My dream: a new unofficial expansion pack

[jbl89]

( please move this post to the appropriate place, didn't really know where to put it ).

 

My name's Jeff. Some of you might remember me, I did create some stuff a whole lot of years ago for ZT1. I recently started playing it again, and I was kind of bummed at the lack of proper official content (yes, I know there are tons of downloads available, but I really want things to be as close to the original ZT1 as possible). You might remember me from some fences (a white rock one), custom tank filters (with a Beluga's tail indicating the performance, or just a push with a lamp), some bulidings, and mostly some behind-the-screens help on the programming side for other developers (including the late Tasmanian Tiger, for who I was also looking into making her Eurasian Roe eat from something like this: http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/shadowchaser/shadowchaser0806/shadowchaser080600012/3140630-feeding-place-for-animals-during-winter-time.jpg .

 

I kind of stopped designing after a hard disk crash, where I lost a lot of content I was preparing for a pack. It included several items from the beta version of ZT1 (some statues, working binoculars), some custom new statues and buildings I had designed (highland theme, Wild West theme etc). I also had a fix for the original umbrella table which was present in the beta but not in the final version. And I was looking into, and succeeding, in creating a new slide as well.

 

I also had a dream, and I had already made several advancements, in creating shows for land animals. The original idea was to have things like tigers jumping through a burning hoop, a horse show etc. Mostly by creating an illusion, similar to Catfish's bird cages or the tunnels here, but it was working except for one minor kink. However, the biggest problem: lack of new animations. I asked Tasmanian Tiger, after I saw her create swimming tiger animations and her other animals which are very close to the original ZT1 style. She once made a prototype of a tiger jumping through a hoop.

 

I might want to try to recreate this pack, which would include a range of new objects (lamps, decoration, buildings, fences) in different themes (kind of thinking of a Wild West theme, but also a highland restaurant etc), perhaps some new animals as well. But only if I can realize my project of shows for land animals. So this is a long shot, but I hope someone stumbles upon this post, and has skills where are similar to the onse Taz had, and who would like to help me create this pack, by either making brand new animals similar to ZT1 and even better, by perhaps helping me with e.g. animations of a tiger jumping through a hoop or playing with a ball or something?

 

 

 

 

[caddienoah]

Welcome back!...first of all...

 

I wish I had the talent to help you, but I don't, because if I would, I'd be helping you in a heart beat...I wish you well with your project ideas!

There are many talented people here...it would be nice to see new themed items, that you are talking about...and to have land animals do some playing/show content would be great also!!!

[(Admin)Savannahjan]

Hi, Jeff, so good to hear from you again. I do remember your work from the old community. We miss Taz very much; it was such a horrible loss of such a sweet young woman.

 

I'm glad you posted; your ideas are fabulous and I do hope you will be able to see them become a reality. There are several designers who have made great animal animations, but I don't know any of them personally, or if they are still around. However, And 1 is still visiting occasionally and he does a very nice job on animals; perhaps a PM to him might get a response fairly soon. I wish very much I had that ability; wouldn't a new expansion be great?

 

We're so glad to have you here, Jeff.

[Firehawke]

This sounds like a wonderful idea...I sure hope that it ends up happening!

[jbl89]

We'll see. At the end of October, I'm most likely to have a lot of free time again. I'm ambitious, but things really have to be superb. On my side, the programming (.dll, .ai, .cfg...) files will all look very official. But I'm setting very high standards for the person who would do the animations of course. Taz' animals were so beautiful just because she was able to make them in 3D, with proper rendering/shadows/blending etc.

 

I know I'm asking a lot. I've been considering picking up some 3D designing myself, but honestly, I'm not that creative and I doubt I'd be good at it. I'm more a programming kind of guy. That's why I'd like to join forces, collaborate. And also, I'd probably release the things which are finished rather quickly, rather than waiting for everything to be complete. We'll see if anyone steps up. I honestly don't have very high hopes of finding someone, especially with ZT1 being such an old game already and rather few people actually had skills similar to Taz' ones. But maybe, just maybe, someone is actually capable and willing to give me the helping hand on that side.

 

For me, that's a requirement to start this project. Without it, I'm not going to start working on it (again).

[johnztmaster]

It's great to see another old face again - I remember the ZT+ days and I was enthralled with the idea of a large expansion for the original game. I still have certain bits of Jungle Junk and the Savannah pack installed in addition to the BETA pack items and snowy fences. I know some talented animal modelers and animators who mostly work primarily with Zoo Tycoon 2 and I'll try to pass on the message to see if anyone might be interested :)

[jbl89]

Thanks, it's really wonderful to hear some people are still using some of my content. I'm not sure anymore if I used a .dll file already or not for the first versoins of those packs, but if it's not too much of an issue, it would be great if you could perhaps upload them somewhere and post the link (feel free to PM, I could also give you my email or something)?

 

I've been creating a zoo with most official animals from the Complete Collection, except for dinosaurs. It's a great moment of nostalgia, although I've been a bit bummed already by the lack of different statues which are in game by default (yes, I do realize there's tons of custom content around ;) ). That was also some of my motivation to post about this idea.

