Hayo Zookeepers!
Now that March is coming to an end (and what a busy March it has been!), we are back with a new Monthly Catch Up to ensure you are all up-to-date on the latest Planet Zoo news! Let's take a look back at what March involved:
News:
Planet Zoo: Southeast Asia Animal Pack and free Update 1.5 released 30 March! Thank you for all of your support and feedback since we announced, and launched this new content. Please continue to report any bugs in the Issue Tracker, and we'd love to see screenshots and videos you've created to celebrate this update posted on the forums! In Update 1.5, the team added the highly-requested Custom Billboards, alongside multiple zoo entrances, a free timed scenario, scenario rewards and more! This update is packed full of content to help inspire creativity, and you can read all about what it has added to the game on the dedicated forum post here.
We've had a wondrous time reading all of your feedback following our first animal-focused DLC; the Southeast Asia Animal Pack includes eight beautiful, new creatures that are ready to thrive under your care. We hope you've enjoyed meeting the Clouded Leopard, Sun Bar, Proboscis Monkey, Binturong, Malayan Tapir, Ussrui Dhole, North Sulawesi Babirusa, and Giant Malaysian Leaf Insect! The Southeast Asia Animal Pack also includes a stunning timed scenario, set in Perak, Malaysia, where we've challenging you to take on a struggling zoo set in a tropical rainforest. The views will help get you inspired, building and scenery wise, and the rest is up to you! We're looking forward to seeing you take on this zoo! You can read what the Planet Zoo: Southeast Asia Animal Pack includes here.
The process of adding an animal into Planet Zoo can take months, from choosing which animals will join the roster to polishing them off for you all to enjoy. If you'd like to read more about the process, check out our Planet Zoo: Southeast Asia Animal Pack Developer Journal! Hear from Producer IJke Botman, Character Artist India Jones, Animator Kai Cheng, Senior Sound Designer Ben Scholey, and Designer Kilian Schmitt, who will take you through an overview of the development of an animal, and have a read of this excerpt from Kilian from an idea of what the Journal includes:
"Initial research on the animals first and foremost focuses on how they’re represented in zoos and what kinds of conservation efforts are in place for them. We often share our findings across departments to highlight certain features, such as the range of locomotion, unusual behaviours, or vocalizations to make sure we can represent them in the game.
During development, I consult with an external researcher who compiles some important facts for us and provides the basis for our Zoopedia entries. My research intensifies depending on the area of the animal I’m currently working on – if I’m working on the animal’s habitat or population requirements, I will often read through zoo care manuals or try to find detailed references on zoo websites or in zoo forums. For some animals that are less common in zoos, I often rely on scholarly articles published in nature journals doing studies on very specific things for some species such as size, colour aberrations, communication, and even poop.
If I’m working on the animal behaviours directly, it’s best to look at the animals in action, so I get to learn about it by watching documentaries or looking at clips uploaded by people going to zoos or safaris. It helps me break down how much time of its day an animal spends moving, grooming, sleeping, eating, etc., and balance its behaviour this way. Once it’s safe to do, I’m also looking to visit zoos again to see some of the animal’s behaviours in suitable habitats directly."
The Southeast Asia Animal Pack Developer Journal is available to read here, make sure to check it out!
Were you able to join our Southeast Asia Animal Pack showcase livestream with Community Manager Chanté and Designer Kilian Schmitt? You can watch it here to see the animals in action, and also have a look at the fantastic habitats made by a few of our incredibly talented content creators! Watch it now!
Community Creations:
Check out this incredible Innovations Centre by [LyW] - Maverik. Now we might be a little biased, but we think this is pretty roarsome!
Look at this beautiful Oasis Coffee house by Zekin. There's nothing quite like that first cup of coffee after an early drive in the morning to the zoo!
Have a look at Nautilus by Syrrael. Perfectly shaped to allow your guests to travel through evolutionary history, this build is as magnificent as it is clever!
We're amazed by this incredible Temple of Mahadeo by Carroweh. This highly detailed build includes Tropical gardens and waterfalls - perfect for a habitat or park entrance!
Creator Spotlight:
We've been thoroughly enjoying Cesar Create's Elm Hill City Zoo series on YouTube! If you enjoy the video, make sure to show your support for this budding content creator.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpv1cEgd1Ic
We were stunned by the beautiful Aqua House tour ZooF shared on their channel! Built by LideR, we definitely recommend checking out this video for some inspiration!
Finally, let's finish up the Monthly Catch Up by taking a look at the Zoopedia Facts that were shared throughout March:
Now that March is coming to an end (and what a busy March it has been!), we are back with a new Monthly Catch Up to ensure you are all up-to-date on the latest Planet Zoo news! Let's take a look back at what March involved:
News:
Planet Zoo: Southeast Asia Animal Pack and free Update 1.5 released 30 March! Thank you for all of your support and feedback since we announced, and launched this new content. Please continue to report any bugs in the Issue Tracker, and we'd love to see screenshots and videos you've created to celebrate this update posted on the forums! In Update 1.5, the team added the highly-requested Custom Billboards, alongside multiple zoo entrances, a free timed scenario, scenario rewards and more! This update is packed full of content to help inspire creativity, and you can read all about what it has added to the game on the dedicated forum post here.
