Insaniquarium for Palm OS Insaniquarium Insaniquarium version 1.2 Table of Contents I. Author and Contact Info II. Version History III. Introduction IV. Gameplay V. Controls VI. In play menu options VII. Guppies, items, and other sea creatures VIII. Buttons/Power-ups/upgrades IX. Helper Pets X. Aliens XI. Hints/Tips READ THE WARNINGS WHERE APPLICABLE!!! XII. Final Notes ====================================================== I. Author and Contact Info Only contact me for: -If something about this FAQ is confusing -If some fact or information seems wrong or missing -If you have some strategies, etc. of interest do >NOT< contact me for: -asking for version updates. The only 2 cases where I'll update are: any corrections I feel are necessary (e.g. I have had a lot of incorrect information or am missing a lot of that) If I'm able to find the time to make corrections. Otherwise, consider this a final version -requests for the game files or documentation. Official documentation is available online, as well as the downloads for all variations of the game -for information already on this FAQ. Depending on my mood, I may tell you, or just say "rtfs" (read the friggin' spec) If you do wish to contact me, my most permanent, current email address is: (this is to keep my new inbox from getting spammed via spambots) alpha - yankee - alpha - oscar - at - papa - echo - echo - papa - echo - romeo - sierra - dot - oscar - romeo - golf To decipher this, simply read the first letter off each word except for the numbers and the punctuation. This is "military phonetics" or "aeronautical phonetics" in case you're wondering. Okay, not a 100% per se, I don't know if that's what they really use for 'o', 'p', and 'r'. but I'm sure you get the picture. ====================================================== II. Version History v1.2 -added info on the pet Brinkley the Elephant -added a hints/tips section v1.0 -1st submission -descriptions of items, buttons, aliens, pets, and fish ====================================================== III. Introduction NOTE: this FAQ will cover very little, if at all in the way of what's already provided in the hands-on tutorial and instructions description (tap... menu - -> options --> instructions). Another game developed by Astraware in association with concept by Popcap. Remember those Tamagachi games years ago? I sure don't, as I've never played them, but this game is supposed to be similar in the regard that you're caring for virtual animals by feeding and defending them. Furthermore, there's also resource management. You collect money and in turn, that money is used to buy food and upgrades to help you maintain your fish. There are also helper pets that, well, help you throughout the game. On the contrary, aliens will appear (yes, aliens) every once in a while that you must defend against, lest they wreak havoc on your underwater utopia. I suppose this was their basis for the game name Insaniquarium ...... = insanity + aquarium. Finally, this is also an action game in the sense that you need quick reflexes (that is to say quick and accurate tapping skills) to progress This game is available only in color, but comes in lo-res (160x160), hi-res (320x320) or widescreen resolution (480x320). Choose the best one your handheld can support, or a "lesser" version if you wanna conserve memory on your unit. There are also variations with the sound. Either your handheld supports enhanced sound through your handheld's polyphonic speaker(s) (Astraware lists all PalmOS handhelds that support enhanced sound on their website) or the blander sounding system "chirps" and "beeps". This FAQ does NOT contain walkthroughs, or strategies/tips!!! Surely someone who's better than I am (shouldn't be too hard) can offer some ideas on these. ====================================================== IV. Gameplay Pretty much described above in the Introduction section. There are 3 modes of play. Quest mode - play ten levels, with the completion of each level yielding a new helper pet at your disposal. The big point of this mode is the tutorial getting you acquainted with gameplay, your guppies, helper pets, aliens, the 2 different tank environments, and the buttons on the top of the screen through onscreen notifications. Time mode - get as much money in a certain amount of time. You have your choice of one of the 2 different tank environments. Challenge mode - Aliens come in wave after wave. Each time they come, not only are they get meaner, but also, the fish starve quicker, the upgrades inflate in price. Your score in this mode is determined by your actual score (the separate score field), and NOT the amount of money you have. Survive as long as you can while racking in the points. ====================================================== V. Controls All stylus. Tap on buttons or menu listings to select them. Tap the aquarium area to drop food pellets. Tapping on aliens automatically switches to your laser to zap