Spring 2024 DLC Speculation

jcp011c

jcp011c
Narwhaler said:
hows it going fellas

ngl I am really excited for next week, it's gonna be so funny seeing the community being driven completely crazy regardless of what they announce, I think it's going to be great!
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I'm equally nervous, excited and dreading the reveal. Especially if it's the last pack. If it is the last pack, that's it...any animals not in the pack won't make it to the game ever, at least through official content. Franchise mode additions will be done. So like, I'm excited for new content and new reveals, and excited to planning my franchises with everything that'll be offered finally. But I'm also going to be sad at all the animals that didn't make it in.

This is probably not very likely, but I'm actually hoping that the reveal in some way silently signals it's NOT the last pack. Like, if it's just Central America, or just North America, especially if it's a scenery pack, I'm going to still be thinking it's not the final pack. If it's a full Latin America animal pack, I think it's still possible we might get another pack, but it could also be the final pack. With South America being the area needing the most additional representing, getting that set as a finale makes the most sense. Obviously, some kind of super sized pack or scenery + 8 animals would mean it's almost certainly the last pack.

That said, playing the game of most wanted animal types from each continent.

Mammals (To be clear, I would gladly trade all mammals from the other 5 continents to get 6 animals from South America, but that's not the way the game is played):
North America - American Black Bear
South America - Spectacled Bear
Oceania - Tree Kangaroo (any species)
Asia - Sulawesi Bear Cuscus
Europe - Eurasian Otter
Africa - Bat Eared Fox

Birds (Habitat only):
North America - Wild Turkey
South America - Scarlet Ibis
Oceania - Australian Pelican
Asia - Mandarin Duck
Europe - Western Capercaille
Africa - Shoebill

Exhibit (no flying birds):
North America - Flying Squirrel (WTE)
South America - Two-Toed Sloth species (WTE)
Oceania - Frilled Lizard (WTE - gotta get that running and flap extension animation!)
Asia - King or Indian Cobra (E)
Europe - European Rabbit (WTE) - honestly not sure if they would be good for an exhibit animal. I'm pretty open to whatever if it's not a fitting exhibit choice.
Africa - Jackson/Panther Chameleon (E)
 
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AndyZoos

A
Iben said:
I think the community really needs to start using "animation set" instead of the word "rig", because each animal has its own unique rig but every animal reuses or remaps existing animation sets. By sticking with the word rig, you're inadvertently end up saying that the swan is more unique than the other birds in terms of animations; but it isn't. The swan too remaps a lot of the flamingo animations and then has a bunch of unique animations to set it apart, just like the kiwi and just like the little blue penguin does.

It's what Planet Zoo does, and they do it really well. For instance, the majority of people out there haven't even noticed that the Tasmanian devil uses a remapped and adjusted raccoon animation set ( to the point that it can actually be made to climb as those animations are still there).

So that being said, looking at the meta wishlists, there's only very few animals out there that really need a from scratch approach and in that way so end up being unlikely (looking at you, my dear manatee). Others, like the tree kangaroo, the coati, the secretary bird etc. all have an animation set they can start from and Frontier has shown in the past that they're more than capable of doing plenty of animation work within the packs budget (Nile Lechwe's animation set for instance in a pack with already quite a few animation heavy animals).
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Can we just like, re-direct people to your posts about rigs and animations in this context whenever people say certain animals are going to be "too hard" for Frontier to do? :ROFLMAO: Most everything can be (at the very least) use another rig as a starting point (though Frontier would undoubtedly make a bunch of revisions to the rigs and whatever animations they apply).

Aren't there also a few animals that have new rigs that people say are just "clones" too (e.g., the donkey)?

Narwhaler said:
hows it going fellas

ngl I am really excited for next week, it's gonna be so funny seeing the community being driven completely crazy regardless of what they announce, I think it's going to be great!
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I'm super stoked! It's gonna be a fun week of speculation, anxiety, and excitement. It'll be fun and TBH, no matter what gets announced, I don't see a scenario that would disappoint me.

Some will make me happier than others but... None of the long-running prevalent theories would be disappointing for me in the end.

nutrit said:
Do you think they would reveal anything before the livestream on Wednesday?
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They've pretty consistently used these new livestreams as a way to discuss stuff we already know... So I'd imagine they'll announce it at some point before the stream. Probably both the update features and the DLC. The stream will probably tell us what we already know from their posts (and DLC trailer) and if we're lucky they might show some exclusive screenshots, gameplay footage, etc. But I don't think they've really done that before which... I dunno. Seems like a missed opportunity to me?

