🐾 Developer Journal: Africa Pack 🐾

[yoav_r]

Love the animals and the plants you added and the scenery looks amazing, and I appreciate the hard work, but in my opinion the resulting theme is terrible for the animals chosen.

In most cases, the roster of animals denotes a location on the planet where we can draw inspiration from indigenous human cultures and architecture...
...We take great care in representing native art and styles with suitable checks and sensitivity to cultural appropriation through Frontier’s own dedicated department.

In your great care to "represent the indigenous human cultures" of the animals in the pack, you picked cultures which live 5000 kilometer away from 3 of the 4 habitat animals in the pack.

From a gaming perspective, the fennec is the single habitat animal in the game which can be displayed with the new theme.

And from a real world perspective, this move is, at best, culturally insensitive, for all the aforementioned effort, especially to a region like Africa with its long history of misrepresentation and exotication.

I understand the rationale, but you really should've picked either different animals or a different theme (or just not make themed objects in relation to these animals). Good job, but I cannot in clear conciense condone this pack, and I hope future packs will be more thoroughly researched.

I don't mean this as an outrage of any sort, but sincere constructive criticism.

 

[PeppyPepp]

Love to read these journals, thank you for posting! Just as I hoped for, looks like there's going to be a lot of flexi-colour pieces which increases versatility and use. And first flexi-coloured stained glass? Exciting!

 

[markun]

And from a real world perspective, this move is, at best, culturally insensitive, for all the aforementioned effort, especially to a region like Africa with its long history of misrepresentation and exotication.

With respect I think you are wrong. They chose two elements of African cultures which, apart from ancient Egyptian meerkats, seem to have been extremely well executed.

I would argue that misrepresentation and exotication is assuming that the only authentic African cultures are sub-Saharan.

I think they deserve credit for showcasing different aspects of African cultures.

 

[yoav_r]

With respect I think you are wrong. They chose two elements of African cultures which, apart from ancient Egyptian meerkats, seem to have been extremely well executed.

I would argue that misrepresentation and exotication is assuming that the only authentic African cultures are sub-Saharan.

I think they deserve credit for showcasing different aspects of African cultures.

I will elaborate. In pictures we were shown we've seen north african themed items for all 4+1 animals in the pack (the giant meerkats are just the most blatant ones).

While I love the architecture, and I love to see my RL region (I am from the middle east and this architecture is found in my country) represented, I can't really build an african penguin habitat with a north african theme, knowing how far away both geographically and culturally they live from north africa.

So either the pack expects us to use north african theme for south african animals, which is cultural exotication, or we have a whole theme with only one habitat animal to use with (the fennec).

What people don't realize is that despite africa technically being one continent, the Sahara creates a huge cultural and ecological barrier, so north african cultures and ecology are much closer to european and middle eastern cultures and ecosystems than they are to sub-saharan africa.

So in summation, representing these two parts of Africa lumped together, is not really authentic or representing of africa.

For comparison, it would be like representing Orangutans with Turkish themes, because they are both Asian, or representing the Moose with Aztec themes.

 

[markun]

I can't really build an african penguin habitat with a north african theme, knowing how far away both geographically and culturally they live from north africa.

So don't use the theme with the penguins. I won't either. Just like I won't use most theming from most packs.

What people don't realize is that despite africa technically being one continent, the Sahars creates a huge cultural and ecological barrier, so north african cultures and ecology are much closer to european and middle eastern cultures and evosystems than they are to sub-saharan africa.

Nonetheless, North African cultures are, as I have said elsewhere, absolutely African. And I think it is great that the DLC reminds, or introduces people to the fact that Africa is a diverse continent that isn't limited to traditional safari style views of African wildlife and culture.

So in summation, representing these two parts of Africa lumped together, is not really authentic or representing of africa.

So what would you pick to represent Africa? They can't include everything to comprehensively represent the complexity of Africa in one pack (and don't claim to) and the elements they have chosen, apart from the ancient Egyptian meerkat which is, frankly, ridiculous, are absolutely legitimate choices.

 

[yoav_r]

So what would you pick to represent Africa? They can't include everything to comprehensively represent the complexity of Africa in one pack (and don't claim to) and the elements they have chosen, apart from the ancient Egyptian meerkat which is, frankly, ridiculous, are absolutely legitimate choices.

I'd go the same way they went with asia. We have two asian themes, both of which are region specific (Indian and East asian). When they did the SEA pack, it was a regional pack, not an "asia pack".

As the second largest continent, africa deserves a similar treatment. I'd go with an animal pack for sub-saharan, seeing as we already have a generalistic theme for sub-saharan africa. The north african theme would work better with its own pack, similar to the SEA pack in being regional. IE, I'd take the top regional choices from the meta wishlist (Fennec Fox, Scimitar Oryx, Hamadarayas Baboon, Dromedary/Addax) and make a suitable pack.

If the number of dlcs/appeal did not allow for a north africa/arabia pack, the region should have been skipped, rather than being represented with architecture but not with animals in a zoo game.

 

[NL_Mutso]

What people don't realize is that despite africa technically being one continent, the Sahars creates a huge cultural and ecological barrier, so north african cultures and ecology are much closer to european and middle eastern cultures and evosystems than they are to sub-saharan africa.

I wonder who those people would be
I'm pretty sure almost everyone from Europe knows the difference.


Like almost everyone else, i agree that the choice of the Meerkat statue is very debatable.
I look at it differently:

• You have building pieces that compliment the current African building choices (also culture/architecture)
• You have animals that compliment the current African animal roster

I don't necessarily see the need for building pieces that also connect to the animals in the DLC - as long as they connect with the general theme - Africa.

