Hello everyone,
Thanks for the feedback on my previous post regarding multiple habitat gates and secondary staff gates so that we can create more realistic habitats, especially those of us that like to recreate real-world zoos and wildlife parks. Unfortunately, there weren’t any features introduced in the North American DLC nor the free 1.7 update that brings those visions closer to reality. Nonetheless, there are some features that could become a possibility after the introduction of barriers in the free 1.7 update. Here is a list of features, additions and changes I’d like to see introduced into the game between now and December 2021.
One-way Path and Guest Systems
The addition of barriers and kerbs in 1.7 proved it is possible for guests to avoid certain areas completely or only if the main route is crowded. I’d like to see this taken a few steps further with directionality. One-way paths and guest gates would be amazing, allowing the player to give a sense of directionality to the zoo rather than having the guests just walk in circles when there are too many people in either direction. One-way systems are common in zoos and wildlife parks, even more so nowadays because of Covid, and it would add to that sense of realism that we all crave from this game. Perhaps this would work like the barriers but only allowing access from one side meaning that it could be sunk into the ground and guests would be able to walk along the path but not turn back around, they’d have to follow the path until the next exit. The same goes for guest gates. In addition to needing more guest gates (we’ll come back to that in a little while), walkthrough habitats generally employ a one-way system for the benefit of the animals and the flow of people through the habitat. Having an entry and exit gate for walkthrough habitats would be a great compliment to the gate that’s already in the game.
More Barriers, Paths and Gates
At the time of posting this, the game is coming up to its 2-year anniversary on November 5th. I think it would be nice, and truth be told it is also needed, that we get some new barriers, new paths and more importantly; new gates. Staff gates would be an amazing addition, allowing the recreation of real-world zookeeping architecture as well as providing an interesting addition to the gameplay and management aspects already in the game since launch. Staff gates would allow the staff to access the interior, exterior and multiple paddocks within the habitat, all whilst keeping the animals safely contained. Additional guest gates are greatly needed. There’s nothing uglier than having a beautifully landscaped habitat, nicely fenced off with concrete or steel mesh, and having a clunky wooden guest gate stuck to the front of it with a great big gap above it. It just ruins the whole aesthetic and isn’t realistic. A multi-directional guest gate to match each barrier type, as well as singular directional gates for each barrier type, are much-needed additions to the game. The devs could take this one step further and integrate an air-lock style system only allowing guests into habitats in controlled numbers, reducing stress on the animals and adding another management layer to this zoo simulator. More barriers are needed! Logs, concrete, gabion and glass are all well and good but what about stone walls/retaining walls, narrow steel mesh, wooden panelling, wooden beams, metal beams, ‘petting zoo fences’, fancy metal fences [see Chester’s interior Elephant fencing for an example] and net fencing [useful for if/when we get flying birds]. Similarly, new railings for paths would be a welcome addition as opposed to the current system of 1 railing per path design. I know low wooden posts and rope fencing are 2 types of railing I wish came as part of the path rather than having to custom build them to fit. Speaking of paths, a new type of natural path that doesn’t have a border/kerb. Even with kerbs turned off, the natural paths still have their kerbs. Whilst I understand the reasoning for this, a natural path without any kerb would be a very welcome addition, especially when creating woodland trails and adventure areas. Keeping on that topic of paths, new paths designs are definitely overdue. Whilst most DLC packs have added at least 2 new paths, there are some I feel are missing from the core of the game, especially as a visitor of UK zoos and wildlife parks, there are 2 types in particular that I feel need to be in the game but more than 2 is definitely more likely. Yorkshire Wildlife Park’s new expansion features a strange yellowy/creamy coloured gravel/pebble surface for the paths. It’s such a practical path and pretty beautiful and versatile too yet there’s nothing like it in the game currently. Similarly, Chester Zoo has some beautiful patterned concrete paths that would make great additions to the game and add some much-needed variety.
More Mesh Pieces
The addition of the mesh pieces was a lifesaver and remains a much-loved addition by the community. There are some pieces missing from the mesh set, however. Mesh roof pieces, especially corner pieces, need to be added to the game sooner rather than later (especially if birds are on the way
). Grid mesh pieces would also be a convenient addition, as would some bigger mesh pieces beyond 4m x 4m.
Essential Animals
With the 2-year anniversary on the horizon, I am genuinely flabbergasted that there are some animals that are yet to be added to the game that feature in 9/10 real-world zoos. Below, I have composed a list of 15 animals (in no particular ranking) that I would like to see added to the game, perhaps in an anniversary update. Please note that this list is based on UK zoos as I have yet to visit a zoo outside of the UK.
Changes and Updates to the Zoopedia
In the time since the game’s release, a few of the species in the game have had their IUCN data changed. For example, the Komodo Dragon is now endangered as opposed to vulnerable. Additionally, the Moose and Beaver currently do not have aquatic listed as a suitable plant type/biome, despite these 2 animals being well documented aquatic lovers. Additionally, there are some species discrepancies across the board involving multiple animals. More on these can be found in Bearcat9948’s Meta-Suggestions list 1.8 Edition (5th edition)
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/meta-suggestions-list-1-8-edition-5th-edition.590905/
Thanks for taking the time to read these posts and I hope you all have a wonderful day.
All the best,
J-Double U
P.S: I now have a YouTube channel; you can check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN5Ouq0O6_i9H3Pj_J18nog
I am starting off with the timed scenario gold guides before moving on to a real-life zoo recreation in 2022.
