depressing very fast when I don’t get what I am hoping for.
Now I couldn’t imagine if I have to do that all over again. Personally, I’m hoping modders crack the animal noise issue. I am busy with school again. But I’ve been debating finally getting some of great cakes flying birds and the new signs that come with it. Maybe that way I can get into building again. Making a cute local zoo based in my home state does sound fun.
I’m sorry but waiting years in between certain birds or mammals, or maybe never getting another exhibit animal, is a huge bummer. If every DLC cycle I have to wait to maybe get one bird, which may or may not be a duck, it gets depressing very fast when I don’t get what I am hoping for.
Now I couldn’t imagine if I have to do that all over again. Personally, I’m hoping modders crack the animal noise issue. I am busy with school again. But I’ve been debating finally getting some of great cakes flying birds and the new signs that come with it. Maybe that way I can get into building again. Making a cute local zoo based in my home state does sound fun.
It'll be interesting to see how they deal with that. And maybe that's what justifies them keeping the roster close to what it is now. I still really think they'll cut a number of them to be sure they can drive certain DLCs. But it won't be all of them.
And I feel like, again, adding new elements (flighted birds/aviaries, tweaks to the exhibit system) would be enough to keep things interesting. Yeah, it's a waiting game but... That's going to happen regardless if you are only interested in specific species or types of animals.
Who knows what approach they take with DLC for a sequel, though. They might change the whole thing around and surprise us with a new system or pattern... I think they might have to if they expand the types of animals they're including.
Honestly my dream system would be raising the max animals in a pack from 8 (12 if they are a texture swap like the butterflies), to 10. Maybe something like this:
But this way it’s almost possible everyone could get a bit of something.
- Habitat animal
- Habitat animal
- Habitat animal
- Habitat animal
- Habitat bird/reptile
- Habitat bird/reptile
- Aviary bird
- Aviary bird
- Exhibit
- Exhibit
But this way it’s almost possible everyone could get a bit of something.
1. I completely agree with your assessment americas seems like a pack that was unplanned and designed to bridge the gap and support planet coaster 2 in its launch
2. lets not forget that the reason they are adding planet coaster 1 themes back to 2 is because there was so much controversy around planet coaster 2 missing key content from planet coaster 1 I have no doubt that these free updates where not planned and were a direct response to market pressure.
3. every animal released between africa and eurasia is of good enough quality that they could be added to a sequel with minimal edits and the few that suck in barnyard zookeeper and americas could easily be altered along with the rest of the roaster which only have a handful that would need complete reworks. The biggest problems I see with a complete ports of all animals are the exhibit species because I have no doubt that they will see a rework and the influence it will have on the ability for pz2 to sell dlc when we are already struggling to find key marketable species.
I will wait till JWE3 releases to make my final decision but presently I can see both a world were PZ2 releases with all current animals and one where it does not instead providing them in dlc not free updates. I will however not be buying the sequel till every animal from PZ1 is ingame as I am a strong believer a sequel should always be a step forward never a step back.
Do it. The birds are so good. Make sure you get their enrichment blueprints from the Steam workshop - the deets are in GreatCakes' file pages.
There are also a tonne of non-flying ducks and other waterfowl. Really beautifully executed. I love the cormorants in particular and they dive.
Yeah after seeing owls in the wild I was thinking about making a local zoo again. I’ll see when I have time. In clinics I may be working around 12 hours a day.
Man it’s been quiet around here, I guess it makes sense though, new DLC came out already. We know more is coming, but most of the major themes have been taken. On top of Frontier clearly prioritizing different animals than what we expect/ want.
So, since we don't have much to talk about, I will spout an idea. What do y'all think the chances are of an exhibit animal pack, and how would you do it? I personally see them adding about maybe 12 exhibits, but who knows? Also, no birds sense froitner is evil, so with that said.
I mean why not? I’m game for that. Though I will say I do think the main issue is an exhibit pack would not be very exciting for some without either:
- Exhibits are revamped, either with new sizes or can be made null.
- We get birds in the WTE
- We get fish (maybe, this would get me hyped)
The only way i could see an full on exhibit pack is if comes alongside an exhibit overhaul in the free update. And while i think an update to the exhibit system would be great and is very needed, but (and this might just be me being far from a fan of the exhibits) i think a DLC with just exhibits would be kinda boring for me honestly. Even if they put in some extra sizes.
I forgot to mention an update, I do agree that without or even with a revamp, it would be a bit boring, but at this point they could literally give us a DLC solely with obscure, hard-to-find in zoos, clones and I would still be happy to get stuff, even if at first I get angry about it.
