I would be so excited for this pack! Monkeys are the only thing i still need for my zoo. But it would never happen cause a lot of players probably wouldnt buy it, cause it is all primates..
DLC18 discussion and predictions
- Thread starter Leaf Productions
- Start date
Look in the last packs almost every time people talk about missing animals and what should've been in the pack, there is almost always mention of a bird, and a pretty popular one at that. With the barnyard, duck was missing, Eurasia - a pheasant or monal, from the Oceania pack budgies, Arid - Secretary bird, Tropical - any tropical bird in general, Grasslands Secretary again, Wetlands - pelican, swan or duck, and so on. So if these species were all requested at some point in time, why wouldn't it make sense to make a pack giving them all out at once?
Yes I agree that anything like a primate pack or whatever kind of specific group pack would not be for everyone, and yes it could end up the same way for a birds pack, BUT isn't that the case for any of the packs? There will always be a portion of the audience that doesn't like the pack, frontiers goal every time is to make that portion as small as possible so the majority will want to get the pack. A birds pack while not including free flying birds, would still round up a lot of species that people have wanted in previous packs all the way back to 2020 not getting stuff like the emu in Australia, which even though we got some of these requests later on, it still shows that people really wanted them.
I think as time goes on pack by pack, especially with packs that had habitat birds, people slowly start to accept that maybe we won't get a free flying birds pack, but they still want more birds in general even on land. Now that they have waited so long for people to start to accept this, the backlash for a ground birds animal pack wouldn't be anywhere near as bad as barnyard or other contraversial packs, assuming its not the last pack - but even if it is, would it be that bad?
Ground birds are very unique and diverse too, most are interchangable in size, behavior, colour, location, and a lot are requested. I don't see them all as 1 group because they are so different from eachother. For example, we could get the Secretary Bird, Ground Hornbill and the Greater Rhea in the same pack, and all 3 would be way different from eachother with 1 being from SA and the other 2 being different sizes and liking different living quarters. Secretaries like to live in solitary while Hornbills can be combined with several other animals.
Yes I agree that anything like a primate pack or whatever kind of specific group pack would not be for everyone, and yes it could end up the same way for a birds pack, BUT isn't that the case for any of the packs? There will always be a portion of the audience that doesn't like the pack, frontiers goal every time is to make that portion as small as possible so the majority will want to get the pack. A birds pack while not including free flying birds, would still round up a lot of species that people have wanted in previous packs all the way back to 2020 not getting stuff like the emu in Australia, which even though we got some of these requests later on, it still shows that people really wanted them.
I think as time goes on pack by pack, especially with packs that had habitat birds, people slowly start to accept that maybe we won't get a free flying birds pack, but they still want more birds in general even on land. Now that they have waited so long for people to start to accept this, the backlash for a ground birds animal pack wouldn't be anywhere near as bad as barnyard or other contraversial packs, assuming its not the last pack - but even if it is, would it be that bad?
Ground birds are very unique and diverse too, most are interchangable in size, behavior, colour, location, and a lot are requested. I don't see them all as 1 group because they are so different from eachother. For example, we could get the Secretary Bird, Ground Hornbill and the Greater Rhea in the same pack, and all 3 would be way different from eachother with 1 being from SA and the other 2 being different sizes and liking different living quarters. Secretaries like to live in solitary while Hornbills can be combined with several other animals.
conceptually I dont mind them its a great way to boost a groups quickly but just imagine how disappointed people here would be if it were say ungulates or carnivorans that got that kind of pack. The only issue I have with taxonomic group packs is the timing if the were released at a different schedule then I would be fine but waiting 3,6,9 months depending on someones preferences to have a useable pack is not going to sit right with many. Diversity helps the packs apply to a broader group people may only buy the pack for one animal if they are all the same animal in peoples mind people wont buy it.
If they released more frequently and asynchronous form other packs likely containing alot more easy to produce clone animals I would welcome this change but taking the place of a traditionally themed pack is a horrendous marketing decision.
They only ones that could work based on public perception is mammals since that has already been proven and probably birds.
Hey gang I had a hunch this morning
Petting zoos were a requested feature, maybe this year frontier wants to go after big new features as opposed to basic packs although resulting in dlcs every 4 months like in 2020.
I have a feeling that next dlc will give us playgrounds. The petting zoos seem to show us that frontier is updating guests behavior and things they can do. And perhaps the inclusion of monkey bars will suggest a brachiating animal incoming.
Petting zoos were a requested feature, maybe this year frontier wants to go after big new features as opposed to basic packs although resulting in dlcs every 4 months like in 2020.
I have a feeling that next dlc will give us playgrounds. The petting zoos seem to show us that frontier is updating guests behavior and things they can do. And perhaps the inclusion of monkey bars will suggest a brachiating animal incoming.
You raise some really interesting points. Particularly about diversity.
But it's all about choice for me. If you were to poll people and ask if they would be willing to sacrifice a shot at any of the other animals (mammals, reptiles) at the top of their wish lists in exchange for an all bird pack without flighted birds... I'd bet most would say "no." Because people want birds but they don't want them as much as a new monkey, coati, walrus, tree kangaroo, etc.
