I would love to see a standalone game. As much as having aquariums in PZ would be really neat, I feel aquariums should be treated as their own game. When you go to the zoo it is a whole different experience and feeling than when you visit an aquarium. They could introduce so many new mechanics, and it would be amazing to have sea turtles, octopi, and even sharks. I do know that having dolphins and other cetaceans being held in captivity is a little controversial. However, they don't need to add them. That being said, I think if the game focused on their enrichment and welfare, it would be fine to include some of them. They could also make having them a challenge to keep healthy and also expensive to balance it out. I would never condone keeping cetaceans in real life, but in a game, I don't think it is harming anything. I'd at least like to see beluga.
I would really love to see a Planet Aquarium.
- Thread starter Skel3Kat
- Start date
I second this. Megaquarium just isn't cutting it for me. Frontier would do a spectacular job of making a Planet Aquarium.
It should not contain any cetaceans or baleen whales and should be extremely mindful of welfare and encourage generous habitat sizes.
At Monterey Bay Aquarium, there is an underwater viewing area directly out onto the pacific ocean. It's a kelp forest so you see tonnes of wild species, actually in the wild through the glass. It would be amazing if this could be implemented somehow!
Edited to add: I wonder if this is the game their latest financial report says they are planning for release in 2026?!
It should not contain any cetaceans or baleen whales and should be extremely mindful of welfare and encourage generous habitat sizes.
At Monterey Bay Aquarium, there is an underwater viewing area directly out onto the pacific ocean. It's a kelp forest so you see tonnes of wild species, actually in the wild through the glass. It would be amazing if this could be implemented somehow!
Edited to add: I wonder if this is the game their latest financial report says they are planning for release in 2026?!
Also to add, I think not adding cetaceans would provoke discussion that would certainly get heated but be great for education and awareness raising. It would be a bold move and an important one for conservationists and the welfare of animals in and out of captivity.
I wonder if they could soften the blow by including some kind of ocean conservation project management aspect to the game where you monitor and protect species in the wild? So they can create cetacean models but we have an ocean map with boats and robots that we can use to visit and study them?
In related news, there are researchers using AI to decypher whale language! I am so excited about this. In our lifetimes we might be able to comprehend what sperm whales are saying! Their frontal cortex is six times larger than ours and it is believed that they have the most complex language of any species, even ours.
I wonder if they could soften the blow by including some kind of ocean conservation project management aspect to the game where you monitor and protect species in the wild? So they can create cetacean models but we have an ocean map with boats and robots that we can use to visit and study them?
In related news, there are researchers using AI to decypher whale language! I am so excited about this. In our lifetimes we might be able to comprehend what sperm whales are saying! Their frontal cortex is six times larger than ours and it is believed that they have the most complex language of any species, even ours.
I really don’t think a standalone game would be good. There’s a whole wide variety of reasons why, but it one point comes down to you can make aquariums in zoos but you can’t make zoos in aquariums.
Aquariums have always been second place in terms of zoological facilities and I really think they better serve as a compliment to zoological facilities.
Also, I can’t imagine how difficult it already is building indoors in Planet Zoo, and turning that into the whole game. Aquariums 9 times out of 10 are entirely inside, so that just makes the whole experience so much more tedious for a Planet style game. Much better suited as a DLC in my opinion with including charismatic marine animals like manatees and sea otters which thrive in outdoor setups most of the time.
Aquariums have always been second place in terms of zoological facilities and I really think they better serve as a compliment to zoological facilities.
Also, I can’t imagine how difficult it already is building indoors in Planet Zoo, and turning that into the whole game. Aquariums 9 times out of 10 are entirely inside, so that just makes the whole experience so much more tedious for a Planet style game. Much better suited as a DLC in my opinion with including charismatic marine animals like manatees and sea otters which thrive in outdoor setups most of the time.
Most of the aquariums I have been to irl are attached to a zoo and have an entrance into the zoo, or are just down the road from a zoo, in my admittedly limited perspective they are mostly an accompanist type of thing. I have seen a couple of exceptions to that that said.
I would like to see aquaria come into play in pz, especially smaller tanks, and fish to go into larger multi species options.
Or a fish prop pack or something
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Hey, is this really Leaf? If so, I love your videos! and I can see your point. Building indoors is already difficult. I wouldn't mind if they came up with a DLC, only as long as they did it well and didn't skip on features. Also, the only true Aquariums I have visited have been at Monterey Bay and Seattle, so I was basing my idea on those.
