Animal Instinct aka 'That cool but problematic feature' Thread - Ultra Off-Road Simulator 2019: Alaska

Description of the matter

Animals, in Ultra Off-Road. Moose, bear, wolfs, foxes, eagles (and all sorts of other birds), rabbits, fishes, goats.
We currently don't have them in game...

The Statement

...and we would like to have them in game.

The Problem

'Organic' objects are expensive in both money and time. They are much more complex, needs rigging, animations, extra sounds, extra collision maps and some AI. But we can probably squeeze them into our budget. The real problem is something else...
...You wouldn't be able to interact with them.
They would run around quickly or in distance, escape when you are near. Pure decoration. Why?

Because the first thing people would do is to try and run over them lol. Nah, really - I've been there, trust me. The temptation is just to strong, the Dark Side has cookies and all that. And when the player hits those animals - the animals should bleed. Otherwise our biggest feature 'realism' is becoming a joke.

But when you kill them - then they need to bleed and well - die. o.o

And guess what happens with games that includes optional animal brutality and blood? Their reach is being limited. Suddenly the game stops being 'All-Ages'.
Just because you can turn that wild, fluffy bunny into a pancake. And we don't want that.

The Solution

Having animals but keeping them purely as decoration. So the game world feels more real and alive. But you won't be able to touch those Happy Tree Friends.

The Question

a) Is that ok with you guys?
b) how bad do you want animals in game?
c) will it be fine if they are 'just there'- without an option for you to interact with them?

I really want to avoid 'Alaskan' rabbit hunting... thing

Ready, set - go!
Voice your opinion!

Edited by: IceTorchInteractive