How we could get 3-5 more years of PZ

[TheYeti]

In the past weeks, I have been making some concepts for DLCs (yes another wishlist), taking into account a couple of things:

• Every DLC should have one highly desired animal that can be the cover species.
• No DLC should have an unreasonable number of small, unpopular or unknown species.
• Selected animals should be based on the META-wishlist or fill a niche that hasn't been filled yet.
• 4+1 packs should have the potential for a new construction theme.
• DLCs will switch between 4+1 and 7+1 packs with potential for a major DLC at the end of the year.

Based on these criteria, I was able to create ideas for 17 more DLCs, which I would spread over 5 years (4 DLCs in the first two years and 3 DLCs in the final three years), with each of the years ending with an aviary, aquarium, birds, freshwater and conservation DLC respectively. However, to temper my expectations, I reduced this list to 11 DLCs, which could be spread over three years. I tried to include most of the META-wishlist species while keeping formats that are somehow realistic. I'd like to hear your feedback on the selected animals/DLCs and your opinions on whether the expectation of having more than one year of new DLCs left is reasonable.

Year 1:

Year 2:

Year 3:

 

[sockeyejo]

Yup, I'd buy all of those. And thanks for not including anything daft in the aquarium pack!!

 

[jcp011c]

I'd buy all of these as well!

 

[Swiftie_Midnights_]

I will buy all these dlc! And my favorite choice you made is the nocturnal house I will be so happy to have it in the future

 

[becks474]

Nice suggestions. Most of the animals I really would like to have in the game are represented. I would make some changes. Instead of two leopard species I would put the striped hyena into the middle eastern pack. And I am really missing the Dik Dik and also the blackbuck but I would also buy all your Packs.

Personally I think expecting more than one year of DLC is reasonable as long as the packs are sold well and frontier is still making money with them. If this is the case I can imagine a longer lifespan of the game.

 

[12344321]

These packs are amazing! I need more dlc!
BUT eleven more dlc would be $110...
The game and all dlc are already $135.

I have concerns....is this game WORTH $250 (with tax) it is my favorite game after all.

And it isn't. Imaginary animals aren't worth $250. This is just the BEST zoo sim option available....so they trickle out animals for $10.

I hope they fix the current DLC format. It has always felt like price gouging to me.

 

[Bearcat9948]

I don't like the idea of having a Middle East/North Africa pack be a scenery pack. Doesn't make any sense to me given we have a full North African building set already and there is a decent enough overlap. You can easily build traditional Bedouin or Arabic style buildings with what we already have. There's really not any themes we need left. I guess you could make some kind of argument for Central America, maybe, but I'm not sure it's warranted. And North Asia really doesn't seem necessary given most of the Asian theme is Chinese and Japanese, and you can pretty easily build in both those styles.

I'll continue to echo what I've been saying from the Europe pack's release; no more building sets except for an aviary building pack and generalized modern zoo pieces. Everything else is unneeded bloat and sacrifices official animals in their place.

 

[TheYeti]

I don't like the idea of having a Middle East/North Africa pack be a scenery pack. Doesn't make any sense to me given we have a full North African building set already and there is a decent enough overlap. You can easily build traditional Bedouin or Arabic style buildings with what we already have. There's really not any themes we need left. I guess you could make some kind of argument for Central America, maybe, but I'm not sure it's warranted. And North Asia really doesn't seem necessary given most of the Asian theme is Chinese and Japanese, and you can pretty easily build in both those styles.

I'll continue to echo what I've been saying from the Europe pack's release; no more building sets except for an aviary building pack and generalized modern zoo pieces. Everything else is unneeded bloat and sacrifices official animals in their place.

I'd say that a Middle Eastern DLC could have some more classic items along with modern building pieces, which we are seriously lacking. Asian DLC could have a Southeast Asian theme, just like African DLC had North African. Similarly, a Caribbean theme would be great for a Central American DLC. I posted some concepts on Reddit earlier, which I can also share here:

Middle East:

Southeast Asian:

Caribbean:

In this concept I originally included a brown pelican and a Caribbean flamingo for a Caribbean DLC.

 

[Bearcat9948]

As someone who's been to the UAE and seen the modern architecture first hand...it's cool, don't get me wrong, but a zoo theme it is not. I stand by what I said.

