Insaniquarium

Flying Bear Entertainment

Company type	Private
Industry	Video game development
Founded	July 2001 (2001-07)
Founder	George Fan
Key people	George Fan (director, designer, programmer)
Products	Insaniquarium

Insaniquarium is a virtual pet simulation game released in 2001, developed by Flying Bear Entertainment under the direction of George Fan, and published by PopCap Games along with MumboJumbo. Originally launched as a Java-based browser game, it was made available for download through PopCap in 2004 and subsequently adapted for mobile platforms in 2006 and 2008 by Glu Mobile and Astraware respectively. The gameplay centers on managing an aquarium while simultaneously defending it against extraterrestrial threats.

Primarily designed and coded by George Fan, the title was created with the intention of competing in the Independent Games Festival. After securing a finalist position, Fan collaborated with PopCap to distribute a downloadable edition. Insaniquarium enjoyed commercial success, earning acclaim for its engaging and dynamic gameplay, and had amassed 20 million downloads by April 2006.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Insaniquarium integrates components from action, strategy, and puzzle genres. Players begin with a tank containing two guppies and gather coins dropped by their fish to purchase food, enhancements, and new aquatic species. Different fish have distinct dietary needs; for instance, guppies consume store-bought fish food, whereas carnivorous fish feed on smaller guppies. Players must also defend their aquarium from alien invaders by rapidly clicking to eliminate them. If all fish perish, the current level must be restarted.

There are four distinct modes available: Adventure, Time Trial, Challenge, and Virtual Tank. Adventure mode guides players through four aquariums, each consisting of five levels, where they earn currency to acquire egg fragments that unlock additional pets offering gameplay benefits. During bonus rounds, players can collect shells to improve their Virtual Tank. Completing Adventure mode unlocks Time Trial mode, which challenges players to maximize their earnings within set time constraints per tank. Challenge mode becomes accessible after Adventure completion and features progressively tougher waves of alien enemies. The Virtual Tank functions as a customizable aquarium and can also serve as a screensaver.

Development

While employed at the online gaming site Prizegames.com, George Fan explored Java games and discovered PopCap Games’ titles, which he regarded as superior in quality. He subsequently left Prizegames.com to pursue freelance game design work. In July 2001, Fan commenced development on Insaniquarium, initially titled FishTank, using Java technology. Collaborating with artist Tysen Henderson for background art, they established Flying Bear Entertainment to produce the game.

Motivated by indie games showcased at the 2001 Game Developers Conference, Fan aimed to submit Insaniquarium to the Independent Games Festival. His objective was to develop a title that was easy to learn yet offered meaningful depth. The first prototype focused on feeding fish mechanics before expanding to include upgrade systems inspired by another Java game of unknown origin. Development of this prototype took approximately one month before submission in 2002.

Fan received news of Insaniquarium becoming a festival finalist while at an internet café in Hawaii, prompting enthusiastic celebration. The game won the award for "Innovation in Game Design." At GDC 2002, Fan connected with PopCap Games who agreed to support publishing the downloadable version of Insaniquarium. Although Fan had accepted a position at Blizzard Entertainment, Blizzard permitted him to complete this project beforehand. Over the following two years, PopCap assisted development and integrated their Framework engine into the game. Fan contributed extensively across design, programming, concept art creation, and some music composition duties.

Release

Flying Bear Entertainment first introduced Insaniquarium as a complimentary, Java-based web game on August 31, 2001, with periodic updates throughout the next year. Following the Game Developers Conference in 2002, PopCap Games took on publishing duties and launched a second iteration on their platform on July 29, 2002. The commercial, downloadable version titled Insaniquarium Deluxe arrived in 2004 for Microsoft Windows, subsequently becoming available for Mac OS X.

In early 2004, the game was adapted for personal digital assistants (PDAs). By December 2005, Glu Mobile revealed plans for a mobile phone adaptation, which debuted in the United States on April 13, 2006, and later reached European markets on June 29, 2006. Astraware extended the game's availability further by releasing editions compatible with Palm OS and Windows Mobile smartphones in August 2008.

Reception

Insaniquarium achieved notable commercial success; according to IGN, it had been downloaded over 18 million times on PC by December 2005. By April 2006, Pocket Gamer reported that total downloads had climbed to 20 million.

From a critical standpoint, the game was well-received. Jay Bibby of Jay is Games characterized it as "cute, strange and addictive." Carol Mangnis of PCMag emphasized its captivating combination of enjoyment and tension within aquarium management. Looking back, Jordan Devore from Destructoid commended its enduring charm. Jody Macgregor of PC Gamer ranked it among top underwater-themed titles due to its successful gamification of fish tank ownership.

The brisk pace of gameplay earned frequent accolades. Steve Palley from GameSpot described it as "a fast-clicking experience... crazier than your typical real-life aquarium." Samantha Rupert of GameDaily pointed out that the game's challenges evolving every five levels helped maintain player interest. Stuart Dredge at Pocket Gamer recognized the addition of new resources but noted players might lose enthusiasm sooner than anticipated. Dieter Bohn from Windows Central recommended it as a casual way to unwind after work.

The visual presentation also attracted positive remarks. Levi Buchanan of IGN portrayed the aquariums as "almost fiercely colorful," with guppies and ultravores eliciting distinct emotional responses. Joel Brodie of Gamezebo praised both the graphical style and character expressiveness. Bohn found the visuals appealing and appreciated the intuitive user interface.

External links

• Insaniquarium official site
• Flying Bear Entertainment