Get over the Binturong, please

[jvandiver91]

Putting it plainly:

- No, the Binturong does not look like it does in real life. But given how many people have complained about it, they’ll almost certainly fix its look, so settle down. Frontier didn’t fail us all by slipping on one animal.

- Every person who stumped for more animals in the DLC packs is partially responsible for this. The moment you demanded more, you gave Frontier license to sub quantity for quality. And even in light of that fact, none of the others in the SEA pack look so “terrible” that we need to apparently riot in the streets about it.

- Stop pretending this is an automated customer service mechanism that’s just beholden to our every whim. Like it or not, Frontier is made up of actual human people, and to all over all the other work they’ve done because of one model is childish. Not everyone is doing that, obviously, but enough are that it’s getting ridiculous.

- Anyone wise enough to give Frontier the benefit of the doubt should keep doing so. It won’t take much reading for them to understand that people are unhappy with it, and while I don’t think they should necessarily delay the whole pack just for that one model, I do think they’ll figure out something to do about it. So let’s not get all “You failed us again, Frontier” about it; if they were actually as big of failures as a lot of the people that are freaking out seem to think, you wouldn’t still be playing it.

 

[biggest_dreamer]

But given how many people have complained about it, they’ll almost certainly fix its look, so settle down.

The fact is, we really can't assume this. This isn't the first animal model that people have had issues with, and so far Frontier has been pretty set on not making any changes to animal models or scaling. If they do change anything here, it would be the first time they've done so.

Every person who stumped for more animals in the DLC packs is partially responsible for this. The moment you demanded more, you gave Frontier license to sub quantity for quality.

No. This is absolutely, patently not the case. I've never seen anyone "demand" more. What I've seen is people express the opinion that they'd like to see more, with many people saying they would take more at the expense of fewer building pieces. This is what happened. And given that we're getting these animals instead of building pieces and being charged the same amount as past DLC, it's not at all unreasonable to expect the same level of quality from them as we've seen in all other facets of the game. If we were simply getting additional animals on top of the traditional DLC format, then sure, I don't think people would be quite so critical.

Like it or not, Frontier is made up of actual human people, and to all over all the other work they’ve done because of one model is childish. Not everyone is doing that, obviously, but enough are that it’s getting ridiculous.

...Is anyone actually doing this? Like, literally a single person? I guess maybe on Twitter or Facebook or something, but certainly not on these forums or on Reddit. Just about everyone I've seen expressing dissatisfaction with the binturong model has done so while making it pretty clear that they don't necessarily think any less of Frontier or their previous work. I personally have been singing the praises of the other amazing models and textures in this pack in just about every single post I've made following the binturong reveal today.

So let’s not get all “You failed us again, Frontier” about it; if they were actually as big of failures as a lot of the people that are freaking out seem to think, you wouldn’t still be playing it.

Again, who is saying this? I'm not seeing it. I'm really not.

 

[solacefruit]

I mean, even if they don't fix it, I don't think it's the end of the world for me personally. It'd be a little distracting how dinky those ears are, but it's not going to ruin my experience of playing. I'm overall really happy with the quality of the entire game and the support it's got so far, and at the end of the day, I'm not expecting perfection or for Frontier to capture my exact desires for the game, you know? I'm just happy that so far it's truly been the spiritual successor to Zoo Tycoon that I was hoping it would be.

Also @biggest_dreamer, I have seen people (primarily on twitter) voicing that the binturong is making them doubt if they even want the new pack, etc., and general wailing and gnashing of teeth, so there's definitely some people kicking up a real fuss and lowkey threatening to boycott. But I've also seen a lot of people--like you say--being very supportive of this pack (especially with the increased number and the quality of the animals) and the previous work done, so I think what you see is kind of just a result of where you're hanging out on the internet/with whom.

I do find it a little silly when a frankly minor thing is blown a bit out of proportion like people calling the binturong a "horror", but mostly the fans of Planet Zoo that I've come across are super positive and friendly and enthusiastic about the game and its future, so I feel like things will chill out once the new pack is released. New content always gets people stirred up and sometimes in the excitement people are a bit hyperbolic.

 

[Bearcat9948]

Putting it plainly:

- No, the Binturong does not look like it does in real life. But given how many people have complained about it, they’ll almost certainly fix its look, so settle down. Frontier didn’t fail us all by slipping on one animal.

