Planet Zoo Planet Zoo!

[JVM]

For the record, re: previous zoo games, I still play and design for both Zoo Tycoon 1 and Zoo Tycoon 2, though at a snail's pace these days. I even booted Marine Park Empire recently.

Really hoping one day to just set aside a few hours' chunk to get into Planet Zoo and see if it's second nature after that. Trying in short bursts hasn't quite worked.

 

[StellarChaser]

What do you guys think of the idea that making Vampire Bat as Walkthrough exhibit species in the game

 

[StellarChaser]

The DeLadysigner gathered votes from 2500 Planet Zoo players about their top 20 favorite PZ animals, and made the top 100 most popular species. Here is the list from the lowest to the highest:
100. White-and-White Ruffed Lemur
99. Wolverine
98. Indian Peafowl
97. Prairie Dog
96. Red-necked Wallaby
95. Dingo
94. North Island Brown Kiwi
93. Reindeer
92. Spotted Hyeana
91. Little Blue Penguin
90. Scimitar-horned Oryx
89. Wild Water Buffallo
88. Baird's Tapir
87. Babirusa
86. Colombian Capuchin
85. Llama
84. Galapagos Tortoise
83. Red Kangaroo
82. Beaver
81. Nine-banded Armadillo
80. American Bison
79. Dwarf Caiman
78. Three-toed Sloth
77. Striped Hyeana
76. Ring-tailed Lemur
75. Greater Flamingo
74. Badger
73. Gharial
72. Siamang
71. Malayan Tapir
70. Somali Wild Ass
69. Bongo
68. Zebra
67. Egyptian Fruit Bat
66. Mute Swan
65. Fossa
64. Wombat
63. Aardvark
62. Axolotl
61. Emu
60. Crane
59. Arctic Wolf
58. Gorilla
57. Polar Bear
56. Caracal
55. Crested Porcupine
54. Pangolin
53. Indian Elephant
52. Lar Gibbon
51. Sun Bear
50. Puma
49. Saltwater Crocodile
48. Cassowary
47. Fallow Deer
46. Black Rhino
45. Grizzly Bear
44. Common Hippo
43. Red Deer
42. African Wild Dog
41. Sand Cat
40. Binturong
39. King Penguin
38. Alligator
37. Red River Hog
36. White Rhino
35. Orangutan
34. Giant Anteater
33. Moose
32. Raccoon
31. Koala
30. Pygmy Hippo
29. Grey Seal
28. Eurasian Lynx
27. Komodo Dragon
26. Reticulated Giraffe
25. Okapi
24. West African Lion
23. Cheetah
22. Timber Wolf
21. Siberian Tiger
20. Red Fox
19. Arctic Fox
18. California Sea Lion
17. Snow Leopard
16. Giant Panda
15. Bengal Tiger
14. Clouded Leopard
13. Przewalski's Horse
12. Meerkat
11. Giant Otter
10. Amur Leopard
9. Platypus
8. African Savannah Elephant
7. Maned Wolf
6. Fennec Fox
5. African Penguin
4. Jaguar
3. Red Panda
2. Asian Small-Clawed Otter
1. Capybara

Compared to the META wishlist in the Frontier forum, some least demanded species in the Frontier forum did make on this list including Asiatic Buffalo, Giant Otter and Dwarf Caiman, also some top-demanded species in the Frontier forum are low ranked in this list, like Wolverine and Kiwi, or even do not make on the list at all such as Tasmanian Devil and Takin. Seems like this vote tends to reflect the opinion of general players who are not animal-nerds.
There are 37 Artiodactyla species in the current game, but only 15 of them appear in the list, which is lower than 50%. The Frontier is bovid-lover and offers 20 bovidae species, the family with the greatest number of species in the game. Ironically only 4 of these 20 bovids come to the top 100 popularity and none of them on the top 50 (the most popular Bovid is Bongo which ranked #69). I am also surprised that Asiatic Buffalo comes to the list since it is completely absent in the captivities, those "realistic gangs" shouldn't like this species though.
By contrast, there are 42 Carnivore species in the game and 37 of them are top 100 popular. The only 5 absent are mostly bears (Formorsan Black Bear, Sloth Bear, Himalayan Bear), plus Dhole and Skunk. Even Dingo can make on the list, probably general players just think "oh such addorable doggy" rather than "damn, another copy & paste of Timber Wolf". Only 6 species in top 25 are not Carnivore. But I am also surprised that Giant Panda is just ranked #16, even below Przewalski's Horse. In real life zoo, I don't think P-Horse is more attractive to visitors than Giant Panda.
This vote probably reflects why the Primates are neglected in the game, 6 of 13 Primates are absent from the list, the most popular Primate is the Orangutan, which is ranked #35, so no any Primate in the top 25.
The lack of birds is the major complaint that has continued throughout the years, 10 of 11 birds in the game do make in the list (the only one absent is Ostrich), but only 1 bird in the top 30, the African Penguin.
Unsurprisingly majority of exhibit species are absent, only 3 of them did make on the top 100 which are Sloth, Axotol and Egyptian Fruit Bat. The Axotol is the only terrarium species on the top 100, which makes the Conservation pack the only pack that has all of its species on the top 100.
The newly-released Eurasia pack has 6 species absent from the list, I am somewhat surprised that Takin is absent

