I know it's early to suggest DLC, given that we don't know all of the base game features yet, but I'm guessing the aspect of zoos I'm suggesting here will probably not appear in the base game.
This thread will focus on the inclusion of petting areas in Planet Zoo. Another thread discusses the domesticated animals that would be needed to populate these areas.
Zoos commonly include petting areas in which guests can interact directly with animals. The use of wild animals in petting areas is controversial, but the use of domesticated animals rarely is. Consequently, any DLC pack or patch that introduced petting areas would also need to introduce domesticated species into the game. For the purposes of this thread I will assume the inclusion of the species described in my other post on domesticated animals.
At petting areas where I have worked, it has been important to give animals a living space separate from the guests so that can get away and rest when needed. As a game feature this could be achieved by making the petting area a special structure that is placed along the fence of an existing exhibit and then connect to a guest path, similiar to how the viewing platforms were placed in Jurassic World: Evolution.
Even better would be if petting areas were treated like flat rides in Planet Coaster and had both entrance and exit gates. This would allow guests to queue for the attraction and limit the number of guests inside the petting area at any given time.
By having guests and animals interacting in a specific area, it would simplify animation, prevent guests from wandering around animal enclosures, and allow animals to selectively enter the petting area. Having only certain species designated as petting animals would prevent inappropriate animals (e.g. tigers) from being same space as guests, and animals could choose to be petted only when all their needs are met.
To give the greatest flexibility for design, I would recommend that the petting area have a simple preset design, perhaps just a low fence that could easily be covered with other scenery or even toggled on or off. This would allow players to build their petting areas into farms, corrals, kraals, walkabouts, whatever they want.
Assuming that breeds of domesticated species are included as suggested in my other post, only certain species and breeds would actually be appropriate for petting. All goats, sheep, pigs, llamas, and alpacas would work for a petting area, but chickens, ducks, geese, and larger breeds of cattle, horses, and donkeys would be potentially dangerous. There are miniature breeds of cattle, horses, and donkeys, so the petting area could be programmed so that only these breeds can enter.
Although it might be controversial, I have also visited and worked at successful petting areas that contained wild species, such as red kangaroos, emus, lemurs, zebras, deer, gazelles, and tortoises. Given that we already know some of these are included in the game, it would be worthwhile to consider including in petting areas.
If petting areas were added as an early pack or a patch to the base game, it would make it possible for future packs to add to the number of interactive species. Discuss how plausible you think this model would be and what animals you think would work well (and sensibly) in a petting area within the game.
This thread will focus on the inclusion of petting areas in Planet Zoo. Another thread discusses the domesticated animals that would be needed to populate these areas.
Zoos commonly include petting areas in which guests can interact directly with animals. The use of wild animals in petting areas is controversial, but the use of domesticated animals rarely is. Consequently, any DLC pack or patch that introduced petting areas would also need to introduce domesticated species into the game. For the purposes of this thread I will assume the inclusion of the species described in my other post on domesticated animals.
At petting areas where I have worked, it has been important to give animals a living space separate from the guests so that can get away and rest when needed. As a game feature this could be achieved by making the petting area a special structure that is placed along the fence of an existing exhibit and then connect to a guest path, similiar to how the viewing platforms were placed in Jurassic World: Evolution.
Even better would be if petting areas were treated like flat rides in Planet Coaster and had both entrance and exit gates. This would allow guests to queue for the attraction and limit the number of guests inside the petting area at any given time.
By having guests and animals interacting in a specific area, it would simplify animation, prevent guests from wandering around animal enclosures, and allow animals to selectively enter the petting area. Having only certain species designated as petting animals would prevent inappropriate animals (e.g. tigers) from being same space as guests, and animals could choose to be petted only when all their needs are met.
To give the greatest flexibility for design, I would recommend that the petting area have a simple preset design, perhaps just a low fence that could easily be covered with other scenery or even toggled on or off. This would allow players to build their petting areas into farms, corrals, kraals, walkabouts, whatever they want.
Assuming that breeds of domesticated species are included as suggested in my other post, only certain species and breeds would actually be appropriate for petting. All goats, sheep, pigs, llamas, and alpacas would work for a petting area, but chickens, ducks, geese, and larger breeds of cattle, horses, and donkeys would be potentially dangerous. There are miniature breeds of cattle, horses, and donkeys, so the petting area could be programmed so that only these breeds can enter.
Although it might be controversial, I have also visited and worked at successful petting areas that contained wild species, such as red kangaroos, emus, lemurs, zebras, deer, gazelles, and tortoises. Given that we already know some of these are included in the game, it would be worthwhile to consider including in petting areas.
If petting areas were added as an early pack or a patch to the base game, it would make it possible for future packs to add to the number of interactive species. Discuss how plausible you think this model would be and what animals you think would work well (and sensibly) in a petting area within the game.