Planet Zoo 2 or big update on Planet Zoo 1

[aubreykitsune]

I agree that a PZ with aquatics is unlikely to have more than 10-12 species in the base game. But I disagree that there wouldn't be much in the way of DLC interest. I find marine animals much more marketable than birds, for example. An aquatic DLC with a Hammerhead Shark as headliner is still going to be popular among general players even with a Great White, Tiger and Mako sharks already in game. Could you say the same for a Harpy Eagle once we already have Bald, Golden and Sea eagles? It would be cool, and many on the forums would love it - but it's not the big draw of a big fish species.

I actually think bird DLCs would be limited to 1-2 dedicated ones, and then they will add more in 1s and 2s after that.

I could see at least 3-4 dedicated DLCs of 8 aquatic species that would sell well, including fish sprinkled in to other general DLCs to boot. Also remember that aquatic DLCs can also include popular animals like Walrus, Sea Otter, Leopard Seal, etc. that will boost their appeal.

Right, I wasn't trying to comment on DLC potential or interest. If I feel there's enough potential for a dedicated Planet Aquarium with its own DLC cycle, of course I feel there's no shortage of aquatic options for Planet Zoo to eventually add as well. Instead - looking at JWE2 for precedence - I was commenting on what I think Frontier "would" do rather than what they "could" do. With JWE2 they only had about 10 aquatics at launch, scattered a few more singly across packs, gave them one small dedicated DLC, and called it a day. It felt to me like JWE2's aquatic rep ended around where it should have started. So when it comes to the possibility of full aquatics in PZ2, I get worried of them doing the exact same thing again. Land animals are always going to be the focus of PZ afterall.

Another worry of mine is the Marine Mania approach to an aquatic roster - that they'll only focus on large and charismatic "marine park worthy" species, rather than the bony fishes that make up the backbone of real world aquarium displays. If the base roster only has 10 - 12 species, that's what we can expect of course. I don't think there's a way around it at that scale. What I'm more thinking about here is DLC and how they might handle picks for that. Across the game's lifespan, are sharks and rays going to become the ratites and penguins of fish, where they keep getting added onto while other fish groups are lucky if they ever get one rep? In the way that people are still requesting pheasants and ducks, am I going to end up still requesting things like jacks and wrasses at the end of support?

 

[The_Riot22]

Right, I wasn't trying to comment on DLC potential or interest. If I feel there's enough potential for a dedicated Planet Aquarium with its own DLC cycle, of course I feel there's no shortage of aquatic options for Planet Zoo to eventually add as well. Instead - looking at JWE2 for precedence - I was commenting on what I think Frontier "would" do rather than what they "could" do. With JWE2 they only had about 10 aquatics at launch, scattered a few more singly across packs, gave them one small dedicated DLC, and called it a day. It felt to me like JWE2's aquatic rep ended around where it should have started. So when it comes to the possibility of full aquatics in PZ2, I get worried of them doing the exact same thing again. Land animals are always going to be the focus of PZ afterall.

Another worry of mine is the Marine Mania approach to an aquatic roster - that they'll only focus on large and charismatic "marine park worthy" species, rather than the bony fishes that make up the backbone of real world aquarium displays. If the base roster only has 10 - 12 species, that's what we can expect of course. I don't think there's a way around it at that scale. What I'm more thinking about here is DLC and how they might handle picks for that. Across the game's lifespan, are sharks and rays going to become the ratites and penguins of fish, where they keep getting added onto while other fish groups are lucky if they ever get one rep? In the way that people are still requesting pheasants and ducks, am I going to end up still requesting things like jacks and wrasses at the end of support?

I think it depends a lot on what animals get ported over to PZ2. If we get a full 200+ roster, then there will be a ton of interest in birds/fish where multiple entire DLCs can go.
But if PZ2 only ports over, say, 140 species, then there would still be a bunch of land animals that will generate interest from the player base for DLCs(for example, if they took away Formosan Black Bear, most players won't really notice. But if they took away Arctic Wolf, that opens up interest to add it to PZ2, or replace it with something like Red Wolf).

As for which fish, I hear you. Of course the Big Ticket animals like Sharks are gonna get the bulk of interest, as they are what the general player wants. And if you look at it, how many casual players have the desire to make a reef aquarium and fill it with 25 smaller reef fish to pair with a few sharks? Not many. They'll probably add in a school of Red Snapper and a Grouper and call it a day.
But with fish it actually works in everyone's favor better than our normal DLCs. Because I think with fish a lot of players would buy the DLC just because it has a big shark or a dolphin, so they could make half of the DLC filled up with fish that would be viewed more as "filler" from the general public, such as Amberjack, Moorish Idol, Ocean Perch, etc.

