Aside from the money cheat (which destroys fences), I'm interesting in hearing ideas people have to make money. Here are a few I have found effective:
1) Cafes - these buildings make phenomenal profits for my zoo, though visitation to the food court drops drastically when a cafe is placed nearby. I raise the prices of both my cafe and food court and while guests may complain, if there's no alternative they'll still eat there.
2) Irresponsible breeding - traditionally I play the game as if it is an accredited zoo i.e. I don't allow inbreeding. If I am trying to make money, this goes out the window... I have a large community of chimpanzees (10 pairs) and as soon as an infant is born, it is sold for an easy $1,200. A community this size will provide at least two to three infants a month. The warthogs have an interesting breeding phenomenon, newly matured adults are highly likely to breed, whereas a mature pair will be slow to produce subsequent litters. I have a large group of around 20 and when the group exceeds the number of shelters, I sell adults rather than offspring.
3) Breed animals who reproduce quickly or produce two or more offspring at a time and then sell them and the father. Zoo Tycoon 1 regulates breeding through the father i.e. a male cannot breed again until his offspring have matured. A female however, will instantly breed again if provided with a new mate. For example, I have a herd of 5 female hippopotamus. These females are provided with 4 males (4 x $1200). When 3 offspring have been born (3/4 males have bred), the 3 offspring plus the 4 males are sold for $900 each (7 x $900). Then the process is immediately repeated. Bonus for animals that have two or more offspring (e.g. lions, warthog).
4) Sell animals that are about to die of old age. I had a pride of lions, which live an average of 2 ZT years. I founded the pride in Jan 01 and two years later in Jan 03, when one of my six original lions died of old age, I quickly sold the remaining 5 founders. Their latest cubs formed the new pride. Animals like hoofstock are sold continously i.e. I have a breeding herd of five zebra mares, I keep all female offspring and sell the older mares when there are at least five females younger than them.
5) Only keep animals likely to breed well. Giant pandas and jaguars are hard to breed with the intention of making a profit. Giraffe are also a challenge.
1) Cafes - these buildings make phenomenal profits for my zoo, though visitation to the food court drops drastically when a cafe is placed nearby. I raise the prices of both my cafe and food court and while guests may complain, if there's no alternative they'll still eat there.
2) Irresponsible breeding - traditionally I play the game as if it is an accredited zoo i.e. I don't allow inbreeding. If I am trying to make money, this goes out the window... I have a large community of chimpanzees (10 pairs) and as soon as an infant is born, it is sold for an easy $1,200. A community this size will provide at least two to three infants a month. The warthogs have an interesting breeding phenomenon, newly matured adults are highly likely to breed, whereas a mature pair will be slow to produce subsequent litters. I have a large group of around 20 and when the group exceeds the number of shelters, I sell adults rather than offspring.
3) Breed animals who reproduce quickly or produce two or more offspring at a time and then sell them and the father. Zoo Tycoon 1 regulates breeding through the father i.e. a male cannot breed again until his offspring have matured. A female however, will instantly breed again if provided with a new mate. For example, I have a herd of 5 female hippopotamus. These females are provided with 4 males (4 x $1200). When 3 offspring have been born (3/4 males have bred), the 3 offspring plus the 4 males are sold for $900 each (7 x $900). Then the process is immediately repeated. Bonus for animals that have two or more offspring (e.g. lions, warthog).
4) Sell animals that are about to die of old age. I had a pride of lions, which live an average of 2 ZT years. I founded the pride in Jan 01 and two years later in Jan 03, when one of my six original lions died of old age, I quickly sold the remaining 5 founders. Their latest cubs formed the new pride. Animals like hoofstock are sold continously i.e. I have a breeding herd of five zebra mares, I keep all female offspring and sell the older mares when there are at least five females younger than them.
5) Only keep animals likely to breed well. Giant pandas and jaguars are hard to breed with the intention of making a profit. Giraffe are also a challenge.