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Scrolling and I sow this
I made a wrote a concept for a hypothetical planet aquarium. Frontier moved it to a different forum off of PZ. Recently I had thought of some very cool ideas that can make the game better. My concept was kind of a fusion of PZ and JWE stuff and with original ideas.
I want to edit it and then Il attach the link if you would like to see if.
I made a wrote a concept for a hypothetical planet aquarium. Frontier moved it to a different forum off of PZ. Recently I had thought of some very cool ideas that can make the game better. My concept was kind of a fusion of PZ and JWE stuff and with original ideas.
I want to edit it and then Il attach the link if you would like to see if.
I agree.
I’m the exact opposite of this experience, but of course this is limited to just me. All the best aquariums I’ve been to are fully standalone: Georgia, Shedd, Monterey, Ripley’s aquarium of the Smokies, Chattanooga, and the Curacoa sea aquarium. Even most mediocre aquariums I’ve been to are standalone: Key west, Myrtle Beach, St. Louis, Branson and more.Most of the aquariums I have been to irl are attached to a zoo and have an entrance into the zoo, or are just down the road from a zoo, in my admittedly limited perspective they are mostly an accompanist type of thing. I have seen a couple of exceptions to that that said.
I would like to see aquaria come into play in pz, especially smaller tanks, and fish to go into larger multi species options.
Or a fish prop pack or something
I’ve only been to a handful of zoos with aquariums, and only one (Omaha) would crack my top 7 aquariums.
I’m all for planet aquarium being its own game. I know zoos are more popular, and I enjoy zoos more, but most zoos aquariums, in my experience, don’t hold up to fully dedicated aquariums.
It would be great if it can somehow merge with PZ.
If they made building inside a more streamlined experience I absolutely think Planet Aquarium will work, honestly I’ve talked to a ton of people who prefer aquariums over zoos. Depending on my mood I flip flop, I mean my favorite animals are whales so I have a thing for the ocean.
But after really trying to make an indoor reptile house ( I have only really made a handful of indoor habitats before) getting the decorations, paths, and exhibits together was tedious. So yeah, the building is for fantastic, until you try to make something indoors and get the paths to work.
I’d be down for Planet Aquarium though, but I would definitely prefer it as a planet zoo expansion.
But after really trying to make an indoor reptile house ( I have only really made a handful of indoor habitats before) getting the decorations, paths, and exhibits together was tedious. So yeah, the building is for fantastic, until you try to make something indoors and get the paths to work.
I’d be down for Planet Aquarium though, but I would definitely prefer it as a planet zoo expansion.
Alright so I could not find the post that I made so I kinda had to redo it. I had a lot of fun making this, I believe it was me who originally came up with the hypothetical name of Planet Aquarium back in the day (feel free to correct me).
Planet Aquarium.
A game that can function similar to both PZ, PC and JWE2 in regards to animal care and guest attractions. Your aquarium can be built inside and outside that can be expanded anytime. Also you have several floors where you can build on, some tanks can be so big they cover 2 floors.
Aquarium themes: while watching The Aquarium and remembering visits to the Monterey aquarium I thought of some themes.
Aquatic theme that we have in PZ
Sunken ship: scenic pieces that can represent sunken ships
Polar: perhaps igloo style or research vessel style
Florida/Hawaii/Caribbean type
Deep sea: darker low light theme. Maybe submarine like.
Atlantic: think coastal New England or coastal Europe style builds
River lands: think bayou or a theme that would go well with being on a freshwater river.
Tanks/habitats/avairies: different from our exhibits and our habitats of PZ.
Types will include
Micro tanks: be much smaller then our exhibits, preferably for very small creatures that won’t move around much or at all
Small tanks: small schooling fish, larger crabs, maybe a little bit smaller than our exhibits. Completely customizable background and what’s inside is completely up to you.
Medium tanks: somewhere close in size to our WEs. For animals that would need some more space due to their size. Small tank animals can be included if desired.
Large tanks: meant for obviously larger animals. These tanks size can be increased to the players desire.
Habitats: so these will not be like ours in PZ. They are like setting a tank but has a land area and a water area, both sizes can be increased as well as depth. When making the habitat deeper, you will have see through window for guests to watch the habitat animals dive without needing to have a land area of the glass like in PZ
Aviary: yes the time has come. Can be built like the habitats mentioned above and topped off with a canopy. Meant for coastal, shore and wadding birds in particular but open to suggestions.
Animal examples
Micro tanks: Nudibranchs, very small crabs etc
Small tank
Crustaceans, eels, mollusks.
Small fish of all types and variety.
Medium tank animals
individual animals such as groupers, sting rays, eels, knife fish, alligator gar, small sharks, salmon, octopus, any big freshwater marine life.
