Things that i sincerly miss in Planet Zoo (and to some degree Planet Coaster)

[Cyresdogg]

Sooo from what i have read on the Steam Forums, Reddit and this Forum a lot of these suggestions are gonna be quite common, but nonetheless meaningful (in my opinion)

1) Hotels, this game desperately needs a way to let us use Hotels, these are not uncommon in Zoos and Themeparks nowadays and can add a lot to the Fluff of the entire game.

2) More Skins for Employees so we can assign them to specific areas of the Zoo.

3) The ability to let more than just one Animal Caretaker (idk the english name for it sorry) into a Habitat at once. If a Habitat reached a specific size it is absolutely impossible for the caretakers to feed them and clean it anymore, it would be way more enjoyable if we have the Option to assign up to 3 Caretakers to a Single Habitat and then have a specific task assigned to them.
For example:
You assign only 1 Caretaker to a Habitat, he then cleans and refills the Food on his own.
You assign 3 Caretakers to a Habitat, you can then tick boxes which tasks the Specific Caretaker has to do.
Caretaker 1 = Cleans Habitat
Caretaker 2 = Cleans Habitat
Caretaker 3 = Refills Food
That way we wouldn't end up with a never ending flow of Warnings that our Animals are Starving because our Caretakers do nothing but cleaning a bigger Habitat.
Another Solution to this Problem would be Automatically refilling Food Stations that come with the downside of being waaaaay more expensive and need Electricity to run.

4) This is more than obvious, this game is in serious need of purely Aquatic Animals and Birds. I love the gigantic variety of Animals we have by now. But i can't help it that by now many of the DLCs feel like we pay for more and more reskins of the same animals over and over again. Quite often the Patches that accompany a DLC have more and better changes than the DLC has content. Which is appreciated but also pretty weird.

5) Have the Ability to be able to download Zoos from Friends on your Friends List and check them out. It surprises me that the Friendlist is tied into the Game by having NPCs named after your friends from your Friends List, but not be able to download their Zoos without having to go the extra mile by uploading and downloading it from the Workshop.

 

[sockeyejo]

You already can assign multiple keepers to habitats and split their jobs between cleaning and feeding.

 

[Veah]

You already can assign multiple keepers to habitats and split their jobs between cleaning and feeding.

But can 2 keepers be working at the same habitat at a time? At least that was one of the problems of the game after release. I haven't built too big habitats to prevent that problem since then, so I don't know if it was solved via updates.

 

[sockeyejo]

But can 2 keepers be working at the same habitat at a time? At least that was one of the problems of the game after release. I haven't built too big habitats to prevent that problem since then, so I don't know if it was solved via updates.

Yes, I've had two working at the same time with others resting in the staff room so there's always someone checking or working.

 

[Aidan635]

1) Hotels, this game desperately needs a way to let us use Hotels, these are not uncommon in Zoos and Themeparks nowadays and can add a lot to the Fluff of the entire game.

Restaurants, sure I'll give that to you. But restaurants, that's a no from me. Like, hotels are not needed in Planet Zoo, I would consider that a "waste" of an update feature. If a player is building a realistic American zoo, which I would say is quite a few people, and no American zoos have hotels. Don't start saying Animal Kingdom Lodge, I'm talking Bronx Zoo, Zoo Miami, Cincinnati Zoo, etc. For theme parks, sure I guess that is part of the experience in certain cases.

This is just another example of how a European-based company favors Europe because well, their in Europe! But for us Americans, we kinda shake our heads about some of this stuff. This was especially the case for Planet Coaster as most rides were European-based, if that makes sense, so it was weird. I hope this is making sense to at least someone. The most apparent thing in Planet Zoo to me at least is the ONE CAR MONORAIL, PLEASE FRONTIER FIX THIS!!! MULTIPLE-CAR MONORAIL TRAINS!!!

 

[Sindy]

I think hotels could be a fun addition honestly, or some other overnight experience. When I was in elementary school the Cincinnati Zoo invited my grade to stay the night and see how the backstage of the zoo worked and how they put the animals in for sleep. We got exclusive up close experiences with some of their smaller animals and learned a lot. I dont really think its a necessary feature, per se, but for franchise players I could see the extra income being useful. Plus it could be fun to build a hotel + restaurant + reptile and/or bug house combo overlooking an outdoor habitat. Really fun for immersion and creativity, I would use them for that alone.

I cant say Ive had that zookeeper problem but I actually like that idea! I tend to assign 2-5 keepers to an exhibit depending on the number of animals, but actually giving them separate tasks would be really useful, especially for exhibits with 10 or more animals. EDIT: Nevermind haha I forgot that's already a thing. Also absolutely yes for new skins!! Could be good for oganization and just making them seem a little more alive.

Praying on my knees for fish and flying birds some day... Even if the fish are just exhibit boxes (even though those desperately need reworking still)... I will take anything we can get... I want manatees so bad...

The last feature sounds really useful!! I do wish they'd fix the "downloaded from steam" menu too, it doesn't work right away for me when I start up the game.

