Fur Variation excitement!

[NL_Mutso]

Frankly I'm more concerned about the timber wolf. A lot of people have been upholding various examples of 'coat variation', but several of those seem to be pulled from specific subspecies of the wolf. I worry that adding in too many out-of-the-way variants is going to muddy the game's wolf classification situation even more.

Yeah, you mentioned this in a different topic as well. With all the different info about wolves - I nearly forgot we could only have the Timber Wolf variations (ignoring the Arctic Wolf for this comment) and not all Wolf variations. Sometimes those comments/pics really gives you a wrong POV of the actual situation. I made several mistakes just talking about wolves instead of just Timber wolves.

Progress reports are useful to generate hype, but at the same time it's unavoidable that some people will be disappointed if the specific content they requested isn't included

Yeah, I bought Daikatana when it came out - don't talk about hype and the eventual disappointment to me
I also used to play Lionhead Studios games. Overhyping and overrating your game were basically their motto.
Loads of announced amazing features and we received very basic features compared to that - which resulted in a very nasty mood on those forums - also somewhat the reason I'm against too much info.
I also like being surprised or speculate about future DLC or content - which clashes a bit with progress reports for features or DLC.

Either way I will not be upset if the male lion does not get fixed and I will continue to post about it in every thread hoping one day they fix it because it’s the animal I am most passionate about.

And I hope you do (please not in every thread, just the on-topic ones ). I would suggest adding more animals to that list - for example: the capuchin monkeys face could look a bit more realistic (imo there's something off - too pink/smooth compared to most RL pics)
From my POV, if you are able to present more examples (and more people agree) you draw more attention. But that's my opinion.

 

[NZFanatic]

Yeah, you mentioned this in a different topic as well. With all the different info about wolves - I nearly forgot we could only have the Timber Wolf variations (ignoring the Arctic Wolf for this comment) and not all Wolf variations. Sometimes those comments/pics really gives you a wrong POV of the actual situation. I made several mistakes just talking about wolves instead of just Timber wolves.

That in itself is the problem. Hopefully this won't be considered hijacking the thread, but we have a subspecific common name (timber wolf) with a specific binomial (Canis lupus), which creates problems. Prior to the Arctic Pack, it should have been either the Grey Wolf or Canis lupus _. After the Arctic Pack, they really ought to have (and should still) changed the Timber Wolf to a more certain subspecies, such as the Eurasian wolf (what I personally advocate for) or the actual timber wolf (the Northwestern wolf). I honestly don't think 'timber wolf' is used that often as a common nomenclature for the whole species (which includes domestic dogs and dingos).

In terms of colour variations, certain expressions occur more in some subspecies than others. The melanistic/black wolves tend to occur more in the Mackenzie Valley subspecies (if I'm remembering my studies on this properly), whereas white coats are of course known in the Arctic subspecies (which we already have). The more brown variation occurs across many subspecies, but is most common in the Eurasian wolf. So what happens if they give the timber wolf a black, white, and brown variation? Are we then to accept that it is a generic 'Grey Wolf' and that it will never be changed?

Please excuse me if this sounds nonsensical, I've had a couple of after work beers.

 

[NL_Mutso]

That in itself is the problem

Yeah, I know. But I think that's a 'problem' created by the community not Frontier.
I knew about some details from the Timber wolf but the large amount of different pics really puts you on the wrong path.
Some people just google "coat variations (timber) wolf" and post the first pic they see - without looking at the details.

The whole Canis Lupus discussion (after the Arctic pack) is mentioned before and I agree with it then and now. This 'problem' is created by Frontier. They should be more specific about the species with the proper name.

Please excuse me if this sounds nonsensical, I've had a couple of after work beers.

Well I understand. OP has been passionate about the lion, so I understand your concerns. When I saw fake/photoshopped/fantasy coat variations in some other topics, that triggered me a bit. I remember someone posting entirely black lions, and really thought they were real melanistic versions - which was a confirmed photoshop (I think by Snopes website).

 

[Firestar97]

in itself is the problem. Hopefully this won't be considered hijacking the thread, but we have a subspecific common name (timber wolf) with a specific binomial (Canis lupus), which creates problems. Prior to the Arctic Pack, it should have been either the Grey Wolf or Canis lupus _. After the Arctic Pack, they really ought to have (and should still) changed the Timber Wolf to a more certain subspecies, such as the Eurasian wolf (what I personally advocate for) or the actual timber wolf (the Northwestern wolf). I honestly don't think 'timber wolf' is used that often as a common nomenclature for the whole species (which includes domestic dogs and dingos).

I hope they will change it to Northwestern Wolf because that's what they are called in a Career Mode Scenario. I would also accept Timberwolf but they also need to change the Distribution Map because both of these Subspecies do only live in North America

 

[Swjosdotschka]

I hope they will change it to Northwestern Wolf because that's what they are called in a Career Mode Scenario. I would also accept Timberwolf but they also need to change the Distribution Map because both of these Subspecies do only live in North America

But with the european wolf we would at least finally have ONE european animal in the game (And before an aussie is complaining: I know you have not enough animals as well, but you have at least exhibit animals.)

 

[Firestar97]

But with the european wolf we would at least finally have ONE european animal in the game (And before an aussie is complaining: I know you have not enough animals as well, but you have at least exhibit animals.)

