The appeal of franchise

[scullivan]

OK, no offense to anyone that loves franchise, but I don't get it. I've been playing PZ since launch and have tried to get into franchise, but I can't figure out the appeal. All of the videos I see are either sandbox or franchise - seems like EVERYBODY prefers franchise over challenge mode.

I totally understand the appeal of challenge mode! But as far as I can tell, the only difference between challenge and franchise is the obnoxious animal trading. Do you all really like the online trading? Or is there something else about franchise that everyone loves and I've just missed it all of these years?

(FYI - playing with management/challenges and watching the franchise vlogs are enjoyable, this is not an argument as to why you don't prefer sandbox/no restrictions; simply why franchise is better than challenge)

 

[Captain Callum]

i can give a view as an outsider to franchise aswell observing many different discussions and faults over the years, im a sandbox player naturally as i have no desire to pay insane prices for basic animals.
The 2 main appeals of franchise are:

• Animal trading - many love the idea of a live market and the challenge of paying lots of credits for harder to keep animals. However like everything in the modern world the market has been ruined by greed.
• Multiple zoos - it is possible to set up a number of zoos to create a 'franchise'. This is actually the reason frontier called it franchise of course. You can trade animals to and from your zoos to expand your zoo empire

 

[LindaBroer]

Just my two cents. I primarily play sandbox but every now and then I play franchise. I have tried challenge a couple of times but couldn't get into it over franchise for the following reasons:

• Animal availability - This has become worse with more DLCs. in challenge mode there are x number of animals available and in my experience it is very difficult to get a breeding pair. Then you also get them quite old (middle age tends to be the standard for PZ generated animals) so finding a mate for your offspring to keep your habitats filled is quite frankly obnoxious. Some animals have this problem in Franchise, but there are signficantly more animals available to start your zoo the way you want. Yes the prices for some animals in Franchise are freaking insane, but CC really loses its meaning after a while anyways so you can pretty much afford it.
• Research - In challenge mode all your research gets lost. I was thrilled when this was fixed in franchise mode. I don't mind some research being required, but I would like to be able to build half decent enclosures for my animals from the start. Especially when the only breeding pair I can find at the start of my zoo is of a shy species and the animals start moaning that they are stressed all the time. At least I can use one-way glass in Franchise from the get go
• Color morphs - Unless you are using mods you will not have many (if any) color morphs in challenge mode.In Franchise you can trade for the color morphs you want and then breed them. Like the King Cheetah that was recently introduced. I found out that in one of my existing Franchise zoos one of my Cheetahs turned out to be a King and offspring were also Kings. It felt good to share them with the community and spread this much requested color morph to more players.

In the end everyone will have their own favorite mode. That is actually what I like about PZ. There is no one correct way to play the game.

 

[SnaileyX]

Franchise is my favourite and I have tried all of the modes.

I like it because of the availability of most of the animals and the choices you get when buying on the market. It is a shame some people charge extortionate amounts, but there are people who don't and I can usually get what I want fairly reasonably.

Secondly, of course, the fact that it is a franchise and you can transfer animals between zoos. I haven't found a way to transfer exhibit creatures though - I don't know if this is not a thing or I have just missed how to do it.

Thirdly, I enjoy breeding animals to try and get them to gold status or for selling on the market.

I also enjoy the challenge of making a zoo financially viable but, of course, that is also available in challenge mode.

I do like sandbox if I'm in the mood to go full on with my building from the outset without the money restrictions. I also enjoy the scenarios now and again whenever the mood takes me