Dear fellow Planet Zoo Players, Me and a Friend were coming up with some ideas together and decided to post one.
There has been a lot of demand for aquatics and fish in Planet Zoo since its release, however this suggestion isnt for an animal but a decorative object for aquatic life. There has been many times building a japanese pond where I have wanted to add koi fish, or when building a custom aquarium, or when watching small animals such as the otter, caiman and patipus where the thought of fish would make my build look less empty and more alive. Our suggestion is to add a fish effect.
How would it work?
It would work just like all the other special effects in the game. Found under the construction tab we already have a healthy selection of Special Effects in the game that greatly impove builds and scenery in your zoos. With this you could add a looped animation of fish to any body of water and when played it will give the effect of a live fish swimming. The fish can be simple swimming in simple circles and simply be kind of an illusion effect. The animated fish effect this would give would give any build using larger bodies of water a more lively effect in them.
Fish Species
Just like the smoke and water effect there will be mutiple variants for the player to choose from. We have 3 suggestions to add to basic game.
Koi Fish
Koi fish would fit into any asian build along with the asian props already in game. They come in a variety of sizes and colours making them perfect to be the main peice of a decorative pond. They are used often in real life ponds because as cod they are very hardy and long lasting.
These could range from 1 or 2 fish to 4 fish swimming in a predetermined loop, where layering them could give the impression of a nice group of koi swimming in a pond.
Cod Fish (Large)
For a less flashy fish we suggest a species of cod. Reusing the koi model by giving it a more natural coloured skin would give the player a less flashy option for a more natural build. This would be a the large variety of fish if you want to use them in a bigger body of water or with the bigger animals such as the crocodiles or polar bears. Much like the Koi theyd come in diffrent varieties of how many fish swim the predetermiend loop, to help layer and make it as lively as you wish.
Trout Fish (Small)
Trout fish can be used as a smaller natural fish that can be used with the smaller aquatic animals such as otters, caiman and the platipus. A smaller model varient would mean the player could add them to a smaller body of water without the effect dwarfing everything around it. and still bring the lively effect to the waters. again, could come in multiple group numbers to help variety
Conclusion
I know this idea isnt what most players would want for aquatic life, Im sure you would want a real animal or at least for this to work as a enrichment item. But I think this is a good compromise that could be built on. The devs already have the item in game meaning they dont need to create a whole new mechanic to add it and I think it would bring life to underwater scenery for our zoos and builds.
I hope someone likes our idea.
There has been a lot of demand for aquatics and fish in Planet Zoo since its release, however this suggestion isnt for an animal but a decorative object for aquatic life. There has been many times building a japanese pond where I have wanted to add koi fish, or when building a custom aquarium, or when watching small animals such as the otter, caiman and patipus where the thought of fish would make my build look less empty and more alive. Our suggestion is to add a fish effect.
How would it work?
It would work just like all the other special effects in the game. Found under the construction tab we already have a healthy selection of Special Effects in the game that greatly impove builds and scenery in your zoos. With this you could add a looped animation of fish to any body of water and when played it will give the effect of a live fish swimming. The fish can be simple swimming in simple circles and simply be kind of an illusion effect. The animated fish effect this would give would give any build using larger bodies of water a more lively effect in them.
Fish Species
Just like the smoke and water effect there will be mutiple variants for the player to choose from. We have 3 suggestions to add to basic game.
Koi Fish
Koi fish would fit into any asian build along with the asian props already in game. They come in a variety of sizes and colours making them perfect to be the main peice of a decorative pond. They are used often in real life ponds because as cod they are very hardy and long lasting.
These could range from 1 or 2 fish to 4 fish swimming in a predetermined loop, where layering them could give the impression of a nice group of koi swimming in a pond.
Cod Fish (Large)
For a less flashy fish we suggest a species of cod. Reusing the koi model by giving it a more natural coloured skin would give the player a less flashy option for a more natural build. This would be a the large variety of fish if you want to use them in a bigger body of water or with the bigger animals such as the crocodiles or polar bears. Much like the Koi theyd come in diffrent varieties of how many fish swim the predetermiend loop, to help layer and make it as lively as you wish.
Trout Fish (Small)
Trout fish can be used as a smaller natural fish that can be used with the smaller aquatic animals such as otters, caiman and the platipus. A smaller model varient would mean the player could add them to a smaller body of water without the effect dwarfing everything around it. and still bring the lively effect to the waters. again, could come in multiple group numbers to help variety
Conclusion
I know this idea isnt what most players would want for aquatic life, Im sure you would want a real animal or at least for this to work as a enrichment item. But I think this is a good compromise that could be built on. The devs already have the item in game meaning they dont need to create a whole new mechanic to add it and I think it would bring life to underwater scenery for our zoos and builds.
I hope someone likes our idea.
