Fall DLC 2023 Speculation

[nutrit]

Which is why I think it is best to focus on basic zoo species before going into "nice to have" species.

True but what I meant is that for some people Tassie is just a nice to have and for others Snub nosed monkey may be a basic zoo species
We should not be so focused on western zoo collections. There is whole different world of zoos in Asia and SA.

 

[SalamAnders]

True but what I meant is that for some people Tassie is just a nice to have and for others Snub nosed monkey may be a basic zoo species
We should not be so focused on western zoo collections. There is whole different world of zoos in Asia and SA.

Western zoos are just a whole lot easier to find information about.

The devil isn't common outside of Australia, but almost any website of a zoo in Australia will show me devils. So they must be a common sight there.
With snub-nosed monkeys, I can find some old threads on Zoochat talking about them in captivity. Some scientific articles talk about them in captivity and some pictures of them in enclosures and other random stuff.

And it is hard to figure out if all of this is referring to like the same 5 zoos or 20+. And China is a big country, so I assume they got a lot of zoos too. We need a quite high number of places there with this species before we can start to consider them basic.

And if there is some obvious source I have missed, then I would like to be corrected.

 

[Swjosdotschka]

On the other hand for some people Tassie devils are super rare and not obtainable in their regions. I’ve been many times in China and I think that Snub nosed monkeys would be perfect for the game.
They are beautiful, unique and very interesting.
Of course I’d like to see other monkeys too but I have seen 7 times snub nosed monkeys in zoos and tassie only one time in San Diego
It’s all about the perspective and we would probably never get all of the species we would like to… or maybe we could

My recent love are Francois langurs - such a grace

View attachment 358938

Plus Snub nosed monkeys are really good in zoos

View attachment 358940

The difference between the Tassie (which I also personally don't care about) and Snub Nosed Monkey is: Asia is well represented in the game compared to Oceania. Oceania does and always will lack their basic zoo species, whereas China can probably build their typical zoo easier already.

By the way, your photo reminds me that any primate in game just lacks a lot of charm because there is no mother-baby interaction...

 

[becks474]

The difference between the Tassie (which I also personally don't care about) and Snub Nosed Monkey is: Asia is well represented in the game compared to Oceania. Oceania does and always will lack their basic zoo species, whereas China can probably build their typical zoo easier already.

By the way, your photo reminds me that any primate in game just lacks a lot of charm because there is no mother-baby interaction...

In my opinion Oceania has a good Representation in the meantime. I would want to get an Echidna, Tree Kangaroo, Kiwi and the Tassie. But with these 4 animals the Most important animals are within the Game. On the other hand parts of Asia really do Not have a good Representation. Central and Eastern Asia plus India are still underrepresented in my opinion. But honestly I am Not a big Fan of this comparing representation thing from this part and that part. But everybody can see it in his own way. In Europe a Lot of IRL Zoo have a big overrepresentation of African animals For example.

 

[Swjosdotschka]

In my opinion Oceania has a good Representation in the meantime. I would want to get an Echidna, Tree Kangaroo, Kiwi and the Tassie. But with these 4 animals the Most important animals are within the Game. On the other hand parts of Asia really do Not have a good Representation. Central and Eastern Asia plus India are still underrepresented in my opinion. But honestly I am Not a big Fan of this comparing representation thing from this part and that part. But everybody can see it in his own way. In Europe a Lot of IRL Zoo have a big overrepresentation of African animals For example.

Let me clarify: I was specifically talking about Snub Nosed monkey vs. Tassie, not Asia vs. Oceania. That's a huge difference.
It's a fact that we're dealing with extremly limited spots now. And considering that, I think a squirrel monkey or a baboon or even a Langur is much more justified than the Snub Nosed Monkey.

It's preference for sure, but I'm just very much done with oddballs now in groups like monkeys or birds where we lack basics. That's also one reason why I don't want the Shoebill or however it is spelled.

On an unrelated note: The focus on Africa in german zoos and in the game is annoying.

 

[becks474]

Let me clarify: I was specifically talking about Snub Nosed monkey vs. Tassie, not Asia vs. Oceania. That's a huge difference.
It's a fact that we're dealing with extremly limited spots now. And considering that, I think a squirrel monkey or a baboon or even a Langur is much more justified than the Snub Nosed Monkey.