 

[SalamAnders]

It would be such a shame to make the rhinoceros iguana an exhibit animal.
They are more terrestrial than the iguanas we already got, assuming the other iguanas' arboreal behavior is part of the reason they are exhibit animals. Rhinoceros iguanas shouldn't be more complicated in their behaviors than a monitor or a crocodilian.
At the same time, they will add something different to the habitat-reptiles.

The exhibit animals have barely scratched the surface of variation within these many groups of animals they cover, so adding a third iguana in the exhibits also seems a bit like a wasted spot in my opinion.

 

[TheYeti]

It would be a such a shame to make the rhinoceros iguana an exhibit animal.
They are more terrestrial than the iguanas we already got, assuming the other iguanas' arboreal behavior is part of the reason they are exhibit animals. Rhinoceros iguanas shouldn't be more complicated in their behaviors than a monitor or a crocodilian.
At the same time, they will add something different to the habitat-reptiles.

The exhibit animals have barely scratched the surface of variation within these many groups of animals they cover, so adding a third iguana in the exhibits also seems a bit like a wasted spot in my opinion.

I think they would work well as a habitat animal. I've seen them kept in an open habitat in the Singapore Zoo. I was just assuming Planet Zoo would make them exhibit animals since they're smaller than the green iguana. So far, monitors, tortoises and crocodilians have been the only non-avian habitat reptiles.

 

[SalamAnders]

I think they would work well as a habitat animal. I've seen them kept in an open habitat in the Singapore Zoo. I was just assuming Planet Zoo would make them exhibit animals since they're smaller than the green iguana. So far, monitors, tortoises and crocodilians have been the only non-avian habitat reptiles.

I also fear Frontier might think that if they put one iguana in an exhibit all of them should be, but we really don't know how their mindset is in that matter.
We at least know that different species within the same order can appear both in habitats and exhibits. Since we have lizards in habitats inform of monitors and various lizards of other kinds in exhibits. The same goes for Testudines (turtle/tortoises). So maybe the same could happen for species within the same family. We don't know.

The green iguana is because of the tail longer than the rhino iguana, but the 'rhino' can get much heavier. No matter what the size shouldn't be an issue, we got several animals smaller than them in habitats already.

 

[Hugo98]

I agree, these are really nice species choices although I'd love to see a takin, a guenon and a crane among others. In addition, I think there would be enough species for a second bird pack, but your ideas show that there a still quite a few animals that would work as headliners which gives me a little bit of hope that the game could have a bit longer lifespan.
In terms of building styles it could be more difficult to create enough different packs although I'd really like to have South East Asian and Carribean styled building sets as well as more basic zoo stuff.

 

[Hugo98]

These packs are amazing! I need more dlc!
BUT eleven more dlc would be $110...
The game and all dlc are already $135.

I have concerns....is this game WORTH $250 (with tax) it is my favorite game after all.

And it isn't. Imaginary animals aren't worth $250. This is just the BEST zoo sim option available....so they trickle out animals for $10.

I hope they fix the current DLC format. It has always felt like price gouging to me.

While I understand that 250 bucks is a lot for a game, I think it's still totally fine because we have to pay 7 or 10 dollar, euros, pounds whatever only every three months, often you get it cheaper somewhere after waiting a bit more. 10 bucks every three months is totally affordable in my opinion.

 

[avietar]

I like the concepts, though I think there are too many scenery packs. Like Bearcat, I'd like mostly animals now.

Also I don't see the Red deer anywhere? There's already a statue red deer in game, only fair if we get the real deal

 

[Pentoleaf]

These packs are amazing! I need more dlc!
BUT eleven more dlc would be $110...
The game and all dlc are already $135.

I have concerns....is this game WORTH $250 (with tax) it is my favorite game after all.

And it isn't. Imaginary animals aren't worth $250. This is just the BEST zoo sim option available....so they trickle out animals for $10.

I hope they fix the current DLC format. It has always felt like price gouging to me.

I currently have nearly 500 hours in this game. I play for about 2-4 hours a week (more during lock-down, but I'm taking an average) and expect to continue doing so for the next several years. I find it very relaxing and it's helped me considerably during a time of great upheaval.