- Every person who stumped for more animals in the DLC packs is partially responsible for this. The moment you demanded more, you gave Frontier license to sub quantity for quality. And even in light of that fact, none of the others in the SEA pack look so “terrible” that we need to apparently riot in the streets about it.

- Stop pretending this is an automated customer service mechanism that’s just beholden to our every whim. Like it or not, Frontier is made up of actual human people, and to all over all the other work they’ve done because of one model is childish. Not everyone is doing that, obviously, but enough are that it’s getting ridiculous.

- Anyone wise enough to give Frontier the benefit of the doubt should keep doing so. It won’t take much reading for them to understand that people are unhappy with it, and while I don’t think they should necessarily delay the whole pack just for that one model, I do think they’ll figure out something to do about it. So let’s not get all “You failed us again, Frontier” about it; if they were actually as big of failures as a lot of the people that are freaking out seem to think, you wouldn’t still be playing it.

You don't get to tell me what I can or cannot be upset by. If you can live with the product they have put on display, that's your choice. I cannot.

 

[Moonfox]

The binturong looks nothing at all like the real thing and Frontier is entirely capable of making amazing animal models. This model looks like an animatronic rat.

The all animal pack required just as much work as a normal DLC, it was just put into making animals alone rather than build pieces and vegetation. There is no reason for quality to be sacrificend this is paid content.

The rest of the models look great, that’s why the Binturong has had such criticism - Frontier always does amazing work and this is so far below standard. Nobody is attacking people either, just commenting that the model is not good enough and needs edits.

You’re right, I believe Frontier will patch the model, but only because it came under immediate criticism and suggestion for improvements. We can’t be heard if we don’t say anything.

 

[jvandiver91]

You don't get to tell me what I can or cannot be upset by. If you can live with the product they have put on display, that's your choice. I cannot.

So why did you feel the need to comment on this? If you’re unsatisfied, ignore the people who are and go back to complaining.

 

[solacefruit]

You don't get to tell me what I can or cannot be upset by. If you can live with the product they have put on display, that's your choice. I cannot.

From your username I can tell that you're really invested in this particular animal, and I just wanted to say that's totally okay. You're definitely allowed to be disappointed and express that feeling when Frontier's binturong doesn't meet up with what you hoped it would be--but I think @jvandiver91 is also allowed to express disappointed in how certain people have been behaving and talk about it here. It doesn't have to be a personal attack on you (especially since it's not directed at you) and I would really encourage you not to read it that way, because there's always going to be a lot of different opinions about DLC and designs on a forum like this and a lot of venting, and I honestly think it's better just to go "okay cool that person's in their feelings on their soapbox right now, whatever" than engage, you know? Particularly when someone makes a thread specifically to vent.

Sorry to overstep, but it sounds like you're very upset about this animal reveal and maybe this thread isn't the best place for you right now?

 

[NZFanatic]

I can respect OP's sentiment.

There's a huge difference between agreeing that you don't like the model and spitting venom about it. Vitirol and rage is never justified over something so ultimately inconsequential. It will be clear to them (in probably the ugliest way possible, sadly) that this animal isn't up to the community's standards, so I would expect someone on their end to go to the devs about it and see what can be done.

 

[Bearcat9948]

So why did you feel the need to comment on this? If you’re unsatisfied, ignore the people who are and go back to complaining.

I could say the exact same thing to you about this thread. Or is that irony lost on you?

As upset as I am, I am doing my best to provide physical, constructive criticism for them to improve this animal. @Moonfox opened up a good thread where we discuss this exact thing.

 

[Bearcat9948]

From your username I can tell that you're really invested in this particular animal, and I just wanted to say that's totally okay. You're definitely allowed to be disappointed and express that feeling when Frontier's binturong doesn't meet up with what you hoped it would be--but I think @jvandiver91 is also allowed to express disappointed in how certain people have been behaving and talk about it here. It doesn't have to be a personal attack on you (especially since it's not directed at you) and I would really encourage you not to read it that way, because there's always going to be a lot of different opinions about DLC and designs on a forum like this and a lot of venting, and I honestly think it's better just to go "okay cool that person's in their feelings on their soapbox right now, whatever" than engage, you know? Particularly when someone makes a thread specifically to vent.