It's preference for sure, but I'm just very much done with oddballs now in groups like monkeys or birds where we lack basics. That's also one reason why I don't want the Shoebill or however it is spelled.

On an unrelated note: The focus on Africa in german zoos and in the game is annoying.

That was a general mention from me. I personally would have nothing against the Golden Snub Nosed Monkey but it is okay when you See it different.
I see no facts about how Limited the further animal spots are at the moment. We will know more in mid September when the annual Report really is published. Everything else is pure speculation in my opinion.

 

[Marvinb]

Is the focus of africa in zoos (and by extention PZ) that surprising? I mean africa still has a large number of megafauna whereas eurasia, australia and the americas lost theirs for the most part after the last iceage, and big animals are generally the most exicting. Im sure if the elephant sized sloths and 2 ton wombats were still around, they would be mainstays in zoos

 

[becks474]

Is the focus of africa in zoos (and by extention PZ) that surprising? I mean africa still has a large number of megafauna whereas eurasia, australia and the americas lost theirs for the most part after the last iceage, and big animals are generally the most exicting. Im sure if the elephant sized sloths and 2 ton wombats were still around, they would be mainstays in zoos

Yes that is true. Further Africa has a lot of hoofstock animals especially antelopes and gazelles which are realtively easy to hold, breed and which can also be grouped together with multiple species in big habitats.

 

[Bughs]

I thought the DLC pattern was like:

Spring - Grassland/Forest/Wetland themes
Summer - Dryland/Rainforest themes
Fall - Wetland/Scary/Cold themes
Winter - Cold/most wanted themes/new gameplay feature

...but it could be anything at this point.

This time, for either Fall or Winter I would like to have either some pineforest/european/eurasian animals we are still missing.
More animals with antlers (zoos are ussually overfilled with them), wisent (long succesfull conservation story), wild boar (very common in zoos) and maaybe european type of a wolf. I know that would be hated by many but cmon, we have only two species of wolves... I would really preffer the american "red wolf" though, he's distinct and critically endangered.
AND either for Fall or Winter I would really love to have tibetan/nepal/himalayan/mongolian themed pack with building pieces. Lovely and unique. Since we already have the famous irbis and przewalski horse, animals I would like to see there would be:

Saiga (CR) - antilopinae

Absolutelly unique and Critically Endangered animal seen nowhere else.

Kiang (LC) or Onager (EN) - equidae

While Kiang is more unique in color and ear shape (no other equine with this ear shape) it's has the Least Concern of conservation.
Onager looks less unique as it would be second "donkey" after african wild ass but this species is Endangered.

(to make this pack more diverse I would add Musk deer instead but these two species are very close to my heart, that is why I've put them there and Musk deer for animal pack version instead)​

​

Tibetan fox (LC) - canidae

Even though it's not endangered species we can agree it got it's popularity how strange and 'unamused' look it has, there is no other fox like this.

Wild Yak (VU) - bovidae

We can't forget Vulnerable wild yaks for this pack. Unique and majestic looking animal.

For exhibit animal, I am not sure.
Probably Toad-headed agama or Gobi racerunner

If it was an Animal Pack (which I would be sorry for the lack of the building pieces) I would add also these animals:

Pallas's cat (LC) - felidae

Another unique and adorable 'unamused' fella.

Musk deer (VU) - moschidae

If this animal won't be represented anywhere else, it's the perfect time to make this unique Vulnerable species shine.

Hog badger (VU) -mustelidae

I am sure this one have a lot of fans and would be a second badger after the european.

Tibetan antelope (NT) -caprinae or Tibetan gazelle (NT) -antilopinae

I can't chose between these Nearly Threatened species. They are both unique in their own ways. Gazelle is cute and fluffy, antelope is standing out more with it's unique fur pattern and horns.

I didn't add birds as most of the non-flying species are too small, we don't have flying birds yet to consider eagles, and for cranes, I don't know how many of people would be happy that another bird they finally get is a red-crowned crane "reskin".

