RedPandaReggie's Ideal Slate for the end of 2023, through 2024 and potentially beyond

[RedPandaReggie]

Here is my clean slate for what I would like to end Planet Zoo with, and see what Planet Zoo 2 if it were to ever happen would add as a result of this conclusion.

Anniversary - 2023

Nile Crocodile - A legacy of Zoo Tycoon 2, being the only reptile in the base form of the game. This would be another great addition as it would be beneficial to African-themed areas that have had to utilise instead the Indo-Australian Saltwater Crocodile as a representative of the crocodilian family. This animal would have multiple different colourations and would be a magnificent reptile to see added to the game. It is often considered to be the most common species of crocodile kept in captivity, being found in several zoos, crocodile parks and farms, and multiple other private facilities worldwide.

Alternatively, given I don't really see any other potential packs for its inclusion that wouldn't feel repetitive, would be the Secretary Bird - A species of largely terrestrial raptor that specialises in hunting snakes. This bird was featured in the African Adventure Expansion Pack in Zoo Tycoon 2, and would make a terrific addition to bird line-up of the game as a whole.

The anniversary update feature that could add a lot to the experience could be animal encounters, something to boost the zoo experience for the guests by letting them interact with certain animals at feeding points that are placed either at the edge of a habitat barrier, or for certain interactions to occur must be placed on the habitat barrier.

An alternative update feature could be a long awaited retexture and remodel to the base roster of the game, updating the animals to the current textures and quality of animals that have arrived in the last 9 DLCs at least, and maybe some remodels and retextures to some of those animals too, a list I have created on the "Giving the more older animals some love." thread by @Frowerssx.

