I love the concept of Planet Zoo. I LOVE seeing what animals will be added, watching them run around and animate, and I love arguing about what's coming next on this forum. But even after 100 hours, actually trying to PLAY Planet Zoo is a frightening chore. I play in Franchise, so I'm constantly running around to micromanage things. I haven't figured out how to build anything more complex than a rectangular habitat straight out of Zoo Tycoon 1, and I don't understand how to make attractive paths at all. Can someone please give me tips so that I don't feel so foolish?
How the heck do you build anything???
- Thread starter CThree16
- Start date
It's really a learning curve. I took a while to build nice enclosures, but even then I can improve.
I'd suggest you experiment with null barriers. Use rocks and construction pieces to design the habitat. As long as an animal can't cross the null barriers, then it's technically enclosed. About paths, I'm not good and can't help you there
I'd suggest you experiment with null barriers. Use rocks and construction pieces to design the habitat. As long as an animal can't cross the null barriers, then it's technically enclosed. About paths, I'm not good and can't help you there
Try playing in Sandbox for awhile, so you don't have to mess around with anything you don't want. There are a lot of helpful youtube videos that talk about how to lay paths and etc, (LadyDesigner, Rudi Renkamel (sp), Leaf, are a few you can look for) - PZ isn't a casual game and the vids really helped me get at least so I wasn't crying with frustration (literally, in a few cases). You can also use workshop zoos if you like, to see some of how it's done - try and find some beginner zoos if you do that, some of the workshop zoos come from builders with giant computers and are unweildy for most of us.
If you haven't done the tutorial zoos, definatly do them, they do help walk through some of the more basic functions.
If you haven't done the tutorial zoos, definatly do them, they do help walk through some of the more basic functions.
@OP: I play only Franchise and understand the feeling. There are plenty of incredibly talented content creators out there who make wonderful stuff, including tutorials on how to do precisely those things (nice paths and pretty habitats). I would recommend watching various videos to find someone whose designs you like, and then match their technique.
- Cry
- Binge a lot of YouTube videos (I like Mike sheets, he's a plant guy, and very good at going into the reasoning behind layouts and stuff.
- Play 300+ hours trying to build
- Cry more
- Stop using the barriers and use only null barriers
- Start somehow gaining building knowledge via magic? osmosis? Lucid dreams? Idk but something clicked and things made sense
- Play 300+ hours semi successfully building
- Get Oceania pack
- Play more
Want to just jump in and say it's entirely possible to use the barriers and still make things look nice. I wouldn't advise someone struggling with building to jump into custom fences and the like.
I found it was the thing that helped me the most in terms of learning the building system and the way the tools worked, hence the mention. Buildings were too finicky and complex before I figured it out, but the fencing was simpler, and pushed me into being more creative and thoughtful about how to build. I don't think that the barriers should be discounted, but just sharing my own experience with learning the game.
I have come full circle and returned to using chainlink barriers for realism after years of making custom barriers.
I use the corrugated one a lot, it's a material I see used in zoo exhibits everywhere, and since it's flexicolour it's even better. 10/10, would recommend.
Also use the corrugated, it's pretty common, and also nice for authentic feeling roadside zoo builds
I'm only good at terraforming and natural scaping in habitats. Making some basic structures like viewing áreas and fences. But for my life i can't figure out how to build buildings fast and eficiently and it takes me forever. What is frustrating for me is that i have all this ideas and designs that i can't create because i lack the skills but i know they are possible. Can't even make good looking plazas and or stairs lol
I use lots of blueprints from the steamshop though. Lots of good looking fences.
I use lots of blueprints from the steamshop though. Lots of good looking fences.
Id say the opposite.
Custom fences seem way worse then they actually are and train the most important skills for making pretty things those being:
1. Just using pieces and getting a feel for them
2. Dynamic Design aka if its straight 9/10 times it looks worse then a gentle curve
3. Precise building and getting a hang for the controlls
4. Creative use of Pieces
5. The fact that the front and back of a habitat are arguably more important then whats actually in it and lastly
6. Doing something yourself, no matter how small or big feels nice and is worth it
While there defenetly is skill involved, most of it is just not being afraid to try to make something even if it wont be as breathtaking as what you see a youtuber do and fences are a great small scale way to do that.
They dont have to be the most complex, literally just a mesh fence decorated with rock or wood as a base looks quite good even if its just 2 pieces, but it teaches alot about the game and i can only recommemd trying
This is hands down the best piece of advice for someone struggling with building. While there's nothing wrong with barriers themselves, people who tend to struggle with building opt for basic straight habitats. Just getting a feel for barrier building using just default barriers teaches you absolutely nothing about building techniques or even the logic behind barrier design that zoos will utilise.
I would extend the statement to blueprints themselves, people who often download entire buildings and habitats from the workshop or the default game blueprints often don't learn anything about what made that blueprint happen. Slow familiarisation of the vast scenery catalogue, learning how to use key building materials by building simple and small barriers, path fences and decorations for buildings will benefit the person in the long run even if it takes years.
I build in sandbox mode then make whatever my build was into a blueprint and then add it to my main zoo. Edit to add my main is Franchise.
How I started to build something nice and pretty
- Play the game
- Play a lot
- Still playing
- Stop to use blueprints
- Build myself
- Use costum barriers
- Visit IRL zoos
- Watch some videos
- Try to build myself again
- Have A LOT OF patience
- Be calm
- Play the game
- ENJOY the game
I have only been playing for about a year now, and I haven’t actually played the game in a while, I might get back into it with the new update features as the Oceania pack isn’t high in my priority list at the moment. Anyways here are my tips:
. Look at real zoos and go to real zoos. It helps so much!
. Make (or start) a recreation of a zoo close to you. It helps a ton with learning how real zoos function, look, and feel within the game. Plus you’ll have a cool replica!
. Experiment with different pieces and themes. Sometimes I just like to scroll through the piece menu and look for anything that catches my eye.
My tips are probably not as good as more veteran player’s, but I think they’ll still help with you’re problem!
. Look at real zoos and go to real zoos. It helps so much!
. Make (or start) a recreation of a zoo close to you. It helps a ton with learning how real zoos function, look, and feel within the game. Plus you’ll have a cool replica!
. Experiment with different pieces and themes. Sometimes I just like to scroll through the piece menu and look for anything that catches my eye.
My tips are probably not as good as more veteran player’s, but I think they’ll still help with you’re problem!
There are some great YouTube videos on things like layouts, paths, building a habitat so it's worth watching those. I enjoyed playing the career scenarios because there are lots of different building styles and you can have a look at how they've made that work. I've also downloaded a couple of zoos from the workshop to open and tour in my game. The really beautiful ones don't always play very well because they have so much that your computer may struggle to run them but you can go around and play with the building bits to work out how they've built certain things. Or you can download smaller blueprints such as habitats or buildings and then take them apart in your sandbox mode to work out how they've been made.
If you just want to play with the animals and concentrate on adding different animals, keeping them happy, breeding gold animals and having a 5 star zoo etc then don't put too much pressure on yourself to make a pretty zoo. Align to grid pathways and plazas and square habitats can be made to look good and I prefer the management side to the building as it can take so long to make something like the amazing creations you see online.
If you just want to play with the animals and concentrate on adding different animals, keeping them happy, breeding gold animals and having a 5 star zoo etc then don't put too much pressure on yourself to make a pretty zoo. Align to grid pathways and plazas and square habitats can be made to look good and I prefer the management side to the building as it can take so long to make something like the amazing creations you see online.