Mind you, I'm not calling into question whether or not this would be a cool pack that I'd enjoy personally because... I would. Haha. I wouldn't trade it for a shot at the mammals but I definitely wouldn't be mad at it! And I'd defend it. I just think the general public probably would if it were the last pack. Aviaries/flighted birds would change this, obviously, but without that I think response wouldn't be great. At first, anyway.
But this entire conversation has made me realize how much I regret not putting the hornbill in my wishlist. Man, those things are gorgeous!
Taxonomic Packs I would be excited about (roughly in order of preference):
- Primate Pack: Baboon, Guereza, Spider Monkey, Howler Monkey, Tamarins, Asian Monkey(s), etc. There are so many great ones missing. A pack to throw in some basics would be great. Old and new world monkeys could honestly fill a pack each.
- Avian Pack: Pelican, Duck, Caribean bird, Rhea, African bird, Golden Pheasant, North American Temperate bird (probably turkey), many possibilities if they ever start added WE birds
- Waterfowl Pack: Even though it would be super repetitive, I would happily buy a pack with a black swan, a good selection of ducks, and maybe a goose.
- Flying birds could be their own pack but would be stronger with a few habitat animals.
- There are enough habitat options for two very solid habitat bird packs.
- Bear Mini pack: ABB, Spectacled Bear, EBB, and maybe a plain Moon/Asiatic Black bear. I doubt this would be $10, but completing the bears would make me very happy. Even as a non-European, I'm not deeply opposed to the EBB as long as we get the spectacled and ABB, too.
- Cat Pack: Serval, Ocelot/margay, Pallas's Cat, Fishing Cat, European wild cat, bobcat/Canadian Lynx, Golden Cat? (an aardwolf, civet(s), a big cat subspecies, or perhaps a mongoose could replace one of the last 3) I know this wouldn't be everyone's favorite, but I would love it. I like cats, and they are very prevalent in the zoos I've attended.
- Fish Pack: I don't think it's going to happen, but koi and some Amazon river giants would be cool.
- Reptile pack: Spurred Tortoise, African Croc, Australian Monitor, etc. with a bunch of exhibit reptiles.
- Musteloid Pack: Coati, Honey Badger, Sea Otter, European Marten and/or Otter, Kinkajou, Black Footed Ferret, etc. You could get a good mix of things with this group.
- Marsupial Pack: Tree kangaroo, Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby, Grey Kangaroo, Bilby, Possum, Cuscus, Numbat, etc.
- Canid Pack: Black Backed Jackal, Racoon Dog, Bush Dog, Bat Eared Fox, Grey Fox, Golden Jackal/Coyotes, Other foxes, etc. Dogs are not as needed as small-sized cats, but they are also cute and popular. I don't have any canids that I can't live without.
- Caprid pack: Bighorn Sheep, Musk ox, Markhor, Serow, Tahr, Aoudad, etc. I'm not sure what the last one should be.
- Cervid pack: Muntjac, Wapiti, SA deer species, Pere David's deer, Tropical Asian Deer species, white-tailed deer, musk deer? I suppose deer are kind of lacking. I would wait for a sale if it didn't have a muntjac and a wapiti.
- Antelope/Bovid Pack: As long as it has a blackbuck and a good mix of requested African antelope, I don't care too much. This would be my least favorite option for a taxon pack. I would probably wait for a sale.
I think you underestimate how much players do want birds outside of this forum, look at any past trailer announcement on twitter, instagram, youtube, whatever, there are very few comments about Baboon, Walrus, South America in general, the most frequent times these comments show up is when we actually could've had them (for example, most comment on the baboon when the arid pack launched because we didn't get it.) Meanwhile birds is requested on almost every single post frontier has ever posted, and while yes some of those are for free flying birds, a fair chunk mention non flying, like I mentioned earlier the further we get in the support line the less people believe a flying birds pack could happen.
I just see a lot of comments that say "birds" in general. But do you really think those people mean they want the hornbill, pelican, and greater rhea when they say that? I always just assume then people blanketly say "birds" that they are referencing parrots, eagles, aviaries, and such.
And the further out you get from these forums I actually think people are still pretty convinced we might still get flying birds.
EDIT: And again, the main driver for anybody wanting a "birds" pack would be flighted birds. The second you take that away, the primary motivation would go away too. People just want to complain about their lack in certain packs. If we got birds instead of another creature then they'd be saying that the animal we got in actuality was missing. Like with the tropical pack... If we got a new world monkey, people would have been wondering where the fossa was/still requesting it strongly now.
Last edited:
I have been thinking about this to we have had 2 packs in a row release big features in their updates depending on how the petting zoo stuff works it may be the biggest and most complex addition since aquatic and the giftshops were on par if not more intensive then restaurants. Also if you look at the free update wishlist both of those were highly requested. Im honestly hoping for an exhibit rework on the list of big game changing updates.