I have a list

Nile Monitor - Updates skin textures similar to Asian Water Monitor
Bornean Orangutan - Hanging shaggy hair, revised skin detail
Giant Anteater - Updated fur and hair textures
Koala - Updated ear hair textures, revised fur texture, bigger nose, less fluffy face and a more realistic skull shape
Red Kangaroo - Updated fur like on the wallaby and quokka, also it could use a facelift
Red Panda - Updated face design, revised fur textures, more variations in patterns and colours
Saltwater Crocodile - More rigid scutes more like the American Alligator, and more different colours, revised textures and head shape and mouth interior
American Bison - Giving the female a unique look to the male, and making them shaggy, with a few variations with like a half moulted appearance
Malayan Tapir - Changing the model, head shape, trunk shape, arched back, removal of Baird's Tapir mole
West African Lion - Facelift, revised hair textures and redesigned manes as well as new mane variations, revised Leucistic colours
Bengal and Siberian Tiger - Giving them more detailed ruffs (cheek hair), updated fur textures, added Royal and Melanistic Bengal Tiger variants, remove Leucistic Siberian,
Western Chimpanzee and Bonobo - Giving them some darker skinned variants, potentially a grey variant too, and more shaggy hair, as well as updated skin textures. Beard hairs on the male chimpanzees, and male Bonobos having more hair on their heads, at least there can be variants that include these features.
Komodo Dragon - Like the Nile Monitor, being brought more in line with the Asian Water Monitor
California Sea Lion - Make the male bigger
Black Wildebeest - Redo the hair to bring it to the same level as the Blue Wildebeest, as well as darker colouration
Timber Wolf - Facelift, and hair redo
Grizzly Bear, Himalayan Brown Bear and Formosan Black Bear - Make them less fat and more athletic and muscular animals in appearance, facelifts to all, Himalayan bear to be a bit fluffier to differentiate it more from the Grizzly, Formosan to have some better fur textures. Some revised fur textures for the Grizzly and some more colour variations.
Aardvark - Given similar long hairs like the Red River Hog, and a slightly thinner appearance
African Savannah Elephant - Just a few better skin textures, tusk variations
Indian Elephant - Just a few better skin textures like African Savannah Elephant, tusk variations
African Wild Dog - Fur texture redo, more pattern varieties and a facelift
Aldabra Giant Tortoise - Texture Redo
Amur Leopard - Darker, less cloudy eyes and some lighter fur variations, and less fluffy face, slightly revised head shape
Lesser Antillean Iguana - Add more skin variations and bigger dewlap
Green Iguana - Add more colours and skin variations as well as a bigger dewlap
Bactrian Camel - Model brought to Dromedary Camel level, and variants with heavier coats
Baird's Tapir - Made a bit more realistic in the model
Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur - Updated hair textures and face details
Bongo - Model redo and fur textures, bulkier build, slightly thinner and longer head
Pronghorn Antelope - Fur texture update, darker markings and eyes, and longer horns on the male
Western Lowland Gorilla - Darker colouration, more intense eyes, shaggier hair, more skin detail
Red Ruffed Lemur - Updated hair textures and face details
Gemsbok - Updated fur and horn textures, as well as more colour variations
Dama Gazelle - Lighter colours and more pattern variations to resemble some other subspecies
Sand Cat - Slightly tighter fit face and less of a fluffy face, and slightly more triangle-shaped ears
Reticulated Giraffe - More intense pattern, revised mane, more detailed and slightly thinner head, added spotless giraffe variant
Black Rhinoceros - Slightly thinner build, horn shape and colour variations and some browner colour variants
Arctic Wolf - Revised fur textures and colour, and a slight facelift
Reindeer - Antler variations and thinner build and revised hair
Galapagos Giant Tortoise - More skin detail and some other colours details like yellow around the beak
Eurasian Lynx - Caracal ear flicks, slightly revised face details
Sable Antelope - Revised model and fur textures, and subspecies inspired variations
Caracal - Pink-nosed variation, Male with larger tufts, cheek whisker spot, longer tail, and slightly revised face details
Polar Bear - more variants, algae covered, brown/cream variant and white and yellow, more athletic build, facelift
Dall Sheep - Revised fur and horn textures, Fannin and Stone variants
Dingo - More colour variants, facelift, and some variants having thicker fur
Common Warthog - Revised mane and fur textures, head sculpt, added hairs like those of the Red River Hog, and more detailed tusks
Pygmy Hippopotamus - Slimmed down model
Common Ostrich - Revised feathers, smaller and slightly remodelled head and more detailed beak, a Somali and North African variant
Okapi - Remodel of body and head and more fur and skin details, lighter brown colour variant
American Alligator - Slightly remodelled heads, additional skin variants
Greater Flamingo - Updated feather textures, and wing positions
Alpine Ibex - More detailed fur textures and horn textures, slightly darker eyes
Dhole - Variants with white underbellies and some that have thicker fur
Cheetah - Revised face design, flatter scalp, higher ears and a thinner build
Springbok - Added fur patch on the rump, more intense markings, added Pronking animation, and new colour variations
Hippopotamus - Longer head, added hair to tail and ears
Southern White Rhinoceros - Additional horn variations, revised model, larger calf, remade lips
African Buffalo - Horn colour, added Forest Buffalo variant, less thick hair
Spotted Hyena - Resculpted head and ears, changed colour variations and cub model
Plains Zebra - More intense stripes, shorter fur, revised main, moved to the Przewalski's Horse rig, added Burchell's zebra variation, as well as the Erythristic and Melanistic/Polka dot zebra variants, and a potential Quagga project variant
Cougar - Revised face
Snow Leopard - Remade model, revised face shape and details
Gharial - Updated skin textures and colours, thinner jaws, detailed scutes, thinner jaws, a lower stance being closer to the ground, almost sliding on the ground
African Penguin - swapped to Little Penguin rig, which is better suited to a shorter postured penguin, revised feather textures
Jaguar - Changed colour intensity, shorter fur and revised fur texture, revised head sculpt
Indian Rhinoceros - Revised skin textures and horn variations
Binturong - Added shaggier hair
Brown-Throated Sloth - Added algae variant and spotted variant
Chinese Pangolin - Improved scale textures and effects
Mandrill - Improved fur textures and model design, male with more fur and a larger mane
Japanese Macaque - Improved fur textures
Indian Peafowl - Improved feather textures and tail feather redesign
Meerkat - Changed head sculpt and less fluffy face, darker markings and improved fur texture
Moose - Improved dewlap
Nyala - Improved fur textures and longer hair on the back and hanging from the back and neck, revised horn texture and design
Proboscis Monkey - Nose shape variations
Red Crowned Crane - Improved feather textures
Emu - Less fluffy with improved feather textures
Southern Cassowary - Less fluffy with improved feather textures, a light blue skin variant and casque variations
Ring-Tailed Lemur - Improved model and face sculpt and revised fur textures

I think that is all of them

In terms of future DLCs, this would be my slate for the end of 2023, into 2024. Now, I don't see much further scenery that could be added, so Frontier could go almost all animal pack from now on, with one exception I will make.