 

[BetoYoung]

What do you guys think of the idea that making Vampire Bat as Walkthrough exhibit species in the game

it would be a great boost to south america

 

[JVM]

That's some fascinating analysis and the contrast between carnivores, primates and ungulates is especially fascinating.

I do wonder how much strategy influences this as well -- for example in Jurassic World Evolution, I like large carnivores, but most of my campaign/challenge facilities are dominated by smaller species that can be managed more easily and require less space or social needs.

 

[Austin the Sengi]

Even though Frontier has been doubling down on advertising the game’s release on console; and while the rumors of the next “original” dlc being the last one are still possible (despite not being confirmed as of yet).

It got me thinking that since Frontier decided to release the console version of the base game in the timeframe typically used to launch a spring dlc. What if we instead have to wait another few months for a “final” dlc to launch in the summer release date; and once they do so, they could then focus exclusively on those “dlc bundles” for the console until every dlc is available for that system.

Sure, it’s nothing more than pure speculation; but it’s something that I still have hope for, and could very well have some feasibility before the game’s inevitable end.


Also, has anyone else felt like giving up on waiting for additional dlc content after the console edition was announced. Because at this point, that’s been the way I’ve felt about the game unfortunately.

 

[TheMightyOrca]

Even though Frontier has been doubling down on advertising the game’s release on console; and while the rumors of the next “original” dlc being the last one are still possible (despite not being confirmed as of yet).

It got me thinking that since Frontier decided to release the console version of the base game in the timeframe typically used to launch a spring dlc. What if we instead have to wait another few months for a “final” dlc to launch in the summer release date; and once they do so, they could then focus exclusively on those “dlc bundles” for the console until every dlc is available for that system.

Sure, it’s nothing more than pure speculation; but it’s something that I still have hope for, and could very well have some feasibility before the game’s inevitable end.


Also, has anyone else felt like giving up on waiting for additional dlc content after the console edition was announced. Because at this point, that’s been the way I’ve felt about the game unfortunately.

Yeah, I expect that they're going to focus on the console stuff for a while. Developing the console version takes time and resources, and I'm sure they'll want to make every DLC pack available for console over the course of the year or so.

The game has been getting updates for much longer than I expected it would. So I won't be TOO disappointed if this is the end for new content. But I still hope they go out with a bang and give us some popularly requested animals, maybe new plants and building stuff too.

 

[JVM]

I think both PZ and JWE2 for that record will end with some really highly-requested animals to reward the fans who have been with the games since the beginning. I would argue the latter game has already been heading that route with the previous dlc. I would suspect a sequel were closer at hand but I know Planet Coaster hasn't had a sequel yet and I suspect that would come first.

I'm not sure which are the most highly requested animals anymore but here's hoping there's at least one flighted bird, preferably one just generic enough to let the modding scene take flight.

 

[BetoYoung]

I think both PZ and JWE2 for that record will end with some really highly-requested animals to reward the fans who have been with the games since the beginning. I would argue the latter game has already been heading that route with the previous dlc. I would suspect a sequel were closer at hand but I know Planet Coaster hasn't had a sequel yet and I suspect that would come first.

