I Play...
- Thread starter SirTophamHatt
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Since by now we can pick and choose pretty much every single game aspect in Sandbox, this has become my preferred mode, particularly since I currently have an extremely unreliable internet connection. I tried the Conservation DLC map (what a great map that is!) in Challenge mode and found myself severely handicapped by having only a single animal or a single gender of many species available over long periods of time. That basically forced me to place certain species instead of those I actually wanted. Too frustrating!
I like the challenge, so I play SB with most requirements activated except for: security/pickpockets (this is a non-challenge in Franchise because you can just place cameras with overlapping radius everywhere), the shelter requirement (having to build huge shelters for even small animals often ruins the more natural look of the habitats I try to achieve), and because I’m just plain lazy (again a non-challenge in Franchise) the necessity of power and water facilities. The only option that still needs to be added to Sandbox is the ability to turn off the decaying interest of enrichment items, particularly for monkeys and similar animals that barely have enough items even with everything researched.
I also love the scenarios, but take my time with the timed scenarios. The maps, zoo setups and their challenges are simply too beautiful to not use.
I like the challenge, so I play SB with most requirements activated except for: security/pickpockets (this is a non-challenge in Franchise because you can just place cameras with overlapping radius everywhere), the shelter requirement (having to build huge shelters for even small animals often ruins the more natural look of the habitats I try to achieve), and because I’m just plain lazy (again a non-challenge in Franchise) the necessity of power and water facilities. The only option that still needs to be added to Sandbox is the ability to turn off the decaying interest of enrichment items, particularly for monkeys and similar animals that barely have enough items even with everything researched.
I also love the scenarios, but take my time with the timed scenarios. The maps, zoo setups and their challenges are simply too beautiful to not use.
I find this quite interesting to be honest, mostly because the reason why i play franchise over the other modes is that i find neither challange or meaningfull management decisions in it.
I often talked about different things i highly dislike about it, most notably cs and the tradecenter, because i even find challange mode quite easy, but not in a good way.
Its easy to build a functioning zoo, but its hard to actually enjoy the experience, as intricate builds tend to be punished, meanwhile literally just putting down a large fence with enritchment food and a copypaste shelter is the optimal amd mind nummingly easy way to play.
Space isnt an issue, money is only an issue if you overinvest into your builds, animals also arnt if you are open to have any animals.
And if something goes wrong, just use the trade center to fix everything without any upkeep cost.
So we got a game mode that punishes detailed building, heavily favors low effort habitats and favors cheese even stronger.
For franchise the same deal, just that time also isnt an issue.
You can literally place a foodcourt, some exhibits and something that breeds alot and doesnt kill each other in a large habitat and go afk.
Comeback 3 hours later and you got a bunch of cp and money literally without effort to be able to start building.
Both game modes in my opinion fail to actually incentivise the player to build a beautiful and well thought out zoo and rather favor cheese and minimal effort, making going afk the literal best strategie when starting of a new franchise.
Ofcourse you still can build a beautiful well thought out zoo, but i can do that in sandbox without being punished for it and being able to deactivate all if the janky ass annoying mechanics that add nothing but tedium to the game.
I wish this game had a better management side to it, but rn all i see are bare bones systems asking for being cheesed while punishing the player for doing whats actually good and fun in the game, which is the building system.
Its just so weird how one side of the game is fantastic and the other just so terribly lacking
Agree with everything you said except this…. Money isn’t an issue even if you spend a lot on builds since there’s no increase on upkeep based on complexity. Money simply isn’t an issue in any mode.
But Konig, maybe it's because some of us want to be punished.....
PZ be like: Quell, if you build this two feet too small, your warthogs will get mad and protestors will come
Quell: naahhhh. Proceeds to make it two feet too small
PZ: Prepare to die
PZ be like: Quell, if you build this two feet too small, your warthogs will get mad and protestors will come
Quell: naahhhh. Proceeds to make it two feet too small
PZ: Prepare to die
Look, i like when games punish me, i like challanging games.
But planet zoo isnt challanging, its tedious.
Some of my favorite video games are the monster hunter games, specificly the older titles.