I feel like there is a 45% chance of some kind of aviary expansion pack or finale. Most agree that a few WE birds are what is most needed to wrap up the existing roster and build realistic zoos. Members from every social channel emphasize the demand for these animals; there is no way they've failed to notice this. There is a possibility they will be saved for a sequel, but I think at least macaws and/or budgies shouldn't be too difficult (I'd guess a 60% chance of at least one) and would be a good teaser for more and better birds to come. Ideally, we'd get even more WE birds with simple animations to start and better/more complex ones in the sequel. From what I remember, the most talked about WE bird options are:
- Macaws: The scarlet is most popular, but one for every main color combo or maybe even species seems important.
- Owls: Snowy owls and Eurasian eagle owls are the most popular, but burrowing and barn owls would also be very cool.
- Eagles: The bald eagle is the main one I need, but golden, harpy, and Steller's sea eagles would also be nice to have.
- Toucans: The toco toucan is the favorite, but I personally like the more colorful keel-billed.
- Hornbills: The great hornbill is the main one, but a red-billed and rhinoceros hornbill would be pretty cool, too.
- Lorikeets: The rainbow lorikeet is the most popular, but there are other species that could be nice to get like the red, dusky, black, and chattering lory.
- Budgies: I see these in zoos all of the time, and they could have fun morphs.
- Cockatoos: The sulfur-crested is the main one, but palm cockatoos and galahs are also cool.
- Vultures: I think a big one for Africa like the white-backed vulture or Ruppel's griffon vulture is most important, but Andean condors and bearded vultures come up a lot. I think vultures need so much space that they might not work.
- Parrots: African grey parrots are pretty famous.
- Other: The kookaburra is the main one, but ravens and peregrine falcons also seem good. Maybe fruit doves, turacos, and my favorite hoatzins?
I think there is a 30% chance of a coastal DLC with some fish and/or aquatic critters instead of scenery. The habitat animals would be very popular. I would include the walrus, sea otter, sea turtle, great white pelican, manatee (if at all possible), maybe rockhopper penguin, and maybe a Southern hemisphere seal as habitat animals. For exhibits, there are cool options like hermit crabs, coconut crabs, spider crabs, lobsters, octopuses, jellyfish, starfish, seahorses, lionfish, simple tropical fish, eels, and others I'm probably forgetting.
I think there is a 25% chance of a reptile house or exhibit expansion pack. Many people want or expect a large overhaul with different sizes for exhibits, but I think we'd get the option to remove null barriers at most. I think they've stopped making exhibit animals because many people don't care about them too much as opposed to saving them for an exhibit pack. I think people might get more excited about exhibit animals if they added the most requested species, but they seem to have abandoned them. If I were to make a reptile house pack, I would add 4 of the following: Nile crocodile, Chinese alligator, false gharial, perentie, radiated tortoise, Arrau turtle, and painted terrapin as habitat animals, and I would try to squeeze the others into different packs. I would then add 10-15 4x4 exhibit reptiles, making sure to include the most requested species like the panther chameleon, Indian cobra, and frilled lizard. For personal preference, I would also be sure to add the thorny devil, ball python, tokay gecko, pancake tortoise, alligator snapping turtle, emerald tree boa, Chinese crocodile lizard, bearded dragon, eyelash viper, and milk snake.
I underlined the most popular and likely candidates.
maybe we will heard news around end of may and june?
Man, I'm so in for a exhibit pack. Your species roster is mostly very good, but an exhibit pack without a gecko? You lost me there... It would be as crazy as an South American pack without coati...
But I support pretty much all your choices except for a second sloth and a third bat. I prefer using those spots for a gecko and also either a frilled lizard or some aquatic species (crab, octopus, jellyfish...?) for maximum completeness.
Probably a combination of things:
- The outcome's probably not going to meet our expectations, even if we calibrate them according to recent output
- Lots of folks just want a new game at this point
- The current area of interest (South America) is still heavily lacking, and is unlikely to get revisited so soon
- Communication from Frontier has been a predictable pattern of, "another animal pack is coming!" -> radio silence -> bare minimum of information
- The formula's gotten pretty stale at this point, especially hindered by the sudden disappearance of new Exhibit Animals
I would like another bat and sloth, but I can see why you don't. As for the gecko, I would replace it with the banana slug or box turtle.Man, I'm so in for a exhibit pack. Your species roster is mostly very good, but an exhibit pack without a gecko? You lost me there... It would be as crazy as an South American pack without coati...
But I support pretty much all your choices except for a second sloth and a third bat. I prefer using those spots for a gecko and also either a frilled lizard or some aquatic species (crab, octopus, jellyfish...?) for maximum completeness.
Don't expect news any sooner than August TBH