I'm not sure which are the most highly requested animals anymore but here's hoping there's at least one flighted bird, preferably one just generic enough to let the modding scene take flight.

some are the highly-requested animals are secretary bird, south american coati, goodfellow's tree kangaroo, musk ox, black howler monkey, walrus and more.

 

[Fallax]

I think at this point my most wanted animal that would work within the current boundaries of the game might be a pelican, seems like quite a big omission. Storks, guineafowl, and other ground birds are up there too.

I get that flying birds might be hard to make but there have been so many missed opportunities for more ground birds, I'd take a full pack of them at this point.

 

[JVM]

some are the highly-requested animals are secretary bird, south american coati, goodfellow's tree kangaroo, musk ox, black howler monkey, walrus and more.

Speaking from experience, the Secretary Bird would be the greatest boon for both being a unique species and for modding -- this is ancient history now, but the release of the Secretary Bird in Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure was the gateway for us modders to start making flighted birds and dinosaurs before subsequent expansions made the former available.

For flighted birds, we just had to shorten the legs and the animations would still work fine. We managed eagles and even macaws from that basis.

I think at this point my most wanted animal that would work within the current boundaries of the game might be a pelican, seems like quite a big omission. Storks, guineafowl, and other ground birds are up there too.

I get that flying birds might be hard to make but there have been so many missed opportunities for more ground birds, I'd take a full pack of them at this point.

I think Stork would be one of the more interesting choices here. Pelicans are a big omission, too, though I know in zoo2, pelicans were made from flamingos and guinea fowl from peafowl.

Certainly, two or three packs of birds would be preferable to having to go at it from the few existing species for the class.

 

[BetoYoung]

Speaking from experience, the Secretary Bird would be the greatest boon for both being a unique species and for modding -- this is ancient history now, but the release of the Secretary Bird in Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure was the gateway for us modders to start making flighted birds and dinosaurs before subsequent expansions made the former available.

For flighted birds, we just had to shorten the legs and the animations would still work fine. We managed eagles and even macaws from that basis.


I think Stork would be one of the more interesting choices here. Pelicans are a big omission, too, though I know in zoo2, pelicans were made from flamingos and guinea fowl from peafowl.

Certainly, two or three packs of birds would be preferable to having to go at it from the few existing species for the class.

What an amazing design and art.

 

[StellarChaser]

The Deladysigner posted the top 50 least popular species in the game based on same survey of 2500 PZ players, unsurprising that the majority are exhibit species, and the most habitat species with low popularity are even-toed mammals.
50. Wild Boar
49. Mandrill
48. Monarch
47. Dama Gazelle
46. Bactrian Camel
45. Pronghorn
44. Spectacled Flying Fox
43. Saiga Antelope
42. Diamondback Terrapin
41. Yellow Anaconda
40. African Buffalo
39. Collared Peccary
38. Fire Salamander
37. Green Iguana
36. Gila Monster
35. Eastern Blue-tongue Skink
34. Sable Antelope
33. Springbok
32. Red-eyed Tree Frog
31. Thomson Gazelle
30. Hermann's Tortoise
29. Blue Morph
28. Boa Constrictor
27. Golden Poison Frog
26. Black Wildebeest
25. Horned Viper
24. Giant Leaf Insect
23. Danube Crested Newt
22. Giant Tiger Land Snail
21. Lehmann's Poison Frog
20. Lesser Antillean Iguana
19. Western Diamondback
18. Eastern Brown Snake
17. Puff Adder
16. Sacred Scarab Beetle
15. Titan Beetle
14. American Bullfrog
13. Brazilian Salmon-pink Tarantula
12. Cloudless Sulphur
11. Goliath Birdeater
10. Goliath Frog
9. Giant Forest Scorpion
8. Mexican Red-knee Tarantula
7. Swallowtail
6. Amazonian Giant Centipede
5. Giant Burrowing Cockroach
4. Common Death Adder
3. Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion (only 5 votes)
2. Brazilian Wandering Spider (only 4 votes)
1. Goliath Beetle (only 2 votes!)

Quite surprised that the least popular Primate is Mandrill not the Proboscis Monkey b/c many people on the forum asked to replace the Proboscis Monkey with Asian primates that common in Western institutions like Gibbon or Langur, maybe Mandrill looks scary to general players? Looks like Gelada will be another Tassie, the species only favored by animal nerds but not the public.