 

[FoxyDee]

Tbh I dont use the themed pieces much, but there will be alot of versatile options so it seems. Also:
1) You dont have to build enclosure for the animals from this pack strictly with these pieces. I dont plan to use much of the African theme in my European zoo, yet I dont feel restricted by it. I will build an african penguin with my usual, rock/conrete/wooden pieces just fine.
2) You can build a North African Zoo with these and still place any animals. Like...real life zoos usually have animals from all over the world, not just their regional animals.

 

[jcp011c]

I am so exicted, all sounds amazing. Since its release I've felt the Australian pack was my favorite pack, but I really think this pack is going to exceed that.

 

[biggest_dreamer]

I wonder who those people would be
I'm pretty sure almost everyone from Europe knows the difference.

Americans, certainly. I guarantee you that the vast majority of America's conceptions of Africa are entirely subsaharan.

 

[Firestar97]

How many new Plants are in the DLC (and especially in the free Update because I can't afford it at the Moment).

Also regarding People writing that there's only one Habitat Animal for the Egyptian Theme, we still have some Animals from the Base Game like the Cheetah, the Hippo and I assume Nile Monitors might also live in Egypt

 

[Doran]

How many new Plants are in the DLC

24 apparently (DLC).

 

[jtwhite5]

My whole philosophy is if you don't like it, don't use it

 

[yoav_r]

How many new Plants are in the DLC (and especially in the free Update because I can't afford it at the Moment).

Also regarding People writing that there's only one Habitat Animal for the Egyptian Theme, we still have some Animals from the Base Game like the Cheetah, the Hippo and I assume Nile Monitors might also live in Egypt

Unfortunately, of these only Nile monitors still live in Egypt, and they are much rarer there than they are in sub sharan africa. It has been centuries since cheetahs lived there, and millenia for hippos.

 

[Firestar97]

Unfortunately, of these only Nile monitors still live in Egypt, and they are much rarer there than they are in sub sharan africa. It has been centuries since cheetahs lived there, and millenia for hippos.

Ok, didn't know that they are extinct there

 

[KönigDerKaffeebohnen]

Unfortunately, of these only Nile monitors still live in Egypt, and they are much rarer there than they are in sub sharan africa. It has been centuries since cheetahs lived there, and millenia for hippos.

okay sorry, didnt knew that. But still the point still stands, that zoos have more then native animals, even if they use native architecture. If anything that helped the chances of multiple northafrican animals in an northafrica pack or something. Maybe we even get that elusive dromedary that is taunting us for a while now

 

[yoav_r]

okay sorry, didnt knew that. But still the point still stands, that zoos have more then native animals, even if they use native architecture. If anything that helped the chances of multiple northafrican animals in an northafrica pack or something. Maybe we even get that elusive dromedary that is taunting us for a while now

My hopes now is for a desert animal pack to cover the region, and maybe we could get the Emus on the way

 

[markun]

My whole philosophy is if you don't like it, don't use it

That's not very helpful. Constructive criticism is always legitimate.

 

[NZFanatic]

I still think the theme is too niche to be as versatile as they claim it to be, but I guess I'll have a better grasp of it when the pack drops. I find that I get more use out of the Arctic walls and beams than most of the other building sets because of how generic they are (and obviously the Aquatic pieces which were really great). Beyond scenery, I hardly use any of the other theme sets.

 

[Leaf Productions]

I think the theming is on-point still, and can't really see an argument against it. Just think of it as an Egyptian-based zoo, and they do their best to blend the animals in with the surroundings of the area it's based in. I've seen this in a ton of different zoo's and see various ways of integrating foreign animals within a regional locale. Look at Franklin Park Zoo's lion enclosure, it's turret of a tower is based off of more Celtic-looking origins, or rather something placed there from colonial America. And it fits really damn well for the King of the Jungle.

I feel like the North African theme is attempting to capture this unique perspective on scenery and try and flesh out a more culturally-distinct version rather than, what else would they have done? Mud-huts? We've already gotten that. Most of the rest of African architecture is either corrugated metal shacks to pseudo-modern high-rises that are virtually indistinguishable from Euro or American ones.

Yeah, sure, it would've been great to have more North African animals to compliment the theme, but what would you be wanting? It's a bit of a stretch as it is. Dromedary would've been cool, but besides that, the only thing that comes to mind are Aoudads and Scimitar-Horned Oryx. Meanwhile mods pretty much cover those damn well...

I think people are taking this "cultural insensitivity from meerkat statues" a little too far. Where were you guys when the Dall Sheep was on the banners for the Arctic Pack on Nordic Scenery? I don't see a problem with it since it's for a themed zoo based in Sub-Saharan Africa. We can tell from the screenshots and the trailers that this zoo that Frontier built is located in a sandy oasis, presumably within the span from Morocco to Egypt. It makes sense to have these scenery pieces around here to match the local cultures.

I think it looks incredible so far and cannot wait to use these pieces tomorrow. Sure, it's niche, but they're going to be versatile, I can just taste it. Look at the South America pack, with the rubble pieces. Most people wouldn't even touch them, but BroNation builders revitalized them by utilizing them for purposes of making rocks and pebbles. Look at the glory of the gutter pieces to be used to make things like stuffed animals to faux animals. These pieces I can already tell will be wonderful for purposes like these. Hell, even that big Meerkat statue will have a place in my zoo once I figure out the best way to use it.

There's more than one way to design and theme a habitat, and the more innovative solutions and approaches are often times the most incredible ones. Being able to manipulate scenery packs, match and mix them together to create a completely new product is a skill that I myself have been trying to cultivate and nearly perfect.

Whatever, I guess I'm just a little miffed as of late with people coming to quickly to tear this pack down before it even comes out. I think the team has done quite an exemplary job with everything thus far except for a few hiccups that I can overlook (That penguin looks too damn clean!) but other than that, tomorrow's going to be quite a fun day