MMO Javascript

The Minipets Database Area

Click here to access the Database proper.

Welcome to the Pet Battle Database Area.


Q: What is the Pet Battle Database?

As soon as Blizzard announced the concept of Pet Battles, I knew I'd want somewhere to reference quickly and easily, considering at least 500 different pets were up for grabs. Hence the idea of the database was born: an alphabetical list of all the minipets available in game (and a few that didn't make it including Jacob the Test Seagull, who I hope one day might make a return.) This is not meant as competition to sites like Warcraft Pets (see below), you cannot keep a list of what pets you need to collect, it is simply a list of every pet and where to find it (and if needed, details on whether that pet can be traded) Consider it an accompaniment to your in-game Pet Journal.


Q: Who created the Pet Battle Database?

I've done the data entry part (and am rather glad it's mostly done, see below), but this would be nothing if I didn't have the database framework to start with. That comes courtesy of the brilliant and talented Andy Farrell (no, not the rugby one ^^)  who has made the code for this endeavour available for use on his website, caerphoto.com Without him, frankly, none of this would have come to pass and I owe him a debt of gratitude I suspect I will never adequately find a way to thank him for. he's testament to the brilliant Warcraft community I interact with daily via Twitter, and I'd like to thank him for putting up with many e-mails and generally stupid questions since this endeavour began in May 2012.


Q: How accurate is the information in the Database?

When Blizzard update, I'll update, simple as that, which means as of writing this page (September 6th, 2012) the database reflects the information available in Patch 5.0.4. As soon as Pandaria goes live on the 24th I'll be capturing pets and making sure any information that changes is reflected in the database as I go along.

Needless to say, as long as Blizzard continue to update Warcraft, this database will function.


Q: Both Wowhead and WarcraftPets have perfectly serviceable databases you could use to track pet data: why did you feel the need to make one of your own?

My husband asked this question fairly early on in my reasoning process, and my reply remains the same now as it did then: I wanted to make a particular kind of list. I've lost count of the number of times I've been asked by Guildies 'Do you know how I get pet X?' and I found myself wanting something I could customise to my personal level of detail. This means, over time, I am likely to do my own guides on locating some of the harder 'vanity' pets, but that current list is secondary to the enormous amount of new data I was presented with once the feature went live on beta. I wanted a way to put that all in one simple alphabetical list, with a way to pass on to other people BEFORE THE GAME WENT LIVE where to find the Mini Pets I know I want to hunt down as quickly and efficiently as possible. I could have just kept all this information to myself, but it occurred to me that if I wanted to do this, other people would too.

Hence the Database was formed.


Q: Can I add data to the Database?

If you think there's anything missing, stuff I could add, or any mistakes (especially spelling, I'm dreadful) PLEASE let me know and I'll be happy to go amend/correct. I'm hoping this is a resource that will become popular and that it functions in a way that other people find easy to use. I'm also going to need to track down people with the rarer minipets for the photographs, so if you're lucky enough to own a Golden Pig or any of the other harder to find critters, please feel free to e-mail me.

Q: Do you intend to add any more features/functionality to the Database?

In time I hope to provide a map of Azeroth with pet critter levels (so you can plan the best path to level yourself) and a list of Master Battle Trainers, with locations and which pets they will send out to battle. I'll be doing that 'live' once Pandaria drops, so watch for updates on the Database as the Expansion unfolds.

There is the possibility of extra filtering options to search by type, rarity and source in the future, but that's Andy's job and as he's doing this for nothing I'm not about to push him too hard :D

==

This page is likely to be updated a fair bit in the next few weeks, so please remember to check back often!

2 comments:

Minimac said...

But it is blank! Needs moar pets :D

lometa said...

I still haven't gotten into the pet battles yet and when I read this on wow_ladies lj, I thought you might want to add it to your tool kit.
"Databank of Battle Pet Abilities - RAW"
http://wow-ladies.livejournal.com/16276314.html

There's a link to a Google spread sheet that looks very well done :)