 

[JVM]

Quite surprised that the least popular Primate is Mandrill not the Proboscis Monkey b/c many people on the forum asked to replace the Proboscis Monkey with Asian primates that common in Western institutions like Gibbon or Langur, maybe Mandrill looks scary to general players? Looks like Gelada will be another Tassie, the species only favored by animal nerds but not the public.

I'm really digging this analysis.

Sad to say it's not surprising the bottom ten habitat species are even-toed ungulates. Zoo nerds love them but to a lot of the uninformed they are all just deer. Antelope and suids received very low attention in the zoo2 fandom as well, with gazelle-like antelope only doing better because the gazelle was easy to recolor. In addition many of the examples lower on the list are not common zoo species to boot. The camel is the real surprise. I probably would have expected the species to be in a slightly different order, too.

As for the primates, hm. I have a theory about mandrill but I worry it's not a well-informed theory. I can see the proboscis monkey being more popular -- it's very a comical look, there's an inherent appeal there, and I do think they are the sort of rarer animal that some people will rather shrug their shoulders and be happy to include than consider reality, just as pandas are a staple of the genre. Gelada is a case where I think for a lot of people they just register as another baboon, even if a taxonomist or zoo nerd might tell them otherwise.

 

[StellarChaser]

Zoo nerds love them but to a lot of the uninformed they are all just deer.

While all 4 deers in the game made the top 100 popular list, the general public probably just not interested in antelopes. I don't agree that gazelle-like antelope doing better since all the gazelle-like antelopes in the game are in the least 50 popular list, by contrast the only two antelopes in the top 100 popular list are Bongo and Scimitar-horned Oryx, which both are not gazelle-like.

The camel is the real surprise. I probably would have expected the species to be in a slightly different order, too.

Probably b/c the Bactrian Camel's model in the game is not decent.

 

[JVM]

While all 4 deers in the game made the top 100 popular list, the general public probably just not interested in antelopes. I don't agree that gazelle-like antelope doing better since all the gazelle-like antelopes in the game are in the least 50 popular list, by contrast the only two antelopes in the top 100 popular list are Bongo and Scimitar-horned Oryx, which both are not gazelle-like.

I think that was a misunderstanding of my own fault.

"Antelope and suids received very low attention in the zoo2 fandom as well, with gazelle-like antelope only doing better because the gazelle was easy to recolor."

By zoo2 I was referring to Zoo Tycoon 2 for contrast with Planet Zoo. I shouldn't have used the lazy shorthand. It probably looked like a typo.

 

[tigris115]

I think that was a misunderstanding of my own fault.

"Antelope and suids received very low attention in the zoo2 fandom as well, with gazelle-like antelope only doing better because the gazelle was easy to recolor."

By zoo2 I was referring to Zoo Tycoon 2 for contrast with Planet Zoo. I shouldn't have used the lazy shorthand. It probably looked like a typo.

Even for a short-hand, ZT2 is better

Also, as mods go, antelope in PZ are rly common. You can find a pretty good variety of whatever you need

 

[BetoYoung]

hey guys, breaking news!! the console edition for planet zoo is out now.

 

[James Barber]

hey guys, breaking news!! the console edition for planet zoo is out now.

I have been waiting to play Planet Zoo for such a long time now and I can't believe it is finally on consoles. I also installed the Europe and North America packs too since I brought the ultimate edition.

As with Planet Coaster, I did struggle playing Planet Zoo on my controller but I am slowly still getting used to the controls. I wouldn't mind trying it out on my keyboard and mouse also.

When I have got used to playing a lot more, I might even try out and recreate a couple of UK zoos but for now, its just the scenarios and sandbox mode for me.

 

[BetoYoung]

I have been waiting to play Planet Zoo for such a long time now and I can't believe it is finally on consoles. I also installed the Europe and North America packs too since I brought the ultimate edition.

As with Planet Coaster, I did struggle playing Planet Zoo on my controller but I am slowly still getting used to the controls. I wouldn't mind trying it out on my keyboard and mouse also.

When I have got used to playing a lot more, I might even try out and recreate a couple of UK zoos but for now, its just the scenarios and sandbox mode for me.

good luck bro, enjoy your experience.