 

What I'd like to incorporate for sure, is pretty basic. It would be some recycled stuff combined with new items.

 

My personal wishlist.
Note: this is currently NOT a project in progress.

 

= A cool name =
"Crazy Creations" might do, but we already have a 'CC'.
"Animalistic Antics" might fit the show feature, if I get it done (unlikely at this moment due to lack of proper animations/designer)

 

= Animals =
* As a tribute to our beloved Tasmanian Tiger "Taz" and with proper credits, all her animals. They would be the last versions of those items hosted by Taz, but with updated configuration files (e.g. proper footprints, more detailed animal information) and most likely also updated icons, so they're even more up to par with the original ZT1 quality. I also have a frame of a food stand for animals she created, I doubt it was the proper view though. Maybe her idea might be incorporated at some point! I also wonder if she was working on a Vicugna... 3D art by Taz.

 

** Addax
** Baiji

** Eurasian Roe Deer
** European Red Deer
** Fallow Deer
** Giant Armadillo

** Harbour Seal
** Ribbon Seal

** Thylacine

** Vaquita

 

* I'm thinking the Antelope was missing from CC, not sure, if it was, it would be included too.

* Yeti would also get proper configuration, as it was intended to be in ZT1 without being a download.

 

* If my personal "Ocean Sunfish" 3D experiment (see further in this post) ever succeeds, you can expect that as a MM animal.
* I've made two recolors in the past, but since I feel that would be cheating a bit, it's unlikely they'll be included.

= Non-themed objects =

* Beta: extracted from Zoo Tycoon Beta: statues, binoculars. Marine Mania trashcan.
* Statues: some new statues of the existing animals, and perhaps some of the 'new' animals as well.

* Filters: functional new tank filters. Camouflaged (one as a bush with red/yellow/green, another one would be the Beluga tank filter).

* Non-themed: fully functional Umbrella Table. Also looking into a new slide.

 

Generally speaking: a few more decorative items.

 

= Themed objects =
The buildings might introduce a few new items to guests.

 

Habitat themes
* Savannah:

** restaurant

** gift shop.
* Highland:

** restaurant

** gift shop.
* Rainforest:

** gift shop,

** attraction
* Arctic:

** restaurant,

** snowy white fence (high, exhibit).

 

Theme

* Wild West:

** saloon (restaurant, rodeo horse attraction)

** post office and/or jail (giftshop, post cards),

** chariot

** cowboy statue

** a new theatre (or incorporated in the saloon).

** Mustang (animal) would be nice but is unlikely.

 

Random ideas
* Italian restaurant (well, we could go with any yummy food, no?)

* Santa: giving small gifts for free, or selling small gifts (but who wants a commercial santa!), or maybe even people sitting on his lap? Obviously Santa wouldn't disappear by himself...

 

= Scenarios =
Due to the high work load, these are not a priority. One of the ideas is to create a zoo with all animals by Tasmanian Tiger, and get proper care for them. This could also just be altered into a new award instead. Or both could happen.

 

= Maps =

Unlikely to be added. If so, it will most likely be a map with about the maximum of space available.

 

= Research =
* Some of the animals would require to be researched first. (e.g. Vaquita, being an endangered animal)

* Maybe some more new research (or is it just my tank, 400 squares, that gets too murky too soon despite a working tank filter?)

 

= Fix(es) and improvements =
* a fix for a typo in the dolphin file

* guest limit might change to 2000 or 2500 (currently testing on a mediocre laptop, 2000 works well so far. Needs more testing).

 

* US American Flag (+rotation fix) and Yeti would get an ID number. They seem to have been test cases for the development of APE.

 

= Cheats =
Expect some new cheats to quicky unlock the new animals and objects in this pack.

 

= New features =
None, since we only add content. In best case scenario, there would be a way to perform shows with certain land animals, but it would be based on an illusion. A bit similar to the tunnels which were available at one time, or the aviary cages.

 

= Requirements and compatibility =
ZT1 Complete Collection. (or ZT1, DD, MM. Additional CC items are optional).
System requirements: same as the original game + some additional disk space.

Initially, I'll most likely *won't* take other content into account to avoid conflcts.

 

= Various =

* suitability guide for each animal in this expansion.

* Excel list with all string references for ZT1, DD, MM, CC + official downloads + this unofficial expansion pack.

 

= Releases =
If content is added/updated, an updated version of the pack would be released if the change is considered big enough (1 new animal or 3+ objects)

It's likely the complete package would have to be downloaded again each time, but the files could just be overwritten, no need to uninstall.

[jbl89]

On a small, related note: does anyone have experience with Blender? (3D modelling)

 

I have no skills whatsoever in that area at the moment, but I stumbled upon the program, also saw some tutorials... it seemed quite interesting.

[pukkie]

I hope someone has. I do think Tasmanian Tiger had but sadly she is no longer amongst us.

I never outgrew the player stage I have quite a lot of things might have been designed by you, Some are sticky's in my zoos I love to see if you can come up with things again :moosebud:

[Ashea]

Welcome back jbl89! I hope you can find some to help you.