DLC20 Discussion (maybe, but why not?)

[The Aardvark]

What that rhino did to you.

It's the same as the three we already have, except brown and a bit smaller.

The Indian rhino is from the base game, and I have no problems with it, but from the start it was clear that they were eventually going to shoehorn one of the African rhinos in a later DLC...
And so we got the white rhino. I would have liked this animal to be in base game instead of the Indian one, but oh well.
...and then Arid Pack rolled around. Now, I loved most of the animal selection in Arid (especially the gazelle, addax, wild ass and dromedary), but the presence of our third rhino made me seriously consider skipping the pack. Especially considering that, while I can see a few minor differences between the white and Indian rhinos (which also have different ranges in different continents), I can't find any significant difference between white and black rhinos. They look virtually the same, they're from the same area, the only real change is the colour and the addition of the desert tag. Some people will point to its different diet and ecology, but how does that reflect in game? It just has two extra enrichment items that the white rhino can't use (but the Indian can).
The Sumatran rhino would basically be a carbon copy of the Indian one, except with a few brown markings here and there. It's basically a cosmetic variant of an animal we already have, an animal we already got THREE separate times. In addition to that, it's not even found in captivity anywhere so really it's even more pointless.

It's basically like if they added a Qinling panda. It's an obscure, smaller, brown, rare version of something we already have for free.

 

[Mjmannella]

They look virtually the same, they're from the same area, the only real change is the colour and the addition of the desert tag. Some people will point to its different diet and ecology, but how does that reflect in game? It just has two extra enrichment items that the white rhino can't use (but the Indian can).

If these two look less different to you than jaguars and leopard, there's bigger issues at play here.
Let me give you behavioural differences that're directly present in-game. White rhinos are fairly social and often form small herds, black rhinos are mainly solitary. White rhinos are generally more mild-mannered, black rhinos are more temperamental. These are both shown in-game because white rhinos have larger groups and have inter-species enrichment with a variety of other animals.
Also, their dietary/ecological differences are reflected, given that their Grade 2 food items are different.

It's basically like if they added a Qinling panda. It's an obscure, smaller, brown, rare version of something we already have for free.

Comparing two subspecies of a single species to two genera is a false equivalence.

 

[The_Riot22]

I think the early DLC has more to do with not wanting to interfere with the expected release of JWE3 later this summer. I don't think it means we are getting 4 packs this year.
I know everyone's tired of hearing this, but I could even see a scenario where this is the final DLC - especially if JWE3 is a hit at launch and PC2 DLCs also later this year. They wouldn't need the PZ DLC revenue in that case.

 

[Cooper_yang]

If the two African rhino species are not very distinct, then the greater one-horned rhino and the Sumatran rhino are, in my view, profoundly different. I would gladly own a Sumatran rhino, though if at all, it would be purely a personal preference. My desire stems from this animal's historical presence in my country, where it is now extinct—it would remind people to cherish the environment. (The following is a bronze artifact from over two thousand years ago, undoubtedly modeled after a Sumatran rhino—specifically the globally extinct northern subspecies, which possessed more prominent horns.)

 

[Cooper_yang]

Actually, the differences between white rhinos and black rhinos are quite distinct as well—simply observe them closely. I suspect the poorly designed black rhino model in the game may have caused your misunderstanding. Real black rhinos look nothing like their portrayal in the game!

 

[Thylaco]

I just love how some people have already convinced themselves so much not to get the pack because they “already know” that it’ll have animals they don’t like. WE KNOW 2 OF THE ANIMALS, there’s literally no evidence that the rhino, asiatic lion, or whatever is included in this pack so for god sakes just wait for the pack to be announced then complain about it.

The elephant is pretty demoralizing. If you're not getting much out of the other two, then unlikely to be worthwhile is a pretty natural conclusion.

Personally still waiting for the image on Twitter before fully accepting the Elephant, dumb as that hope is.

 

[Utahraptor Arcanus]

With negativity and elephant aside, can i say i'm very optimistic for this pack?

India has been among my favorite pack concepts for a while as it both thematically and provide a rich ammount of animals that i'm interested despite our rough times with effort put into animals dennying me some of my top animals(RIP Giant indian squirrel and bustards), several animals that i wanted doesn't need it anyway.

Gaur and blackbuck are my most wanted ungulates and they fit the pack theme perfectly.
Muntjac and barashinga are great additions, and for a time i woudn't mind receiving two deers in a pack.
Fishing cat is the only cat i'll accept, and therefore a nice way to close down the group for me.
A Indian mongoose would be our first mongoose since Africa, and receiving an mongoose for Asia would be excellent, as small animals are always great to build.
And of course, an reptile and bird is always welcome.

Overall, it's hard for Frontier to mess up an India pack, and so i think this pack might be really great.

 

[markun]

I’m just going to stick in here that I had zero expectations of getting anything at this time of year and I’m really pleased to see a DLC coming.

I’m glad a much-neglected part of the world is getting some attention and I’m looking forward to seeing the animal selection.

 

[Bughs]

Would be cool if for india(?) themed dlc they would add free update of finally giving color vatiations to indian peafowls

 

[The Aardvark]

View attachment 430884
If these two look less different to you than jaguars and leopard, there's bigger issues at play here.
Let me give you behavioural differences that're directly present in-game. White rhinos are fairly social and often form small herds, black rhinos are mainly solitary. White rhinos are generally more mild-mannered, black rhinos are more temperamental. These are both shown in-game because white rhinos have larger groups and have inter-species enrichment with a variety of other animals.
Also, their dietary/ecological differences are reflected, given that their Grade 2 food items are different.

Comparing two subspecies of a single species to two genera is a false equivalence.