These games can be stupid annoying jank sometimes, often punishing you hard for slight mistakes and when unlucky even for things you do not have controll over, atleast thats what it can feel like in the moment.
But thats wrong. In most moments you had controll and the only reason you lost it was because of your mistake.
These games can get really sweaty, monster are really tough and often you have to beat them multiple times to actually get what you want, needing you to consistently beat them without relying on one lucky hunt.
You have to learn the monsters, learn their patterns, learn what items to bring and when to use them, get better at the game and at some point you have masterd the monster and it looks easy amd maybe even feels easy when you fight it thanks to your hard work.
You got a goal, you need to overcome something, get better at it till you become a master and make it look easy.
Thats good challanging gameplay.
We actually have that in planet zoo, it pretty much describes the skill curve of learning how to build.
This game allows a mastery if its in depth building system like no other game and thats why i love it, thats what got me hooked.
But the management side?
What is there to get good at?
Not build realistic habitats?
You can start the hardest challange and beat it no problem even as a novice at the game without even attempting to use the games in depth systems.
Just place a fence, some enritchment, a blueprint shelter, copy that and repeat.
What challange is that?
What skill curve is here?
What game mechanic am i here to master?
To lower my personal standards for my zoos?
And before you say that doesnt work yes it does.
I know because i unlocked most of the statues that way, most instead of all because this process was just downright boring and needlessly time consuming.
And what about the punishments? What happens?
A number goes in the red and loud noisy protestors spawn.
Thats it. Thats how the game punishes not adheering to its at time rediculous requirements. Spamming you with notifications and bunch of loud annoying but in the end meaningless protestors.
If the game was more realistic and had more indepth management i would use my security that just sits around all day anyways and throw them out. Maybe get an actual punishment like bad press and less visitors for it.
I would have done an actual meaningfull management decision of how to deal with a problem that has consequences.
Something i never had to face before in the game after over 300 hours.
By now im pretty much just ranting, so ill stop here, but i think i made my point clear.
Im honest, i wouldnt mind instead of an animal dlc to just get a giga management update, not dlc because having an dlc to give the game your market and sell as a management game actual indepth management would just be scummy.
Thank you for coming to my ted talk
But planet zoo isnt challanging, its tedious.
Some of my favorite video games are the monster hunter games, specificly the older titles.
These games can be stupid annoying jank sometimes, often punishing you hard for slight mistakes and when unlucky even for things you do not have controll over, atleast thats what it can feel like in the moment.
But thats wrong. In most moments you had controll and the only reason you lost it was because of your mistake.
These games can get really sweaty, monster are really tough and often you have to beat them multiple times to actually get what you want, needing you to consistently beat them without relying on one lucky hunt.
You have to learn the monsters, learn their patterns, learn what items to bring and when to use them, get better at the game and at some point you have masterd the monster and it looks easy amd maybe even feels easy when you fight it thanks to your hard work.
You got a goal, you need to overcome something, get better at it till you become a master and make it look easy.
Thats good challanging gameplay.
We actually have that in planet zoo, it pretty much describes the skill curve of learning how to build.
This game allows a mastery if its in depth building system like no other game and thats why i love it, thats what got me hooked.
But the management side?
What is there to get good at?
Not build realistic habitats?
You can start the hardest challange and beat it no problem even as a novice at the game without even attempting to use the games in depth systems.
Just place a fence, some enritchment, a blueprint shelter, copy that and repeat.
What challange is that?
What skill curve is here?
What game mechanic am i here to master?
To lower my personal standards for my zoos?
And before you say that doesnt work yes it does.
I know because i unlocked most of the statues that way, most instead of all because this process was just downright boring and needlessly time consuming.
And what about the punishments? What happens?
A number goes in the red and loud noisy protestors spawn.
Thats it. Thats how the game punishes not adheering to its at time rediculous requirements. Spamming you with notifications and bunch of loud annoying but in the end meaningless protestors.
If the game was more realistic and had more indepth management i would use my security that just sits around all day anyways and throw them out. Maybe get an actual punishment like bad press and less visitors for it.