We've had a wondrous time reading all of your feedback following our first animal-focused DLC; the Southeast Asia Animal Pack includes eight beautiful, new creatures that are ready to thrive under your care. We hope you've enjoyed meeting the Clouded Leopard, Sun Bar, Proboscis Monkey, Binturong, Malayan Tapir, Ussrui Dhole, North Sulawesi Babirusa, and Giant Malaysian Leaf Insect! The Southeast Asia Animal Pack also includes a stunning timed scenario, set in Perak, Malaysia, where we've challenging you to take on a struggling zoo set in a tropical rainforest. The views will help get you inspired, building and scenery wise, and the rest is up to you! We're looking forward to seeing you take on this zoo! You can read what the Planet Zoo: Southeast Asia Animal Pack includes here.
The process of adding an animal into Planet Zoo can take months, from choosing which animals will join the roster to polishing them off for you all to enjoy. If you'd like to read more about the process, check out our Planet Zoo: Southeast Asia Animal Pack Developer Journal! Hear from Producer IJke Botman, Character Artist India Jones, Animator Kai Cheng, Senior Sound Designer Ben Scholey, and Designer Kilian Schmitt, who will take you through an overview of the development of an animal, and have a read of this excerpt from Kilian from an idea of what the Journal includes:
"Initial research on the animals first and foremost focuses on how they’re represented in zoos and what kinds of conservation efforts are in place for them. We often share our findings across departments to highlight certain features, such as the range of locomotion, unusual behaviours, or vocalizations to make sure we can represent them in the game.
During development, I consult with an external researcher who compiles some important facts for us and provides the basis for our Zoopedia entries. My research intensifies depending on the area of the animal I’m currently working on – if I’m working on the animal’s habitat or population requirements, I will often read through zoo care manuals or try to find detailed references on zoo websites or in zoo forums. For some animals that are less common in zoos, I often rely on scholarly articles published in nature journals doing studies on very specific things for some species such as size, colour aberrations, communication, and even poop.
If I’m working on the animal behaviours directly, it’s best to look at the animals in action, so I get to learn about it by watching documentaries or looking at clips uploaded by people going to zoos or safaris. It helps me break down how much time of its day an animal spends moving, grooming, sleeping, eating, etc., and balance its behaviour this way. Once it’s safe to do, I’m also looking to visit zoos again to see some of the animal’s behaviours in suitable habitats directly."
The Southeast Asia Animal Pack Developer Journal is available to read here, make sure to check it out!
Were you able to join our Southeast Asia Animal Pack showcase livestream with Community Manager Chanté and Designer Kilian Schmitt? You can watch it here to see the animals in action, and also have a look at the fantastic habitats made by a few of our incredibly talented content creators! Watch it now!
Community Creations:
Check out this incredible Innovations Centre by [LyW] - Maverik. Now we might be a little biased, but we think this is pretty roarsome!
Look at this beautiful Oasis Coffee house by Zekin. There's nothing quite like that first cup of coffee after an early drive in the morning to the zoo!
Have a look at Nautilus by Syrrael. Perfectly shaped to allow your guests to travel through evolutionary history, this build is as magnificent as it is clever!
We're amazed by this incredible Temple of Mahadeo by Carroweh. This highly detailed build includes Tropical gardens and waterfalls - perfect for a habitat or park entrance!
Creator Spotlight:
We were stunned by the beautiful Aqua House tour ZooF shared on their channel! Built by LideR, we definitely recommend checking out this video for some inspiration!
Finally, let's finish up the Monthly Catch Up by taking a look at the Zoopedia Facts that were shared throughout March:
- Gemsbok can increase their body temperature to up to 45°C to cope with high environmental temperatures, and prevent water loss through sweating and panting!
- The Lehman's Poison Frog natural range is very small (10km2) so it’s vulnerable to habitat loss through deforestation.
- Dholes are a ‘keystone species', which means they are extremely important for maintaining the ecosystem in their habitat!
- Sun Bears are also known as ‘honey bears’ because of their love of honey and their habit of breaking open beehives to get it!
- The Malayan Tapir is the only species of Tapir that is native to Asia, with all other species living in Central and South America!
- The first male Giant Malaysian Leaf Insect was not discovered until 1994, therefore comparatively little is known about the males of this species!
- Binturongs are a very vocal species, making ‘purring’ and ‘chuckling’ noises when happy and ‘wailing’ when upset!
- The Clouded Leopard can open its mouth wider than any other cat and its dentition is most like the extinct Sabre-Toothed Tiger!
- Binturongs are a very vocal species, making ‘purring’ and ‘chuckling’ noises when happy and ‘wailing’ when upset!
- The Proboscis Monkey has a ‘pot belly’ due to their stomach acting like that of ruminants and breaking down tough-to-digest plant matter!
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