Whether Frontier would structure it this way is impossible to say.

 

[Katerina Kittycat]

I honestly don't know if a planet zoo 2 is even a thing. But then again similar things were said about planet coaster 2 and look where we are. However if we ARE to have a planet zoo 2 I have a few requests based on my experience with planet coaster 2

1. The advanced pathing system from PC2 is a MUST HAVE. I've honestly found pathing easier in planet coaster 2 because of the advanced features of the PC2 pathing system. Stamps, draw tool, line tool, the ability to remove fences and kerbs, flexicolor paths, and invisible paths, all that is a must for planet zoo 2


2. Object scaling is a MUST HAVE. The ability to scale objects in PC2 makes building a lot easier when it comes to making small details, characters, and even landscaping. Definitely a must have for Planet Zoo 2

3. A better steam train design to complement the small steam train. While the small steam train is nice for some British or European themed zoos it doesn't really fit in an American environment. I would like to see a more American design like the chance rides cp Huntington as an additional option. Not to replace the other train but as a secondary option. The cp Huntington is a popular choice for zoos and amusement parks and it would be a nice addition

4. The ability to attach scenery to tracked rides is a MUST HAVE. With the ability to attach scenery to the rides we can create unique vehicle designs for our zoos. In planet coaster 2 this is a great feature for theming our rides and coasters and I think it would be nice for Planet Zoo 2

5. A SMALL assortment of flat rides and coasters from planet coaster 1 or 2. It's not uncommon to see small coasters or flat rides like a carousel in real zoos. Columbus zoo and Indianapolis zoo are two good examples of zoos that have small family coasters. And I've seen carousels and Ferris wheels in some zoos as well. So adding the grand carousel, Farris wheel, wooden coaster, and family coasters would definitely liven things up. Especially if you add the ability to attach scenery like in planet coaster 2. We don't need a ton of rides but having a few options wouldn't hurt.

Those are 5 things I would want to see in a planet zoo 2. We've seen objects from planet zoo cross to planet coaster 2 so it's safe to say they don't need to be completely separate. And some of planet coaster 2 's features would be very helpful for building zoos

 

[TheDuckKnight]

My attitude towards a sequel has been the same from the get-go and the game's continued lifespan since the supposed end with the Zookeeper's Pack has only amplified it: I don't think Planet Zoo lends itself to a sequel...for the most part.

There is a lot of quality of life improvements that PZ certainly could make use out of, the majority of which can be found in PC2 - scaling, an astronomically better pathing system, more flexicolor, streamlined UI, etc.

And while all those features are heavily coveted, the reception of PC2 should give everyone - including Frontier - pause. Now with that said, Frontier can and should learn from the mistakes of PC2's rollout to give us PZ fans a proper release for a sequel.

But let's be real - features, management style, all that jazz - comes a distant second from the biggest draw since the dawn of zoo simulation games - the animal roster.

Frontier could make every quality of life improvement we've been asking for with a sequel, but won't matter none if the roster stinks.
Even a quick glance around here, the subreddit, and any YouTube comment will tell you, this fanbase cares about getting as many of their favorite animals in-game more than ANYTHING. I mean, myself included lol

And this is where my issues start... I mean what would it even look like?
Planet Zoo 2: Oh yeah, but this time we actually have some flying birds and idk maybe some fish lol

Almost all the ABC, iconic zoo animals have already been incorporated to this game. The only big exception is the walrus. Only dorks like us even know what the likes of a coati, tree kangaroo, or a secretary bird are
DLCs would probably have repeats, do you really want to pay $9.99 so you can have a polar bear or meerkat, TWICE?

And by far the biggest issue, undoubtedly, many animals might have to be left behind to make room for more, so now you have a 1998 Pokemon Blue and Red situation. Sounds looks a regression to me.

I just don't know if they'll reincorporate all 200+ animals. Obviously the charismatic megafauna like elephants, lions, tigers, giraffes, and bears are safe.
But the favorites of the zoo enthusiast, which have been the top requested on these forums for the last three years? The likes of the maned wolf, the Pallas cat, the addax, the baboon? I'm not so sure...

I think people are going to have to really ask themselves if they're okay with this seemingly inevitable tradeoff.
Do you want the current, Noah's Ark style grab-bag of every animal you could ask for - but with an obvious exclusion of flighted birds and aquatic animals? OR a much more streamlined roster of solely ABC big ticket mammals, but finally with birds and fish.

Speaking of which...

Flighted birds seem like an inevitable addition for a potential sequel. But tbh it wouldn't surprise me if a sequel comes and goes and gives us an encompassing, but utilitarian flighted bird roster - a handful of macaws, a toucan or two, popular raptors like eagles, owls, and a vulture, maybe a few more parrots like cockatoos and lorikeets, and that's that.

