Legendary Animals

[SotF]

One idea that hit me as a potential thing for the game could be the inclusion of some specifically named animals as we go on with the game. This is mainly due to finding my old binder from the original Zoo Tycoon where I'd filled it with a printed out pdf that someone put together about all of the official animals and their specific requirements and remembering the Magnet the Polar Bear there along with stumbling onto a few videos about specific animals such as the Cincinnati Zoo's Fiona...along with maniacs like Stoffel and Ken Allen...and even ones like Harambe.

Having animals that are released that would be unique per zoo (And per franchise), with set stats that could be distributed with some information about the specific animal they're based off of. They'd be set to be untradeable, perhaps having an extra staff building similar to the trade center that could hold them. Perhaps something similar to the zoopedia with a bit of background about that particular animal or just have a bit when they get released. In game, they might have a slight benefit for attracting visitors and couldn't be released or sold, but could go back into storage. Potentially they could be immortal

Basically, it would function similarly to the reward animals for the global challenges, but with a different method leading up to it as some very specific things for the animal. They would still function the same as any other member of their species beyond a locked name there and the inability to sell/trade them.

 

[Tally]

This is a really cool idea!

Some potential ideas for famous, real-life, non-copyrightable animals:

• Christian the lion
• Elsa the lioness
• Chimps Enos and Ham
• Jonathan the tortoise
• Echo the elephant
• El Jefe the jaguar
• Journey the wolf
• Old Ephraim the grizzly
• Machali the tigress
• Huberta the hippo

Just to name a few! Plus like OP mentioned, I bet zoos and nature preserves would totally be willing to partner with PZ to see some of their own famous animals in the game. ♥

 

[Firestar97]

Don't really like the Idea of a 500 Years old Gorilla that I can't get rid of. But I would love it if our own Animals could become popular instead. For Example a extremely old Reptile (at least 100 Years) becoming popular or a Chance for it if a endangered Animal is born (Gorilla, Tiger, Giant Panda.....) which would then cause a huge Boost in Guest Numbers.
Liked it in Zoo Tycoon that Magnet always had his red Ball, so maybe a Animal always carrying its favorite Toy around could also make them popular in the Game

 

[DarthQuell]

What about challenges were we acquire a famous animal, have to care for it, then release it?

I remember that there was 1 challenge were you have to care for a famous dolphin, and I believe put on a show, too (Zoo Tycoon 2)

 

[SotF]

Don't really like the Idea of a 500 Years old Gorilla that I can't get rid of. But I would love it if our own Animals could become popular instead. For Example a extremely old Reptile (at least 100 Years) becoming popular or a Chance for it if a endangered Animal is born (Gorilla, Tiger, Giant Panda.....) which would then cause a huge Boost in Guest Numbers.
Liked it in Zoo Tycoon that Magnet always had his red Ball, so maybe a Animal always carrying its favorite Toy around could also make them popular in the Game

I'm not sure about making them immortal, just that they can't be cashed out. A pretty good animal of the type and have a improved starting point, a slight difference from the normal animals of the species would be nice for just adding to the appearance...perhaps having the option of them being immortal would work or other options.

A separate building where you can store them so they don't take up space in the normal trade center.

One of the things I'm now remembering from right when I got Planet Zoo was when my cousins kids were over, one of them asking me if one of the hippos was Fiona...I did rename the baby hippo that, but it could be interesting as a collaboration thing there.

What about challenges were we acquire a famous animal, have to care for it, then release it?

I remember that there was 1 challenge were you have to care for a famous dolphin, and I believe put on a show, too (Zoo Tycoon 2)

Perhaps having them as a thing where you have a "Conservation Center" or the like (Functions almost identically to the Trade Center, but for these animals...effectively adding a tab to the trade center storage), if the animal is distributed, you'd get one. Perhaps the Center would also track releases of animals of that type in a franchise zoo, so if you bred/released 50 (or so) Lions into the wild, you can get named lion unlocked for the zoo that can be put in. Different amounts unlock different ones. Still only 1 of each would be possible in the zoo/franchise...perhaps with something that you can do to reset them if the animals aren't immortal.

Having the toy or something added to the model combining with a slightly higher starting fame and set stats would make them useful...and it would draw some attention to different zoos and animals.