Ambients question from newb!

[grahambr]

I have a question about ambients and how they work.

I have dowmloaded a couple of ambients, Amazon Butterfly and Yellow Tang. I have added the Yellow Tang's z2f file to my c:\ program files\microsoft games\zoo tycoon 2\ so am assuming they are active. I've noticed that other ambients seem to be appear on a random or timed basis. Is this correct? As yet the Yellow Tangs havn't appeared in a test Reef tank I've erected so not sure if they will eventually or is the z2f file in the wrong place.

 

[badisbadis101]

i would open a reef map and look. they will appear more likely there.

[grahambr]

Thks I'll try that.

I'm not using a reef map just erected a reef tank assuming they would appear, eventually.

Not sure if they should just appear or whether they are random. Other built in ZT2 ambient fish seem to appear after a time period.

Just trying to get a definative idea from a more experienced user.

[badisbadis101]

well, they sometimes appear on different biome maps, but it usually takes longer.

tell me if you see them

[sdfssddff]

Hi, i'm new to zoo tycoon 2, but ive played ZT1 for a while. I just wanted to know... What are ambients? and what do they do to enrich your play? also what is live prey/food? and how do you feed to your animals?
Thanks guys i know that you'll be able to answer my questions!

sarah

[grahambr]

Thx again for your help.

Just went to a MM reef scenario and erected a new aquarium and set it to reef biom and put a ray into it. I had two ambients a single fish and a jelly fish. But my Yellow Tang havn't yet made an appearance. Maybe I have to get the correct environment, however the text on the download page did say it was for reef biom.

[badisbadis101]

ambients are animals like birds and squirrels, that appear on maps that have no affect on gameplay

to feed animals, you go to the food menu, and give them food. you can refill it by going into zookeeper mode and pressin the spacebar when it says o.

live prey is fish or lizards that are under the enrichment menu for animals to catch and eat.

[badisbadis101]

i would make a big lake of reefwater and look in there.

[grahambr]

Yes 'live prey' is food that you can introduce to amuse your animals. I have somce Sea Lions in a Costal biom and I bought from the food menu some cod which the Seals chased and ate. Just drop them into the water like other stuff and they swam around till the Seals got them!

 :popcorn:

[sdfssddff]

Ok thanks you realy cleared that up!

[grahambr]

Ok thx will give that a try. I think you might be right, it is  a case of getting the correct environment. Was just hoping to add some smaller fish to an aquarium to give better effect.

[mikaboshi]

Ambient topics merged to keep everything organized.

[badisbadis101]

okay, your welcome!

[grahambr]

Ok just to finish this thread off I think I've worked out how things work regarding ambients.

It seems that a random choice of ambient is selected each time you load a game. Hence each time I load a test map with a reef coast and a reef aquarium I get deifferent ambients in them.

My Yellow Tangs finally turned up after I had loaded the map around 4 times. I have just added the z2f files to the 'c:\ program files\microsoft games\zoo tycoon 2\' folder so they are available to the program.

Hope this helps someone out there!

 

[Chimpinater]

Glad you found your Yellow Tangs.