Thanks for the feedback on my previous post regarding multiple habitat gates and secondary staff gates so that we can create more realistic habitats, especially those of us that like to recreate real-world zoos and wildlife parks. Unfortunately, there weren’t any features introduced in the North American DLC nor the free 1.7 update that brings those visions closer to reality. Nonetheless, there are some features that could become a possibility after the introduction of barriers in the free 1.7 update. Here is a list of features, additions and changes I’d like to see introduced into the game between now and December 2021.
One-way Path and Guest Systems
The addition of barriers and kerbs in 1.7 proved it is possible for guests to avoid certain areas completely or only if the main route is crowded. I’d like to see this taken a few steps further with directionality. One-way paths and guest gates would be amazing, allowing the player to give a sense of directionality to the zoo rather than having the guests just walk in circles when there are too many people in either direction. One-way systems are common in zoos and wildlife parks, even more so nowadays because of Covid, and it would add to that sense of realism that we all crave from this game. Perhaps this would work like the barriers but only allowing access from one side meaning that it could be sunk into the ground and guests would be able to walk along the path but not turn back around, they’d have to follow the path until the next exit. The same goes for guest gates. In addition to needing more guest gates (we’ll come back to that in a little while), walkthrough habitats generally employ a one-way system for the benefit of the animals and the flow of people through the habitat. Having an entry and exit gate for walkthrough habitats would be a great compliment to the gate that’s already in the game.
More Barriers, Paths and Gates
At the time of posting this, the game is coming up to its 2-year anniversary on November 5th. I think it would be nice, and truth be told it is also needed, that we get some new barriers, new paths and more importantly; new gates. Staff gates would be an amazing addition, allowing the recreation of real-world zookeeping architecture as well as providing an interesting addition to the gameplay and management aspects already in the game since launch. Staff gates would allow the staff to access the interior, exterior and multiple paddocks within the habitat, all whilst keeping the animals safely contained. Additional guest gates are greatly needed. There’s nothing uglier than having a beautifully landscaped habitat, nicely fenced off with concrete or steel mesh, and having a clunky wooden guest gate stuck to the front of it with a great big gap above it. It just ruins the whole aesthetic and isn’t realistic. A multi-directional guest gate to match each barrier type, as well as singular directional gates for each barrier type, are much-needed additions to the game. The devs could take this one step further and integrate an air-lock style system only allowing guests into habitats in controlled numbers, reducing stress on the animals and adding another management layer to this zoo simulator. More barriers are needed! Logs, concrete, gabion and glass are all well and good but what about stone walls/retaining walls, narrow steel mesh, wooden panelling, wooden beams, metal beams, ‘petting zoo fences’, fancy metal fences [see Chester’s interior Elephant fencing for an example] and net fencing [useful for if/when we get flying birds]. Similarly, new railings for paths would be a welcome addition as opposed to the current system of 1 railing per path design. I know low wooden posts and rope fencing are 2 types of railing I wish came as part of the path rather than having to custom build them to fit. Speaking of paths, a new type of natural path that doesn’t have a border/kerb. Even with kerbs turned off, the natural paths still have their kerbs. Whilst I understand the reasoning for this, a natural path without any kerb would be a very welcome addition, especially when creating woodland trails and adventure areas. Keeping on that topic of paths, new paths designs are definitely overdue. Whilst most DLC packs have added at least 2 new paths, there are some I feel are missing from the core of the game, especially as a visitor of UK zoos and wildlife parks, there are 2 types in particular that I feel need to be in the game but more than 2 is definitely more likely. Yorkshire Wildlife Park’s new expansion features a strange yellowy/creamy coloured gravel/pebble surface for the paths. It’s such a practical path and pretty beautiful and versatile too yet there’s nothing like it in the game currently. Similarly, Chester Zoo has some beautiful patterned concrete paths that would make great additions to the game and add some much-needed variety.
More Mesh Pieces
The addition of the mesh pieces was a lifesaver and remains a much-loved addition by the community. There are some pieces missing from the mesh set, however. Mesh roof pieces, especially corner pieces, need to be added to the game sooner rather than later (especially if birds are on the way
). Grid mesh pieces would also be a convenient addition, as would some bigger mesh pieces beyond 4m x 4m.Essential Animals
With the 2-year anniversary on the horizon, I am genuinely flabbergasted that there are some animals that are yet to be added to the game that feature in 9/10 real-world zoos. Below, I have composed a list of 15 animals (in no particular ranking) that I would like to see added to the game, perhaps in an anniversary update. Please note that this list is based on UK zoos as I have yet to visit a zoo outside of the UK.
- Capybara
- Kirk’s Dik-Dik
- Asiatic Lion
- Rockhopper Penguin/Humboldt Penguin/Gentoo Penguin
- Azara’s Agouti
- Maned Wolf
- Bush Dog
- Brazilian Tapir
- Visayan Warty Pig
- South American Coati
- Six-Banded Armadillo
- Red River Hog
- East African Crowned Crane
- Emu
- Bennett’s Wallaby
Changes and Updates to the Zoopedia
In the time since the game’s release, a few of the species in the game have had their IUCN data changed. For example, the Komodo Dragon is now endangered as opposed to vulnerable. Additionally, the Moose and Beaver currently do not have aquatic listed as a suitable plant type/biome, despite these 2 animals being well documented aquatic lovers. Additionally, there are some species discrepancies across the board involving multiple animals. More on these can be found in Bearcat9948’s Meta-Suggestions list 1.8 Edition (5th edition)
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/meta-suggestions-list-1-8-edition-5th-edition.590905/
Thanks for taking the time to read these posts and I hope you all have a wonderful day.
All the best,
J-Double U
P.S: I now have a YouTube channel; you can check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN5Ouq0O6_i9H3Pj_J18nog
I am starting off with the timed scenario gold guides before moving on to a real-life zoo recreation in 2022.