Voter based packs

tigris115 · Apr 7, 2020

IMO, the themes and animals of a pack should be determined by voters in order to guarantee universal praise and higher buying rates.
Here's an example of what this would look like

Which kind of pack would you like to see next?

Africa Pack
Australia Pack
Europe Pack
North America Pack
Bird pack
Deer pack
Primate pack

Then, once a pack is picked (let's say, Australia pack), a poll is erected with animal options

Central bearded dragon
Common wombat
Dingo
Emu
Queensland Koala
Red-necked wallaby
Red kangaroo
Short-beaked echidna
Southern cassowary
Tasmanian devil

Then, take the top 4 or 5 and make that the pack. You'll be guaranteed to have animals that will be more universally liked, resulting in more people buying the packs. There will also be a higher community engagement as people jostle to vote for their favorite packs and animals.

turkeyfox · Apr 7, 2020

I think everyone wants an Australia pack, and that's very obvious.

The problem is some animals will be easier for Frontier to make than others, and they'll make the easier ones instead of harder ones. For example, every DLC animal so far has been based on an already existing animal. (Jaguar was made from tiger, anteater from aardvark, etc.)

For that reason, an Australia pack is more likely to have an emu (reskinned ostrich) than a koala (they'd have to make a whole new animal to represent its arboreal nature and way of movement) even if hypothetically everyone wanted a koala and no one wanted an emu.

Same thing with a bird pack, they'd need flight mechanics and a whole new system of keeping flying birds contained so that's too much work. They'd rather do something easy (like reskinning an ostrich into an emu, which works for the bird pack as well as Australia).

Minimanta · Apr 7, 2020

turkeyfox said:
I think everyone wants an Australia pack, and that's very obvious.

The problem is some animals will be easier for Frontier to make than others, and they'll make the easier ones instead of harder ones. For example, every DLC animal so far has been based on an already existing animal. (Jaguar was made from tiger, anteater from aardvark, etc.)

For that reason, an Australia pack is more likely to have an emu (reskinned ostrich) than a koala (they'd have to make a whole new animal to represent its arboreal nature and way of movement) even if hypothetically everyone wanted a koala and no one wanted an emu.

Same thing with a bird pack, they'd need flight mechanics and a whole new system of keeping flying birds contained so that's too much work. They'd rather do something easy (like reskinning an ostrich into an emu, which works for the bird pack as well as Australia).

For a bird pack they could make aviaries in the same way we already have the small exhibits. They'd still need to make a new flying mechanics, but containing the birds could work like the exhibits already do.
I really REALLY hope we get birds one day. Which zoo doesn't have parrots and whatever else countless other birds zoos have.

NZFanatic · Apr 14, 2020

This idea won't work, because Frontier already has a roadmap. They already know and have probably already been working on most if not all of the DLC we'll be getting.

None of us have any idea how long it takes to make a new animal, except that it takes a very long time and is a very complicated process. It shouldn't surprise anyone to learn that Frontier was working on the Arctic and South America packs before they'd even finished the base game. They can't just pull new content out of a hat, there's no magic button they push to produce new animals.

The best way to think of this is by looking at the Arctic Pack. It was common knowledge before launch that people wanted the Arctic fox. It was talked about a lot, mentioned everywhere, and was obviously one of the more popular Arctic animals (besides the polar bear) that people wanted in the game. This was prior to even the base game being released. Yet they gave us the Arctic wolf. I have no doubt that this is because the Arctic wolf was already in the works before the game actually launched, so they simply didn't have time to change things up and still meet the Christmas release date they wanted. If making animals was as easy as giving us everything we asked for, then we'd probably have gotten more animals that we all wanted rather than some of the ones we've got.

The South America Pack is another example - we got a good range of species and few people are complaining about the choices (though personally I wouldn't have picked the llama, but that's neither here or there), but the most talked about South American species were the capybara and the spider monkey. Instead we got the giant anteater and the capuchin. This isn't because Frontier ignored what people wanted, it's more likely because these animals were already planned.

VioletGrey · Apr 15, 2020

It's definitely an interesting idea, but I think NZFanatic is right. They plan and start working on DLCs long before we think they do. I'm sure they already have several DLCs planned, and have already begun work on them.

--Still waiting for foxes and kingsnakes--

Jileha · Apr 15, 2020

NZFanatic said:
This idea won't work, because Frontier already has a roadmap. They already know and have probably already been working on most if not all of the DLC we'll be getting.

None of us have any idea how long it takes to make a new animal, except that it takes a very long time and is a very complicated process. It shouldn't surprise anyone to learn that Frontier was working on the Arctic and South America packs before they'd even finished the base game. They can't just pull new content out of a hat, there's no magic button they push to produce new animals.

The best way to think of this is by looking at the Arctic Pack. It was common knowledge before launch that people wanted the Arctic fox. It was talked about a lot, mentioned everywhere, and was obviously one of the more popular Arctic animals (besides the polar bear) that people wanted in the game. This was prior to even the base game being released. Yet they gave us the Arctic wolf. I have no doubt that this is because the Arctic wolf was already in the works before the game actually launched, so they simply didn't have time to change things up and still meet the Christmas release date they wanted. If making animals was as easy as giving us everything we asked for, then we'd probably have gotten more animals that we all wanted rather than some of the ones we've got.