December 2023 - Highlands Animal Pack:

1. Markhor
2. Sichuan or Golden Takin
3. Wolverine
4. Spectacled Bear
5. Hamadryas Baboon
6. Golden Pheasant
7. Pallas's Cat
8. Chinese Giant Salamander (Large Exhibit)

Update Features: Different sized exhibits, XS (Small Amphibians; Small Invertebrates), S (Small and Medium Snakes; Small Amphibians; Small Lizards; Small and Large Invertebrates), M (Medium Reptiles; Everything Below), L (Large Reptiles; Large Amphibians), XL (Large Reptiles; Large Amphibians). New Mountain Plants. A way to better transport staff and guests could be both staff vehicles, and transport electric carts and buses for guests to better be transported around particularly large zoos. They would follow routes and stop at stops set by the player. Elevators would be a very helpful method of improving customisability and better guest flow, helping guests move from different levels in zoos. A revised kind of gondola ride which is more of the conventional bucket rather than the one we have right now.

March or April 2024 - Coastal Animal Pack:

1. Walrus
2. Sea Otter
3. Brown Pelican
4. Green Sea Turtle
5. Common Bottlenose Dolphin
6. West Indian Manatee
7. American Flamingo
8. Coconut Crab (EX) or Reef Fish - Ocellaris Clownfish; Palette Surgeonfish; Moorish Idol; Regal Angelfish; Emperor Angelfish; Copperband Butterflyfish; Forceps Fish; Achilles Tang; Yellow Tang; Clown Triggerfish (AQU)

Update Features: New aquatic habitat gate with an added jetty for new marine keepers and marine vets equipped with scuba gear then enter the water of the habitats inspect the aquatic animals, restock feeders and enrichment items. A sort of crane facility to help get the aquatic animals into the habitats, with the caretaker or vet hooking the animal crate onto the crane, then the crane reeling it up and moving over the habitat's water body and placing the crate in, then the regular placement animation, just in water this time around. New Aquarium Exhibit Tanks that would be a full tank of water with moving fish inside, coming in various sizes, with the largest being the size of the walkthrough exhibit with an optional tunnel. New aquatic feeding stations for specialised aquatic animals like the Walrus, Sea Otter, West Indian Manatee, Common Bottlenose Dolphin and the Green Sea Turtle, there would be a mud pad, a sand pad, both of which would allow the walruses and dolphins to sift through to bring up food. A Seagrass Pad for the Manatees and Sea Turtles. Some rocks with clams/mussels and urchins that are used by the sea otters. Some new scenery pieces would be items like buoy and life ring enrichment items, placeable life ring pieces, faux starfish, urchins, giant clams and anemones to liven up the floors of aquatic enclosures. New plants like Neptune Grass, Giant Kelp, Bullwhip Kelp, Red Algae/Kelp, Corals. Some rock pieces can include basalt columns and smoothed out coastal rock pieces. More coastal maps would also be good. Another new feature could be a wave machine, a device much like the water filter and water temperature machines that is placed near a body of water, and can allow for waves to be created in the water. Finally, a new barrier type, marine netting, so spaced out netting with buoys at the top and sinkers at the bottom, to keep it outstretched and as a functional barrier for aquatic life. Better water physics too, so there are proper splashes when animals breach the water surface and enter or exit the water from the land. An option for the guest path to have a glass tunnel over it when passing through aquatic enclosures, without relying on the current trick to have the effect, it would be better for it to be a working feature.

June or July 2024 - Latin America Animal Pack:

1. Black and Gold Howler Monkey
2. South American Coati
3. Southern Tamandua
4. Geoffroy's Spider Monkey
5. Ocelot
6. Collared Peccary
7. Greater Rhea
8. Mini Monkey Set - Golden Lion Tamarin, Cotton-Top Tamarin, Emperor Tamarin, Common Marmoset, Western Pygmy Marmoset and the Goeldi's Marmoset (a few additions could be the White-Headed Marmoset, Golden-Headed Lion Tamarin, Golden-Handed Tamarin, Pied Tamarin, Geoffroy's Tamarin, Silvery Marmoset and Black Lion Tamarin) This is a selection of multiple mini monkeys that only getting one didn't feel right given their variety, so I thought I would create a selection for players to choose which of the diverse amount of mini monkey species live in South America.

Update Features - Multiple hanging/arboreal enrichment items would be a good addition. A forage log, accessible by anteaters, and multiple other animals. More hammocks for use by other arboreal animals that can be placed as part of a climbing frame. New feeding and water troughs that can be placed on habitat barriers. Ragdoll ropes, these are placed as part of the climbing frames and are able to be brachiated on. Faux Dead Trees and Logs. Climbing Platforms and Climbing Pieces made out of planks rather than logs or wooden beams. A last major feature for this one could be the addition of playground items, slides, swings, climbing frames and all sorts of other items for some of the younger guests to get up to their own monkey business. And finally, allowing larger exhibit animals, particularly the iguanas and turtles to be placed in habitats as well as the exhibits, so that animals like the Green Iguana can share the space of animals like capybaras, monkeys, tapirs and anteaters, giving the Green Iguana the ability to deep dive would be good too. Some lounging animations for the big cats too, like the rare animation with the Amur Leopard and I think the Fossa too, would love for this to be something big cats and other arboreal animals do often, something that animals like binturong, red panda, the bears and biggest cats on rocks, logs and in trees. Also having the koala spend a lot more time in trees, sleep in them and everything.

