@jcp011c I agree with A LOT of what you have to say - PZ is the best zoo game ever and what Frontier continues to put is truly incredibly work, but the lack of birds is indeed the one area that is in need of improvement. And yes, for my criteria and preferences, it does impact my enjoyment of the game.
And I also feel the same way about marine animals - no DLC could possibly and properly respect the vast biodiversity of the ocean. Life under the sea absolutely deserves its own game.
With that said, I don't think I share as bleak of an image for the future birds in the game. The Secretary Bird is now a close second to the most requested animal. The Kiwi is now in the Top 10, and a very practical choice - especially considering the absence of its mammalian sister pick, the Tasmanian Devil.
A Coastal/Semi-Aquatic pack (with another top pick the walrus front and center) can absolutely usher in the long coveted Pelican.
And hey, if Frontier does indeed may close attention to these forums, ducks are nearing 100 votes, that's something not to be taken lightly.
And then of course is the issue of the flying birds. We have the walkthrough exhibit, and yes, we stil haven't seen birds being implemented in a system that seems practically designed for them.
But I do think
theming has played a role in this.
With Grasslands, the ability to incorporate multi-species WE with the butterflies very well could set the template for a multi-bird aviaries in the future.
With Tropical, I understand the practicality of sloths in WEs, and completely acknowledge their needed presence in the game - sloths are by far the most iconic species hold-out amongst the mammals, and they have major, major appeal being so many people's favorite animals.
That's why I can't be too mad. PZ needed sloths, the current habitat system doesn't properly accommodate them, WE are the only solution.
And now Arid...here's the thing. I think ultimately, the root problem of all of the detractors of this DLC, is the name.
Why call it an Arid pack when it only focuses on one region of one continent, especially when all other biome based packs were multinational?
It's a strange, inconsistent choice, but it's what they went with. I think if the pack was called the "Sahara Animal Pack" or the "North African Animal" Pack, an overwhelming amount of negativity towards the pack will simmer down immensely.
And I'll put on my developer hat for a moment: We're making a Sahara Animal Pack.
What iconic, marketable flying birds do we associate with that part of the world?
Frankly, I can't think of any.
So I am really going to spend time and energy implementing the first flying birds in the WE to garner minimal reception? Especially when reptiles are right there and also need some love?
Now, if the pack was indeed multinational, then birds like budgies and lorikeets would be natural picks and wildly celebrated.
But as is, it's just not the direction they went in.
I don't know if birds will ever make their way to WEs. I think it would be a tremendous, tremendous misstep if not, one I could never understand. But I'm holding out hope. That's all I got.
That and managing this list, encouraging the larger community to participate, being level-headed and constructive in my criticism and loud and proud in my praise, and a fostering a safe space for fellow, fine-feathered, friend fanatics.
That's how we win.