Is the Tycoon Game play any good

[Zhong Ping (钟平)]

I bought Planet Coaster and immediately found the game lacking to the point where I stopped playing 5 hours in and have no interest in playing it anymore. I still find Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 and 3 fun though.

The main reason? The Tycoon Game play lacks depth, balance, and sensible design. I don't feel like my park is driven by the Tycoon elements as much as by my astetic design choices and it turns from a Tycoon game into a sandbox game.

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a sandbox simulator. I like those mechanics myself, but personally what keeps me playing these games is the addictive balancing of tycoon elements.

So my question: Does Planet Zoo have a similar formula for its Tycoon elements as Planet Coaster, or is it improved?

[marcnesiumHH]

It's somehow improved, but it's still a sandbox game, with some tycoon elements. The economic balancing and mechanism is bad compared to many other games. If you are a tycoon type of game guy I cannot recommend it. But if you like to get a more indepth experience yourself, I can recommend watching someone on YouTube playing the 'Franchise Mode', which is the 'economic challenge mode' including an online animal transfer market.

[Nakia]

I disagree with the OP. My only serious complaint is the frequent crashes. You have a nice choice of play modes, Sandbox which can be set to be a no brainer if you wish, Challenges, Franchise and Career.

The goal of the game as advertised is to build the zoo of your dreams and that is what you need to learn how to do. There is already a lot of content, learning to build takes time and patience. This is not a game for those who are in a hurry,

As your zoo grows micromanagement can become quite a task. You need to keep animals, staff and guests happy not an easy thing to do.

There are plenty of excellent tutorials to help anyone having trouble with the game.

The devs have worked hard trying to fix issues as reported by players.

Sure there are things I would like to have but the game is interesting and addictive.

[flu007]

I stopped playing Planet Coaster a few hours in, for pretty much the same reason. I have a lot more hours in Planet Zoo.

That said, I'd agree with marcnesium's assessment - the tycoon elements aren't the greatest.
I've seen posts of people struggling with finances/going bankrupt etc, so I guess it is possible, but personally I found that if you approach it sensibly and don't rush expansion, making money and keeping guests happy is quite easy.
That said, I haven't pushed my zoos to the limits yet as far as size/adding intricate transport systems etc. I've mostly been enjoying the tycoon-light micromanagement grind of breeding/trading animals in a profitable medium sized zoo. That suits my playstyle and was good for about 150 hrs of addictive play before I got a bit bored with it (but I'll probably pick it back up at some point.)

It clicked for me, while Planet Coaster didn't. Your mileage may vary, though, but hopefully this perspective helps a little.

[Dominian]

The management in PlanCo was trash. Now it's slighty improved trash.

Just go into sandbox and customize your experience. You have lots of options to adjust there. Playing normal Career or Franchise is just hindering you from building. Same as PlanCo.

[isais007]

The game is far superior than planet zoo

[Krall]

I love tycoon games but when are they ever really challenging economically? After you figure out the mechanics your bank account swells.

This game seems a little more like a city sim in that if you build too much too quick you might start loosing money and have to figure out how to fix it.

[AlexUbel989]

Originally posted by Nakia:

I disagree with the OP. My only serious complaint is the frequent crashes. You have a nice choice of play modes, Sandbox which can be set to be a no brainer if you wish, Challenges, Franchise and Career.

The goal of the game as advertised is to build the zoo of your dreams and that is what you need to learn how to do. There is already a lot of content, learning to build takes time and patience. This is not a game for those who are in a hurry,

As your zoo grows micromanagement can become quite a task. You need to keep animals, staff and guests happy not an easy thing to do.

There are plenty of excellent tutorials to help anyone having trouble with the game.

The devs have worked hard trying to fix issues as reported by players.

Sure there are things I would like to have but the game is interesting and addictive.

I mean, what you find challenging and what someone else finds challenging is subjective. I literally watched a guy run a successful/profitable zoo of nothing but Tortoises. So I mean, the Tycoon aspect is almost non-existent. Just like their other games. Which is fine really. The game has enough challenges in just getting it to work consistently.

