DuckyPiee Posted January 29 Report Posted January 29 (edited) I think adding a bunch of birds that fly around forests, make noises, make nests, etc. would really improve the immersion. I love the way animals work in this game, but forests feel a little empty. I would also feel really immersed if squirrels were present. I can picture a V formation of birds flying high in the sky and it would be so cool and really make the world feel alive. they could be rendered and simple 2D sprites from a distance. idk i just feel a distinct lack of birds and that simply must change. also animals really need footstep sounds that depend on the animal weight. Edited January 29 by DuckyPiee 10 1
Bruno Willis Posted January 29 Report Posted January 29 Welcome to the forums! 5 hours ago, DuckyPiee said: I think adding a bunch of birds that fly around forests, make noises, make nests, etc. would really improve the immersion. I love the way animals work in this game, but forests feel a little empty. I would also feel really immersed if squirrels were present. I can picture a V formation of birds flying high in the sky and it would be so cool and really make the world feel alive. they could be rendered and simple 2D sprites from a distance. idk i just feel a distinct lack of birds and that simply must change. also animals really need footstep sounds that depend on the animal weight. I agree with everything here so much. On birds specifically, I really like the idea of high up V formation birds that you never interact with, they're so high up. They could have close up versions: proper modeled geese, which would waddle round on the ground, and fly about occasionally in little, low V formations to suggest that they're the same creatures as the simple 2D sprites which are essentially set dressing. Those birds in the high sky would add so much to the game. V shaped birds in the sky could even be seasonally determined. The geese fly south overhead every autumn, and back again in spring. I've harped on before about small birds which are just simple 2D sprites, ideally linked with naturally generating nests (generating on cliff crags and in trees). The birds would just fly around in a bird-like way, like how bees work, but with fewer, bigger particles, and a wider, and especially higher, range. They'd also contribute that all important birdsong the game is missing. I'd love it if they reproduced, naturally and gradually, and if you could encourage wild birds to nest in places (maybe by leaving a nesting box unattended in a high location?) 8
Forks Posted January 29 Report Posted January 29 5 hours ago, Bruno Willis said: They'd also contribute that all important birdsong the game is missing. My only hope is that it would be done well and not end up as grating as those damnable grasshoppers!
Monkeylord Posted January 29 Report Posted January 29 Birds are a MUST. Waterfowl in lakes, eagles and geese formations up in the skies, finches and woodpeckers and doves in the forests, seagulls at sea, partridges and pheasants in the prairies... IRL birds are present everywhere and they are quite abundant. They would make the world feel sooo much more alive 3
Bruno Willis Posted January 29 Report Posted January 29 5 hours ago, Monkeylord said: IRL birds are present everywhere and they are quite abundant. They would make the world feel sooo much more alive For sure, but it needs to be done in a way which doesn't tax the game too heavily. What birds can be visual + audio simulations with no substance (no hitboxes, etc.) and which have to be actual models? 5 hours ago, Monkeylord said: finches and woodpeckers and doves in the forests, seagulls at sea, partridges and pheasants in the prairies... This would add so much more to different locations. Is the sea even a sea if it's not filled with the hungry screams of seagulls? 1
LadyWYT Posted January 29 Report Posted January 29 Just now, Bruno Willis said: What birds can be visual + audio simulations with no substance (no hitboxes, etc.) and which have to be actual models? I would say that small songbirds would be just fine as ambient critters without hitboxes, similar to the crickets and small fish. Larger birds that could feasibly serve as a food source and otherwise interact with various things in the world should behave as normal creatures. While most probably think of flight-capable birds whenever the subject comes up, there are several birds that don't fly that could be added prior to figuring out a flight system. Ostrich, emu, rhea, kiwi, penguins, dodos, and even potentially moa are suitable options there. But why not turkeys? Wild turkeys are actually pretty good at flying, so I don't include them here. While they only fly short distances, I think it's more appropriate to include them with proper flight mechanics, as well as giving chickens some limited flight ability as well. Such a change also means they ought to be easier to domesticate as well, to make up for being harder to capture and pen. 6