September or October 2024 - Woodlands Pack:

Scenery Set: Native American Theme

1. American Black Bear
2. Eastern Wild Turkey
3. Elk
4. Goodfellow's or Matschie's Tree Kangaroo
5. Sugar Glider (WE and Habitat)

Update Features: Enclosure Size proportioned Spotted Hyena social limit, allowing for more hyenas based on enclosure size. Giving Chimps and Bonobos the ability to brachiate. Aquatic Play, allowing various animals while in water, whether shallow or deep, to play around and have fun with one another in the water. Giving the Chinese Pangolin, Nile Monitor and Asian Water Monitor, as well as the Tasmanian Devil joey, the ability to climb trees. Lastly, allowing the Baird's and Malayan Tapirs to deep dive, as well as the Wild Water Buffalo too.

5 Year Anniversary November 5th 2024:

Common Squirrel Monkey - This small monkey is a common sight in many zoos and is often associated with South American sections and Children's Zoos due to their friendly demeanour. This monkey would add to the base game's South American roster.

A potential bonus could be the Linnaeus's Two-Toed Sloth for the base game's walkthrough exhibits.

Update Feature: Animal and Keeper Interactions. Zoo Accommodation modules, these can be villas, tents, cabins and rooms that will allow guests to stay at a zoo overnight, the rooms would have the opportunity for an opening to look into an animal habitat to make the guest experience more immersive.

December 2024 - Avian Animal Pack: A DLC with 3 birds (with some having varieties due to diversity) to represent all that came before, including this post's DLCs as a somewhat template.

1. Arctic Pack: Snowy Owl, Atlantic Puffin and King Eider
2. South America Pack: Macaws (Blue and Yellow, Scarlet, Red and Green, Hyacinth and Military), Toco Toucan, Andean Condor
3. Australia Pack: Laughing Kookaburra, Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo, Australian Zebra Finch
4. Aquatic Pack: Great White Pelican, White-Faced Whistling Duck, Inca Tern
5. Southeast Asia Animal Pack: Rhinoceros Hornbill, Bali Myna, Philippine Eagle
6. Africa Pack: Secretary Bird, African Grey Parrot, Helmeted Guineafowl
7. North America Animal Pack: Bald Eagle, Canada Goose, Hummingbirds (Allen's, Ruby-Throated, Anna's, Costa's, Broad-Billed)
8. Europe Pack: Eurasian Hoopoe, Mute Swan, Peregrine Falcon
9. Wetlands Animal Pack: Shoebill, Roseate Spoonbill, Scarlet Ibis
10. Conservation Pack: California Condor, Northern Bald Ibis, Ruppell's Griffon Vulture
11. Twilight Pack: Tawny Frogmouth, Kakapo, Boat-Billed Heron
12. Grasslands Animal Pack: Grey Crowned Crane, Red Legged Seriema, Burrowing Owl
13. Tropical Pack: Victoria Crowned Pigeon, Great Hornbill, Greater Bird-of-Paradise
14. Arid Animal Pack: Greater Roadrunner, Budgerigar, Turkey Vulture
15. Oceania Pack: Greater Lophorina, Rainbow Lorikeet, Kea
16. Highlands Animal Pack: King Vulture, Himalayan Monal, Bar-Headed Goose
17. Coastal Animal Pack: Osprey, Neotropic Cormorant, Steller's Sea Eagle
18. Latin America Animal Pack: Harpy Eagle, Resplendent Quetzal, Andean -of-the-Rock
19. Woodlands Pack: Western Capercaillie, Pileated Woodpecker, Mandarin Duck

Update Features: Flying Mechanics for Habitat Animals, giving the ability of flight to the Greater Flamingo, Red Crowned Crane and Indian Peafowl. Several aviary pieces such as perches and nest boxes. Several perch points of rocks and in trees, as well as on the different building pieces. Closed-Top Habitats that involves adding a ceiling to the habitats, this allows for primates to climb on the ceilings of their enclosures, and some to brachiate too. Stretch points to the barriers and ceilings to allow for more diverse enclosure appearances, being able to create aviaries and different kinds of habitats for primates and other arboreal species.