[Nakia]

I agree that challenging is subject to interpretation but games differ just as game players do and that is why we have such a variety and so many choices.

My opinion is just my opinion and is no better or no worse than others. Franchise the the Tycoon mode where you build zoos all over the world and the goal is to make money. I do not think it fair to look at the game as only one mode when there are three other modes. Players should look at the whole possible game play and then decide if the game is for them or not.

YouTube is a good place to look.

[AlexUbel989]

Originally posted by Nakia:

I agree that challenging is subject to interpretation but games differ just as game players do and that is why we have such a variety and so many choices.

My opinion is just my opinion and is no better or no worse than others. Franchise the the Tycoon mode where you build zoos all over the world and the goal is to make money. I do not think it fair to look at the game as only one mode when there are three other modes. Players should look at the whole possible game play and then decide if the game is for them or not.

YouTube is a good place to look.

I agree with you. Though Career is really nothing more than the "tutorial" for the game from what I have seen. My aim wasn't to insult you, but my point was that their games have always been Tycoon Lites. Never heavy management games. Which is fine, because I kind of prefer that these days.

[Nakia]

I am not insulted every opinion is equal as long as it is polite and reasonably friendly. No personal insults and yours are not insulting.

Tastes vary which is good adds spice to life. If we all liked the same thing life would be very boring.

I like the idea of a game that promotes conservation and respect for the other animals with which we share or should share our planet.

I like the building. Outside of the crashing the only thing that annoys me is the Exhibits. Sure they can make money but dealing with all those snakes, frogs, insects can get boring. The Tycoon/Franchise mode just does not entice me.

[Ellye]

Originally posted by Krall:

I love tycoon games but when are they ever really challenging economically? After you figure out the mechanics your bank account swells.

For me, the better one gives challenge you not to just "make money", but to "make money efficiently enough". Via timed objectives, depreciation or competitors for example. Railroad Tycoon 2, Sid Meier's Railroads and Railway Empire are my three favorite ones, because of that. They are all railway themed, but no reason why other areas couldn't have tycoons like this too.

Those games are balanced in such a way that being in the positive is easy, but the challenge is optimizing your profit to outpace something (or someone) else.

I had the same issue as OP with Planet Coaster, and I really wanted for Planet Zoo to be better in the tycoon part. I'll probably still check it out someday, though.

[Zhong Ping (钟平)]

Thank you all for your comments and respectful conversation.

1. I don't think a sandbox game with lite tycoon elements is a bad game, just not for me.

I like the tycoon elements to take presedence with sandbox and customizability only implimented to enhance the tycoon and management gameplay.

Planet Coaster seemed like the oposite, that it was all about building a customized theme park in an incredible sandbox, but the tycoon elements were an afterthought or not well woven and integrated with the rest of the game.

What I look for? A game that forces me to carefully balance resources to meet financial objectives. Where different environments and situations require rethinking of how you might impliment staff, sales, price structures, pathing, etc. How balancing disparate elements effect each other, and that there is no real way to snowball the economy and you constantly have to build and balance..... expand or die.... where loans are a big risk, but not taking the loan might lead to crushing stagnation.

And I love customization, but Planet Coaster was WAY too deep for me. It's nice to have some options, but it just took so much time to get something that felt themes appropriately and complete. There has to be a middle ground.



Again, I'm not saying Planet Coaster is bad, it just isn't what I personally want in a theme park tycoon style (generic) game. And if Planet Zoo goes the same route, I probably should just pass and hope developer comes along soon to give me something new.





Consider this: I like Project Hospital for its limited customization and how it doesn't force me to pause the tycoon gameplay for extended periods of time to get the look I want. The constraints of the design mean less choices for me which means less frustration in the design process and more fun playing the managment sim.

On the other hand: I did use to love playing with archetect software, so there is certainly a place for these games.



I'll check out some more youtube videos, but ultimately I might have to try it our for myself. Gosh I wish Demos were still a thing. What I really want is to play a Demo before I buy it since the steam return policy doesn't always give me enough time.


Thanks again everyone for not calling me dumb and for treating this as a conversation of sujective experience instead of objective fact.

[Nakia]

Wait for a sale. That is what I recommend.