🍁Update 1.7 and North America Animal Pack Out Now!🍁

[Iben]

Why is the Underwater Herbivore Feeder a part of the free update and yet only the paid DLC North American beaver is the only animal that can use the Underwater Herbivore Feeder?

Regardless of any rumours, it just makes sense. Limiting it to this DLC would mean that any possible future animal that could use this feature would depend on the NAAP pack, which is not what you want. So it's just a way to make it future proof, it's not an indicator that we're going to get more animals that use it for sure, but it's just being smart about it

 

[DarthQuell]

Regardless of any rumours, it just makes sense. Limiting it to this DLC would mean that any possible future animal that could use this feature would depend on the NAAP pack, which is not what you want. So it's just a way to make it future proof, it's not an indicator that we're going to get more animals that use it for sure, but it's just being smart about it

Exactly. The capybara will likely use it.

But, don't forget, like how Frontier updated the cats and bears and crocodilians to deep dive and use the carnivorous underwater feeder, we may get some animals that eat plants updated to deep dive.

Maybe the hippo and likely the tapirs. Some have suggested the elephants, too.

We have no idea Frontier's plans. Like, we have a leak that says 5 more DLC are on the way. But, are these the last DLC? Or is Frontier planning to have a 4th year? Who knows.
I hope the game lasts for years, the support. Zoo Tycoon 2 lasted from 2004 to 2008, although it was a different company.
But, whatever they throw at us, I'm sure the general community will enjoy it

 

[DarthQuell]

I agree. I hope there’s an update that focuses on fixing the older animals in the game. The male lions mane would be a great start.

I can kinda see the stylized look of the lion and snow leopard. Necer seen it until recently.

Considering the community has asked for the base game big cats to not be stylized and for the camel and bison to be larger, and the Malayan tapir to be fixed, but the devs haven't done it: maybe they wanna do it all at once in a future update, like update 1.8?

Just a thought of why they haven't done it yet, yet they are listening to other suggestions

 

[Antmar97]

Considering the community has asked for the base game big cats to not be stylized and for the camel and bison to be larger, and the Malayan tapir to be fixed, but the devs haven't done it: maybe they wanna do it all at once in a future update, like update 1.8?

Or maybe never do it.

 

[DarthQuell]

Or maybe never do it.

Who knows. I'm just an optimistic person

 

[Sahara]

The lion and tapir have been talked about for a while now. If they still haven't done it I feel like it's because they don't want to.

 

[SalamAnders]

The lion and tapir have been talked about for a while now. If they still haven't done it I feel like it's because they don't want to.

We talked about the polar bear for longer than we have talked about the tapir so far. No reason to give up, just because it takes time.

 

[Sahara]

We talked about the polar bear for longer than we have talked about the tapir so far. No reason to give up, just because it takes time.

The polar bear required something simple; they just needed to change a value for its space requirement.

We're asking for new models for the lion, tapir, wolf, snow leopard and camel which is a lot more work

 

[SalamAnders]

The polar bear required something simple; they just needed to change a value for its space requirement.

We're asking for new models for the lion, tapir, wolf, snow leopard and camel which is a lot more work

How do you know that is a lot more work?
The binturong got more or less fixed over a weekend

 

[DarthQuell]

How do you know that is a lot more work?
The binturong got more or less fixed over a weekend

And that was far worse. AT least these other animals look like what they're supposed to. But the been-too-wrong binturong was just... (I thought it was ok at first, then I saw the improved model, and now the only reason I want the old model is for a raccoon dog)

 

[markun]

At least you could argue that the lion is a stylistic decision which one may or may not agree with.

The tapir however is just wrong, a direct reskin of a very different animal that was lazy and incorrect. And purple.

 

[yoav_r]

How do you know that is a lot more work?
The binturong got more or less fixed over a weekend

I call upon @Leaf Productions to impart his wisdom and tell us how much work would fixing these models take.

 

[yoav_r]

And that was far worse. AT least these other animals look like what they're supposed to. But the been-too-wrong binturong was just... (I thought it was ok at first, then I saw the improved model, and now the only reason I want the old model is for a raccoon dog)

TBH, the changes they did to fix the Binturong were minor model tweaks to facial features. It made a great difference because the original model fell into uncanny valley territory, not because it was hugely different rrom the end result.

You can check SEA pack videos of youtubers who got early access, before the fix, the overall model is nearly the same.

 

[NZFanatic]

TBH, the changes they did to fix the Binturong were minor model tweaks to facial features. It made a great difference because the original model fell into uncanny valley territory, not because it was hugely different rrom the end result.

Yep, that's what I always said, and I got yelled at for it.

The Malayan tapir probably needs a similar level of overhaul. Nothing excessive or major, just the mesh pulled in a different direction here and there, and if Frontier is being especially generous, a bit of a reshade of the colours to get rid of that purple tint.

 

[yoav_r]

Yep, that's what I always said, and I got yelled at for it.

The Malayan tapir probably needs a similar level of overhaul. Nothing excessive or major, just the mesh pulled in a different direction here and there, and if Frontier is being especially generous, a bit of a reshade of the colours to get rid of that purple tint.

The Malayan Tapir needs:

• Slightly larger model
• A bit bigger hind part of the body
• Slightly lower head
• Slightly longer snout
• Complete recolor (the purple tint is not the only problem, but also the gradient where the black and white meet, which does not exist ib real tapirs)

Considering someone made a much better MT mod prior to the SEA pack, I think it is very doable.

 

[DrStephenMeyer]

There is one thing missing in this pack and its the beaver eating wood and eating trees? They do this eveyday of their lives so can this be patched so they would seek out trees to cut down and used? Maybe have it so the beaver will make its own damn and home? Thanks!

