The game has grown a bit in terms of dinosaur complexity, but I think the game could do with the introduction of the enrichment need and enrichment items.
Now there is a theme of how the enrichment items should be handled. It should feel very natural to the dinosaur's environment. When it comes to these items, it will be very distracting to see something of a high color and plastic look to be kept in these exhibits, but I think they will add a variety to what each exhibit has in order to make them stick out from one another, and another reason to keep the dinosaurs in their exhibits to avoid discomfort and escape by sheer boredom.
I am also blending in the hunt need to the enrichment need so that we have multiple options for our carnivores, and both needs are primarily a means to entertain the creature to prevent them from breaking out sooner.
Here are some rules:
• The items should not move: no balls, no remote control, they have to be stationary to avoid moments where the items would move and end up out of reach of the dinosaurs and become a hassle for players to bring back to a spot where dinosaurs could throw them again.
• There could more be multiple items per family, but there has to be at least one item per family.
Here are some ideas we could use and how they could be applied to these dinosaurs.
• Bone pile:
Initially, I was thinking that there should be a large tire for carnivores to use, however, the large tire would not blend as well to the environment and could be tossed around. Carnivores, both predators and scavengers, would love the opportunity to start cracking down on some bones to keep them engaged. This will be beneficial to the animation, as a carnivore would move their head down and pull out a bone respective to their size. So a troodon would pick a small bone, while a T-rex would grab the large femur. Plus, the layout of the bone pile would allow for multiple predators to use at the same time. Allowing a lot of them to satisfy their needs without relying on multiple bone piles and lower the chances of breakouts in a pack of large carnivores.
This enrichment item would need to be restocked by the rangers, and would deplete based on the carnivore's size.
• Prey options:
Here is the obvious way to keep carnivores entertained, with prey options. This could be done with the existing fish feeders, goats, and prey dinosaurs. I do think we could also introduce cows and pigs in order for them to be additional options for carnivores with variations of what they prefer to be the most enriching. The spinosaurus may prefer fish, the T-rex would love to chow on a goat, the giganotosaurus could go for a cow, and the velociraptor would chase down a pig. Guests may count as well as an enrichment item, but guests are not items...
Unless it is a dinosaur or guest, these would need to be restocked by the ranger team.
• Dead hollow log, rock platform, thick bush:
This is an option for the small carnivores. As they are not the biggest of dinosaurs, they may prefer to scout their areas and look around their exhibits. Most small carnivores are either scavengers or highly intelligent, so their curiosity would make the most out of this and keep them entertained.
• Gastrolith rock pile:
Herbivores such as sauropods and other grazers, are noted to have small rocks in their stomachs to help them digest vegetation. By simply having this small rock pile, herbivores could go and have a bit of pebbles in their stomach. I thought this could be a one and done deal, but as the game could pass 100 years for these dinosaurs, it would make sense if the herbivores would restock their gastroliths from time to time. Would be the least priority if other options are available.
Would need to be restocked by the ranger team.
• Large boulder/giant tree:
This large boulder would be a rubbing aid for some of the large herbivores in the game, such as the sauropods, stegosaurus, ceratopsids, and hadrosaurs. The large boulder would help these herbivores get that itch that has been bothering them without having their weight destroy the enrichment item. Giant carnivores may like it too.
No need for ranger upkeep.
• Large dead tree/bush:
The large dead tree would be another option for your herbivores to scratch with, however, the giant carnivores and sauropods could not use them due to their weight. It will benefit the smaller exhibits as it won't take up as large of a space like the boulder. Plus having it be a dead tree would blend in to multiple environments.
No need for ranger upkeep.
• Sand and shale tool:
Simply use the sand or shale tool in your exhibit. Your ceratopsids would love the dust and shale bath. Would recommend introducing the sand or shale tools to the challenge mode maps to make the most of this.
• Dead stump.
Your ceratopsids, stegosaurus, and ankylosaurs would like to use this to sharpen and clean their horns and armor. It may also act as a scentry post to your small carnivores. Carnivores like the carnotaurus, and ceratosaurus may want to use these to sharpen their horns.
No need for ranger upkeep.
• Dummy:
The only artificial thing on this list, and for good reason, as it will make the pachycephalosauridae, Iguanodon, and armored herbivores attack it due to it's odd looks and structure. Carnivores won't bash the dummy, except for the carnotaurus! And maybe the ceratosaurus too...
The ranger team would need to be sent out to repair the dummy every now and then.
• Substrate pile:
An enrichment option for the hadrosaurs and small herbivores. This is a means for the small herbivores to be engaged by digging, sifting, and looking for their food. It won't fill their hunger need as much, but it will keep them engaged to look for the odd snack. Small carnivores such as proceratosaurus, troodon, and compsognathus may find this enriching as well.
Would need to be restocked by the ranger team.
So far, these are what I could think of and would be enough options to make the exhibits feel more different from each other, as it will allow dinosaurs to enjoy new options in their exhibits. Let me know what you think!