The South America Pack is another example - we got a good range of species and few people are complaining about the choices (though personally I wouldn't have picked the llama, but that's neither here or there), but the most talked about South American species were the capybara and the spider monkey. Instead we got the giant anteater and the capuchin. This isn't because Frontier ignored what people wanted, it's more likely because these animals were already planned.

I agree. There are time-consuming steps in the development of the animals such as collecting or gathering sound material for the animals and life observation or video material to closely observe their behavior. Cost- and time-wise it makes much more sense to gather these materials all at once instead of having to repeat certain steps, searches, talking to sources, etc. for every new DLC. And the selection of animals we will get might depend to a considerable extent on the sound/video material available from as few sources as possible and at reasonable costs.

LN · Apr 15, 2020

I wouldn't want a voter based pack, just because votes are highly influenceable.

NL_Mutso · Apr 15, 2020

I don't want themes/animals to be determined by voters. It could also backfire when a lot of people decide to vote for something else
For example: they could vote Africa, North America, Europe & Bird before Australia. (so waiting 1,5 years for Australia or * insert name pack*)

I don't mind a pack (1 or 2) solely dedicated to this but with already a first selection made by Frontier - so we can vote for any of those options.
But IMO that should be something for 2021/2022.

At least an opportunity would be nice (wouldn't be disappointed if they don't do this - JWE/PC didn't do this),
But not on this forum/steam/social media but using the in-game menu - which means all active players get a chance to vote.
We only know what players on this forum want, but maybe other players have other preferences.

tigris115 · Apr 15, 2020

Ideally, there would be a link for voting on all social media platforms as well as the main menu.

Also, I came up with voting because it would see higher satisfaction with animal packs and more people buying them.

Swjosdotschka · Apr 15, 2020

EA does voting for some stuff packs and I never trust them. I always think this is just marketing and they decided before anyway. Plus, media voting is consumed differently by different age groups. Mostly very young players like to vote like this and that would maybe result in us having Ponies before any actual zoo animal.

(Not completly against Ponies, just simply not at this stage).

In my opinion. we allm already "vote" for future content by giving feedback here. But, as stated many times, whatever we say now will not effect the next two DLCs at least. Those are very likely already in developement.

NL_Mutso · Apr 15, 2020

tigris115 said:
Ideally, there would be a link for voting on all social media platforms as well as the main menu.

Also, I came up with voting because it would see higher satisfaction with animal packs and more people buying them.

Imo, voting on all social media platforms would be far from ideal.
You can easily rig the whole voting system by asking non-players to vote for your choice or Youtubers/influencers using their influence to gain votes for their favorite.
At least with only the main menu, you'll limit the voting process to the actual players/people who own the game.

Voting has been brought up a few times but I'm not confinced that people who vote, actually are willing to buy DLC.
I voted for a lot of stuff online that I really didn't care about. (mostly the funny or ridiculous stuff

)
If they decide to add a "Pink animal Pack" to this list, I'd vote for that - just to see what the options will be.

Or people who voted for Africa, are presented with the second options and are disappointed that the Meerkat isn't included in the second poll. Which basically was the whole reason for voting for this pack.

Not a fan of voting but a 1 or 2 time moment during the entire support-span would be fine. No objections against that.

felinora99 · Apr 15, 2020

Voting in social media can be so biased. I have a facebook account, a twitter, an instagram and since recently a reddit one. Which means that I could vote 4 times. And as many stated, I could also ask for all my family and friends to vote for me.

It would also end in people being disappointed and being mad at "the community". I really don't care if we never have an Australia dlc, and having one would makes me happy only if we had platypus. If I had a chance to vote, I would be really mad to have everyone comments and talk about "let's vote for an australian dlc !" while I would like birds or otters better. I would feel it is biased my communication (people are very influencable), whereas without voting, if tomorrow we have an australian dlc, I would think that it was long planned in their road map and I would be grateful for their hard work. Don't know if it makes sense.

On the other hand, if they decided of a DLC and asked us to order our preference amongst 8 animals, and they would do 4 or 5, with a survey in game, I would probably be happier (but still feel frustrated for the animals not elected)

tigris115 · Apr 15, 2020

By all social media, I meant to have it all link to 1 Frontier poll that checks your email. Thus, you bring any potential voter fraud down by at least a good chunk.

Now that I think of it, voting should really just be saved for special times.

felinora99 · Apr 16, 2020

Yes, and with an ingame survey, because I have like 5 or 6 email adress, between the one for school, the one for coding, the professionnal one, the one for my family etc. If I wanted, I could use them all to vote several times, so same issue

paul78 · Apr 16, 2020

I too believe dlc is already been chosen for the most part. All game makers do this nowadays. People stating dlc is already in development are most likely very much right. I prefer not to do a voting system to be honest. I like many others have many particular species I’d love to see in game but at the end of the day they will either be in game or not be in game and I’m fine with this. I think it’s very obvious due to decor and how the jaguar came to be that the Dromedary camel, black rhino, American alligator, and a possible leopard are all but guaranteed. The only question mark being the leopard but after those animals everything extra will be a nice surprise.

Garyd73 · Apr 16, 2020

A great idea in theory. But no. Just let them get on with the game, I know we all want more all the time and everyone wants there own favourite regions and animals included but I am sure there will already be some form of roadmap in place.

Voting doesn't work, if it did do you think we would have some of the world leaders we have now....