Europe pack: megathread

[SalamAnders]

I wouldn't mind a Europe Pack being 4+1, and maybe let it be the last scenery heavy pack. It doesn't have to add a new full building set, but just let it be heavy on props especially useful for staff, guest and behind the scenes areas. I really think that is what we lack at this point, as well as more plants and such.
And since Europe has a long history of zoo building, I think it would make sense to add it in this pack.

After that I think most of the important stuff could be slowly added through free updates, like we have seen before with the mesh pieces and such. Then there should be room for more European species in future packs, I don't have a big need to see them all added at once.

 

[Sclurp]

I'm just gonna say I don't want a European pack...I want aviaries.

 

[Antmar97]

I'm just gonna say I don't want a European pack...I want aviaries.

Why no both?

 

[Sclurp]

Why no both?

I want all future DLC packs to be aviary packs...This is most certainly not a cassowary typing this...ahem...

 

[Pentoleaf]

Given the pattern of releasing packs which are somewhat weather themed (hot climate animals in the spring/summer and cold weather animals in the fall/winter) I would be unsurprised if a "European pack", if we get one, is still a year and an entire dlc cycle away.

I expect the next few packs to be:

WINTER something related to birds/flying mechanics

SPRING rainforest/tropical biome, including the much desired Capybara and the maccaws and toucans who were conspicuously absent from the aviary pack

SUMMER desert biome, starring That Damn Camel and burrowing owls

FALL temperate/alpine biome starring lynx, deer, and golden eagle

WINTER some kind of random conservation pack that throws together whatever the last seven highest ranked animals are.

 

[Fabian]

Given the pattern of releasing packs which are somewhat weather themed (hot climate animals in the spring/summer and cold weather animals in the fall/winter) I would be unsurprised if a "European pack", if we get one, is still a year and an entire dlc cycle away.

I expect the next few packs to be:

WINTER something related to birds/flying mechanics

SPRING rainforest/tropical biome, including the much desired Capybara and the maccaws and toucans who were conspicuously absent from the aviary pack

SUMMER desert biome, starring That Damn Camel and burrowing owls

FALL temperate/alpine biome starring lynx, deer, and golden eagle

WINTER some kind of random conservation pack that throws together whatever the last seven highest ranked animals are.

I have absolutely nothing to back this up, but I can easily imagine this to be the case if Frontier's original plan was to offer support for three years with twelve DLC packs plus the Arctic pack which honestly feels like it was meant to part of the base game, but separated upon release so they'd have something to boost Christmas sales (also due to the close proximity of base game release + Arctic DLC release).

In that scenario, of course, 2020 would have seen four DLCs, with Australia in early Summer (similar to this year's Africa Pack) and another pack in September/October. My theory is that when they realized due to lockdown restrictions/home office they wouldn't be able to release four packs, one DLC had to be either postponed or scrapped, and out of all the planned packs, Europe does seem the least attractive when it comes to expected sales.

The question is, if that theory really was true (and we'll probably never know), will a Europe DLC still appear sometime down the road, or was it cancelled without substitution, with its animals appearing step by step in different packs? Biome packs for next year seem the most logical step following continental packs, and your tropical+desert+temperate/taiga expectation seems the most sensible assumption. Just adding my two cents here with a theory that is most likely false anyway, but might offer an indication on whether a Europe pack could be expected.

 

[yoav_r]

I have absolutely nothing to back this up, but I can easily imagine this to be the case if Frontier's original plan was to offer support for three years with twelve DLC packs plus the Arctic pack which honestly feels like it was meant to part of the base game, but separated upon release so they'd have something to boost Christmas sales (also due to the close proximity of base game release + Arctic DLC release).

In that scenario, of course, 2020 would have seen four DLCs, with Australia in early Summer (similar to this year's Africa Pack) and another pack in September/October. My theory is that when they realized due to lockdown restrictions/home office they wouldn't be able to release four packs, one DLC had to be either postponed or scrapped, and out of all the planned packs, Europe does seem the least attractive when it comes to expected sales.

The question is, if that theory really was true (and we'll probably never know), will a Europe DLC still appear sometime down the road, or was it cancelled without substitution, with its animals appearing step by step in different packs? Biome packs for next year seem the most logical step following continental packs, and your tropical+desert+temperate/taiga expectation seems the most sensible assumption. Just adding my two cents here with a theory that is most likely false anyway, but might offer an indication on whether a Europe pack could be expected.

There is also the recurring option of a nocturnal pack, and more niche stuff like an exhibit pack.

 

[DarthQuell]

I think another factor is the following: how likely is a European pack?
I see rumors saying that it'll never happen, which doesn't make sense, really.

Now, I also noticed that they're sneakily adding in European animals through other packs. NA gave us the moose, Arctic gave us the reindeer (polar bears are occasionally in Iceland, but that's not their natural range, right?)
Aquatic gave us the gray seal.
Plus, we have the gray wolf (unless they rename it to a specific NA subspecies) and we have the American look-a-likes of European species (bison and beaver).

So, what do y'all think?

 

[yoav_r]

I think another factor is the following: how likely is a European pack?
I see rumors saying that it'll never happen, which doesn't make sense, really.