Now there is a theme of how the enrichment items should be handled. It should feel very natural to the dinosaur's environment. When it comes to these items, it will be very distracting to see something of a high color and plastic look to be kept in these exhibits, but I think they will add a variety to what each exhibit has in order to make them stick out from one another, and another reason to keep the dinosaurs in their exhibits to avoid discomfort and escape by sheer boredom.
I am also blending in the hunt need to the enrichment need so that we have multiple options for our carnivores, and both needs are primarily a means to entertain the creature to prevent them from breaking out sooner.
Here are some rules:
• The items should not move: no balls, no remote control, they have to be stationary to avoid moments where the items would move and end up out of reach of the dinosaurs and become a hassle for players to bring back to a spot where dinosaurs could throw them again.
• There could more be multiple items per family, but there has to be at least one item per family.
Here are some ideas we could use and how they could be applied to these dinosaurs.
• Bone pile:
Initially, I was thinking that there should be a large tire for carnivores to use, however, the large tire would not blend as well to the environment and could be tossed around. Carnivores, both predators and scavengers, would love the opportunity to start cracking down on some bones to keep them engaged. This will be beneficial to the animation, as a carnivore would move their head down and pull out a bone respective to their size. So a troodon would pick a small bone, while a T-rex would grab the large femur. Plus, the layout of the bone pile would allow for multiple predators to use at the same time. Allowing a lot of them to satisfy their needs without relying on multiple bone piles and lower the chances of breakouts in a pack of large carnivores.
This enrichment item would need to be restocked by the rangers, and would deplete based on the carnivore's size.
• Prey options:
Here is the obvious way to keep carnivores entertained, with prey options. This could be done with the existing fish feeders, goats, and prey dinosaurs. I do think we could also introduce cows and pigs in order for them to be additional options for carnivores with variations of what they prefer to be the most enriching. The spinosaurus may prefer fish, the T-rex would love to chow on a goat, the giganotosaurus could go for a cow, and the velociraptor would chase down a pig. Guests may count as well as an enrichment item, but guests are not items...
Unless it is a dinosaur or guest, these would need to be restocked by the ranger team.
• Dead hollow log, rock platform, thick bush:
This is an option for the small carnivores. As they are not the biggest of dinosaurs, they may prefer to scout their areas and look around their exhibits. Most small carnivores are either scavengers or highly intelligent, so their curiosity would make the most out of this and keep them entertained.
• Gastrolith rock pile:
Herbivores such as sauropods and other grazers, are noted to have small rocks in their stomachs to help them digest vegetation. By simply having this small rock pile, herbivores could go and have a bit of pebbles in their stomach. I thought this could be a one and done deal, but as the game could pass 100 years for these dinosaurs, it would make sense if the herbivores would restock their gastroliths from time to time. Would be the least priority if other options are available.
Would need to be restocked by the ranger team.
• Large boulder/giant tree:
This large boulder would be a rubbing aid for some of the large herbivores in the game, such as the sauropods, stegosaurus, ceratopsids, and hadrosaurs. The large boulder would help these herbivores get that itch that has been bothering them without having their weight destroy the enrichment item. Giant carnivores may like it too.
No need for ranger upkeep.
• Large dead tree/bush:
The large dead tree would be another option for your herbivores to scratch with, however, the giant carnivores and sauropods could not use them due to their weight. It will benefit the smaller exhibits as it won't take up as large of a space like the boulder. Plus having it be a dead tree would blend in to multiple environments.
No need for ranger upkeep.
• Sand and shale tool:
Simply use the sand or shale tool in your exhibit. Your ceratopsids would love the dust and shale bath. Would recommend introducing the sand or shale tools to the challenge mode maps to make the most of this.
• Dead stump.
Your ceratopsids, stegosaurus, and ankylosaurs would like to use this to sharpen and clean their horns and armor. It may also act as a scentry post to your small carnivores. Carnivores like the carnotaurus, and ceratosaurus may want to use these to sharpen their horns.
No need for ranger upkeep.
• Dummy:
The only artificial thing on this list, and for good reason, as it will make the pachycephalosauridae, Iguanodon, and armored herbivores attack it due to it's odd looks and structure. Carnivores won't bash the dummy, except for the carnotaurus! And maybe the ceratosaurus too...
The ranger team would need to be sent out to repair the dummy every now and then.
• Substrate pile:
An enrichment option for the hadrosaurs and small herbivores. This is a means for the small herbivores to be engaged by digging, sifting, and looking for their food. It won't fill their hunger need as much, but it will keep them engaged to look for the odd snack. Small carnivores such as proceratosaurus, troodon, and compsognathus may find this enriching as well.
Would need to be restocked by the ranger team.
So far, these are what I could think of and would be enough options to make the exhibits feel more different from each other, as it will allow dinosaurs to enjoy new options in their exhibits. Let me know what you think!
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