 

[NZFanatic]

There is one thing missing in this pack and its the beaver eating wood and eating trees? They do this eveyday of their lives so can this be patched so they would seek out trees to cut down and used? Maybe have it so the beaver will make its own damn and home? Thanks!

Beavers only do this to stem the flow of running water. Zoos deliberately discourage it for management purposes.

 

[DrStephenMeyer]

Beavers only do this to stem the flow of running water. Zoos deliberately discourage it for management purposes.

Beavers do in fact eat wood, but it’s only one part of their diet. They eat leaves and plants as well, preferring herbaceous plants in the spring and summer. In the winter, they feed on woody plants and whatever they have stored away in their lodge. Their staple food for the winter is water lilies; the rhizomes stay edible through the cold months in the warmth of the beaver lodge, almost like potatoes in a root cellar. So while wood is one of their main food groups, it’s hardly the only thing they eat.

The game should at least have an option as not everyone built their zoo like a normal park and built it more like natural reserve. So it does need updating and patching so beavers will go out and collect these things to eat and to build their home.

They also become active at night. Their vision is poor; they take cues from the sun and use their whiskers to detect things. Beavers must be able to find objects in dark water and other dim areas such as their lodges. Their eyes have a special membrane that covers them while they are swimming underwater. With transparent membranes over their eyes, beavers can see very well under the water. Beaver’s ears contain valves that shut when they go underwater, and they have good hearing.

They are hard workers and operate 26-29 hours /day. Beavers stay busy in the fall gathering food for the winter.

This could be a daily activity that guest see of them eating and bringing down a tree.
Beavers can fell as many as 300 trees in a year! They are capable of felling an 8-foot tree in 5 minutes?

 

[ElectricMonk]

Beavers do in fact eat wood, but it’s only one part of their diet. They eat leaves and plants as well, preferring herbaceous plants in the spring and summer. In the winter, they feed on woody plants and whatever they have stored away in their lodge. Their staple food for the winter is water lilies; the rhizomes stay edible through the cold months in the warmth of the beaver lodge, almost like potatoes in a root cellar. So while wood is one of their main food groups, it’s hardly the only thing they eat.

Weeeeeeelll,... kind've. Beavers eat bark, not wood. In any case, this would require Frontier to create a falling animation and model for every model of every tree in the game as well as animations for beavers pulling each of these and then figuring out a way to get beavers to assess the size and shape of each piece to form into a dam, and find a suitable place to build a dam and then to completely rework the water system so that it could respond to the presence of the dam...... its not going to happen.

 

[DrStephenMeyer]

Weeeeeeelll,... kind've. Beavers eat bark, not wood. In any case, this would require Frontier to create a falling animation and model for every model of every tree in the game as well as animations for beavers pulling each of these and then figuring out a way to get beavers to assess the size and shape of each piece to form into a dam, and find a suitable place to build a dam and then to completely rework the water system so that it could respond to the presence of the dam...... its not going to happen.

It already has my friend with JW2 with the dino being wild? As this was a highly requested feature we fans been complaining about. It will improve the game play and create alot of challenges just look at the video of how much time fans put into creating the perfect park? There is just no reason why they can't update this sometime in the future.

Quotes from player who want this.

Maybe I'm picky but I miss seeing the animal interactions that my animals had with each other in Zoo Tycoon 2 and would like more in this new game. Like the nursing, playing, play fighting, and so on. Planet Zoos animals don't interact with each other that much, maybe a quick groom and the mating animation. Many animals have the same fighting for dominance animations. Maybe even a big cat marking territory on a bush/tree. Anything really to make them feel more alive. A canine or feline rolling around on the ground, stroking against something, a lion lying or standing and roaring to mark territory.

I spend a lot of time just watching the animals, but it's just them eating, pooping, walking, swimming, running. I want more animations, I really hope they will add more, do any of you agree?

Yeah I've seen those too, but while they happen I feel the game needs more animations to really bring life into the animals. Also I've found that the game speaks and praises itself on the realistic side of things, however the birds give birth to live chicks and their poo is not bird poop, even Zoo Tycoon 2 got that part right ' I feel like they could edit or add to the game. Maybe they will in the future.

The Indian elephants in particular seem to have a real problem with this (at least in my game.) I've played since release and in all that time and multiple generations I've never seen them do anything except mate, eat, poop, and wander around the enclosure without ever acknowledging each other.

I've only ever seen one interaction between African elephant adults and calves and nothing between adults except mating.

Most other species I've seen have at least a couple of interactions (except the primates, they seem to have the same issue.)

I hope they add more enrichment items that can cause more animations to play for most animals in the future. Perhaps have an enrichment item where it's like a little stand/pedestal where some confident animals can be shown off by a Keeper who is educating the guests. It'd act both as a cool interactions, and perhaps the guests viewing the show can get more educated too! I think that would be really cool! They technically already do this in real zoo's.. so I'd fit right into this game.

Yes that would be awesome, if we ever get like otters or sealions. Also cool if like the guest could try to tug on a rope vs a tiger or lion. Amazing if we could get like shows in the zoo, like "soon the cheetah run show will begin"

I’ve noticed a lot of the appeal of PZ is a focus on building, much like PC, but creating natural wonders and amazing habitats and things for the animals. But does anyone think maybe there could be more things for the guests to do?

I live in Illinois, USA, and the Brookfield Zoo is a major source of inspiration for me. We have things like playgrounds for kids, splash zone and misters for guests to cool off, and even special zones for guests to pay extra - a kid’s play-zone, a stingray touch experience, a butterfly house, and lots of silly things like cut-out photo ops or “see if your hand fits a gorilla hand!” type educational spots.

I feel like, with all the focus on conservation and education, I would love PZ to open up to more “attractions” type spots like in PC. I want to see them do more than...walk around, cheer, sit, or eat. It would be so fun!!