A case for playgrounds

[random goat]

Well, it's something I've noticed since the game launched and I genuinely thought it would be added down the line, either in an update (hoped for the anniversary) or a paid DLC. It's been more than a year and to me, while not game breaking nor being super crucial to enjoy the game, it certainly distances the game from reality. Why are there no playgrounds? They're literally in every zoo, even the smallest one. Playgrounds are intrinsic elements to zoos.

I'm not even asking for super complex playgrounds that guests can interact with. It'd be perfectly fine if at least we had some simple slides or swings as decoration. For now I have used some custom playgrounds found on the workshop and I'm not gonna lie, they work wonders. But then again that shouldn't be the only way to get playgrounds in the game, as it happens with plushies, for instance. Adding at least simple playgrounds would definetely satisfy the more casual PZ players (presumably the majority of players) and also more dedicated ones mainly to avoid the high piece counts you find in the workshop versions.

If it's something planned for the future that's perfectly fine, even if it's paid content (I'd gladly pay). It'd just be good to know if the omission of playgrounds has been an oversight, if it's something that has been refused to be implemented or if we can expect something in the future.

Thanks!

 

[Aramar]

In my opinion, playgrounds are important, but not essential, so I think that we might get them at some point, but they are not a priority. Seeing how Frontier works, aiming always at the top quality, if we get playgrounds, they won't be just decoration. Visitors will use them, so that requieres new animations and a lot of work.

If I remember well, update 1.2 brought us the path improvement (I use a lot the 0.5 meter for elevated paths). Update 1.3 brought the colour variants which adds a lot to the game. Now update 1.4 brings educators and diving. These things were more urgent than playgrounds and I'm glad they were developed first. There are still some things I'd like to be implemented like brachiation, flying and new exhibit sizes. After that, I wouldn't mind getting playgrounds too.

 

[ElectricMonk]

I don’t think playgrounds will ever be a thing - guests are coded as groups and individuals can’t do different things or split from the group. The only way to make this work would be to let individuals break off from the group which would severely impact performance.

 

[SotF]

I don’t think playgrounds will ever be a thing - guests are coded as groups and individuals can’t do different things or split from the group. The only way to make this work would be to let individuals break off from the group which would severely impact performance.

Perhaps treat them like shops for the visible use, and have an effect on certain groups with it.

For things with it, brachiation might be a good thing to have before it and then add a "padded path" option that designates an area for a play area and you can assemble a playground from climbable objects and structures to count as a play area.

With things that I remember from the various zoos that I've been to, there could also be an education aspect to some of them by placement and design. The Cincinnati Zoo has a couple more normal play areas, but several are also ones designed to let kids mimic animal behaviors and play around with it such as monkey bars and the like along the primate trail. Things set up for interactions by the kids to try replicating what they might see some animals doing.

Playgrounds could be an interesting option for a feature for a petting zoo DLC, something aimed at being kids centric. Perhaps even put it in a spring DLC slot and have it also include an upgrade in breeding behavior with a nursery that can show off infants of various species in the zoo where you might have a building similar to a quarantine and have a parental rejection possibility, if it happens vets transfer the infant to the nursery until it reaches juvenile. The building might work as so many habitat/exhibits for infants with the potential to assign a Vet there to care for them as if it were a habitat/exhibit, and might draw a lot of attention from guests when animals are in it, but might need to be turned off when there isn't.