My current prediction: Free update content post in the AM with a note to keep an eye socials for an "exciting Earth Day celebration" or something. So there will be a few DLC teaser images throughout the day (maybe 3) hinting at the pack and its content (similar to what they did for the South America pack and the peccary). This would sort of be the new version of the "special" livestreams. And it's relatively low "cost" (timewise, and certainly from a budgetary perspective). Then we'd get the new DLC announcement and trailer on Tuesday.

This would give them two straight days of social media and content creator talk ahead of the livestream. And if they're smart they'll use the livestream to highlight some in-game footage or new screenshots. But yeah... That seems like the likely / ideal scenario to me.

They could also get away with doing much less. But I think this approach would get people talking much more than just announcing something outright.
 

Cynogale bennettii II

Cynogale bennettii II
Considering that lots of others are doing it, and there really isn't much else to talk about at the moment, I figured I would do the habitat mammals and birds and exhibit animals for different continents.

Habitat mammals
North America - Desert cottontail
Central America and Caribbean Islands - Central American spider monkey
South America - Black-capped squirrel monkey
Oceania - Greater bilby
Asia - Yellow-throated marten
Europe - Eurasian otter
Africa - De Brazza's guenon

Habitat birds
North America - Greater roadrunner
Central America and Caribbean Islands - Ocellated turkey
South America - Scarlet ibis
Oceania - Victoria crowned pigeon
Asia - Bar-headed goose
Europe - Great white pelican
Africa - Southern ground hornbill

Exhibit animals
North America - Carolina green anole
Central America and Caribbean Islands - Plumed basilisk
South America - Emerald tree boa
Oceania - Frill-necked lizard
Asia - King cobra
Europe - Olimpia's ground beetle
Africa - Parson's chameleon
 

Topaz Star

Topaz Star
I've been to a zoo today (Blijdorp, Rotterdam) and i'm even more excited now. I've been staring at those secretary birds there for ages :love:. Same for the Dalmatian Pelicans over there. I've even seen those mad sand potatoes (rock hyrax) and fell in love :love:


We really need the secretary bird & pelicans in the game
 

Eletan888

Eletan888
I'm gonna go ahead and do it too!

Habitat Mammals:
Africa- Mantled Guereza
Asia- Francois's Langur
Europe- Walrus
North America- Geoffroy's Spider Monkey
Oceania- Tree Kangaroo
South America- Spectacled Bear

Habitat Birds:
Africa- Gray Crowned Crane
Asia- Golden Phesant
Europe- European White Stork
North America- Carribean Flamingo
Oceania- Black Swan
South America- Burrowing Owl

Exhibit Species:
Africa- Panther Chameleon
Asia- King Cobra
Europe- Sheltopusik
North America- Mountain Horned Lizard
Oceania- Frilled-Necked Lizard
South America- Linne's Two-Toed Sloth
 

CharlieXGaming

CharlieXGaming
So I think it was @jcp011c that did this before the Eurasia pack got announced and I liked the idea so I figure I’ll do it seeing how the next pack is just a couple days away:

Likelihood of Animals appearing in next pack:

Coatimundi - 90% chance
1713727021103.jpeg

At the top of the meta wishlist and is the flagship SA species at the moment. Plus it can fit into a lot of themes (Latin America, Americas, Worldwide).

New World Primate - 80% chance
1713727217428.jpeg

Several candidates and is a severely lacking group in the game - and with a South America sequel pack being possible a monkey seems mandatory for it. It also has a decent chance in a worldwide and Americas pack.

Brown Pelican - 75% chance
1713727401553.jpeg

I say Brown Pelican specifically here because it can fit really well in an Americas pack, but the great white Pelican also has a good chance for worldwide. The swan makes this guy a pretty easy one to put it in I’d imagine, at least compared to other birds.

Greater Rhea & Ocelot - 60% chance
1713727499524.jpeg

Both easy clones for South America making them ideal for a pack only for Latin America, but for a general worldwide pack with only 8-10 species I doubt their inclusions.