Large tanks animals
Sharks, manta rays, tuna, lions mane jellies, anything that is big and would need a lot of room.
Aviary animals
Atlantic puffins, tufted puffins, horned puffins, rhino auklets, murres, kittiwakes, boobys, sand pipers, gulls, cormorants, eiders, herons, ibis, pelicans, storks, oystercatchers, the list can go on for a while.
Habitats
Reptiles
Caimans
Marine iguanas
Sea turtles
Feel free to recommend
Pinnipeds
All eared and true pinnipeds are welcome.
Likely keep California sea lions
A fur seal
Walrus
Sure gray seals but I think we could get some other true seals at launch to mix things up.
Random
On the fence about polar bears
Manatees
Otters
Giant otters can come along
Sea otters
Asian small claw can come along
Birds
I’d be happy to keep the penguins we have in game, a rockhopper would be a nice addition.
Cetaceans
At least no cetaceans at launch, just so people who are against it don’t have to support it. Maybe as a final dlc that has belugas and dolphins, a completely optional dlc that you don’t have to buy or support? Say belugas rescued from those pens in Russia, dolphins that can’t be released from standings?
Absolutely off limits
Baleen whales are not realistic.
orcas are way too controversial and I will never support.
great white sharks and giant squid are cool but they are not found in aquariums.
Guest features.
Theaters: some small with videos on repeat and large IMAX theaters that will play a variety of films that have to do with the ocean or your aquariums mission.
Touch tanks: you can pick what types of creatures you want in certain touch tanks. Educators will work these stations. Build multiple to cover the amount of guests you have.
Education boards similar to PZ but cover ocean related issues
Animal talk points return
Staff stuff
Staff facilities will be different, somewhat more compatible to JwE2. When you build your aquarium, you will set up staff only areas which you can upgrade to have a security room, staff break room, marketing office, staff upgrade areas, etc.
mechanical room: an area underneath the aquarium or in a separate building. This room will have generators, water filters and all the stuff a functioning aquarium would need. Upgradable and can add as many generators as needed, the room will also supply you with mechanics to maintain the power structures as needed.
Animal market
Did some brainstorming and I thought of the unique ways you can acquire dinosaurs in JWE and I thought of how some aquarists come about certain creatures.
Buy from fish stores, animal breeders, other aquariums etc.
Strandings: animals that washed up on shore that are deemed non releasable, young animals that rely on their mothers and got lost (think how sea otters are). Send some of your staff out just like in JWe2 on rounding up Dino’s.
Dives: so you get research boats, start with a small dive boat and eventually you can get access to a large research vessel. Send divers to specific areas and collect whatever they can. You can have them look for something in particular or always random. So times they will come back with fish or crabs, they may also come back with sea urchins, unique sea plants that you can add to your tanks.
Random other features
Workshop: you have your own workshop where you can design your own tanks and builds for your aquarium. view what unique items you have acquired in dives that you would like to include in your builds. Also there are tanks that you can use to breed animals so that you can replenish your aquariums with members that have died.
Movie making: as mentioned before with theaters, you can have crew film dives, research expeditions and other stuff via the boats. If you get enough footage of subjects you can complete the footage you need for the theaters.
Gift shops will return
Cafes and small food kiosks can be included, Im not sure if our current restaurants and food/drink vendors really would fit in.
Planet Aquarium.
A game that can function similar to both PZ, PC and JWE2 in regards to animal care and guest attractions. Your aquarium can be built inside and outside that can be expanded anytime. Also you have several floors where you can build on, some tanks can be so big they cover 2 floors.
Aquarium themes: while watching The Aquarium and remembering visits to the Monterey aquarium I thought of some themes.
Aquatic theme that we have in PZ
Sunken ship: scenic pieces that can represent sunken ships
Polar: perhaps igloo style or research vessel style
Florida/Hawaii/Caribbean type
Deep sea: darker low light theme. Maybe submarine like.
Atlantic: think coastal New England or coastal Europe style builds
River lands: think bayou or a theme that would go well with being on a freshwater river.
Tanks/habitats/avairies: different from our exhibits and our habitats of PZ.
Types will include
Micro tanks: be much smaller then our exhibits, preferably for very small creatures that won’t move around much or at all
Small tanks: small schooling fish, larger crabs, maybe a little bit smaller than our exhibits. Completely customizable background and what’s inside is completely up to you.
Medium tanks: somewhere close in size to our WEs. For animals that would need some more space due to their size. Small tank animals can be included if desired.
