A thought after 800+ hours

[HockeytownGuru]

First of all, the game is nearly everything I could of dreamed up in a zoo game. I actually had a google document, of what I would put in a zoo game, when I became a developer. I have since changed my college focus, however. I will say, that the great folks at Frontier, had about 80% of what, I had and a few items, additionally but implemented differently. Some better, some not as I would have done, but not terrible. The worst thing about this game, is the performance issues here and there.

I love the conservation aspect of Planet Zoo. I love having to keep genetics in mind, and not just breeding for the sake of breeding. Zoo's spend years trying to get animals to breed properly in the name of conservation. I love that we have to earn Conservation points, to bring in new animals, that are only available (in franchise mode) if others are "selling". It creates a player driven economy, for better or worse.

The building, is better than Planet Coaster, and the DLC has been far better in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I love PlanCo, but I am READY for PLANCO2. In Planet Zoo, I have gone from making square habitats, with little detail and just above terrible living quarters for the great animals, to what I say is good? Not near as good as any of the wonderful creators on YT, but I am proud of what I've done. It takes a lot of experimenting, to get habitats right but its worth it. (I still struggle with underwater viewing, and in fact I believe I've digressed in that aspect) The view areas, I have gotten to be real good at, and realistic pathways that lead to habitats.

The DLC.

Personally, I enjoy the packs that we have gotten tremendously. I think each adds a great flavor to the game, and there hasn't been a DLC that I didn't like.

Arctic Pack: B- my least favorite, even though it did bring us Polar Bear, I felt the scenery added, was in a way boring, but it did reflect the arctic region nicely. It was almost too basic, and probably would of been better just added to base game.

South America Pack: B. The scenery was awesome, and we got Jaguars with it, so that instantly made it great. The llamas were a boring addition, but everything else about the pack was wonderful. So many animals to explore in SA that, it could almost have several packs.

Australia Pack: B. Again great scenery, that really brings modern Australia to life but with a rustic look. I use these pieces quite often. The animals were great as well. I have used the Cassowary and Roo's the most.

Aquatic Pack: A+. PENGUINS! Diving behavior (which was FREE update feature), and OTTERS, a simply great pack. The Scenery, was a little lackluster in terms of quantity, but fantastic for what we did get. Again, I use these pieces quite often.

SE Asia Animal Pack: B. No scenery added which was disappointing given the region has tons of possibilities, and though we have some in base game, a bit more would of been nice. The animals added were nice though. Some of them, I still have not used in game, but the models are really good.

Africa Pack: A-. Would of been A+, if we gotten the Leopard, but still the animals and scenery added were quite amazing. Also a new mechanic which came free with update, was a new interesting addition.

NA Animal Pack: A+, new behaviors, and some really great additions. The cougar which could of come with SA pack, finally arrived, as well as the American Gator! A really great addition the the lineup of animals, with some excellent animal models.

Europe Pack: B Added some good scenery, and cool animals, but, nothing ground breaking. I haven't used any of the habitat animals in game yet oddly. The scenery pieces were decent enough, with the new foliage being my favorite part.

Wetlands Animal Pack: A+ Finally got a new bird, since the Aussie pack. The animals added were great, and the new bathing behavior was fantastic to see. I love the crocodile species family, and the spectacled caiman was greatadditon.

Conservation Pack: B+ A pack I haven't dived much into. The animals are exciting and the new scenery is pretty decent as well. I liked the free update associated with it. The educational focus, is impressive.

Twilight Pack: N/A, but my excitement is 8.5/10. Smaller animals than we are used to, but the new scenery sounds really good and useful. The walk-through exhibit is going to be the major focus on this one, and I am excited to include it my zoo.

The Future... I still believe Planet Zoo has more to give. I don't think Planet Zoo will happen until at least 2026 or later if at all. I hope that Frontier plans further packs and updates. Through at least 2023.

I still want my African Leopard.
I'd like to see walk-through exhibits expanded to aviary and insects such as butterflies., in the future. I hope this is a stepping stone.

Aquarium tanks would be awesome, with same concept as exhibits, but fully water. With, sharks, sting rays, jellyfish, fish of all sorts, and other sea creatures.

Staff vehicles. When I build a massive enclosure, it tends to end up being broken into many enclosures, as staff is unable to tend to the habitat properly by just walking. Adding staff golf carts or jeeps would solve this. Or multiple staff gates, where we could put a staff center in the habitat.

