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I used Planet Zoo’s new North America Animal Pack to make a grim facsimile of HBO’s DeadwoodNow that’s what I call a frontier development
Now that’s what I call a frontier development
If you keep even half an eye on delightful construction gamePlanet Zoo, you’ll know that developers Frontier tend to release a DLC pack for it every quarter, bringing a bunch of fresh animals into the game from a particular region of the globe. Whenever that happens, I tend to make what could charitably be called a concept zoo, in order to show off the new arrivals in the best possible light.
Sincethis week’s DLC introducesan octet of animals from North America, there was only one conceivable way to exhibit them: an awkward combination of zoo, performance art and poundshop Westworld, displaying the majesty of nature alongside recreations of sets from the legendary TV show Deadwood. Let’s have a little walk around town, shall we?
Planet Zoo: North America Animal Pack | Launch TrailerWatch on YouTube
Planet Zoo: North America Animal Pack | Launch Trailer
Before we get into the tour proper, a little note of sincerity. If you like the idea of Planet Zoo but have been holding out on it so far, I’d honestly recommend you jump in now. Frontier have been dropping a free update alongside every animal pack, comprising a bunch of feature tweaks and quality of life fixes, and the 1.5 update accompanying the North America pack is a crucial one.
Now, as the great Ian McShane once famously said, “Welcome to fucken Deadwood”.
I think the main thing I wanted to capture with this zoo was a real sense of rancid wild-west squalor. As such, all the paths are buried two foot deep in mounds of dung and straw, there are bleak yellow puddles all over the place, and there are no bins whatsoever. Since the zoo’s built in the middle of the desert, it’s also punishingly hot, and there’s no aircon, anywhere.
Luckily, there are refreshments on hand. Immediately after passing the welcome centre, guests are confronted with the immensity of Al Swearengen’s Gem Saloon. There, they can huddle around torches in a hideous wooden cave, knocking back beaker after beaker of astringent, body-temperature monster juice from one of the four whiskey shops on site.
I’ve yet to provide housing for the California Sealion, the Arctic Fox, the Beaver, the Cougar, or the American Alligator from the new DLC. Nevertheless, there is one more of the new animals housed in my masterpiece-in-progress, and it’s the best of the lot: The American Bullfrog.
Naturally, these absolute marsh lords deserve pride of place in my Deadwood shrine/zoo, and so I’ve installed them in two stout tanks, within Al Swearengen’s office on the mezzanine floor of the Gem. I figure it’s what he would have wanted. Maybe? Anyway, in order to keep the frog exhibits tied in with the theme of the place, I’ve upholstered their back walls with immersive murals of two of the most harrowing moments from Deadwood - Al gurning in agony from a kidney stone, and two massive brutes strangling each other in some mud. It was quite a thing to zoom in on a bullfrog, floating despondently at a 45 degree angle, and staring up at the puce snarl of the gruesome mercenary known only as The Captain.
Now, where to put those alligators…
