Don't forget you owe the winners that recipe too. So I'm ready to have one hell of a desert if I win.
Spring dlc Speculation 2023
- Thread starter Captain Callum
- Start date
Yes sir, I didn't forget
Don't jinx it man.
But take care man, hope ya feel better.
I am dying to speculate on the next DLC even though it's just us going in circles. But... I would just like to point out how well both the Wetlands and Grasslands pack launch trailers did on YouTube vs. the Conservation and Twilight packs. Especially Grasslands with 242K views in three months. Contrast that to the Wetlands Pack, which has 225K, and it's been almost a year. Conservation sits at 131K and Twilight at a measly 78K. What does this mean? I think even this shows how general biome packs have more appeal that the vaguely named conceptual pack (not including aviaries and aquariums). However, I want to stress how many factors probably affect the difference in views as well (time of year, youtube algorithm, etc.) But even though this seems like a trivial way to predict future DLCs, I think there is at least an ounce of meaning to this.
So, I'm thinking we will at least see some loosely-themed biome packs. Rainforest and Desert seem very possible to me. Islands isn't a biome, but I feel like it falls under the same category and would have the same appeal.
So, I'm thinking we will at least see some loosely-themed biome packs. Rainforest and Desert seem very possible to me. Islands isn't a biome, but I feel like it falls under the same category and would have the same appeal.
You raise a really nice point! And while sales are very different from YouTube views... The YT views are probably a good metric to show general interest in the packs. And it makes sense to see the ones with more concrete themes garnering more interest.
Personally, I think the "vague concept" packs are nice because they allow Frontier to work in random game pieces we may not see otherwise. But the more biome-centric packs are definitely more-needed (and welcomed, from my perspective!) in terms of animals!
Funnily enough, I preferred the ‘vague concept’ packs this year. I liked the themed publicity around them, and the animal selections are always much more interesting with only five slots as opposed to eight/twelve.
That’s not to say I don’t love the animal packs. I don’t have a preference scenery or animal!
I agree, I personally think the Conservation Pack had a very solid roster. I consistently use every animal in it. I'm not knocking conceptual packs, it just seems like the ones released so far (excluding the Aquatic Pack) aren't performing as well.
Grassland was the first pack in a looong time without any major criticusm related to it.
… the hyena caused a pretty major stir.
I wonder if that might actually be a pretty decent way to increase engagement.
Well, the "vague" packs were the ones with new building items and theming. So I think that definitely makes sense for some players. I'm with you, though... It's about the content of the pack more than the type of pack for me at the end of it all.
...And it makes perfect sense! Because if you're a (relatively) casual player I'm not sure you're probably not going to think too much about what "conservation" moves and move along. But if it's more specific you get a sense of what might be in the pack just from the name. I can see that leading to more 'clicks' on YouTube and other social media networks, for sure.
It blows my mind how certain people will STILL post on FB groups and ask: "What's in the X DLC pack?" I don't mean that in a judgmental way... I just always forget that your average player is only half-paying attention most of the time unless something really grabs them.
Like you, I don't mean this as a knock in any way/shape/form. But it's an interesting observation regarding the different pack types. Wonder what the difference is between, say, the Aquatic Pack and Australia at this point.
All this said: I'm hoping for a more specific name this time around! LOL
I meant criticism regarding the animal lineup, pack concept or scenery.
I'd laugh if frontier makes some noticeable issue with one of the animals on purpose to advertise the dlc even more
I wish! I'm still holding on to a 23rd/24th announcement.Hi all !!
Do you think we could have some news or hints this friday ?
It's kind of hard to theorize as there are limitless possibilities, but I'm hoping for animal-guest feeding interactions, more color morphs, free foliage, and more immersive game mechanics (i.e. things like the guided tours).Something ive noticed that we almost never talk about the free update when spectulating
Do you guys have any theories/wishes?
At this point, my biggest "wish" is for them to implement scaling for building items and foliage. Allowing us to re-size items would maintain the game's already pretty limitless possibilities... While making the creation of certain things infinitely easier (and without having awkward pieces that dangle/protrude out from the build itself).Something ive noticed that we almost never talk about the free update when spectulating
Do you guys have any theories/wishes?
Beyond that? Allowing us to re-name menu and shop items would be a nice way for customization, as would the addition of different-sized and shaped "billboard" items. Oh! And implementing some of the "fences/railings" off the elevated paths as their own unique building pieces. They already have them modeled. Why not implement them as scenery?