Otherwise for Winter, I am not the "I want birds" yeller but every year I have that slight hope that they are keeping birds pack for Christmass season like they did with Aquatic, to have the most sales. If not for big birds, walk-through type of birds in the big exhibit system like we have with bats and butterflies. This or finally little aquariums as exhibits to just put fishes (where we could mix species, which are compatible, together as we want), plus some plants enrichments, fishes having not complex swiming loops, plus fishes for ponds as a decoration or with new "habitat" system of the fishes needing feeding and clean water to not die, and quests can look at them to increase happiness.
But personally, I would like that one pack I described above, more.

 

[tiger guy]

takahe just takahe

 

[Veah]

I thought the DLC pattern was like:

Spring - Grassland/Forest/Wetland themes
Summer - Dryland/Rainforest themes
Fall - Wetland/Scary/Cold themes
Winter - Cold/most wanted themes/new gameplay feature

...but it could be anything at this point.

This time, for either Fall or Winter I would like to have either some pineforest/european/eurasian animals we are still missing.
More animals with antlers (zoos are ussually overfilled with them), wisent (long succesfull conservation story), wild boar (very common in zoos) and maaybe european type of a wolf. I know that would be hated by many but cmon, we have only two species of wolves... I would really preffer the american "red wolf" though, he's distinct and critically endangered.
AND either for Fall or Winter I would really love to have tibetan/nepal/himalayan/mongolian themed pack with building pieces. Lovely and unique. Since we already have the famous irbis and przewalski horse, animals I would like to see there would be:

Saiga (CR) - antilopinae

Absolutelly unique and Critically Endangered animal seen nowhere else.

Kiang (LC) or Onager (EN) - equidae

While Kiang is more unique in color and ear shape (no other equine with this ear shape) it's has the Least Concern of conservation.
Onager looks less unique as it would be second "donkey" after african wild ass but this species is Endangered.

(to make this pack more diverse I would add Musk deer instead but these two species are very close to my heart, that is why I've put them there and Musk deer for animal pack version instead)​

​

Tibetan fox (LC) - canidae

Even though it's not endangered species we can agree it got it's popularity how strange and 'unamused' look it has, there is no other fox like this.

Wild Yak (VU) - bovidae

We can't forget Vulnerable wild yaks for this pack. Unique and majestic looking animal.

For exhibit animal, I am not sure.
Probably Toad-headed agama or Gobi racerunner

If it was an Animal Pack (which I would be sorry for the lack of the building pieces) I would add also these animals:

Pallas's cat (LC) - felidae
View attachment 358965
Another unique and adorable 'unamused' fella.

Musk deer (VU) - moschidae

If this animal won't be represented anywhere else, it's the perfect time to make this unique Vulnerable species shine.

Hog badger (VU) -mustelidae

I am sure this one have a lot of fans and would be a second badger after the european.

Tibetan antelope (NT) -caprinae or Tibetan gazelle (NT) -antilopinae

View attachment 358966
I can't chose between these Nearly Threatened species. They are both unique in their own ways. Gazelle is cute and fluffy, antelope is standing out more with it's unique fur pattern and horns.

I didn't add birds as most of the non-flying species are too small, we don't have flying birds yet to consider eagles, and for cranes, I don't know how many of people would be happy that another bird they finally get is a red-crowned crane "reskin".

Otherwise for Winter, I am not the "I want birds" yeller but every year I have that slight hope that they are keeping birds pack for Christmass season like they did with Aquatic, to have the most sales. If not for big birds, walk-through type of birds in the big exhibit system like we have with bats and butterflies. This or finally little aquariums as exhibits to just put fishes (where we could mix species, which are compatible, together as we want), plus some plants enrichments, fishes having not complex swiming loops, plus fishes for ponds as a decoration or with new "habitat" system of the fishes needing feeding and clean water to not die, and quests can look at them to increase happiness.
But personally, I would like that one pack I described above, more.