Now if that happened with PZ1, I think I would literally pass away with happiness, and I'm sure I will if they do it with a sequel, but again I'm not holding breathe for a "anyone and everyone" approach the mammals got with PZ1. The likes of kookaburras, hornbills, Victorian crowned pigeon...we'll have to see.

AND NOT TO MENTION, MY MOST DESIRED BIRD DOESN'T EVEN NEED TO FLY AND COULD HAVE WORKED WITHIN THE MECHANICS OF PZ1 SINCE THE BASEGAME!!!!!!

AND THEN THE FISH ISSUE! imo Marine life is way too vast and diverse to be confined to a simple expansion. They deserve the respect to have their own game.

AND FURTHERMO- oh dear this is becoming a rant...

 

[Miyen]

PZ2 is, in my opinion, a announced failure for the following reasons :

• PZ2 can't be released with 200 animals in the new design. So PZ1 will have many more species than PZ2 for a long time. PZ fans may buy PZ2 (to try it out), but for PZ2's DLCs, it's likely to be a different and more painful story.
• PZ1 has many elements that allow massive expansion through mods. This reinforces the previous point.
• Many, like me, have spent 1,000+ hours building few parks that we reuse, especially with each new DLC. Starting all over again breaks my heart. I don't have the time. I don't have the heart to do it all over again. And almost none of the improvements you mention will fully compensate for that.
• I imagine a new PC will be needed to run the monster again. I don't know why. Honestly, what are the graphical problems with PZ1?

The curves on steamdb for PC2 and PC1 are pretty clear. Players remain attached to PC1.

JWEs are less affected because they come out with ever more animals (which are perhaps simpler to code too. Plus, no one knows how dinosaurs actually moved), and the parks are much faster to build (you don't lose lot of work rebuilding it in JWE2).

I have only one argument in favor of PZ2: the paths. For the birds and fish, with exhibits and WEs being totally underutilized (we do it for bats... but for birds it's too complicated... just kidding) for exemple, we could have parrots, reef aquariums, and manatees, and a lot of things quite easily.

Unfortunately, I think Frontier isn't developing birds, fish, and manatees in PZ1 just to keep arguments to sell PZ2. They're forgetting about mods. And for many, I think, the thought of recreating their favorite zoos and blueprints from scratch will be a huge obstacle.

Unfortunately, the PZ2 project is probably already too advanced.

 

[Swjosdotschka]

The curves on steamdb for PC2 and PC1 are pretty clear. Players remain attached to PC1.

To be fair, that is probably also because PC2 was in a horrible, horrible release state. And A LOT of bad decision have been made in terms of controls, UI, changes to preivious Planet Coaster that people are used to for 8 years now. Those are mistakes Frontier hopefully has learned from. Planet Zoo 2 does not HAVE to have the same fate. It CAN be a success. And I feel there are little overlap between Planet Coaster and Planet Zoo Players. However, the players that DO play / have both games (like me) are really burned, not gonna lie. The threshhold to convince me to preorder and buy a Planet Zoo 2 at a premium price is MUCH higher for me than it would have been before. Not in a million years would I have thought that my list of what needs to be included in PZ2 for me to do the shift is medium long or would even exist in the first place. Pre the release desaster of Planet Coaster 2 I would have bought PZ2 no matter what, in the huge belief that I would love the game anyway.

But as I said: I still CAN be convinced of a Planet Zoo 2. But likely not when core base game features are missing again and the g "I feel like I am playing on console" feeling will not be resolved. And the plant graphic needs to be better. No moving tree trunks, no low poly plants. A really good base game variety of animals. GREAT animal quality (including sound!!!!). "Just a few birds and a new path system" definately will not cut it for me anymore.

 

[RightWhale]

I got to be honest, I’m fine if we wait a couple years for PZ2. Frontier just has to give me a handful of fish in the exhibit box, and some birds in the WTE and I can survive for awhile. I’m no longer expecting anything exciting. I would love if Frontier gives me a huge “Bird pack” with new enrichment items, bird talk shows, and grid mesh pieces. But I don’t foresee them doing it at this point.

 

[RightWhale]

I got to be honest, I’m fine if we wait a couple years for PZ2. Frontier just has to give me a handful of fish in the exhibit box, and some birds in the WTE and I can survive for awhile. I’m no longer expecting anything exciting. I would love if Frontier gives me a huge “Bird pack” with new enrichment items, bird talk shows, and grid mesh pieces. But I don’t foresee them doing it at this point.

Which I will also say, it seems weird that some of those features were in Zoo Tycoon 3 for the Xbox. I do wonder why Frontier ended up not doing something similar for PZ?