 

[Nioell]

I really don't need hotels tbh, even though some zoos have them. No, the visitor based feature I'm really really missing are playgrounds for kids. Like I haven't been to a signle zoo that didn't have at least one or several of those and I really wish we could finally add functional ones to our zoos as well.

And also like you said when it comes to the animals: we need fully aquatic/marine animals and aviaries with flying birds already. Again every zoo I've been to has had at least a small aquarium or even larger ones and an aviary for flying birds of some sort and it's a shame that PZ is still a zoo game without all that.

UI wise I still wish we had some way to manage and sort our workzones better. It's fine for the first few but as soon as you zoo gets larger it becomes a mess to navigate.

 

[coatifan]

Restaurants, sure I'll give that to you. But restaurants, that's a no from me. Like, hotels are not needed in Planet Zoo, I would consider that a "waste" of an update feature. If a player is building a realistic American zoo, which I would say is quite a few people, and no American zoos have hotels. Don't start saying Animal Kingdom Lodge, I'm talking Bronx Zoo, Zoo Miami, Cincinnati Zoo, etc. For theme parks, sure I guess that is part of the experience in certain cases.

This is just another example of how a European-based company favors Europe because well, their in Europe! But for us Americans, we kinda shake our heads about some of this stuff. This was especially the case for Planet Coaster as most rides were European-based, if that makes sense, so it was weird. I hope this is making sense to at least someone. The most apparent thing in Planet Zoo to me at least is the ONE CAR MONORAIL, PLEASE FRONTIER FIX THIS!!! MULTIPLE-CAR MONORAIL TRAINS!!!

Ironically enough, the game actually offers a few concessions to American players -- for example, we get the Baird's Tapir above the South American, the Grizzly Bear above the Eurasian, and the Pronghorn, which isn't found in US zoos at all. Not that I'm complaining -- god bless glorious eagleland

 

[Iben]

Restaurants, sure I'll give that to you. But restaurants, that's a no from me. Like, hotels are not needed in Planet Zoo, I would consider that a "waste" of an update feature. If a player is building a realistic American zoo, which I would say is quite a few people, and no American zoos have hotels. Don't start saying Animal Kingdom Lodge, I'm talking Bronx Zoo, Zoo Miami, Cincinnati Zoo, etc. For theme parks, sure I guess that is part of the experience in certain cases.

This is just another example of how a European-based company favors Europe because well, their in Europe! But for us Americans, we kinda shake our heads about some of this stuff. This was especially the case for Planet Coaster as most rides were European-based, if that makes sense, so it was weird. I hope this is making sense to at least someone. The most apparent thing in Planet Zoo to me at least is the ONE CAR MONORAIL, PLEASE FRONTIER FIX THIS!!! MULTIPLE-CAR MONORAIL TRAINS!!!

Zoos all over the world are looking into ways to let guests stay overnight, with the increasing knowledge we have about animal care come increasing costs and overnight stays are one of the ways to finance this.

"Hotel" is a stretch to the word either way, it can be as simple as a "safari tent", but having a feature where guests can sleep at the zoo would be a benefit for building zoos from all over the world. Examples are San Diego Safari Park, Zoo Atlanta, Bronx Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo, Zoo Knoxville, Beekse Bergen, Pairi Daiza, London Zoo, Taronga Zoo, ... The list goes on and on really. If anything, a "hotel" like feature (essentially just an overnight staying feature which is what it is in the Planet series) is starting to become a needed feature to build a modern zoo.

All of this is of course totally ignoring the argument of not having a feature in a zoo game because it allegedly isn't a thing in the US; because that seems like the weirdest reasoning ever if you ask me

 

[Bearcat9948]

Zoos all over the world are looking into ways to let guests stay overnight, with the increasing knowledge we have about animal care come increasing costs and overnight stays are one of the ways to finance this.

"Hotel" is a stretch to the word either way, it can be as simple as a "safari tent", but having a feature where guests can sleep at the zoo would be a benefit for building zoos from all over the world. Examples are San Diego Safari Park, Zoo Atlanta, Bronx Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo, Zoo Knoxville, Beekse Bergen, Pairi Daiza, London Zoo, Taronga Zoo, ... The list goes on and on really. If anything, a "hotel" like feature (essentially just an overnight staying feature which is what it is in the Planet series) is starting to become a needed feature to build a modern zoo.

All of this is of course totally ignoring the argument of not having a feature in a zoo game because it allegedly isn't a thing in the US; because that seems like the weirdest reasoning ever if you ask me

You forgot Koali Zoo, pretty sure that has a hotel.

Anyways, I wouldn't want them to devote resources to it at this point in the game's life as I think there are more pressing things to be adressed, but it would be super cool for a sequel game.

 

[Iben]

You forgot Koali Zoo, pretty sure that has a hotel.

Nah that's just a way to overheat our computers so our rooms are toasty in wintertime.

 

[NZFanatic]

"Hotel" is a stretch to the word either way, it can be as simple as a "safari tent"

I think a "safari lodge" would be kind of cool.

Maybe a couple of themed options (Africa, Log, Asia). Set it up with a couple of props and market it like some kind of school camp situation.

