I've put the link in my signature but I haven't actually ever posted about this yet, so I thought I'd just put this out there to highlight it for anyone who might like to use my PZ planning spreadsheet, aka Villanelle's Planet Zoo Data Chest! Just updated for the Oceania pack.
I've been playing since launch and I found myself scribbling down the same notes again and again, so I started making a spreadsheet to speed things up. Then - it grew - and I thought I'd turn it into something shareable for anyone else who likes an easy reference to use while planning or adding to their zoos.
The best way to use it is to make your own copy so that you can use the filters and sort functions.
You can then search through all the habitat animals by regional origin, biome, habitat requirements, guest interaction, behaviours, sleeping pattern and so on:
Closer up:
It's then got a big ass compatibility chart! To make things easier, the next tab is a compatibility list that uses a formula to list just the species that will cohabitate peacefully and with matching terrain and foliage needs:
Use Ctrl+F to search for your target species and scroll down until you find it on the left, and it will give you a list of all the species it can cohabitate perfectly with:
I did my own testing to check which smaller carnivores can share habitats with larger / better defended herbivores. I'm continuously testing to improve this and I welcome and respond to feedback from anyone who finds anything different from their gameplay.
It's also got a population log and suggestion for a breeding program. I made these when I was setting up a gold star breeding zoo for my franchise zoos so I could more easily keep track of what I needed to get from the trade centre. All of this can be done in-game...but I find the UI difficult to navigate when I am constantly clicking between the trade centre and the animal tab, and dealing with issues, so I like to have this open on my tablet while I play for QoL.
Again if you make your own copy you can check the boxes and make notes of whether you need males, females and what generation you are up to with each species (to avoid inbreeding).
Just for reference there is a tab with the taxonomy for each species in game:
Something that I made for myself early on that I thought others might enjoy is a brainstorm of the different realistic zones that could be created for each region. Just a source of fun or inspiration for anyone who likes thinking about zoning their zoos.
And finally a printable to-scale map. Currently I've only got one for the largest 'standard' size maps but I may add the others now that there is more variety. It has cut-outable pieces that are to scale with the habitat sizes needed for different species to help you visualise where you want to place your main habitats, and even your power grid.
I keep adding to it and updating it (albeit sometimes a little slowly) with each DLC so check back after a new game update or DLC drop. I put the date it was last updated on the intro page so you'll know if it's up to date and can make a fresh copy.
Hope some of you out there like this sort of thing and enjoy colour-coding! It's been hours of ADD-hyperfocused work and I'm a stickler for detail and accuracy. It's not for everyone by any means but when I go in to edit I always see a few people using it (anonymously) so I know there are a few other spreadsheet lovers out there!
And yes, there have been other spreadsheets and planners out there and I did contact BBarbeito to ask for his blessing in creating my own sheet and compatibility chart and he was very kind and encouraging. I also worked with the creator of the beautiful Planet Zoo Habitat Builder briefly but the creator is no longer updating it and the zoopedia now includes the habitat builder, so it seems no longer as necessary as it once definitely was. Overall I've aimed to make my sheet as user-friendly as possible, accurate and up to date. Too much info is a bit overwhelming in my opinion so mine is a little less detailed, no data mining here. Not meaning to sales pitch it or anything! These are all complimentary resources and none of them are for profit, they are all a labour of love and presumably stemmed from each of our own planning desires.
Big love and happy zookeeping
I've been playing since launch and I found myself scribbling down the same notes again and again, so I started making a spreadsheet to speed things up. Then - it grew - and I thought I'd turn it into something shareable for anyone else who likes an easy reference to use while planning or adding to their zoos.
The best way to use it is to make your own copy so that you can use the filters and sort functions.
You can then search through all the habitat animals by regional origin, biome, habitat requirements, guest interaction, behaviours, sleeping pattern and so on:
Closer up:
It's then got a big ass compatibility chart! To make things easier, the next tab is a compatibility list that uses a formula to list just the species that will cohabitate peacefully and with matching terrain and foliage needs:
Use Ctrl+F to search for your target species and scroll down until you find it on the left, and it will give you a list of all the species it can cohabitate perfectly with:
I did my own testing to check which smaller carnivores can share habitats with larger / better defended herbivores. I'm continuously testing to improve this and I welcome and respond to feedback from anyone who finds anything different from their gameplay.
It's also got a population log and suggestion for a breeding program. I made these when I was setting up a gold star breeding zoo for my franchise zoos so I could more easily keep track of what I needed to get from the trade centre. All of this can be done in-game...but I find the UI difficult to navigate when I am constantly clicking between the trade centre and the animal tab, and dealing with issues, so I like to have this open on my tablet while I play for QoL.
Again if you make your own copy you can check the boxes and make notes of whether you need males, females and what generation you are up to with each species (to avoid inbreeding).
Just for reference there is a tab with the taxonomy for each species in game:
Something that I made for myself early on that I thought others might enjoy is a brainstorm of the different realistic zones that could be created for each region. Just a source of fun or inspiration for anyone who likes thinking about zoning their zoos.
And finally a printable to-scale map. Currently I've only got one for the largest 'standard' size maps but I may add the others now that there is more variety. It has cut-outable pieces that are to scale with the habitat sizes needed for different species to help you visualise where you want to place your main habitats, and even your power grid.
I keep adding to it and updating it (albeit sometimes a little slowly) with each DLC so check back after a new game update or DLC drop. I put the date it was last updated on the intro page so you'll know if it's up to date and can make a fresh copy.
Hope some of you out there like this sort of thing and enjoy colour-coding! It's been hours of ADD-hyperfocused work and I'm a stickler for detail and accuracy. It's not for everyone by any means but when I go in to edit I always see a few people using it (anonymously) so I know there are a few other spreadsheet lovers out there!
And yes, there have been other spreadsheets and planners out there and I did contact BBarbeito to ask for his blessing in creating my own sheet and compatibility chart and he was very kind and encouraging. I also worked with the creator of the beautiful Planet Zoo Habitat Builder briefly but the creator is no longer updating it and the zoopedia now includes the habitat builder, so it seems no longer as necessary as it once definitely was. Overall I've aimed to make my sheet as user-friendly as possible, accurate and up to date. Too much info is a bit overwhelming in my opinion so mine is a little less detailed, no data mining here. Not meaning to sales pitch it or anything! These are all complimentary resources and none of them are for profit, they are all a labour of love and presumably stemmed from each of our own planning desires.
Big love and happy zookeeping
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