Yessss let's manifest a birds DLC, even if it's just ground birds! There's enough interesting options & I would basically welcome any bird to the game with open arms. If we would go with Barnyard Style pack of 7 birds that would be kinda realistic
Pelican (any)
Duck (any)
Rhea
Secretary Bird
American Flamingo
Grey Crowned Crane
Guineafowl or Pheasant
Shoebill, Scarlet Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill would be awesome but less likely to show up.
Victoria Crowned Pigeon is a good Oceania option
Black Swan would also be Oceania respresentation and is more of a clone which is likelier. But I prefer the American Flamingo to be the clone of the pack.
Pelican (any)
Duck (any)
Rhea
Secretary Bird
American Flamingo
Grey Crowned Crane
Guineafowl or Pheasant
Shoebill, Scarlet Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill would be awesome but less likely to show up.
Victoria Crowned Pigeon is a good Oceania option
Black Swan would also be Oceania respresentation and is more of a clone which is likelier. But I prefer the American Flamingo to be the clone of the pack.
We already know how it works, pretty much. Guest goes into habitat - guest is in proximity with animal - animation plays. IMO, not very complex nor very big, and since it seems to be a generic interaction extended to a selection of walkable habitat animals it will probably turn out fairly unrealistic for the most part (this being a case of gameplay restrictions taking precedence over realism).
No thank you. There are still mammals I want more than ground birds. I'm busy praying for my gods damned baboon. I've been watching The Zoo: San Diego and it's made me want them even more now.
Come on frontier you really wanna mess with this guy?
Last edited:
Hey the bar isnt exactly high most stuff released in free updates is fairly insignificant giftshops, restaurants and deep diving have been the only real game changers.
Also have we actually seen the animations yet because if not they could range from just pointing and waving at animals to actually petting them which would be significantly different in complexity so im going to reserve judgement till I actually see them.
we also dont have a comprehensive list of how many animals are actually interactable but we do know of around a dozen already.
What im more looking at is there is a screenshot of guest off the path in a habitat that was used in the frontier unlocked stream which granted could have been made up for the stream but if it is actually possible in the update that will be quite a change.
Also thank you for proving my point of not everyone will be happy with an all birds pack.
I mean Taxon Pack would perhaps be a good Idea for the Forum members. I personally would Love Kind of a Antelope animal pack but except for a new mechanism like flying birds (which probably will Not happen within this game) I See such specific Packs Happening very unlikely. I am pretty Sure that Mixed Packs are better for the General audience regarding marketing aspects.
I mean, none of those are particularly game-changing. The enhancement is fairly minor on all three. Gift shops don't even work.
Deep diving I'd say is the best of the lot, purely because it gave us a reason to actually bother with underwater viewing windows (and yet, the hippo is still stuck with its exceedingly basic underwater walk after holding down the fort alone for over a year instead of being given its own unique underwater behaviours). Restaurants are great for realism, but in essence are just another facility. Gift shops, like I said, don't even work properly (I haven't yet tried it myself, but that's what I've heard).
IMO game-changing would be an overhaul of the climbing system to smoothen out its many rough edges. Game-changing would be going back and editing animal models that use the wrong base animations (orangutan to gorilla, okapi to zebra, for example). Game-changing would be giving animals personalities, or making social structures and behaviours species-specific.
Kerbless null path, I'm betting.
I'd be happy with it if I thought support was going to continue until June 2025, but I want the Hamadryas baboon more than I want any bird. In a vaccuum I have absolutely no problem with a bird-only DLC, but we're not in a vaccuum.
Honestly if our final DLC is not a Planet Zoo World Tour type thing, I'm actually betting on a Savannah Pack.
- Baboon.
- Secretarybird.
- Serval.
- Honey badger.
- Blackbuck.
- Spurred tortoise.
- Rhea.
- Probably something very unexpected for the WTE (but still not a flying bird).
To be clear, I only especially want three of those species (baboon, serval, blackbuck), something I point out so there's no assumptions of my personal wishes creating a bias. I'm still advocating for an unthemed pack.
Last edited:
Nothing has or ever will be more game changing than animal aging speed.
I mean the animals encounters are not particullary game changing, but to be fair what reasonably would be?
As far as free updates goes its definetly one of the bigger ones weve seen in quite a while together with the gift shops.
Imo the last 2 updates been really great, especially since almost everything weve seen in the last 1 or 2 years has been mostly minor stuff.
The bigger ones like the diorama modes and cinematic tools are cool but its nothing im getting much use out of.
As far as free updates goes its definetly one of the bigger ones weve seen in quite a while together with the gift shops.
Imo the last 2 updates been really great, especially since almost everything weve seen in the last 1 or 2 years has been mostly minor stuff.
The bigger ones like the diorama modes and cinematic tools are cool but its nothing im getting much use out of.
Last edited:
I'm actually (relatively) excited for animal encounters, if for no other reason than it gives us at least one guest-animal interaction. I'd still like to know why we couldn't have, I don't know, animals following guests along glass walls and such like they do in real zoos. Presumably they have discovered a way to make it so an animation is triggered by the presence of an animal and a guest in proximity, so they could do something like that without even adding new animations. Even something like a gorilla sitting by the glass, watching people as they watch it would be neat.