Sorry to overstep, but it sounds like you're very upset about this animal reveal and maybe this thread isn't the best place for you right now?

Sigh

You're probably right on that last bit. Long day, that's for sure.

I have no issue with healthy debate. I don't think there has been much in the way of unwarranted attacks towards Frontier, but maybe OP sees something I haven't. I can only hope this issue is addressed before Tuesday. I know the CM's have been keeping tabs on this, Twitter, Reddit and YT creators today, at least until it's too late in England. We'll see if anything is said tomorrow or not.

Edit: I said this in the thread for the SE Asian Animal announcement, but part of what bothers me is that I do know there are some great and talented people over at Frontier. That's why this bothers me so much. I know for certain they are capable of better than this. Just the discrepancy between the sun bear or clouded leopard in the same dlc pack is evidence of this. Heck, go look at my post history. Literally one week ago I was heaping on praise to the development team because of how high quality the dhole is. This creation simply does not warrant that praise.

 

[solacefruit]

@Bearcat9948 It's hard when things aren't the way you'd hoped, I get that. I guess that's always the double-edge of the Planet Zoo sword: you can ask for an animal and hope for it to be added, but how the animal actually is you won't know until it arrives and if it's not how you imagined, that's especially hard after the waiting and excitement of the announcement. Kind of a monkey's paw situation sometimes.

But I don't know if coming to this thread was a constructive move or a healthy debate, since it seems (to me at least) that jvandiver91 was just venting and sharing thoughts on a thread--just like you and Moonfox on your thread. If the roles were reversed, you'd probably be ticked off if jvandiver91 showed up on that thread telling you to stop telling them how to feel (which you weren't doing), so like. Perhaps live and let live on separate threads is the way to go here.

 

[[PS4] Filthymick420]

Coming from a different game, FDev has a history of not finishing unfinished content and not fixing bugs unless the fix makes more bugs than it fixes. Sadly, it's best to be happy we have anything from them at all.

 

[random goat]

- Every person who stumped for more animals in the DLC packs is partially responsible for this. The moment you demanded more, you gave Frontier license to sub quantity for quality. And even in light of that fact, none of the others in the SEA pack look so “terrible” that we need to apparently riot in the streets about it.

I hope this is a joke? Customers are partially responsible for a company's decision? LOL

Also, it's plainly false. It's not like we got 8 animals on top of the usual +200 building pieces. We got 3 additional animals and a handful of building pieces. On top of that we're not getting substantial new features/mechanics in th update, which we did in the Aquatic Pack update. Custom billboards are greatly appreciated, but essentially imported from Planco. Only water customisation is really new.
Like really, it has been demonstrated by modders and even random forum users that tweaks in animal models can be done in a matter of hours.

The whole quantity-quality ratio is a fallacy for so many reasons that have already been explained: i) other animas in the same pack being easily the best models in the game, ii) the fact that we're actually not getting more content because we don't get building pieces, iii) the fact that animal model fixes can be done in hours, etc.

 

[HeatherG]

Putting it plainly:

- No, the Binturong does not look like it does in real life. But given how many people have complained about it, they’ll almost certainly fix its look, so settle down. Frontier didn’t fail us all by slipping on one animal.

- Every person who stumped for more animals in the DLC packs is partially responsible for this. The moment you demanded more, you gave Frontier license to sub quantity for quality. And even in light of that fact, none of the others in the SEA pack look so “terrible” that we need to apparently riot in the streets about it.

- Stop pretending this is an automated customer service mechanism that’s just beholden to our every whim. Like it or not, Frontier is made up of actual human people, and to all over all the other work they’ve done because of one model is childish. Not everyone is doing that, obviously, but enough are that it’s getting ridiculous.

- Anyone wise enough to give Frontier the benefit of the doubt should keep doing so. It won’t take much reading for them to understand that people are unhappy with it, and while I don’t think they should necessarily delay the whole pack just for that one model, I do think they’ll figure out something to do about it. So let’s not get all “You failed us again, Frontier” about it; if they were actually as big of failures as a lot of the people that are freaking out seem to think, you wouldn’t still be playing it.

Please know that everyone is allowed to state their opinion on any animal that comes into the game. Telling others to settle down isn't allowed as if blaming the forum members. If there's any feedback you'd like to give on this particular animal there is a feedback thread linked here and there's a continuing discussion here