I would have done an actual meaningfull management decision of how to deal with a problem that has consequences.
Something i never had to face before in the game after over 300 hours.
By now im pretty much just ranting, so ill stop here, but i think i made my point clear.
Im honest, i wouldnt mind instead of an animal dlc to just get a giga management update, not dlc because having an dlc to give the game your market and sell as a management game actual indepth management would just be scummy.
Thank you for coming to my ted talk
Pretty much exclusively sandbox at this point. I played franchise at the beginning and have a ton of ccs but I'm not especially fond of management games in general (which is why I'm glad that the management here is so simple) but the space requirements and the escape through building item glitch really annoy me. I also really don't like that most of the management is focused on guest needs and details, not the animals (I really don't care how much money is in every pocket for every guest, dang it).
I play the various challenges just enough to get the statues (or I did before I used the mod that lets me access them from the get-go).
I play the various challenges just enough to get the statues (or I did before I used the mod that lets me access them from the get-go).
Franchise 90%
I have all the normal scenarios done on hard mode and I've done the timed ones but only on easy.
Sandbox and challenge I have played very occasionally. In sandbox it is usually because I want to experiment with or build something in franchise and want to test how it could be done.
Challenge mode I use if I want to really limit myself on animal availability.
I have all the normal scenarios done on hard mode and I've done the timed ones but only on easy.
Sandbox and challenge I have played very occasionally. In sandbox it is usually because I want to experiment with or build something in franchise and want to test how it could be done.
Challenge mode I use if I want to really limit myself on animal availability.
Money is only an issue in the early game, but once you start getting animals your money only goes up. The only caveat is if you start with an animal who's food requires a ton of $$. One time I started with a pride of 7-8 lions as my first animal. I quickly went deep into the red and even loans couldn't save me. I ended up having to just start a new zoo.
But yeah. Once you've got 4-5 habitats and some exhibits you will never have to worry about money again.
I play sandbox for multiple reasons. After doing the first three career scenarios I wanted to just play but I am terrible at building. I downloaded a couple of sandbox zoos but I use/change settings as if I was in another mode. I soon found that sandbox zoos are absolutely wonderful to use for learning experiences. Small things can be accomplished like adding donations bins if they aren't present, to the breeding/management of species. They are definitely helpful with habitat inspiration. I learned enough to do the 4th scenario where building is concerned but did not like the restriction of no terrain tool availability.
The bottom line now is that I am so grateful to those who share their zoos on the workshop and how much they have helped me with the game in multiple ways. I'm totally addicted to them. I've just spent three weeks getting one that I downloaded to a playable, profitable stage and thoroughly enjoyed every hour spent doing so. I respect the time creators put into making a zoo they share and find ways to mix species or find a way to make subtle changes that don't mean that I wreck their vision. I've also got some starter zoos that I am now enlarging by making myself build to get better. It's the sandbox zoos that have encouraged me to try and I won't give them up.
I do have every intent to complete the career scenarios but am unsure of trying the challenge ones yet. I'm still unsure about jumping into franchise due to building skills but the awesome thing about the game is that we have all these modes to choose from. No rush to have to make any decisions necessary, and the right to change one's mind is always an option.
The bottom line now is that I am so grateful to those who share their zoos on the workshop and how much they have helped me with the game in multiple ways. I'm totally addicted to them. I've just spent three weeks getting one that I downloaded to a playable, profitable stage and thoroughly enjoyed every hour spent doing so. I respect the time creators put into making a zoo they share and find ways to mix species or find a way to make subtle changes that don't mean that I wreck their vision. I've also got some starter zoos that I am now enlarging by making myself build to get better. It's the sandbox zoos that have encouraged me to try and I won't give them up.
I do have every intent to complete the career scenarios but am unsure of trying the challenge ones yet. I'm still unsure about jumping into franchise due to building skills but the awesome thing about the game is that we have all these modes to choose from. No rush to have to make any decisions necessary, and the right to change one's mind is always an option.
Almost always sandbox, to build my dream zoo and watch my animals interact with each other and their environments!
