I don't really want a mammoth or sabertooth. I play other games for that. Until Planet Zoo has way more animals, focussing on things like those rather than adding them wouldn't be appealing to most people. I don't hate the idea, it seems cool, but having a dodo, a sabertooth, a mammoth, and a thylacine just tossed in amid our real animals would be a bit out of place.
We Shouldn't be Bound to Animals Only Found in Zoos
- Thread starter Mjmannella
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It seems like less people are worried about uncommon zoo animals that are actually real in the modern world. The main issue is with animals that are extinct. I for one have no issue with rare animals that aren’t found in many zoos, if any at all, but I don’t want animals that are extinct, which is a common stance for many. Rare and exotic animals? Absolutely Extinct exotic animals? No thank you.
That is a fair assessment but it does ignore the other contentious issue of large marine mammals such as the orca, or really any dolphin species, which is more of a mixed bag in terms of whether people want it or don't want it.
I agree with your overall point, of course - for me it's much the same. That said, I do have a preference for animals that are commonly found in zoos, especially when they are so common that their absence is downright odd (such as the white rhinoceros, or black rhinoceros if you prefer to generally refer to the African rhinos).
I agree with you pretty much 100% however the original Zoo Tycoon did actually have 5 mythical animals. The Unicorn, Bigfoot, Loch Ness Monster, Mermaid and the Yeti
Even the reindeer would sometimes fly in their enclosures and Santa would appear around Christmas in the game with his reindeer.
Zoo Tycoon 2 didn't have any mythicals however they had a secret, fake animal called the Killer Penguin which came with Extinct Animals as an easter egg referring to how, in the original game penguins could kill pretty much anything thanks to a bug that was never patched out because it was so funny.
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The sasquatches actually came in the Endangered Species pack and as a bonus download respectively.I agree with you pretty much 100% however the original Zoo Tycoon did actually have 3 mythical animals. The Unicorn, Bigfoot and the Yeti
Even the reindeer would sometimes fly in their enclosures and Santa would appear around Christmas in the game with his reindeer.
Zoo Tycoon 2 didn't have any mythicals however they had a secret, fake animal called the Killer Penguin which came with Extinct Animals as an easter egg referring to how, in the original game penguins could kill pretty much anything thanks to a bug that was never patched out because it was so funny.
There was also a Mermaid if you placed the Mermaid Statue in a Tank.I agree with you pretty much 100% however the original Zoo Tycoon did actually have 3 mythical animals. The Unicorn, Bigfoot and the Yeti
Even the reindeer would sometimes fly in their enclosures and Santa would appear around Christmas in the game with his reindeer.
Zoo Tycoon 2 didn't have any mythicals however they had a secret, fake animal called the Killer Penguin which came with Extinct Animals as an easter egg referring to how, in the original game penguins could kill pretty much anything thanks to a bug that was never patched out because it was so funny.
Also because you're counting Bigfoot and Yetis for some Reason as mythical, there was also the Monster of Loch Ness in the Dinosaur Digs Expansion
Yes! I forgot those, thanks!
While I understand and respect your wishes, as everyone should have a right to dream up whatever it is they want to out of this beautiful game, it is not what this game was ever intended to be. There are so many fantasy games out there, thousands of them, there is only one realistic zoo building simulation game and that is Planet Zoo. As far as extinct animals, dinosaurs and the likes (not my thing) the upcoming PK seems to be for that audience what Planet Zoo is for us, so there is already a great platform that will be realism soon to meet those needs. Realism is what makes Planet Zoo an amazing game for many of us, I dare not speak for the majority. To able to built detail and realistic functioning zoos, and then step back and watch all of it come together, is truly a sight. My biggest dream would be for this game to turn into an even more realistic zoo building simulation, by filling in the many gaps within its collection, adding new game play mechanics and new behaviors, doing away with the cartoonist human figures and getting new ones on par with the level of detail of other content, and so on.
The main thing here, is that as we have all seen, each and every DLC is extremely limited in content, especially when it comes to animals and foliage, so having fictional things and creatures that have nothing to do with zoo building take up the very limited space of thousands of existing animals that might never even see our screens in this game, would be nothing short of a great tragedy. Furthermore, the conservation message and zoo focus promised by Frontier when this magnificent game was unveiled was not just a marketing ploy, the team has done extensive research thru the years, and immerse themselves within the zoo world. But the good news for you, is that there are thousands of already existing and future games that will allow you to explore fantasy worlds and creatures, the bad news for the rest of us, is that there is only one Planet Zoo.