Video screens, to show camera displays on habitat learning boards, for the more shy animals to remain concealed. Detroit Zoo does this with beavers and otters quite nicely.

Animal quest reactions. Animals react to guests, through glass barriers. Bears in particular are popular for this, as are the k9s.

Consequences for bad animal treatment. If the inspector comes and sees the same habitat being neglected, the fines should be higher, and animal adoption locked until the next inspection.

Animal aging. I would love to see, five stages of the animal from pregnancy to birth, or hatching, to very young, juvenile, young adult, fully mature, to aging with visible signs of aging.

Habitat aging, where like in PlantCo, after a certain amount of time a habitat loses it's luster and needs to be revitalized.

Educational displays expanded to include some habitat animals, that are of course not dangerous.

As much as I'd like to make an aquarium, with large marine life, I do not believe this is going to happen in PZ. Water is hard to simulate, and I can't even imagine the performance hit.

Thank you Frontier for bringing such an amazing game, and I hope the work continues.

[master_seer]

It's really good to read positive things about the game on the forums and your thoughts about playing after a significant amount of time. Of course, I could quibble on the ratings of the DLC, but this is a personal thing depending upon what you enjoy in the game, and you set out your reasoning.

I'm at 2000 hours, almost exclusively on Franchise, which I really enjoy for the breeding and trading aspect of the game. I didn't really enjoy the career mode, due to the restrictions in the later challenges which felt grindy - but I wanted that 100% achievement. I don't feel creative enough for sandbox, but I would like some more of the challenges added to the Franchise mode to add more variety and goals - it might also be fun if the rewards for completing them were not just financial. For example, rewarding you with an animal or scenery trophy you could put in the zoo.

[warrickbartley]

My main problem with the game is there are quite a few animals available on Nexus, including your African Leopard,
Many of them are brilliant models that people have worked hard to make,
how ever i feel the Devs of Planet Zoo do every thing they can to under-mind the efforts of the modding community so you have to pay top prices to get the animals dip feed to us,
most of the DLC packs only offer ONE or TWO decent animals a few duds and some scenery, and if you add them up its a Small fortune.
Yes i know they need to eat and all that , but i think they would have already made a killing off the game given its popularly.
and why is it if they introduce a new animal it has to be wiped from modding, and the only way you can obtain after that is to buy yet another DLC pack,
i cant think of any other game ive got in my library and its over 120 games where modders have to delete already made mods of creatures and items ,
the fact there are no animal mods in the workshop shows how toxic they are about them. for gods sake, not everyone can afford the endless DLC packs , and many of the animals and sea creatures will never be officially released any way, i feel sad about the Devs attitude in this regard to another wise wonderful game
PS i cant help wonder if the countless updates are also to help break a lot of mods to make people give on them, this games had more updates than i can count

[HockeytownGuru]

Originally posted by warrickbartley:

My main problem with the game is there are quite a few animals available on Nexus, including your African Leopard,
Many of them are brilliant models that people have worked hard to make,
how ever i feel the Devs of Planet Zoo do every thing they can to under-mind the efforts of the modding community so you have to pay top prices to get the animals dip feed to us,
most of the DLC packs only offer ONE or TWO decent animals a few duds and some scenery, and if you add them up its a Small fortune.
Yes i know they need to eat and all that , but i think they would have already made a killing off the game given its popularly.
and why is it if they introduce a new animal it has to be wiped from modding, and the only way you can obtain after that is to buy yet another DLC pack,
i cant think of any other game ive got in my library and its over 120 games where modders have to delete already made mods of creatures and items ,
the fact there are no animal mods in the workshop shows how toxic they are about them. for gods sake, not everyone can afford the endless DLC packs , and many of the animals and sea creatures will never be officially released any way, i feel sad about the Devs attitude in this regard to another wise wonderful game
PS i cant help wonder if the countless updates are also to help break a lot of mods to make people give on them, this games had more updates than i can count

I suspect when the game is no longer getting updates, they’ll allow animal mods in steam workshop

[warrickbartley]

Another 10 years the way their dip feeding us the decent Animals, sorry but to me its all a bit greedy, (let the Modded animals live lol )

[HockeytownGuru]

Originally posted by warrickbartley:

Another 10 years the way their dip feeding us the decent Animals, sorry but to me its all a bit greedy, (let the Modded animals live lol )

I mean they don’t actively take down modded animals. EA would probably sue.