Every now and then I play challenge, usually when I’m having a creative block and sandbox feels overwhelming. Then I love the management aspects and growing my zoo from humble beginnings.
Every now and then I play challenge, usually when I’m having a creative block and sandbox feels overwhelming. Then I love the management aspects and growing my zoo from humble beginnings.
I am quite a noob, having only had the game for 6 weeks! I started with some scenarios and enjoyed those so have done them all. I tried a couple of timed scenarios and found them really stressful!! @Jileha when you say you take your time with them, do you mean you just ignore the timer altogether and play them for as long as you like? I hadn't though about doing that. I don't really want the other statues as I only like them in stone or bronze anyway.
I have opened a few Franchise zoos but my building skills are terrible at the moment and I don't really know what I should be doing. Do Franchise players make their zoos all fancy like Sandbox zoos or is it more a case of plopping stuff down to make it successful financially? My two zoos now have quite a bit of money so I went back in to try and make them more fancy but it feels difficult because of how everything was laid out when the zoo was poor.
@PenguinPal would you mind explaining what you do with downloaded zoos? I kind of got the impression that people only made sandbox zoos to look fancy and they were not really playable without a huge amount of stuff turned off.
I have opened a few Franchise zoos but my building skills are terrible at the moment and I don't really know what I should be doing. Do Franchise players make their zoos all fancy like Sandbox zoos or is it more a case of plopping stuff down to make it successful financially? My two zoos now have quite a bit of money so I went back in to try and make them more fancy but it feels difficult because of how everything was laid out when the zoo was poor.
@PenguinPal would you mind explaining what you do with downloaded zoos? I kind of got the impression that people only made sandbox zoos to look fancy and they were not really playable without a huge amount of stuff turned off.
When I 1st started franchise, I just plopped down what I could to make a profit.
Over time, as my skills improved, I've made my zoos look nicer and fancier.
It just takes a bit of patience and practice
Just do what you think is most fun ^^
For some starter tips, if you got the arctic dlc the woodset is really really great for getting into building as it makes creating pretty lowkey looking buildings and stables
Sandbox for my primary focus.
Franchise for having a bit of a challenge, and connecting a lot more with a zoo growing.
Challenge if I feel like doing Franchise but with the forbidden mods!
Career for just getting achievements lol
Franchise for having a bit of a challenge, and connecting a lot more with a zoo growing.
Challenge if I feel like doing Franchise but with the forbidden mods!
Career for just getting achievements lol
Welcome!
Many longtime franchise players do indeed make their franchise zoos just as beautiful and complex and detailed as sandbox zoos. (Just as there are some sandbox players who may choose to only use prefabs or keep everything very basic out of personal preference). It may require more time, and a different type of planning, but it is definitely possible.
The choice of which mode to play in is really more about which elements (and how many) you want to consider, manage, plan for, and engage with at any given time (and which ones you don't). But once you've made that choice, it's up to each player to decide how deeply they are going to engage with each element during any given session. You'll get better and better at those elements that you choose to engage with deeply, regardless of which mode you're using to accomplish them.
Of course, the opposite can be true as well. If there's an element you don't happen to enjoy, you're going to be more likely to think of it as tedious (a detailed and time consuming task that you don't happen to enjoy) instead of intricate (a detailed and time consuming task that you do happen to enjoy). You might be less likely to engage as deeply with that element, learn less about the details of how that mechanic works, and spend less time mastering it and considering how it interacts with the rest of the game.
Some players enjoy some aspects of the game but not others, and so they will gravitate to those modes and/or play styles within a mode that allow them to do more of what they happen to enjoy, and focus less (or not at all) on what they don't. Other players want to use all of the game elements and game mechanics that are available in franchise, and over time they can get quite good at becoming experts in all of them, both individually and together, and keeping them all balanced.
Great post!
For an example with me, im a builder, i like intricat and detailed building, but i dont see the points in genetics.
Its to much of a hazzle for to little of value gained, especally the larger the zoo is.
Try to have peacocks, nile monitors and similar for multiple hours without just giving up, but while i find it tedious, annoying and not worth the effort, somebody else might love micro managing the hell out of it.
To each their own