Implementation of Aquariums in Planet Zoo

[KönigDerKaffeebohnen]

As most of us know, we would love to be able to build aquariums in our Zoos.
But what most of us dont know is if its even possible to implement this feature into planet zoo.
My answer would be that its proppably a nes, with the mechanics needed being quite diffrent from what we have in the game right now.
Many people on this forum have spoken about things like a possible Planet Aquarium, which as it own full price game could justify the needed work to put these systems into place, and that is where my Idear and reason for this thread comes into play.

You may know the total war warhammer series, which right now is nearing its third and final game.
These games did something quite special, where every game can be seen as its own standalone title, but also as an expansion pack, where all the content from previous games would be added in the newer once, but to acess it as playable, you need the game the content originated from.
Maybe this could also work for planet zoo and a sequel/expansion in a hypothetical planet aquarium.
If this would actually work, i have no idear, im neither a game designer nor do i know something about cross content design, but if it could and would, i would see it as the best way to introduce Aquarium mecanics to planet zoo.
Besides the point of the possibility and lucrativity of the project, the only major negatives i could see in the ideal setting would be content bloat, but as far as i know this community, for most here thats the opposite of a problem

 

[jcp011c]

I think it's very likely the game could feasibly implement Aquariums, it's just a matter of the coding involved. Given we can create large tanks of waters (for habitat sized not exhibit sized as yet), that part shouldn't be an issue at all, it's more on the coding of the animals themselves that would create additional work. So it's just a matter of if Frontier wants to go that route as it's an investment in time and money.

I have no issues with it if they do implement it in the game, but if that's the case I'd hope we'd at least see an extra year of support - 3 packs at minimum in other words. If they wanted to do a separate game that's fine by me as well, but I do also like the idea you proposed that uses the Warhammer model, can be a separate game, but doesn't have to be played that way.

 

[becks474]

I would like to have aquariums in Planet Zoo (as well as aviaries). Both belong to me to a complete zoo. So hopefully we will get them some time with interesting fishes and other species like the Axolotl.

 

[KönigDerKaffeebohnen]

For me personally the biggest positive that would come with a secound game would be sheer volume.
If we would get "habitat" fish in planet zoo, we would get maybe 8, while in a diffrent, specialised game there would be more, closer to ~60 at the start (it would be likely that a game would also get its own dlc)
My personal "problem" would be, that i dont have a vast knowledge of fish and dont really know if there are even that many fish that could be good "habitat" fish for bigger tanks that we could build outself, unless the whoule exhibit system would be overhauled (which would be great too).
A nice addition could be, to use some birds and mammals that we would also want in planet zoo, enhancing the raster and making it more of an appetizer for planet zoo players like manatees, penguins and other aquatic birds we dont have yet, harbour seals and maybe even some reptiles, as the game format would proppably be more about smaller exhibits then giant tanks, which would also lend itself for terrariums

 

[NZFanatic]

At most I'd like smaller exhibit-like aquaria showcasing specific marine environments and animals, more like interactive scenery objects than actual habitats. Something like a "Coral Reef Display" with your typical clownfish, corals, sponges, damselfish, cleaner shrimp, and so on, or an "Amazon River Display" with piranha. These could come in various shapes and sizes. I don't think it's either necessary or logical to include things like full sharks in big custom-built tanks, as this isn't something zoos typically put on display except in particularly expansive cases (not to mention, there are ethical questions raised around the collection of aquarium species in general).

Smaller aquaria do feature more commonly, however, but in the context of the game I don't think a full habitat system or the exhibit system are suitable. Aquaria are magical largely because of the mix of species, something that isn't possible with the in-game exhibits, but also because of the volume of species, particularly smaller species, which wouldn't be suitable for habitats. A coral reef exhibit with only a pair of clownfish isn't exactly reminiscent of what you'd expect to see - you'd also expect to see other marine species in that same tank as well.

Not to mention, Frontier has stated before that they want all of the in-game animals to be individuals. This is hardly realistic if we're talking about a school of salmon or something on that scale (this was talked about in a thread regarding turning butterflies into special effects - it also rules out any kind of beehive or ant colony).

 

[Ounze]

This is hardly realistic if we're talking about a school of salmon

I can't speak so much for Atlantic Salmon (genus Salar), but Pacific Salmon (genus Onchorhynchus) don't really form groups. Even as smolts and going out to the ocean, and as adults coming back from, their groups are only fish that happen to maintain the same speed. Pacific Salmon tend to be very individualistic. For example, in Chinook salmon (Onchorhynchus tshawytcha) there is a gene that controls when the fish migrates home, and spawn. The double recessive cause the fish to enter fresh water in spring, and wait for 3-6 months before spawning. A heterozygous means that the fish returns in the summer, and spawn after 3-4 months. A homozygous dominant fish returns in the fall, which is what is thought of as normal. Spawning still occurs in fall for all of them, but fish rarely more than a week after spawning begins, so a there is a constant stream of arrivals.
But the return time isn't all the gene controls. When they migrate out as smolts, the gene is the single largest influence on where in the water column the fish like to swim in.
Sorry for the essay.

I think that PZ could get away with a simplified aquarium system. Especially if they keep it to more common animals. Lemon Sharks, shark species under 5ft, small fish, biotopes, larger freshwater species, etc. If Frontier does an aquarium world, than I want to do real in depth filter design (Solid waste removal, oxygenation, degassing, bio filter media, setting filtration rates, etc.).

 

[NZFanatic]

I can't speak so much for Atlantic Salmon (genus Salar)

Interesting info, but I was just using salmon as a random example. The gripe applies to any schooling fish.

 

[Firestar97]

My personal "problem" would be, that i dont have a vast knowledge of fish and dont really know if there are even that many fish that could be good "habitat" fish for bigger tanks that we could build outself

Alligator Gar, Arapaima, Goliath Tigerfish, Sharks, big Rays, Koi, Tuna and there are way more that would fit for big Tanks/Ponds