Baboon / Gelada - 55% chance
1713727708689.jpeg

I gotta admit I’m scared he won’t make it, he can only make it into a Worldwide pack but he’s such an important animal to zoos I don’t want to think they’d ignore him, especially after intentionally skipping him in several packs recently.

Walrus - 45% chance
1713728164407.jpeg

As much as I despise this animal he’s a generally well known animal and can fit with an Americas and Worldwide pack - so I guess he’s semi likely to appear.

Goodfellows Tree Kangaroo - 35% chance
1713735217112.png

Probably the one they would go with to represent Oceania in a worldwide pack - and his absence in the Oceania pack itself could be seen as intentionally saving him, maybe. But he only works in a worldwide pack and he would probably need a lot of work done.

Secretary Bird - 35% chance
1713728198803.jpeg

I mean it’s at the top of the meta wishlist so that’s gotta mean something, right? Maybe he’s not the most useful out of African birds but he’s at the same spot as the grey crowned crane in terms of appeal to an average audience.

Birds in Walkthrough Exhibit - 5% chance
1713728393315.jpeg

Only thing to go off of is JWE adding a flying species in their final pack which is a different situation so not very trustable. They could also magically decide to do macaws in a LA pack, but seems unlikely cause why add birds now of all times?

West Indian Manatee - 0% chance
1713728509423.jpeg

Speaks for itself, just here for the lols.
 
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AndyZoos

A
CharlieXGaming said:
So I think it was @jcp011c that did this before the Eurasia pack got announced and I liked the idea so I figure I’ll do it seeing how the next pack is just a couple days away:

Likelihood of Animals appearing in next pack:

Coatimundi - 90% chance
View attachment 390290
At the top of the meta wishlist and is the flagship SA species at the moment. Plus it can fit into a lot of themes (Latin America, Americas, Worldwide).

New World Primate - 80% chance
View attachment 390291
Several candidates and is a severely lacking group in the game - and with a South America sequel pack being possible a monkey seems mandatory for it. It also has a decent chance in a worldwide and Americas pack.

Brown Pelican - 75% chance
View attachment 390292
I say Brown Pelican specifically here because it can fit really well in an Americas pack, but the great white Pelican also has a good chance for worldwide. The swan makes this guy a pretty easy one to put it in I’d imagine, at least compared to other birds.

Greater Rhea & Ocelot - 60% chance
View attachment 390293
Both easy clones for South America making them ideal for a pack only for Latin America, but for a general worldwide pack with only 8-10 species I doubt their inclusions.

Baboon / Gelada - 55% chance
View attachment 390294
I gotta admit I’m scared he won’t make it, he can only make it into a Worldwide pack but he’s such an important animal to zoos I don’t want to think they’d ignore him, especially after intentionally skipping him in several packs recently.

Walrus - 45% chance
View attachment 390295
As much as I despise this animal he’s a generally well known animal and can fit with an Americas and Worldwide pack - so I guess he’s semi likely to appear.

Goodfellows Tree Kangaroo - 35% chance
View attachment 390297
Probably the one they would go with to represent Oceania in a worldwide pack - and his absence in the Oceania pack itself could be seen as intentionally saving him, maybe. But he only works in a worldwide pack and he would probably need a lot of work done.

Secretary Bird - 35% chance
View attachment 390296
I mean it’s at the top of the meta wishlist so that’s gotta mean something, right? Maybe he’s not the most useful out of African birds but he’s at the same spot as the grey crowned crane in terms of appeal to an average audience.

Birds in Walkthrough Exhibit - 5% chance
View attachment 390298
Only thing to go off of is JWE adding a flying species in their final pack which is a different situation so not very trustable. They could also magically decide to do macaws in a LA pack, but seems unlikely cause why add birds now of all times?

West Indian Manatee - 0% chance
View attachment 390299
Speaks for itself, just here for the lols.
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Based on what we know (or rather, what we don't know) I actually agree with this (mostly). I'd just put the secretary bird and tree kangaroo on par with the walrus in terms of likelihood (both are higher-ranked and I'd argue that the tree kangaroo would be the same level of complexity as the walrus; but the walrus being the stand-alone pinniped would make it likely worth the effort for Frontier).

What's interesting is how much these percentages would shift based on the theme and size of the pack though. To me, at least. Like if we knew the last pack was going to be a worldwide pack... I would say all three of those would shoot up in likelihood (maybe like, a 50-65% chance) above the ocelot and you could kiss the rhea goodbye.
 
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