Now, I also noticed that they're sneakily adding in European animals through other packs. NA gave us the moose, Arctic gave us the reindeer (polar bears are occasionally in Iceland, but that's not their natural range, right?)
Aquatic gave us the gray seal.
Plus, we have the gray wolf (unless they rename it to a specific NA subspecies) and we have the American look-a-likes of European species (bison and beaver).

So, what do y'all think?

I wrote it elsewhere, but we currently have 7+1 european species:

1. Timber wolf
2. flamingo
3. reindeer
4. polar bear
5. grey seal
6. moose
7. arctic fox
8. Sacred scarab beetle (exhibit)

While most of these are not really associated with classical western europe, it's still a whole animal pack worth of animals, and far better than what Oceania and the middle east have.

 

[KönigDerKaffeebohnen]

I think another factor is the following: how likely is a European pack?
I see rumors saying that it'll never happen, which doesn't make sense, really.

Now, I also noticed that they're sneakily adding in European animals through other packs. NA gave us the moose, Arctic gave us the reindeer (polar bears are occasionally in Iceland, but that's not their natural range, right?)
Aquatic gave us the gray seal.
Plus, we have the gray wolf (unless they rename it to a specific NA subspecies) and we have the American look-a-likes of European species (bison and beaver).

So, what do y'all think?

i agree on the beaver (they are actually identical on a level, that you need gene tests to differienciate between the subspecies), but i fight you and anybody else on the bison. I can clearly see the difference betweent the wisent and american bison + the wisent deserves a spot as one of the last large european mammals and being a posterchild for conservation through zoos.

Also

If we get seperate elephants, chimpanzees and tigers, this one is fair game as well.

 

[yoav_r]

If we get seperate elephants, chimpanzees and tigers, this one is fair game as well.

Fair game is why they are both endangered in the first place.

 

[KönigDerKaffeebohnen]

Fair game is why they are both endangered in the first place.

You have a very crude humor. I like it

 

[Aramar]

i agree on the beaver (they are actually identical on a level, that you need gene tests to differienciate between the subspecies),

When I was looking information about beavers (because I don't know much about them) I found this image explaining the differences. I don't how accurate it is though.

This site has interesting information about the beaver situation in Finland, where the American beaver is an invasive species and the local beaver is struggling: https://www.luke.fi/en/natural-resources/game-and-hunting/beavers/

 

[DarthQuell]

i agree on the beaver (they are actually identical on a level, that you need gene tests to differienciate between the subspecies), but i fight you and anybody else on the bison. I can clearly see the difference betweent the wisent and american bison + the wisent deserves a spot as one of the last large european mammals and being a posterchild for conservation through zoos.

Also

View attachment 265546 View attachment 265547

If we get seperate elephants, chimpanzees and tigers, this one is fair game as well.

Seeing them side by side, wow, that is a big difference

 

[yoav_r]

Seeing them side by side, wow, that is a big difference

Do note the drawing is a deliberate caricature. The actual animals are much harder to identify apart from each other.

 

[DarthQuell]

Do note the drawing is a deliberate caricature. The actual animals are much harder to identify apart from each other.

Well, I mean, duh. I knew that chuckles

 

[DragonNTiger]

For summary, we currently have 7+1 european species:

1. Timber wolf
2. flamingo
3. reindeer
4. polar bear
5. grey seal
6. moose
7. arctic fox
8. Sacred scarab beetle (exhibit)

So what? Africa and Asia had way more animals from the very start, and they got their own DLC packs... furthermore none of those animals are exclusive to Europe... some of them aren't even associated with Europe. And while we're on the subject, between the Aquatic DLC and the Arctic DLC, America already has a DLC, but here we are getting a whole animal pack. This ongoing effort to dismiss Europe as somehow unworthy of a DLC pack because it doesn't appeal to your interests is getting kind of silly...

 

[yoav_r]

So what? Africa and Asia had way more animals from the very start, and they got their own DLC packs... furthermore none of those animals are exclusive to Europe... some of them aren't even associated with Europe. This ongoing effort to dismiss Europe as somehow unworthy of a DLC pack because it doesn't appeal to your demands is getting kind of silly...

And of the "South american" animals only 5 actually live in south america. The rest are central american/galapagos. I'm not discrediting anything, and I'd love a europe pack, I just don't like the recent push to it as if it's the only region with lacking representation.

And regarding animals exclusive to Europe, most european animals are not endemic to europe, so even if we get a european pack most enimals would still not be exclusively european.

 

[FoxyDee]

I think a Spring time would be perfect for a European DLC. With a nice spring forest thematic it could be a quite a nice dlc.
As for the animals my picks would be:

1. Eurasian Lynx

2. Red Deer

3. European Badger

4. Red Fox

5. Alpine Ibex

6. Wolverine

7. Crested Porcupine (ok, this one is a bit of far fetched, but still a way to introduce them to the game, they are present in Italy)

 

[yoav_r]

I think a Spring time would be perfect for a European DLC. With a nice spring forest thematic it could be a quite a nice dlc.
As for the animals my picks would be:

1. Eurasian Lynx

2. Red Deer

3. European Badger

4. Red Fox

5. Alpine Ibex

6. Wolverine

7. Crested Porcupine (ok, this one is a bit of far fetched, but still a way to introduce them to the game, they are present in Italy)

Great choices! I wander if Frontier will keep with the spring=tropical pattern, which would put europe next autumn, or break the pattern for europe.