Bruno Willis Posted January 29 Report Posted January 29 10 minutes ago, LadyWYT said: Ostrich, emu, rhea, kiwi, penguins, dodos, and even potentially moa are suitable options there. The idea that a player might actually see a kiwi in game though... I don't know. They're extremely stealthy night birds. They make blood-curdling sounds though, so they'd fit right in with V.S. 2
LadyWYT Posted January 29 Report Posted January 29 3 minutes ago, Bruno Willis said: The idea that a player might actually see a kiwi in game though... I don't know. They're extremely stealthy night birds. They make blood-curdling sounds though, so they'd fit right in with V.S. I don't have to see them frequently; just knowing that they're there to find is enough. 2
Monkeylord Posted January 30 Report Posted January 30 (edited) 11 hours ago, Bruno Willis said: What birds can be visual + audio simulations with no substance (no hitboxes, etc.) and which have to be actual models? Ideally all birds should be interactable (I've seen some mods do that quite nicely), but maybe that's too much for the game. In that case, small songbirds could just be simulated like the butterflies are (Just flying from tree to tree, hopping around in the ground until you get too close and they fly away...) and then bigger birds like ravens, pigeons, ducks, gulls, pheasants, penguins, ostriches...etc etc should be interactable just like the chickens are 11 hours ago, Bruno Willis said: This would add so much more to different locations. Is the sea even a sea if it's not filled with the hungry screams of seagulls? Completely agree 10 hours ago, LadyWYT said: there are several birds that don't fly that could be added prior to figuring out a flight system Even some flying birds like ducks or waterfowl in general could work pretty well before being upgraded with a flying system down the line. I mean, chickens are actually capable of fliying short distances and we have them in game, they could be given the ability to glide down from cliffs or fly-jump in the future but they are fine as they are. Edited January 30 by Monkeylord 1
Facethief Posted January 30 Report Posted January 30 16 hours ago, LadyWYT said: Wild turkeys are actually pretty good at flying, so I don't include them here. While they only fly short distances, I think it's more appropriate to include them with proper flight mechanics, as well as giving chickens some limited flight ability as well. Such a change also means they ought to be easier to domesticate as well, to make up for being harder to capture and pen. Yes. As roosting birds, chickens and turkeys (maybe not varieties raised for meat) can fly quite a distance. 1
LadyWYT Posted January 30 Report Posted January 30 2 hours ago, Facethief said: Yes. As roosting birds, chickens and turkeys (maybe not varieties raised for meat) can fly quite a distance. Depends on the variety, really. The heritage meat chickens are still fairly decent flyers. It's generally the hybrid commercial varieties that lack flight. 2
Bruno Willis Posted January 30 Report Posted January 30 13 hours ago, Monkeylord said: Ideally all birds should be interactable (I've seen some mods do that quite nicely), but maybe that's too much for the game. In that case, small songbirds could just be simulated like the butterflies are (Just flying from tree to tree, hopping around in the ground until you get too close and they fly away...) and then bigger birds like ravens, pigeons, ducks, gulls, pheasants, penguins, ostriches...etc etc should be interactable just like the chickens are I feel like smaller birds shouldn't be interactable, but they should still mean something. Bigger birds, like chickens, mean something because they're interactable to get meat and feathers and eggs. Smaller birds / simulated high in the sky birds, could mean something because of what they signal. Smaller birds could gather in noisy bunches around berry bushes and fruit trees when they ripen. Gulls could wheel over the ocean in greater numbers when the fishing is good. I think it'd be really useful to use small simulated birds to signal useful things instead of being something 'useful' in themselves. Let's be honest, no-one's going out there hunting finches when there are fat, juicy pigs sleeping under the same trees. 3
Bumber Posted February 4 Report Posted February 4 On 1/29/2026 at 6:12 AM, Forks said: My only hope is that it would be done well and not end up as grating as those damnable grasshoppers! They can add birds to get rid of the grasshoppers. Then cats to get rid of the bird problem. Then the wolves will take care of all the yowling cats. 1 1 1
Heegrim Posted February 12 Report Posted February 12 Even just a few birdsong sounds that occasionally play in forests would be such a great addition! I know there is a mod that does this and also add creaking tree sounds when the wind is blowing but i cannot remember the name. It makes the forests feel so much more alive. They already nailed the rain sounds on leaves so I'm sure they will add these things eventually.
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