How to simulate research in Sandbox?

[Moonfox]

Hopefully the devs add an option to turn research on in Sandbox (I think they will eventually, as they’ve already added so many fantastic options!).

In the meantime, I want to create rules for myself to simulate having to research items, diseases, etc in Sandbox mode. E.g. Filter out certain scenery themes until my staff are all trained to level 2.

Do you guys do this? Any ideas?

 

[Chris Simon]

Isn't the whole point of Sanbox mode the fact that everything is researched and you can do whatever you want?

But in general the idea of much broader adjustability for Sandbox isn't bad. I'd definitely use it, sometimes. I would for example turn on money. I can't play franchise or story mode, unfortunately, because I suck and keep failing, so I gave up, but I love the Sandbox and being able to simulated parts of the franchise gameplay loop would be nice.
the only question is whether or not it is worth the dev time (which I'm afraid is not)

 

[Moonfox]

Isn't the whole point of Sanbox mode the fact that everything is researched and you can do whatever you want?

Yes, but I hate having everything available at once! I’d love to be able to choose which items are available immediately and then have to research the others, for added challenge. I love that they gave us the option to turn off unlimited cash, that’s fantastic! I would just like to have something more for my vets and mechanics to do, and a feeling of development of my zoo.

 

[Swjosdotschka]

I play sandbox because I want to have every building available right from the start.
But I'd love an option to toggle all this as well. Because I'd like to decide what's the main aspect in my zoo when it comes to animal research! Maybe I want a zoo that is specialized in big cats but doesn't know everything about birds. Maybe the other way round. Turning off automatic "full research" would be a dream come true