 

[ElectricMonk]

I cant say Ive had that zookeeper problem but I actually like that idea! I tend to assign 2-5 keepers to an exhibit depending on the number of animals, but actually giving them separate tasks would be really useful, especially for exhibits with 10 or more

You can already do this.

 

[shirandhak]

Restaurants, sure I'll give that to you. But restaurants, that's a no from me. Like, hotels are not needed in Planet Zoo, I would consider that a "waste" of an update feature. If a player is building a realistic American zoo, which I would say is quite a few people, and no American zoos have hotels. Don't start saying Animal Kingdom Lodge, I'm talking Bronx Zoo, Zoo Miami, Cincinnati Zoo, etc. For theme parks, sure I guess that is part of the experience in certain cases.

This is just another example of how a European-based company favors Europe because well, their in Europe! But for us Americans, we kinda shake our heads about some of this stuff. This was especially the case for Planet Coaster as most rides were European-based, if that makes sense, so it was weird. I hope this is making sense to at least someone. The most apparent thing in Planet Zoo to me at least is the ONE CAR MONORAIL, PLEASE FRONTIER FIX THIS!!! MULTIPLE-CAR MONORAIL TRAINS!!!

In Europe, there are no hotels in zoos either.
Edit: At least non I know of. But there are Safari-Parks with overnight offers. But that are theme parks, no zoos. A zoo ("Zoological Garden") is the more "serious" thing. A zoo is more for keeping species alive and to educate people to love nature and to aquire knowledge about the animals shown.
But perhaps we are to America-/Europe-centered. There are a lot more zoos in the world, where everything might be a lot different.

 

[Cyresdogg]

Well overall i am very happy about all the feedback i get on this.
And yes i know that Hotels are not a necessary feature, but then again... its a game all about creativity and freedom, so the reason "That does not exist IRL where i live" makes not much sense to me, as a gamer i will always take more options over super realism.
And if i don't want a Hotel or place to stay overnight in my Hotel then i simply don't build it and call it a day.

And i see a lot of people claiming here that you can assign multiple Keepers to one habitat, and i know i can do that, but there has not once more than one Keeper in a Habitat at a time in my playthroughs. So having multiple Keepers, but be limited to one in the habitat itself is what produces the problems of them not being able to keep up with things.
I also came up with one more solution to that problem, which would be a Buggy/Jeep.
It could work like, the Gate for Employees to enter the Habitat can be replaced with a Garage (Obviously taking a lot more space up), which they enter from one side, jump in the Jeep and quickly assign their tasks in the habitat, swooshing from one place to the other feeding and cleaning at once. (The Garage could be tied to a minimum size requirement from the Habitat). Another downside of using the Jeep over the regular Option would be that it costs extra each time an employee who uses it.
Combine that with a new Technology Research Tree which could decrease the costs of it, the chance to break down and/or more skins for the Jeep itself.

 

[Sindy]

You can already do this.

Oh whoops my bad! Completely forgot, I never mess with the individual staff

 

[Iben]

But there are Safari-Parks with overnight offers. But that are theme parks, no zoos. A zoo ("Zoological Garden") is the more "serious" thing. A zoo is more for keeping species alive and to educate people to love nature and to aquire knowledge about the animals shown.

This has been a discussion in the 90's in the zoo community, but pretty much ever since then safari parks are just as much considered a zoo as any other zoological park. You could hardly call a zoo like the Beekse Bergen or Longleat theme parks. Especially given that both zoos are studbook keepers in their own right (Cheetah and Kinkajou/Secretary birds/Grey Crowned Cranes respectively).

It's just a different "flavour" of zoo, the same way big aquariums are also a zoo.

 

[Cyresdogg]

This has been a discussion in the 90's in the zoo community, but pretty much ever since then safari parks are just as much considered a zoo as any other zoological park. You could hardly call a zoo like the Beekse Bergen or Longleat theme parks. Especially given that both zoos are studbook keepers in their own right (Cheetah and Kinkajou/Secretary birds/Grey Crowned Cranes respectively).

It's just a different "flavour" of zoo, the same way big aquariums are also a zoo.

I love your Mustache, it is full of Zoo Wisdom

 

[XT]

To be honest, I am pretty disinterested in more stuff for guests. Frankly, I'd prefer they were basically moving props with little to no needs - and have all the work and needs and effort re-directed to the animals as this is a zoo game. There are quite a few hotel management/people management games in the world, and very few animal/zoo/conservation type games.

I'd like to see:

• More robust animal breeding and needs
• More interesting and varied animal behaviors
• Animal behaviors better tied to welfare
• More animal color variations in the species
• The genetics actually mean something

And so on.

 

[ElectricMonk]

To be honest, I am pretty disinterested in more stuff for guests. Frankly, I'd prefer they were basically moving props with little to no needs - and have all the work and needs and effort re-directed to the animals as this is a zoo game. There are quite a few hotel management/people management games in the world, and very few animal/zoo/conservation type games.

I'd like to see:

• More robust animal breeding and needs
• More interesting and varied animal behaviors
• Animal behaviors better tied to welfare
• More animal color variations in the species
• The genetics actually mean something

And so on.

Can you elaborate on what ‘the genetics actually mean something?. What effect / mechanics would you like them to have beyond how they work now?