I would like the onager, but I kinda think it doesn't have a chance now that we have both the wild horse and the wild ass, specially just in the next pack after getting the wild ass.
About the Tibetan antelope I think is one of the most BEAUTIFUL ungulates in the world but it has no captive presence anywhere in the world, and I don't know about Tibetan gazelle but I'm sure they are not common in zoos.
That fox would be a real challenge for the devs, it would be difficult to model that face without being too uncanny or too funny or both

 

[Cooper_yang]

Regarding snub-nosed monkeys, as a Chinese, what I want to say is that they are very common in large zoos in China, but most of them are Sichuan golden monkeys. In fact, there are 5 species of golden monkeys in a broad sense (they are in Chinese They are all called golden monkeys, but the geographical location of the main distribution will be added in front to distinguish them), the other four are not easy to see them only in ordinary people. And like giant pandas, the Chinese government does not export them, only leases them. For example, the Francois langur exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo was actually prepared for golden monkeys, but the result was just like what you saw. Although as a Chinese, I very much hope that there is a golden monkey in the game, but I think the priority of the black howler monkey should be higher than that. There are too few monkeys in the "new world" in the game.

 

[Bearcat9948]

This might've be mentioned before and I missed it, but could the next pack be climate based?

Completely unrelated to the PZ I happened upon this climate classification, lemme copy/paste the name from Wikipedia: Köppen–Geiger climate classification

View attachment 358834

Here's a quote from same page:
-"The Köppen climate classification divides climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are A (tropical), B (arid), C (temperate), D (continental), and E (polar)."

Last two packs were called Tropical and Arid, specifically, not Rainforest and Desert or in spirit of "-lands" trend, Woodlands and Drylands.

I'm perhaps reading way too much into it, it's just when climates were listed in such specific order, it ringed a bell

This is a cool theory but I'm not sure if I want it to be correct or not. Because I don't know what a temperate, continental or polar scenery pack would add that would be worthwhile. We're definitely gonna get another scenery pack and Islands, Nocturnal or maybe Highlands are the only themes I can think of at this point.

 

[synthetase]

I thought the DLC pattern was like:

Spring - Grassland/Forest/Wetland themes
Summer - Dryland/Rainforest themes
Fall - Wetland/Scary/Cold themes
Winter - Cold/most wanted themes/new gameplay feature

...but it could be anything at this point.

This time, for either Fall or Winter I would like to have either some pineforest/european/eurasian animals we are still missing.
More animals with antlers (zoos are ussually overfilled with them), wisent (long succesfull conservation story), wild boar (very common in zoos) and maaybe european type of a wolf. I know that would be hated by many but cmon, we have only two species of wolves... I would really preffer the american "red wolf" though, he's distinct and critically endangered.
AND either for Fall or Winter I would really love to have tibetan/nepal/himalayan/mongolian themed pack with building pieces. Lovely and unique. Since we already have the famous irbis and przewalski horse, animals I would like to see there would be:

Saiga (CR) - antilopinae

Absolutelly unique and Critically Endangered animal seen nowhere else.

Kiang (LC) or Onager (EN) - equidae

While Kiang is more unique in color and ear shape (no other equine with this ear shape) it's has the Least Concern of conservation.
Onager looks less unique as it would be second "donkey" after african wild ass but this species is Endangered.

(to make this pack more diverse I would add Musk deer instead but these two species are very close to my heart, that is why I've put them there and Musk deer for animal pack version instead)​

​

Tibetan fox (LC) - canidae

Even though it's not endangered species we can agree it got it's popularity how strange and 'unamused' look it has, there is no other fox like this.

Wild Yak (VU) - bovidae

We can't forget Vulnerable wild yaks for this pack. Unique and majestic looking animal.

For exhibit animal, I am not sure.
Probably Toad-headed agama or Gobi racerunner

If it was an Animal Pack (which I would be sorry for the lack of the building pieces) I would add also these animals:

Pallas's cat (LC) - felidae
View attachment 358965
Another unique and adorable 'unamused' fella.

Musk deer (VU) - moschidae

If this animal won't be represented anywhere else, it's the perfect time to make this unique Vulnerable species shine.

Hog badger (VU) -mustelidae

I am sure this one have a lot of fans and would be a second badger after the european.

Tibetan antelope (NT) -caprinae or Tibetan gazelle (NT) -antilopinae

View attachment 358966
I can't chose between these Nearly Threatened species. They are both unique in their own ways. Gazelle is cute and fluffy, antelope is standing out more with it's unique fur pattern and horns.

I didn't add birds as most of the non-flying species are too small, we don't have flying birds yet to consider eagles, and for cranes, I don't know how many of people would be happy that another bird they finally get is a red-crowned crane "reskin".

