Japanese Macaques need hot bath, Polar bear needs to dive

[softhunterdevil]

Hi everyone, I am enjoying Planet Zoo game very much. Would have enjoyed the game more if they include more different type of behaviours and interactions by different type of animals.
Such as Japanese Macaque need to swim or have hot bath. Animals like polar bear should dive and do fishing while eating food (fish enrichment if any)
So I think behaviour with water can be more detailed for different animals so as to say.

 

[NZFanatic]

In truth, the Japanese macaques that use hot springs are restricted to a single population that is not representative of the species as a whole, and due to ecotourism even that group doesn't do it as much any more. While I don't object to the idea outright (zoos use hot baths for a variety of species), I think it's important to recognise that this isn't common behaviour for the Japanese macaque.

As for diving, the water system in the Cobra Engine seems to be mostly non-functional (it behaves more like a special effect). In a Reddit Q&A it was said that adding underwater swimming and diving in the current system is extremely difficult, moreso than implementing the complex climbing system they were able to achieve. While I don't think it's impossible, and I can imagine that we will get such a system eventually, we should also understand that this isn't something they left out because they wanted to, but because they had to.

As for fishing, feeding live animals to each other isn't considered ethical in modern zoos. As far as I know this rule does extend to fish.

 

[softhunterdevil]

I agree with Japanese Macaques. But other animals like Polar Bear / Jaguar / Elephant / Hippo could have more interaction with water. If its possible to do normal swimming animation. I think it will be not too difficult to add underwater diving / underwater movement or playful animations and animal should move below water surface as per depth of water level. I am not technical, so its up to developers.
Regarding Polar Bear, many zoos provide Live fish as enrichment to eat. Some Zoo YouTube videos given below.
I think it helps the zoo to mimic natural environment and keep the animal fit and active, same as per actual wildlife.

Polar Bears get Live Fish for Enrichment - Cincinnati Zoo

Polar Bears Play in Snow and Hunt Fish at the San Diego Zoo

Polar Bears Show Off Their Hunting Abilities | The Zoo: San Diego

 

[giu94]

As for diving, the water system in the Cobra Engine seems to be mostly non-functional (it behaves more like a special effect). In a Reddit Q&A it was said that adding underwater swimming and diving in the current system is extremely difficult, moreso than implementing the complex climbing system they were able to achieve. While I don't think it's impossible, and I can imagine that we will get such a system eventually, we should also understand that this isn't something they left out because they wanted to, but because they had to.

That's interesting, who said that? I guess if hippos can swim and walk on the ground under water, they can recognize the volume of water, so with the right animation, an animal could dive I guess

 

[NZFanatic]

That's interesting, who said that? I guess if hippos can swim and walk on the ground under water, they can recognize the volume of water, so with the right animation, an animal could dive I guess

It was one of the developers who said it. As I said it was part of a Reddit Q&A. I don't use Reddit myself so I only saw a screenshot of the question/answer.

The hippos also don't actually navigate underwater, they navigate along the terrain at the bottom of the water. My theory (keeping in mind that I am not a game developer, so this is just based on my own observation) is that the Cobra Engine water isn't actually anything more than a special effect (so it has no real 'volume'). The issue is likely around whether or not the AI can drive animals on a 3D axis, since currently we only have directional navigation on a 2D axis (forward/back, left/right, etc, but not up/down).

 

[NZFanatic]

I think it will be not too difficult to add underwater diving / underwater movement

Just to be clear, I wasn't giving my opinion on the matter, I was telling you what one of the developers said on Reddit. Frankly if one of the guys who actually made part of the game tells me it's difficult, I'm inclined to believe him.

 

[giu94]

It was one of the developers who said it. As I said it was part of a Reddit Q&A. I don't use Reddit myself so I only saw a screenshot of the question/answer.

The hippos also don't actually navigate underwater, they navigate along the terrain at the bottom of the water. My theory (keeping in mind that I am not a game developer, so this is just based on my own observation) is that the Cobra Engine water isn't actually anything more than a special effect (so it has no real 'volume'). The issue is likely around whether or not the AI can drive animals on a 3D axis, since currently we only have directional navigation on a 2D axis (forward/back, left/right, etc, but not up/down).

For sure a developer is a good surce. But I don't understand what they would need to make animals swim if they know where the space is between the ground and the surface of the water why an animal can't do its swimming animations between thos two levels? I am missing something (and for sure Zoo Tycoon 2 engine wasn't more powerful, but I don't remember if animals could swim in every water of just the pools they made for marine animals)

 

[DrBurrito]

For sure a developer is a good surce. But I don't understand what they would need to make animals swim if they know where the space is between the ground and the surface of the water why an animal can't do its swimming animations between thos two levels? I am missing something (and for sure Zoo Tycoon 2 engine wasn't more powerful, but I don't remember if animals could swim in every water of just the pools they made for marine animals)

I believe it has got something to do with 2D vs 3D pathfinding. We aren't talking about a predetermined equilateral 3D space. Water is placed over terraformed terrain so it isn't as simple as it sounds.

 

[giu94]

I believe it has got something to do with 2D vs 3D pathfinding. We aren't talking about a predetermined equilateral 3D space. Water is placed over terraformed terrain so it isn't as simple as it sounds.

Yes it could be. We all hope swimming animals will come one day

 

[DrBurrito]

Yes it could be. We all hope swimming animals will come one day

It might be the feature I desire the most. Fingers crossed.

 

[NZFanatic]

Yes it could be. We all hope swimming animals will come one day

Certainly. There are some zoo animals that outright require it (penguins, sea lions - even the polar bear was absolutely borderline).

 

[shirandhak]

If I remember right (gosh, so many years since I played that with my kid), in ZT they only swam in pools.

 

[NZFanatic]

If I remember right (gosh, so many years since I played that with my kid), in ZT they only swam in pools.

It started out that way in both versions of Zoo Tycoon, but in both games we eventually got underwater swimming. Zoo Tycoon Marine Mania gave us the ability to build tanks specifically for this, and Zoo Tycoon 2 was able to add underwater navigation to their AI. The water engine in ZT2 was very different to that of the Cobra Engine, though.