When working with developers to suggest game expansions, they key is to understand the limitations and boundaries that developers are working in, as well as respecting and adhering to the aesthetic of the game.
When animals are "the stars of the show", it is clear that one of the key aims is to make animals that are as realistic and interactive as possible. This requires in depth behavioural study, movement and animation research and design, and a healthy background knowledge. The New zoo tycoon uses subspecies, and Animals wishing the same family as a way of adding deeper variation and growth, whilst limiting the amount of additional movements and behaviours required. I imagine much of the motivation behind this is down to the processing power and coding work so that MUST be a consideration in future expansions.
Zoo tycoon was was also designed to be deeply interactive, lightly educational, and to touch on many of the challenges faced by endangered animals in the wild. Hence why it plays a much greater role than in past franchise.
what do extinct animals bring to a game with these elements? In the same way, how fulfilling is a crocodile or a hawk to these interactive elements, compared to say a gorilla, an orangutan? How similar behaviourally is a tapir or a zebra to existing animals compared to a shark or an ostrich, and how are these animals faring in the wild? What animals are worth spotlighting from a conservation point of view?
I do believe there is room for expansion, with a small amount of room for some additional animals, like other apes and equines, which I would love to see. Mini exhibits can help with this, new world primates would work well. The zoo limit helps control this expansion and protects the experience, so respect that.
Zoo Tycoon was never designed to be a reiteration of previous games, so when you consider expansions for the game, focus on how to make it the best at what it is, rather than trying tobe something else entirely.
James
When animals are "the stars of the show", it is clear that one of the key aims is to make animals that are as realistic and interactive as possible. This requires in depth behavioural study, movement and animation research and design, and a healthy background knowledge. The New zoo tycoon uses subspecies, and Animals wishing the same family as a way of adding deeper variation and growth, whilst limiting the amount of additional movements and behaviours required. I imagine much of the motivation behind this is down to the processing power and coding work so that MUST be a consideration in future expansions.
Zoo tycoon was was also designed to be deeply interactive, lightly educational, and to touch on many of the challenges faced by endangered animals in the wild. Hence why it plays a much greater role than in past franchise.
what do extinct animals bring to a game with these elements? In the same way, how fulfilling is a crocodile or a hawk to these interactive elements, compared to say a gorilla, an orangutan? How similar behaviourally is a tapir or a zebra to existing animals compared to a shark or an ostrich, and how are these animals faring in the wild? What animals are worth spotlighting from a conservation point of view?
I do believe there is room for expansion, with a small amount of room for some additional animals, like other apes and equines, which I would love to see. Mini exhibits can help with this, new world primates would work well. The zoo limit helps control this expansion and protects the experience, so respect that.
Zoo Tycoon was never designed to be a reiteration of previous games, so when you consider expansions for the game, focus on how to make it the best at what it is, rather than trying tobe something else entirely.
James