Otherwise for Winter, I am not the "I want birds" yeller but every year I have that slight hope that they are keeping birds pack for Christmass season like they did with Aquatic, to have the most sales. If not for big birds, walk-through type of birds in the big exhibit system like we have with bats and butterflies. This or finally little aquariums as exhibits to just put fishes (where we could mix species, which are compatible, together as we want), plus some plants enrichments, fishes having not complex swiming loops, plus fishes for ponds as a decoration or with new "habitat" system of the fishes needing feeding and clean water to not die, and quests can look at them to increase happiness.
But personally, I would like that one pack I described above, more.

I'd buy that Central Asian Highland Pack in a heartbeat! Great idea (even if those animals aren't too common in zoos)!

 

[Bughs]

I'd buy that Central Asian Highland Pack in a heartbeat! Great idea (even if those animals aren't too common in zoos)!

Oh, that's a lovely name for the pack ^^ Thanks! I was unable to think of one

 

[biggest_dreamer]

I thought the DLC pattern was like:

Spring - Grassland/Forest/Wetland themes
Summer - Dryland/Rainforest themes
Fall - Wetland/Scary/Cold themes
Winter - Cold/most wanted themes/new gameplay feature

...but it could be anything at this point.

That doesn’t really match up with what we’ve gotten so far. Spring has been consistently warm and wet, with all of our heavy rainforest themes going here (South America, Southeast Asia, Wetlands, Tropical all fit this). Summer has been mostly hot and dry (Australia, Africa, and Arid all fit; Conservation is an outlier but still gives summery vibes to an extent imo). Fall has the fewest data points but both of our packs have been squarely temperate focused (North America and Twilight). Winter has been the biggest wildcard, but it’s still had two clear cold-themed packs (Arctic and Europe), and two total outliers (Aquatic and Grasslands, although it’s arguably worth noting that two of the Aquatic species are also cold-associated to varying degrees).

 

[jcp011c]

So somehow the next two packs. If indeed the last packs, should just be Tasmanian Devil, Wolverine, (mostly New World) Monkeys, and habitat Birds..something addressing the Asian Antelope situation. 4 spot, anniversary, 7 spots- 12 total for habitat animals. Maybe Old World/New World pack idea has some merit.

Tasmanian Devil
Northern Brown Kiwi
Black Howler Monkey
Common Squirrel Monkey (preferred by me over a Spider Monkey)

Anniversary: Wild Boar

Wolverine
Hamadryas Baboon
Secretary Bird
Shoebill
Mute Swan
Saiga Antelope
Blackbuck

 

[Bughs]

That doesn’t really match up with what we’ve gotten so far. Spring has been consistently warm and wet, with all of our heavy rainforest themes going here (South America, Southeast Asia, Wetlands, Tropical all fit this). Summer has been mostly hot and dry (Australia, Africa, and Arid all fit; Conservation is an outlier but still gives summery vibes to an extent imo). Fall has the fewest data points but both of our packs have been squarely temperate focused (North America and Twilight). Winter has been the biggest wildcard, but it’s still had two clear cold-themed packs (Arctic and Europe), and two total outliers (Aquatic and Grasslands, although it’s arguably worth noting that two of the Aquatic species are also cold-associated to varying degrees).

Thank you for the details! I couldn't remember it properly..

 

[nutrit]

And what would you the to ide of the idea for Far East animal pack?
I think the game would benefit greatly with more general Asia animals especially ungulates:

1. Wolverine ️ of the pack
2. Perè David’s deer
3. Golden takin
4. Blackbuck
5. Lion tailed macaque
6. Sloth bear
7. Markhor or Snub nosed monkey
Ex: Indian cobra or Indian hornbill

 

[NachoB]

And what would you the to ide of the idea for Far East animal pack?
I think the game would benefit greatly with more general Asia animals especially ungulates:

1. Wolverine ️ of the pack
2. Perè David’s deer
3. Golden takin
4. Blackbuck
5. Lion tailed macaque
6. Sloth bear
7. Markhor or Snub nosed monkey
Ex: Indian cobra or Indian hornbill

I approve.

I mean i would love a pack like this one with the golden pheasant or mandarin duck instead of the deer though.

But SA needs attention! D: And we are running out of time