They might be digital animals, but paying less than 2$ an hour for great entertainment is a good deal, and I get to support all of the people employed by Frontier at the same time. Win/win.

If someone is not playing as often, it's not a good price, but also they can get the base game for 35$ and still have a great experience.

 

[zoomaster1994]

In the past weeks, I have been making some concepts for DLCs (yes another wishlist), taking into account a couple of things:

• Every DLC should have one highly desired animal that can be the cover species.
• No DLC should have an unreasonable number of small, unpopular or unknown species.
• Selected animals should be based on the META-wishlist or fill a niche that hasn't been filled yet.
• 4+1 packs should have the potential for a new construction theme.
• DLCs will switch between 4+1 and 7+1 packs with potential for a major DLC at the end of the year.

Based on these criteria, I was able to create ideas for 17 more DLCs, which I would spread over 5 years (4 DLCs in the first two years and 3 DLCs in the final three years), with each of the years ending with an aviary, aquarium, birds, freshwater and conservation DLC respectively. However, to temper my expectations, I reduced this list to 11 DLCs, which could be spread over three years. I tried to include most of the META-wishlist species while keeping formats that are somehow realistic. I'd like to hear your feedback on the selected animals/DLCs and your opinions on whether the expectation of having more than one year of new DLCs left is reasonable.

Year 1:

Year 2:

Year 3:

I like these packs I would add some more aviary birds though, cause if you start year 2 with aviary animals, then the other upcoming packs should have birds as well.

So I would add;
Ocean animals pack;
-Sulphur crested Cockatoo
-Laughing/blue winged kookaburra
-Rainbow Lorikeet

Central America pack;
-Scarlet macaw
-Keel billed toucan
-King vulture

African animals pack;
-Hamerkop
-Violet Turaco
-Von der Decken hornbill

Northern animals pack;
-Atlantic puffin
-Snowy owl(Replace with Eurasian eagle owl in the aviary pack)
-European raven

Asian pack;
-Rhinoceros hornbill
-Philippine eagle
-Nicobar Pidgeon

Conservation pack;
-Bearded vulture
-Hyacinth Macaw

But still overall great picks

 

[Swjosdotschka]

I would buy all packs in the initial post - but am honestly irritated by the nocturnal pack I see most of these animals regularly in daylight habitats. If we ever get a nocturnal pack, I hope not every animal needs an indoor habitat. They are a pain to build

Edit: By the way, I LOVE your aviary pack and comming from me that says a lot.

 

[Lea_G]

In the past weeks, I have been making some concepts for DLCs (yes another wishlist), taking into account a couple of things:

I really like your ideas and the selection. But honestly, at this point I almost don't care how the DLCs are structured, I guess I'm taking whatever we get I think it is reasonable that there might be DLCs also after 2022. Probably not for five more years, but hopefully a little longer. I clearly see the potential.

These packs are amazing! I need more dlc!
BUT eleven more dlc would be $110...
The game and all dlc are already $135.

I have concerns....is this game WORTH $250 (with tax) it is my favorite game after all.

I know I'm privileged to be able to buy those DLCs, but from my personal perspective, it is worth it because it covers such a long time. As of now, I've spent more than 600 hours in the game and the more animals I have available, the more likely I am to continue for quite a long time. In comparison to many other activities or things I consume, this is a fair price to me. And I agree with @Pentoleaf, my father for example only owns one or two DLCs and plays seldomly, but still has enough fun doing so. People who cannot or don't want to buy them all, still have a lot more to choose from.

 

[NachoB]

I like your ideas. I've been thinking about pack ideas for a long time as well. Some i agree with you.

I don't think that is likely to get another asian building set (even if we it would be cool to have for SEA), but instead i see an animal pack as something more likely. As for central america i would like for it to be two 4+1 pack with building sets, one for the caribbean and one for mexico (yeah i know is technically part of north america but it would make for a great dlc full of props).

Somethin it don't think will get but i would like is an indian animal pack.

And i can deffinetly see the middle eastern and the african/oceania animal packs.