If Planet Zoo were to continue into 2025, these would be the packs I would choose:

March or April 2025 - Antarctica Pack:

Scenery Set: Antarctica Research Theme

1. Emperor Penguin
2. Gentoo Penguin
3. Chinstrap Penguin
4. Macaroni Penguin
5. Southern Rockhopper Penguin

Wild Animals:

1. Leopard Seal
2. Southern Elephant Seal
3. Wandering Albatross
4. South Polar Skua
5. Brown Skua
6. Northern Giant Petrel
7. Southern Giant Petrel
8. Antarctic Prion
9. Grey-Headed Albatross
10. Black-Browed Albatross
11. Kelp Gull
12. Crabeater Seal
13. Weddell Seal
14. Humpback Whale
15. Antarctic Minke Whale
16. Fin Whale
17. Antarctic Blue Whale
18. Sperm Whale
19. Orca
20. Hourglass Dolphin
21. Antarctic Fur Seal
22. Sub-Antarctic Fur Seal
23. King Penguin (only for the wild mission on South Georgia)

Campaign: Two missions, one on the Antarctic Peninsula, and the other on South Georgia, helping to preserve the precious wildlife of Antarctica and its surrounding islands. Researching and observing the wild animals, and taking sick and injured animals into care, nurse them back to health, and release them back into the wild. Help the Bernie and Emma Goodwin tackle Earth's untamed, wildest and perhaps most precious wilderness.

June or July 2025 - Primates Animal Pack:

1. Coquerel's Sifaka
2. Aye-Aye
3. White-Faced Saki
4. De Brazza's Monkey
5. Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey
6. Francois Langur
7. Gelada
8. Pygmy Slow Loris

September or October 2025 - Threatened Species Animal Pack:

1. Sumatran Rhinoceros
2. Numbat
3. Red Wolf
4. Spix's Macaw
5. Saiga Antelope
6. Cuban Crocodile
7. Black-Footed Ferret
8. Panamanian Golden Frog (EX)

Wild Animals:

1. Ethiopian Wolf
2. Javan Rhinoceros
3. Mountain Gorilla
4. Vaquita
5. Indri
6. Mountain Nyala
7. Leatherback Turtle
8. African Forest Elephant
9. Walia Ibex
10. Marine Iguana
11. Galapagos Penguin
12. Galapagos Sea Lion
13. Pink Iguana
14. Blue Whale
15. Iberian Lynx
16. Whale Shark
17. Oceanic Manta Ray
18. Great White Shark
19. Oceanic Whitetip Shark
20. Great Hammerhead Shark

Campaign: Working with Bernie and Emma Goodwin as well as Nancy, help to preserve the planet's most precious wildlife, in a race to help ensure a future for wild animals everywhere. From Eurasia to Africa, from the Americas to Australia, work around the clock, to provide sanctuaries and save havens to help protect these threatened species for generations to come.

6th Anniversary November 5th 2025:

Sloth Bear - An iconic animal of India, known from "The Jungle Book" as Baloo, these shaggy bears are one of the Indian Subcontinent's most distinct animals.

Bonus Animal: King Cobra - The world's largest venomous snake, and perhaps most iconic of Asia's snakes. An animal that would be a magnificent and captivating addition to Planet Zoo.

December 2025 - Planet Zoo Animal Pack: One final DLC, with one animal for each DLC inc. all from this thread.

1. Deluxe Edition: Olive Baboon
2. Arctic Pack: Musk Ox
3. Australia Pack: Yellow-Footed Rock Wallaby
4. Aquatic Pack: Amazon Aquarium Selection - Arapaima, Red-Bellied Piranha, Red-Tailed Catfish, Electric Eel, Tambaqui
5. Southeast Asia Animal Pack: Lesser Mouse-Deer
6. Africa Pack: Greater Kudu
7. North America Animal Pack: Bighorn Sheep
8. Europe Pack: Dalmatian Pelican
9. Wetlands Animal Pack: Fishing Cat
10. Conservation Pack: Sumatran Tiger
11. Twilight Pack: Common Brushtail Possum
12. Grasslands Animal Pack: Blackbuck
13. Tropical Pack: Kinkajou
14. Arid Animal Pack: Honey Badger
15. Oceania Pack: Greater Bilby
16. Highlands Animal Pack: Mountain Goat
17. Coastal Animal Pack: Harbour Seal
18. Latin America Animal Pack: Patagonian Mara
19. Woodlands Pack: Wild Boar
20. Avian Animal Pack: Northern Red-Billed Hornbill
21. Antarctica Pack: Adelie Penguin
22. Primates Animal Pack: Bald Uakari
23. Threatened Species Animal Pack: Maleo
24. Planet Zoo Animal Pack: Tiger Shark (ZT1)