I'm sure there's all sorts of ideas beyond these that would be just as cool... The fun of it for me is looking at the feature update to see how it might apply to the DLC content. The two are usually at least somewhat correlated.
EDIT: And I definitely wouldn't say "no" to new mesh pieces (e.g., triangular shapes and smaller meshed lines). And new rocks, foliage, etc. are always welcome!
Got bored tonight... So I broke down the timeframe between announcement and release since the first pack. The overall average is 9.2 days (1.3 weeks) from announce to release but when you break it down yearly...
On top of this, Frontier has released Planet Zoo DLC packs ahead of the Easter weekend without fail (same pattern with PlanCo) and packs have always been released on a Tuesday (with the exception of North America, which was released on Monday, October 4th). So that would mean the pack is likely to see a release on or around Tuesday, April 4th.
Which means... An announcement mid-to-late next week has a pretty high probability of being a "thing." We all knew this already, I think, but there's some numbers to support it now!
- 2019-2020: 6 days (0.9 weeks)
- 2021: 9.25 days (1.32 weeks)
- 2022: 12.25 days (1.75 weeks)
On top of this, Frontier has released Planet Zoo DLC packs ahead of the Easter weekend without fail (same pattern with PlanCo) and packs have always been released on a Tuesday (with the exception of North America, which was released on Monday, October 4th). So that would mean the pack is likely to see a release on or around Tuesday, April 4th.
Which means... An announcement mid-to-late next week has a pretty high probability of being a "thing." We all knew this already, I think, but there's some numbers to support it now!
These are almost all prime examples of what Frontier could do to further expand on and diversify pre-existing functions and items already in the game (making them perfect “polishing” options for major Updates). Other already in-game assets that’d make for great/useful individually placeable pieces would be the plants and items within the exhibit boxes. I’d love to have some more small rocks and plants, and there’s already a number of these within the different exhibit box setups. Similarly, there’s also some other useful pieces that could be pulled from the various staff buildings.
Like you mentioned though, I think finally having a proper scaling feature in PZ would be absolutely massive. It’d revolutionize how we as players build in the game and bring new life and creative opportunities to basically every piece in PZ. Need a specifically shaped rock or tree? A scaling mechanic would solve this for you. Want to make the animal rewards statues true-to-size or even figurines for gift shops? A scaling mechanic would allow you to do this. Honestly if Frontier brought in this feature and also finally made all the pre-existing pieces flexi-color we wouldn’t even need them to make anymore pieces. We could shrink, grow, or stretch just about any “new” item we can think of from the models that already exist in-game.
Other piece-by-piece building games like Prehistoric Kingdom already have a scaling feature for their building pieces and Frontier at some point is gonna have to bring in a similar feature/mechanic if they wish to compete with their competitors in a gaming market that’s all about customization and creativity. The things I’ve seen players do with a scaling feature have truly been amazing. PZ deserves one too at some point, it’s revolutionized piece-by-piece building in almost all other aspects.
Another huge feature I think would be pretty game-changing for a Major Update is making all existing plants flexi-color too. Want to make a nice seasonally red-orange hued autumn, brown tinted winter, or freshly light green spring zoo? Flexi-color plants would allow you to pick your seasons. Want to have a physically similar relative of an already in-game plant species? Just adjust the color of the plant, and there you go, it’s a different species.
As for features/mechanics that possibly require new pieces/items, animal feeding stations/guest interactions would be amazing for certain species. And some rides that actually look like ones found in real zoos would be great too. The only “realistic” one we have right now is the train.
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New features:Something ive noticed that we almost never talk about the free update when spectulating
Do you guys have any theories/wishes?
1. new transport ride
2. new types of shops (souvenir, food, drink)
3. entertainers with animal mascots to increase guest happiness
4. staff vehicle to enhance working efficient
5. foliage brush
6. new education stations
7. animal feeding station
8. remove species limit
9. base game animal models update (lion, malayan tapir, timber wolf, snow leopard, camel)
9. animal size update (bison, male sea lion, two types of tortoise)
10. more colour morph (camel, king penguin, timber wolf, tiger, dingo, bear, alligator, cougar, springbok )
11. new behaviours ( bathing, chorus, brachiation, diving ) apply to more animals
12. herding improvement
13. enrichment items apply to more animals
14. new types of guest (wheel chair, baby car)
15. city skirt
16. animal rename (racoon, timber wolf, lion, wallaby)
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