Insaniquarium
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| Insaniquarium | |
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| Developer(s) | Flying Bear Entertainment |
| Publisher(s) | PopCap Games |
| Distributor(s) | Various |
| Designer(s) | George Fan |
| Engine | PopCap Games Framework |
| Version | 1.1 (2007) |
| Platform(s) | Insaniquarium: Java Insaniquarium Deluxe: Palm OS, PocketPC[1] Windows |
| Release date | September 1, 2004 |
| Genre(s) | Puzzle and Virtual pets |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Everyone |
| Media | CD |
| System requirements | OS: Win 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista. Memory: 128 MB RAM. DirectX: 7.0. Processor: Pentium II, 350 MHz or faster. |
| Input methods | Keyboard, Mouse |
Insaniquarium is a computer game created by Flying Bear Entertainment and PopCap Games.
Insaniquarium Deluxe features enhanced graphics, new pets, new modes of gameplay, and a new type of currency called "shells". Shells are collected as the game progresses, and they can be used to create a custom Insaniquarium screen saver, to buy bonus pets or to increase the number of pets allowed in each tank.
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[edit] Gameplay
Players must manage a tank of guppies and other aquatic creatures, each stage begins with two guppies in the tank.[2] Guppies and other fish drop money, which can be collected by the player and used to purchase fish food and upgrades, such as more filling food and powerful lasers to repel attackers.[3] Each creature must be kept alive by feeding, whether through fish food bought by the player or other species of fish in the tank. In addition to feeding fish, the player must protect the fish from aliens that periodically enter the tank and attempt to eat the fish. The aliens must be clicked on repeatedly with the mouse pointer in order to defeat them.[4] The deluxe version of Insaniquarium contains eight different aliens, but in the original Java version there are four.
Insaniquarium can be played in Adventure, Time Trial, or Challenge mode. In adventure mode, a player advances through four tanks and Each tank has five levels.
Time Trial mode restricts the player to completing the first tank in five minutes for the first tank and ten minutes for the three subsequent tanks. Egg pieces no longer count towards finishing a level, but instead add a random pet into the tank. Each piece cost doubles the previous one, with the first shell starting at $100. The goal of the Time Trial mode is to make as much money as possible. Challenge mode is similar to Adventure mode, but the cost of each item on the board rises 1% for every five seconds of game time. Buying a shell piece resets the cost of all of the items except for other shell pieces. The difficulty and number of aliens allowed in the tank also rise as time progresses. Unlike in the adventure mode, after five minutes all purchase options are open so that there is no need to purchase specific upgrades or special fish to be able to buy other items or egg shell pieces.
[edit] Pets
There are 24 pets in the Deluxe version of Insaniquarium, four of which are bonus pets. In the original Java version of the game there were only 10 pets (they are listed first below), with a random regular pet being unlocked each time a level was completed. In the Deluxe version the pets are unlocked in the order given below. Brinkley, Nostradamus, Stanley, and Walter are bonus pets and can be obtained only after earning enough shells.
[edit] Development
The first version of the game, developed by Flying Bear Entertainment, is Java-based and available as a free online game.[5] During development a member of the team purchased a goldfish and examined its movements and behaviour.[6] Shortly after, a PDA version was released. The latest version, Insaniquarium Deluxe, was released in September 2004 for PC.
[edit] Reception
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Insaniquarium was awarded "Innovation In Game Design" in the 2002 Independent Games Festival by the Game Developers Conference.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Insaniquarium. PC Magazine (2004-04-06). Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
- ^ Rupert, Samantha (2006-05-30). Insaniquarium Deluxe Review (PC). gamedaily.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
- ^ a b Bibby, Jay (2004-06-04). Insaniquarium. Jay Is Games. Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
- ^ Palley, Steve (2005-08-26). PC Insaniquarium Deluxe Review. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
- ^ Sikora, Drew. Interview with Flying Bear Entertainment. GameDev.net. Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
- ^ McConnaughy, Tim. IGF:Insaniquarium. GameSpy. Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