That said my wishlist is similar to yours:

SA animal pack (7+1)
1. Capybara
2. Maned wolf
3. Greater rhea
4. Black or red howler monkey
5. Sloth
6. Ocelot (if we get it in a mexican or central america pack then maybe the brazilian tapir or spectacled bear)
7. Black/spectacled caiman
8. Emerald tree boa/green anaconda

Carebbean pack (4+1)
1. Caribbean flamingo/caribbean brown pelican/scarlet ibis (one of the three, i don't think we'll get more than one bird if any)
2. West indian manatee
3. Green sea turtle
4. Squirrel monkey
5. Lesser antillian iguana

Mexico pack (4+1)
1. Collared peccary
2. Ocelot (if we get it in the SA pack then the nine banded armadillo)
3. Mexican spider monkey
4. Cacomistle or coati
5. Axolotl

Middle eastern pack (4+1)
1. Arabian oryx
2. Dromedary camel
3. Caracal
4. Hammadryas baboon
5. Uromastyx

I can see this pack being an animal pack as well since we got middle eastern architecture with the Africa pack. If so the other 3 animals i can see in a pack like this are arabian leopard (if we don't get a leopar in the africa animal pack), striped hyena and possibly the nubian ibex.

African animal pack (7+1)...

A lot of overlooked, popular and needed animals in this one. The game somehow would feel totally incomplete if most of these are missing by the end of dev support.

1. Black rhinoceros
2. Nile crocodile
3. Secretary bird
4. Grey crowned crane
5. Black and white colobus monkey
6. Greater kudu (or red river hog)
7. African leopard
8. Black/green mamba/gaboon viper

Madagascar pack (4+1)
1. Fossa
2. Indri
3. Sifaka
4. Tenrec
5. Panther chameleon

East asia animal pack (7+1)

1. Przewalsky horse
2. Amur leopard
3. Sichuan/golden takin
4. Golden snub nosed monkey
5. Sarus/damoiselle crane
6. Golden pheasant
7. Mandarin duck
8. Japanese giant salamander/fire bellied newt

Indian animal pack (7+1)

1. Indian leopard
2. Ratel or striped hyena
3. Blackbuck
4. Gaur
5. Lion tailed macaque/hanuman langur
6. Chital deer
7. Sloth bear
8. Indian cobra

Oceania animal pack (7+1)

1. Emu
2. Platypus
3. Matchie's tree kangaroo
4. Wallaby (any kind)
5. Tasmanian devil
6. Kiwi
7. Wombat
8. Tuatara

Endangered animals pack

1. Gibbon
2. Sumatran rhino
3. Saiga antelope (Amur leopard if not included in asia dlc)
4. Addax
5. Aye-aye
6. Black footed ferret
7. Chinese alligator
8. Lord Howe Island stick insect

Polar animals pack (7+1)

1. Wolverine
2. Musk ox
3. Rockhopper/emperor/gentoo penguin
4. Walrus
5. Atlantic puffin (or another species of penguin)
6. Sea otter
7. Harp/leopard/elephant seal
8. ?

As for the aviary pack i think it sholud be a true expansion pack since it would require new animal and building mechanics. As such just 8 animals won't cut it for me, specially considering how much Frontier has been neglecting birds in the animal packs (intentionally or not). So for this one i didn't fully followed the rules since i selected 15 species i think should be included in this kind of pack to fill all the types of birds we need

1. Scarlet or hyacinth macaw
2. Toco toucan
3. Indian hornbill
4. Harpy eagle
5. Bald eagle
6. Andean condor
7. Griffon vulture
8. Scarlet ibis
9. Roseatte spoonbill
10. African grey parrot
11. Snowy owl
12. Great horned owl
13. Reggiana bird of paradise
14. Victoria crowned pigeon
15. Large flying fox

Even with 15 animals we get short ( i would love quetzal, hoatzin, phillipne eagle and turacos but they are not high priority unfortunally), but a lot of "not-aviary" birds should be included in the other packs to compensate this such as galliforms, ducks, geese, swans, cranes, storks, pelicans... and later on the flying mechanic implemented on them in future updates.

As for exhibits maybe small aviaries for small birds such as passerines or even for small bats like the honduran white bat.

In conclusion... so many animals we are still missing and so much potential for countless dlcs. These are the ones i thought about. Sorry for the long post.