Insaniquarium

Insaniquarium, a virtual pets simulator video game released in 2001, was developed by Flying Bear Entertainment and later published by PopCap Games and MumboJumbo. Originally a web-based Java game, it became downloadable in 2004 through PopCap Games and was later adapted for mobile devices by Glu Mobile in 2006 and Astraware in 2008. The game tasks players with maintaining a tank full of fish while defending it against alien attacks.
George Fan, the main designer and programmer behind Insaniquarium, created the game under his company Flying Bear Entertainment with the goal of showcasing it at the Independent Games Festival. Upon reaching the finals, Fan collaborated with PopCap Games to make the game available for download. Insaniquarium received positive feedback for its fast-paced gameplay and had been downloaded 20 million times by April 2006.
== Gameplay ==
Insaniquarium is a virtual pet simulator that combines elements from action, strategy, and puzzle video games. The player is tasked with managing a tank filled with guppies and other aquatic creatures, starting each stage with two guppies in the tank. As the guppies and other fish drop coins, the player can collect them to purchase fish food, upgrades, and more aquatic creatures. Upgrades include food that can keep the fish full for longer periods, as well as laser upgrades to fend off attackers. If the coins reach the bottom of the tank, they will disappear. Each creature must be kept alive by feeding them, with the feeding method varying depending on the type of fish. For instance, guppies eat fish food purchased by the player, while carnivores feed on smaller guppies. In addition to feeding the fish, the player must also protect them from aliens that enter the tank periodically and try to eat them. To defeat the aliens, the player must click on them repeatedly with the mouse pointer.
Insaniquarium offers players the option to engage in four different modes: Adventure, Time Trial, Challenge, or Virtual Tank. In Adventure mode, players progress through a series of four tanks, each containing five levels. To advance to the next level, players must accumulate enough money to purchase three egg pieces. At the conclusion of each level within a tank, players are rewarded with a new pet hatched from the egg. Throughout Adventure mode, a total of 28 pets can be obtained, but players are required to select three pets for each level. These pets provide assistance to players during gameplay. Additionally, there are bonus rounds where players can gather shells, which can then be used to add fish to the Virtual Tank.
Upon completion of a tank in Adventure mode, it will become accessible in Time Trial mode. In Time Trial mode, players are required to finish the first tank within five minutes, and the subsequent three tanks within ten minutes each. The main objective of each level is to gather as much money as possible before the time limit expires. Challenge mode becomes available once Adventure mode is successfully completed, with four levels unlocking in a sequential manner. Players must combat increasingly challenging waves of aliens, tend to their fishes, and unlock pieces to the egg. Shells are awarded to players in both modes. The Virtual Tank serves as the player's personal aquarium where their fish can be cared for, and it can also function as a screensaver.
== Development ==
George Fan, while working at Prizegames.com, conducted research on Java games and stumbled upon PopCap Games' website, which he found to be superior to other Java games. Subsequently, Fan left Prizegames.com to pursue a career as a freelance video game designer. In July 2001, he began developing Insaniquarium, initially known as FishTank, using Java. Fan collaborated with his colleague, artist Tysen Henderson, who created the backgrounds, and together they established Flying Bear Entertainment to work on the game.
Fan's primary goal in creating Insaniquarium was to participate in the Independent Games Festival, a decision he made after attending Game Developers Conference 2001 (GDC 2001) with Henderson and being inspired by the independent games showcased there. His vision was to design a game that was easy to pick up but offered deeper gameplay as well. The initial prototype involved feeding fish by clicking on them when necessary, but Fan decided to enhance the game by incorporating elements from a Java game that allowed players to purchase upgrades with resources. Insaniquarium was submitted to the festival in 2002, with the prototype taking a month to develop.
Fan, who was at a cyber cafe in Hawaii, received the news that Insaniquarium had become a finalist in the festival. His reaction was one of pure joy, as he openly screamed in excitement. Insaniquarium went on to win the festival's category for "Innovation in Game Design". Fan reached out to PopCap Games to inquire if they would be attending GDC 2002. They arranged to meet at Fan's finalist booth during the conference. PopCap Games offered assistance in publishing Insaniquarium as a downloadable game, but did not hire Fan as he had already accepted a job offer from Blizzard Entertainment. Blizzard allowed Fan to work on Insaniquarium before officially joining their team, while PopCap Games provided support for the game over the next two years. With the help of PopCap Games, Insaniquarium utilized the PopCap Games Framework as its engine. Fan took on the responsibility of designing and programming the majority of the game, as well as creating its concept art and composing some of the music.
Insaniquarium! Deluxe/Beta Elements
== Release ==
Flying Bear Entertainment initially launched Insaniquarium as a free, Java-based online game on their website on August 31, 2001. The game underwent updates in the following year. After GDC 2002, PopCap Games took over as the publisher for Insaniquarium. The second version was made available on PopCap Games's official website on July 29, 2002. The paid downloadable version, known as Insaniquarium Deluxe, was introduced in 2004.
In early 2004, around April, Insaniquarium was made accessible on personal digital assistants (PDAs). Glu Mobile revealed in December 2005 that they were adapting Insaniquarium for mobile phones. The mobile version of Insaniquarium was launched on April 13, 2006, in the United States, and on June 29, 2006, in Europe. Astraware later released the game on Palm OS smartphones and Windows Mobile phones on August 6, 2008.
== Trivia ==
== Gallery ==
Insaniquarium! Deluxe/Gallery
== Sounds ==
Insaniquarium! Deluxe/Sounds
Category:Insaniquarium!
Category:PopCap Games
Category:2003
Category:Deluxe Games
Category:Virtual Pet Games
Category:Simulator Games
Category:Steam Games
Category:February
Category:Video Games
Category:2001
Category:MumboJumbo
Category:Flying Bear Entertainment