[Varick]

Darth Star 91 - I think you are correct in that mods will be more viable once the updates finish. While I use mods in many games, it is just not worth the hassle to me to use them in Planet Zoo. And, while we can put staff facilities in the middle of large habitats, we still have to do that narrow peninsula. It would be nice to place gates regardless of configuration.

[Thor II]

Originally posted by warrickbartley:

PS i cant help wonder if the countless updates are also to help break a lot of mods to make people give on them, this games had more updates than i can count

It is funny, the PZ has virtually no free updates, all updates are "paid" since they are only released together with DLCs, and then there are corrections related to this update released along with the DLC. I doubt if there has even been an update in Planet Zoo that was not due to the release of a DLC.

Believe me, there are many games out there with a lot more updates than the PZ. An update every DLC is literally the least devs can do.

[mizuru007]

I'm a TERRIBLE builder, but I love just watching the animals go along their daily lives. To the point where I will kick out all of the guests in sandbox mode to cut down on performance! I wish there were a way to make the guests invisible or something like that so I could keep my zoo working properly without taking the hit!

I also deeply love Planet Zoo. I haven't touched on Franchise Mode, but this post has made me want to try it out! So thank you!!

[Wylie28]

Originally posted by warrickbartley:

My main problem with the game is there are quite a few animals available on Nexus, including your African Leopard,
Many of them are brilliant models that people have worked hard to make,
how ever i feel the Devs of Planet Zoo do every thing they can to under-mind the efforts of the modding community so you have to pay top prices to get the animals dip feed to us,
most of the DLC packs only offer ONE or TWO decent animals a few duds and some scenery, and if you add them up its a Small fortune.
Yes i know they need to eat and all that , but i think they would have already made a killing off the game given its popularly.
and why is it if they introduce a new animal it has to be wiped from modding, and the only way you can obtain after that is to buy yet another DLC pack,
i cant think of any other game ive got in my library and its over 120 games where modders have to delete already made mods of creatures and items ,
the fact there are no animal mods in the workshop shows how toxic they are about them. for gods sake, not everyone can afford the endless DLC packs , and many of the animals and sea creatures will never be officially released any way, i feel sad about the Devs attitude in this regard to another wise wonderful game
PS i cant help wonder if the countless updates are also to help break a lot of mods to make people give on them, this games had more updates than i can count

Are they? Ive never been impressed with modded animals. They are either straight reskins or attempt to use existing rigs and animations in something not build for it and look super bad. Ive yet to see a single modded animal come close to anything frontier puts out.

[Thor II]

Originally posted by chasbar:

No all updates are not paid. You will get all the free updates even if you do not purchase the DLC. DLC funds the continued development of the game. The same model was used with Planet Coaster. People purchasing PZ now are purchasing a better game than I bought at release. And they do not need to purchase any DLC. We all like to receive the benefit of our labor.

10/18/2022:
Update 1.11
Twlight Pack

06/21/2022.
Update 1.10
Conservation Pack

04/09/2022.
Update 1.19
Wetlands Animal Pack

01/18/2022.
Update 1.8.1 – Biggest Update that didn't come out next to a DLC that year.

12/14/2021.
Update 1.8
Europe Pack

11/04/2021
Update 1.7.2 and 2nd Anniversary. New animal and also quite large.

10/04/2021.
Update 1.7
North America Animal Pack.

Have you seen the Pattern? The big updates only come out next to the release of dlcs. DLC = Great Update, no DLC = Small Update, and there are few small DLCs that are more than a few small details, the game only receives relevant updates when it has new DLC.

That is, whoever buys the DLC is helping to pay for everyone's Free update. There are very few relevant updates that did not come out next to a DLC.

It is the same model used in the vast majority of games, but many games, unlike PZ, have several relevant updates even when no DLC was released that same day.

At Planet Zoo every DLC that the community buys only gives you the right to an Update, and look it's not even a FLC (Free DLC) as in some games.

[-=kraken=-]

I like larger animals more so as I can barely see the little ones and I feel like their lifespan goes too quick even after being slowed down. No sooner are they born, they seem to die in a relatively short period and am constantly replacing them

[Greyark]

Originally posted by -=Kraken=-:

I like larger animals more so as I can barely see the little ones and I feel like their lifespan goes too quick even after being slowed down. No sooner are they born, they seem to die in a relatively short period and am constantly replacing them

You can turn death off in mods if you want but that will be for all animals.

[Neflite]

Totally agree :)

Have a good start into 2023 o/