Realistic fauna and immersion

[oyci3c 2]

Hi, I play the game at max available settings on a 42" plasma TV to get the best visual experience possible, with headphones on. This allows me to immerse myself in the rich atmosphere of the game and enjoy it at its fullest.

Now, a while ago some improvements have been made to the fauna existing in the game. It is no longer static, the animals move around and are fully animated, which makes me really happy as playing with mannequins isn't exactly my cup of tea. What I still think is missing are sounds animals make. This one time when I was in the main menu, I heard cow making their cow noises. Why isn't that included in the game? I never heard any cow go moo-moo at me when I walk by or shoot them. Adding cow (and other animal sounds) would make the game a lot more realistic.

What I would like to suggest is adding even more animals. The European forests are rich with bears, wolves, deer, badgers and moose. Who wouldn't want to meet a moose on their way from Chernogorsk to Stary Sobor or vice versa?

Another exciting addition would be a social creature of insurmountable grace and impressive intellect, a meerkat. While it's not native to the location presented in the game, it'd certainly be a welcome addition for all the meerkat enthusiasts out there, such as myself.

That's it for today, good luck in your travels and until next time!

[krtshv 362]

This sounds like a commercial for a new TV and a tourist brochure at the same time.

[Zeromentor 169]

The sounds of animals should be ingame, sure.

But the inclusion of other animals? I don't know about some of them. Many would run if they encountered those aggressive, screaming, running zombies that are present ingame. The ones you see are generally the dumbest of the animal bunch... Cows, sheep, goats, chicken. How often do you see them making decisions to flee potential danger? Not often. A goat might, but a neighbor of mine lost a goat because it didn't notice the area was flooding and it drowned. So even they aren't very intelligent creatures.

Edited July 22, 2012 by Zeromentor

[oyci3c 2]

A goat that doesn't flee a flooded area doesn't necessarily mean it's stupid. It might've been suicidal. Do you know your neighbor well enough to be sure that he doesn't "mistreat" his goats? People do all sorts of sick stuff.

Back to the topic at hand. My reasoning is this: implement the animals first, worry about their intelligence (or lack thereof) later. We could assume for the time being that due to the zombie apocalypse and the collapse of civilization taking place the animals became so apathetic, they don't even try to run from danger anymore. Until Rocket gets around to implementing more sophisticated AI algorythms that would allow certain more intelligent species to react accordingly in the face of danger.

[unclegus 21]

^ This, but I'm guessing it wouldn't be hard to implement animal AI. Just have it exactly the same as zombie AI but they run in the reverse direction until they lose sight of you.

[sparta436 46]

im all for meerkats

[ZombifiedShark 8]

infected animals would rock so hard :lol:

[ZombifiedShark 8]

^ This, but I'm guessing it wouldn't be hard to implement animal AI. Just have it exactly the same as zombie AI but they run in the reverse direction until they lose sight of you.

Zig Zagging animals that run through walls?

sounds wonderful! where do i sign up?

[oyci3c 2]

I thought I'd make a list of animals that are in the game and animals that I think should make it in the game. Let me know if I've missed something and let me know wht you think.

Animals in the game:

• chicken
  
• cow
  
• boar
  
• goat
  
• pig
  
• rabbit
  
• sheep
  
• squirrel
  

Animals NOT in the game:

• badger
  
• bat
  
• bear
  
• cat
  
• deer
  
• dog
  
• hedgehog
  
• horse
  
• lynx
  
• meerkat
  
• moose
  
• rat
  
• weasel
  
• wolf