While I'm an outspoken advocate for realism, and certainly the kind found within real life zoo settings, in this particular point I do disagree. In North America, as an example we have been phasing out species from virtually every zoo that once had a rare collection. Now in real life, and having been involved with zoos for decades I understand without hesitation what this must be done, it is not a matter of choice. However what we are in turn ending up with are ABC zoos where, you can check species as you go, and count only on the exhibit setting to be the difference. This does not mean that we should translate real life zoo politics and priorities word by word into a virtual game. Why can't we have both? I love all elements of realism, and the ability to create and recreate zoo exhibits and entire parks, at the highest possible quality, and I would also like to have a gorgeous African Leopard, and not be limited to an Amur Leopard (less striking in my opinion) when designing an exhibit. If I wanted to create an exhibit for the stunning Doug Langurs, what then, can't do it, because they were already phased out in the U.S and are soon to disappear from zoos all over the world? On that logic, then as someone else mention before, create an option in the game, where each player sends China a million dollars yearly each time they want to adopt a Panda. And if somehow you have a disagreement with the Chinese (just ask the San Diego Zoo) your Pandas are taken away intermediately. There are many variables and possibilities, and I truly do understand what you mean, but maybe we can bend this curve just a little bit.
As far as the early choices of the roster for Planet Zoo, keep in mind, that these very talented artists and game developers did not come from this world that some of us have inhabited for what seems like our entire life, they had to leave their world (video games) and immerse themselves in ours (Zoos) and I will always say that nothing prepares you as good as experience, and how do you come by this, with time. Just look at how much better the quality of their work and understanding of zoos has been getting with each DLC.
That is a great point, since it does leave the inclusion of marine animals up for debate. While I do not want to be restricted to just species that are commonly found in most zoos, I would definitely not like for this to be misinterpreted, and next we find ourselves getting a Beluga. I have been of the opinion that Planet Aquarium or its equivalent either by way of Frontier or another company will eventually find its way to us. But that is an entirely different game, and while it can be an amazing one, it requires a full le on its own. I do hope that at some point we do get certain species of fish that are commonly found in zoos (even if they are looping animations) since it would make our underwater viewing areas, much more interesting.
Yeah, something like a decorative Koi pond or the cleaner fish for hippos and crocs, perhaps just dumping them into the water as an environmental thing
That would be great, and it should not be difficult to implement, as it doesn't really call for new mechanics.
Love the koi idea, we really need them. As for aquatic fish, maybe the arapaima would be what I want to see (I actually could see it not even diving and just staying one depth below the surface, sometimes gulping air)
Back to the primary topic- really thinking about it and taking a utilitarian approach- because I really don't think I like the realism argument, which is only a small part of taking a look at this idea from an artistic approach; and taking a look at this from what the "artistic" idea is behind planet zoo, I am not sure realism is actually what is trying to be achieved, defiantly realism is used as some kind of selling point, I am just not that convinced... Anyway back to utility I can kind of see where not having "unrealistic" animals may not be great, simply because I do not see using them enough to justify inclusion; that said I can see a few exceptions. For just animals that are not in zoos, I could see using a saola a fair amount, and that is really the only species in that category I really see using. When it comes to recently extinct animals, I could defiantly see using a Pyrenean ibex a lot, if we did not have another more realistic subspecies in the game (oh this would be so cruel if the only European animal we ever got for this game was an extinct ibex, don't worry I doubt this) this would sort of follow that a west african lion is one of the less likely lions to see in a zoo, but we really are not bothered by it. I can see using a quagga on occasion, enough to possibly warrant inclusion, using it in South African exhibits with the black wildebeest instead of the regular zebra. I really do not see using ice age or way ancient species like dinosaurs that much, and the same for cryptids (wish there was a game where you hunted down cryptids for a zoo)
I do however really want mechanical dinosaurs, I could see using those quite a bit, maybe even some dragon and unicorn sculptures.
Back to the primary topic- really thinking about it and taking a utilitarian approach- because I really don't think I like the realism argument, which is only a small part of taking a look at this idea from an artistic approach; and taking a look at this from what the "artistic" idea is behind planet zoo, I am not sure realism is actually what is trying to be achieved, defiantly realism is used as some kind of selling point, I am just not that convinced... Anyway back to utility I can kind of see where not having "unrealistic" animals may not be great, simply because I do not see using them enough to justify inclusion; that said I can see a few exceptions. For just animals that are not in zoos, I could see using a saola a fair amount, and that is really the only species in that category I really see using. When it comes to recently extinct animals, I could defiantly see using a Pyrenean ibex a lot, if we did not have another more realistic subspecies in the game (oh this would be so cruel if the only European animal we ever got for this game was an extinct ibex, don't worry I doubt this) this would sort of follow that a west african lion is one of the less likely lions to see in a zoo, but we really are not bothered by it. I can see using a quagga on occasion, enough to possibly warrant inclusion, using it in South African exhibits with the black wildebeest instead of the regular zebra. I really do not see using ice age or way ancient species like dinosaurs that much, and the same for cryptids (wish there was a game where you hunted down cryptids for a zoo)
I do however really want mechanical dinosaurs, I could see using those quite a bit, maybe even some dragon and unicorn sculptures.
Technically, there are some zoos with unicorns...they're a goat that has stuff happen to them, but they can exist.
Wish this game had that kind of variation, would love a unicorn gemsbok