So, from a gameplay perspective, the black rhino is just a worse white rhino. Smaller groups, no mixed exhibits... Something you can already do with the white rhino. Just have two instead of four and don't add other animals to their exhibit. Also, the second grade food, really? That alone is enough to justify a completely wasted slot?

Besides, I can't see any particular difference other than size. Heck in real life they're even more similar than in the game...

 

[Mjmannella]

I've already pointed out their differing mouth shapes, which are so because of their differing diets. White rhinos also have longer heads, taller ears, and more pointed backs. These differences are quite apparent if you spend even a minute looking to them.

 

[The Aardvark]

Comparing two subspecies of a single species to two genera is a false equivalence.

You know it's a weak argument when your strongest point is taxonomic diversity... They're different genera, AND? How does that make them any different from a gameplay perspective?
Antidorcas and Eudorcas are two very different genera, and yet people still see the Thomson's Gazelle as a somewhat worse version of the springbok and wish it was replaced with something else, while in my opinion they're just as if not more different than the two rhinos you're comparing... And the exact same argument emerged when the Dama Gazelle (which is not only taxonomically, but MORPHOLOGICALLY very distinct from both Springbok and Thomson's) people were still mad because "it's yet another gazelle".

 

[The Aardvark]

I've already pointed out their differing mouth shapes, which are so because of their differing diets. White rhinos also have longer heads, taller ears, and more pointed backs. These differences are quite apparent if you spend even a minute looking to them.

Oh wow... Totally justified addition then. My bad for not noticing that they have different mouths, I'll buy 10 copies of arid pack now that I know this, thanks.

 

[Hugo98]

With negativity and elephant aside, can i say i'm very optimistic for this pack?

India has been among my favorite pack concepts for a while as it both thematically and provide a rich ammount of animals that i'm interested despite our rough times with effort put into animals dennying me some of my top animals(RIP Giant indian squirrel and bustards), several animals that i wanted doesn't need it anyway.

Gaur and blackbuck are my most wanted ungulates and they fit the pack theme perfectly.
Muntjac and barashinga are great additions, and for a time i woudn't mind receiving two deers in a pack.
Fishing cat is the only cat i'll accept, and therefore a nice way to close down the group for me.
A Indian mongoose would be our first mongoose since Africa, and receiving an mongoose for Asia would be excellent, as small animals are always great to build.
And of course, an reptile and bird is always welcome.

Overall, it's hard for Frontier to mess up an India pack, and so i think this pack might be really great.

Good to read sth positive here! I also think this pack is going to be great if it's India.

Still, we shouldn't rule out the possibility it's not an India pack, we should keep the Zookeepers pack in mind which at first hinted to mountains.

 

[Mjmannella]

They're different genera, AND? How does that make them any different from a gameplay perspective?

I think it's a good thing for zoo games to educate players on biodiversity through phylogenetic variety IMO. It'd be pretty boring if we only had 50 cats

 

[Marvinb]

With negativity and elephant aside, can i say i'm very optimistic for this pack?

India has been among my favorite pack concepts for a while as it both thematically and provide a rich ammount of animals that i'm interested despite our rough times with effort put into animals dennying me some of my top animals(RIP Giant indian squirrel and bustards), several animals that i wanted doesn't need it anyway.

Gaur and blackbuck are my most wanted ungulates and they fit the pack theme perfectly.
Muntjac and barashinga are great additions, and for a time i woudn't mind receiving two deers in a pack.
Fishing cat is the only cat i'll accept, and therefore a nice way to close down the group for me.
A Indian mongoose would be our first mongoose since Africa, and receiving an mongoose for Asia would be excellent, as small animals are always great to build.
And of course, an reptile and bird is always welcome.

Overall, it's hard for Frontier to mess up an India pack, and so i think this pack might be really great.

Im also alot more optimistic this time than with america. Im not exactly sure why, maybe its because with SA i had a more concrete list of animals i needed out of such a theme.
Whereas with india its all a bit more loose.

Also for sure helps that one of my biggest wants for india, and asia more generally, a more common tropical monkey is already adressed right up front.
Just throw in a cool bird or two and we are golden

 

[Hugo98]

I've already pointed out their differing mouth shapes, which are so because of their differing diets. White rhinos also have longer heads, taller ears, and more pointed backs. These differences are quite apparent if you spend even a minute looking to them.

Don't feed the troll
Can't really take their rhino posts seriously tbh.

 

[SanRazo]

I've already pointed out their differing mouth shapes, which are so because of their differing diets. White rhinos also have longer heads, taller ears, and more pointed backs. These differences are quite apparent if you spend even a minute looking to them.

I think he’s trolling at this point

 

[RightWhale]

Personally I’m more excited for the lion tailed macaque over the honey badger. For me it’s just a personal thing, I mean look at this distinguished gentleman:

It’s honestly amazing how far monkeys have come in a short time period. I mean look at what we have now:

• Mandrill
• Japanese macaque
• White faced capuchin
• Proboscis monkey
• Hamadryas baboon
• White faced saki
• Lion tailed macaque

I would love another new world monkey, or a “proper” monkey for tropical Africa. If anything I would desperately want a golden lion tamarin, and then I would be happy.

For ungulates, while the blackbuck is cool and probably the “better option” I want the gaur. They were so cool at the Bronx zoo!

Finally, I think a sleeper hit bird option would be the Indian Bustard. They are critically endangered and would perfectly fit into the themes of the game. The Indian Star tortoise is another great one due conservation efforts as well.

But finally, I think it’s about time we get a return to exhibit animals. I mean, and Indian pack without the Indian Cobra would be nuts. I can see Frontier not adding the snake. But I think it would be a huge missed opportunity.

 

[Aramar]

I always like to look for the bright side of things. If we are getting a third elephant, then there's still hope for my beloved Eurasian brown bear one day