Large tanks: meant for obviously larger animals. These tanks size can be increased to the players desire.
Habitats: so these will not be like ours in PZ. They are like setting a tank but has a land area and a water area, both sizes can be increased as well as depth. When making the habitat deeper, you will have see through window for guests to watch the habitat animals dive without needing to have a land area of the glass like in PZ
Aviary: yes the time has come. Can be built like the habitats mentioned above and topped off with a canopy. Meant for coastal, shore and wadding birds in particular but open to suggestions.
Animal examples
Micro tanks: Nudibranchs, very small crabs etc
Small tank
Crustaceans, eels, mollusks.
Small fish of all types and variety.
Medium tank animals
individual animals such as groupers, sting rays, eels, knife fish, alligator gar, small sharks, salmon, octopus, any big freshwater marine life.
Large tanks animals
Sharks, manta rays, tuna, lions mane jellies, anything that is big and would need a lot of room.
Aviary animals
Atlantic puffins, tufted puffins, horned puffins, rhino auklets, murres, kittiwakes, boobys, sand pipers, gulls, cormorants, eiders, herons, ibis, pelicans, storks, oystercatchers, the list can go on for a while.
Habitats
Reptiles
Caimans
Marine iguanas
Sea turtles
Feel free to recommend
Pinnipeds
All eared and true pinnipeds are welcome.
Likely keep California sea lions
A fur seal
Walrus
Sure gray seals but I think we could get some other true seals at launch to mix things up.
Random
On the fence about polar bears
Manatees
Otters
Giant otters can come along
Sea otters
Asian small claw can come along
Birds
I’d be happy to keep the penguins we have in game, a rockhopper would be a nice addition.
Cetaceans
At least no cetaceans at launch, just so people who are against it don’t have to support it. Maybe as a final dlc that has belugas and dolphins, a completely optional dlc that you don’t have to buy or support? Say belugas rescued from those pens in Russia, dolphins that can’t be released from standings?
Absolutely off limits
Baleen whales are not realistic.
orcas are way too controversial and I will never support.
great white sharks and giant squid are cool but they are not found in aquariums.
Guest features.
Theaters: some small with videos on repeat and large IMAX theaters that will play a variety of films that have to do with the ocean or your aquariums mission.
Touch tanks: you can pick what types of creatures you want in certain touch tanks. Educators will work these stations. Build multiple to cover the amount of guests you have.
Education boards similar to PZ but cover ocean related issues
Animal talk points return
Staff stuff
Staff facilities will be different, somewhat more compatible to JwE2. When you build your aquarium, you will set up staff only areas which you can upgrade to have a security room, staff break room, marketing office, staff upgrade areas, etc.
mechanical room: an area underneath the aquarium or in a separate building. This room will have generators, water filters and all the stuff a functioning aquarium would need. Upgradable and can add as many generators as needed, the room will also supply you with mechanics to maintain the power structures as needed.
Animal market
Did some brainstorming and I thought of the unique ways you can acquire dinosaurs in JWE and I thought of how some aquarists come about certain creatures.
Buy from fish stores, animal breeders, other aquariums etc.
Strandings: animals that washed up on shore that are deemed non releasable, young animals that rely on their mothers and got lost (think how sea otters are). Send some of your staff out just like in JWe2 on rounding up Dino’s.
Dives: so you get research boats, start with a small dive boat and eventually you can get access to a large research vessel. Send divers to specific areas and collect whatever they can. You can have them look for something in particular or always random. So times they will come back with fish or crabs, they may also come back with sea urchins, unique sea plants that you can add to your tanks.
Random other features
Workshop: you have your own workshop where you can design your own tanks and builds for your aquarium. view what unique items you have acquired in dives that you would like to include in your builds. Also there are tanks that you can use to breed animals so that you can replenish your aquariums with members that have died.
Movie making: as mentioned before with theaters, you can have crew film dives, research expeditions and other stuff via the boats. If you get enough footage of subjects you can complete the footage you need for the theaters.
Gift shops will return
Cafes and small food kiosks can be included, Im not sure if our current restaurants and food/drink vendors really would fit in.
I've known a number of stand-alone aquariums, such as Shedd in Chicago, Monterey Bay and Long Beach Aquaria in CA, and so on. But I also know of some that are part of a larger science complex, such as the Steinhart (sp?) Aquarium and CA Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. In the latter case, there is a natural history museum and planatarium as well as an aquarium. They do have some zoo-ish features, such as a walk through rain forest dome with butterflies and some small herps, and some reptile displays as well. Is that something that would be playable and interesting (and marketable)?