I think it wouldn't be very difficult to create a European Wolf as a second Animal and I would absolutely love European Wolves in the Game. They would fit the Conservation Part of the Game very well because it seems a lot of People (at least in Germany) are thinking that they would need to kill them without a Reason.

But I think it would be the best because of the Career-Mode to change it to the Northwestern Wolf. But of course it also wouldn't be very hard to change the Words in the Career-Mode.

I just hope if we get the European Wolf as a second Subspecies when this one is fixed, that not almost everyone will again protest because it's too similar.
I think the European Wolf wouldn't be a very good Animal for a DLC (if we only get DLCs with 4 big Animals) but it could be a nice Surprise if Frontier would add it in a free Update

 

[Veah]

I just hope if we get the European Wolf as a second Subspecies when this one is fixed, that not almost everyone will again protest because it's too similar.
I think the European Wolf wouldn't be a very good Animal for a DLC (if we only get DLCs with 4 big Animals) but it could be a nice Surprise if Frontier would add it in a free Update

The Iberian or Italian varieties of wolf could work as European inclusion and would be clearly different from both the "Timber" and Arctic wolves.
But as you said, I don't expect a 3rd wolf in any near-future DLC. I would bet the next canid will be some fox, the maned wolf having missed its chance with the South America DLC.

 

[Djehmli]

I'd also like to see an implementation of antler/horn deviations in a future update. Perhaps something similar to the 'TruRacs' implementation used in TheHunter, TheHunter CoTW games. The programers have come up with an algorithm which is applied to the animal to procedurally generate the antlers/horns/tusks etc based on real life parameters. An example for Planet Zoo would be Reindeer antlers or Elephant tusks or Warthog tusks. The animal may be average in everyway but for a massive set of antlers, or longer tusks which in turn could potentially draw more guests to the zoo. Alternatively, smaller than normal representations of antler length/tusk length etc (for the age of the animal of course) could also potentially add to the guest 'draw' to the zoo.

Just a thought from a newbie to the game.

One of the reason I purchased this was the genetic draw. The decades old 'Creatures' game (Norns and the world of Albia) was my first taste of the gaming world dipping it's toes into the world of genetics and familial connections. I miss not having something similar in current games.

 

[Swjosdotschka]

I'd also like to see an implementation of antler/horn deviations in a future update. Perhaps something similar to the 'TruRacs' implementation used in TheHunter, TheHunter CoTW games. The programers have come up with an algorithm which is applied to the animal to procedurally generate the antlers/horns/tusks etc based on real life parameters. An example for Planet Zoo would be Reindeer antlers or Elephant tusks or Warthog tusks. The animal may be average in everyway but for a massive set of antlers, or longer tusks which in turn could potentially draw more guests to the zoo. Alternatively, smaller than normal representations of antler length/tusk length etc (for the age of the animal of course) could also potentially add to the guest 'draw' to the zoo.

Just a thought from a newbie to the game.

One of the reason I purchased this was the genetic draw. The decades old 'Creatures' game (Norns and the world of Albia) was my first taste of the gaming world dipping it's toes into the world of genetics and familial connections. I miss not having something similar in current games.

A warm welcome to the community from me! Glad I'm not alone as a genetic-in-games-nerd ^^

Aswith horns and antlers I wouldn't keep my hopes up, as this wasn't ever suggested yet. But it's a cool idea! Maybe worth its own thread so that the Devs could see it?

 

[shirandhak]

I would be very glad if they could pin down the genetics-bug in sandbox (albinos and melanistic animals not passing on their fur colour to their offspring at all) and please, please, please fix it!

(I loved the old games like sim earth, sim life and creatures, too)

 

[Moonfox]

I’m so looking forward to this too!

I’m super happy that we’ve been heard and acknowledged, and we know that they’re working on it. Frontier and the Planet Zoo team really do care about what we want, and they make sure they do everything they can to give that to us. This game is so beautifully detailed and has so many elements that appeal to so many people. Sorry I’m raving, I’m just feeling really appreciative at the moment - a new DLC for another franchise was just announced and it made me run home to Frontier where the community are cared for and listened to.

I’m sure colour variations will start coming soon, and they’ll be insanely beautiful.

 

[Murray]

I’m curious to not only when they come out but if there going to come out all at once or come out spaced between various updates. Either way I will be excited.

 

[NZFanatic]

I’m curious to not only when they come out but if there going to come out all at once or come out spaced between various updates. Either way I will be excited.

Yeah that's a bit ambiguous.

Bo's exact words on the subject were:

Yup, the coat variations update is still coming, however it's a big job so as stated before it'll take a few months as we want to do a big batch rather than smaller iterations.

'Big batch' could mean species, or it could mean variations (so, whether they'll be releasing variations for a big batch of animals, or releasing a big batch of variations for only a couple of animals at first).

 

[Murray]

Ok I never saw her say that. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[NZFanatic]

Ok I never saw her say that. Thanks for the clarification.

It was in the 1.2.3 thread. Oftentimes these conversations occur in the update threads as people take the opportunity to ask about future updates, so it's always good to keep an eye on those threads.

 

[Swjosdotschka]

Sorry I’m raving, I’m just feeling really appreciative at the moment - a new DLC for another franchise was just announced and it made me run home to Frontier where the community are cared for and listened to.

I know exactly what you are talking about and yup, I "ran home" as well. What a perfect way to put it. And I was glad I had another home base by now. Of course no game will ever meet all my wishes. But no matter what this update will look like, it WILL HAPPEN. And that is more than other communities ever get from their franchise.