What would constitute new gameplay in your opinion? From my POV, several of the updates have done exactly this.
I wonder this as well. To paraphrase the very insightful post from
@Iben adding in avians and marine animals might add some new things, and would certainly go a ways towards adding in a variety of types of animals, but they're not going to suddenly transform the spirit and style of the game into something it's not.
If people don't like building habitats and just want to enjoy the animals (which is totally fine!) I don't see them becoming suddenly excited to do so with new animals. It's a play style. So....with new gameplay are they meaning a first person mode of care for the animals, like ZT2 and the ZT game from a few years back? That's really about the only thing I can think of that's really "gameplay" changing. Are they wanting first person animal mode where they can "be" the animal (see through the eyes of the animal)?
Otherwise it's just new animals an some additional features. Even overhauling the exhibit system into a more modular customizable system wouldn't really be adding a lot of new gameplay. You still end up putting the animal in a box. It'd just be a more interesting box.
While avians and marine animals might give a small bump in terms of game coding, I am not certain they'd add actual new gameplay. And certainly, new standard habitat animals won't add new gameplay. You're just expanding the roster at that point. Which don't get me wrong, is not a bad thing at all (I love it! More animals please!)
Same applies to builders. What are the big gameplay changing things that are being asked for building wise? We see requests for adding flexicolor to sets, and while I totally support that, is it really game play changing? More suggestions for styles of grid based sets? Same, it's just new looks, not really gameplay changing. I may have not much building skills but I can recognize that Planet Zoo's building system is, if not perfect, very good. Give us the ability to un-grid some of the grid-locked items so we can change their world axis, and make all those sets flexicolor, and I'll be thrilled.
For me for example, aside from personal issues of motivation attributing to this, I really spent the first half of the year not playing that much. Part of that was because it was missing a very "key" animal for me. Without meerkats I really felt I could not really build the zoo I wanted, that's how much I wanted them in the game. We got those, and then the really necessary North American pack, and my interest has gone back to early 2020 levels. I may not have time to play every day but I'm still putting in 10-15 hours a week - that may not sound like a lot to some, but I don't have a ton of gaming time. Still....it's to the point that when I want to play I game, I don't have to think about what to play, Planet Zoo is pretty much automatic for me - I don't need new gameplay, just more animals, something I'll always keep saying!
But if someone could tell me what suggestions they have for game play changing I'd appreciate it. It may end up being those aren't really gameplay changing at all.
Edit - going back and rereading I realize my last comment may have come off a little condescending and if so I apologize. What one considers gamechanging to them is valid for them. If you consider birds or marine animals gamechanging, that's great, your opinion is right for you. But I still believe it doesn't change the theme, spirit or style of the game, and that it's just a visual difference in what's already in the game -they're still animals to take care of that require the various needs - not a bad thing, that's definitely want I'm wanting them for - visual differences. I just wonder if we get them and they end up being disappointing to some because they're just flying/swimming variations on what we already have.