aliens. ====================================================== VI. In play menu options These should be self explanatory. Try the demonstration mode to see what the game's like. *>DEFINITELY READ THE INSTRUCTIONS TO UNDERSTAND THE GAME<*. It may be a lot to take in at first, but bit by bit, especially alongside with the Quest mode will help out a lot. ====================================================== VII. Guppies, items, and other sea creatures NOTE: all guppies below in the first group will go from their original color (for normal guppies, that's orange) to green when hungry, and from that to blue with an 'X' over their eyes when starving (near death) Small guppy (aka baby guppy) - feeds carnivores or grows into a medium guppy. Bought outright or birthed from Mamma Fish Medium guppy - drops silver coins. Grows from small guppy Large guppy - drops gold coins. Grows from medium guppy. Golden guppy - drops stars. 'Mutated' by feeding a large guppy a potion Elder guppy - drops diamonds. Grows from large guppy with enough food and time. Blue in color, but NOT to be confused with a near death, starving guppy (with an 'X' for its eyes) Silver coin - $15 - dropped by medium guppies Gold coin - $35 - dropped by large guppies or Skeleton Fish Star - $40 - dropped by golden guppies, but can be converted into diamonds if fed to a star catcher Diamonds - $200 - dropped by elder fish, spit out by star-fed star catchers, or dropped from defeated aliens Pearl - $200 - only comes from the Clam Carnivore - drops diamonds. Bought, and eats only small guppies Star catcher - converts stars into diamonds, which they spit high into the air (err water) and come back down before disappearing. Since stars are its food, an unfed star catcher will die just like any fish, but will also refuse to eat stars if it's already full. Because of this, find the right balance of star catchers to falling stars ratio so that u don't starve and kill some of your star catchers by not having too many of them and not enough food for them or leave unconverted stars behind, by not having too much food and not enough of them. ====================================================== VIII. Helper Pets Unlike the other 2 modes where you start off with all helper pets, in quest mode, you'll gain access to use of helper pets as you complete the levels. The ordering here is by category as opposed to the order its listed in the game ----Nurturing helper pets---- --------- Zorf the SEA HORSE - regularly throws out food pellets to feed your fish +makes your job lower maintenance (less tapping required) +saves money, as pellets are free, but yours are $5 each +can have 2 pellets on the screen at a time +more nourishing than your starting food pellet type (level 2 of 3) -doesn't aim, just randomly spits it out, which may not save a starving guppy on the other side of the tank -on levels where you need to feed potions to make golden guppies (tank type #2), sometimes the Sea Horse feeds it before you can get a chance to feed a potion to it. Comments: good for beginners. Good throughout the quests, even for tank #2 on average. On harder and hectic levels, you can't count on him doing keeping everyone fed, so at that point, you pretty much gotta step up and do everything yourself and have him back you up if you accidentally miss something. --------- Prego the MAMMA FISH - gives birth to small guppies about once every 30 seconds +small guppies are the building blocks of the game +potentially $100 saved per small guppy +good support in addition to adding guppies yourself -doesn't produce them fast enough in faster paced games to make a significant difference Comments: I personally don't like to use her much. She'll be more useful in challenge mode where her free small guppies produced are still FREE and unaffected by the constant 10% price increases. --------- Wadsworth the WHALE - protects your smaller guppies from aliens +small AND medium sized guppies are protected +protects ALL of those guppies on the screen as well (think of how a black hole sucks in everything. Now picture a whale of a black hole and guppies of light and other space debris. Neat eh?) +they're completely protected, as in invulnerable -doesn't protect elder, golden guppies, carnivores, and star catchers. The most expensive, time consuming to make, and valuable of all your fish Comments: On levels where aliens show up in pairs, especially the flying ones, the Whale may really earn his keep. If you got a full house of small and medium guppies, then this'll definitely save some fish. But since he don't protect the larger fish, I'm don't use him much. The big fish are what carry you in the late game, and getting another helper pet instead will keep them alive longer. This will let you buy laser upgrades quicker, which in turn, will also protect ALL your fish as well by allowing you to kill aliens quicker. ----Attacking helper pets---- --------- Itchy the SWORDFISH - attacks aliens +"airborne", as in can reach all parts of the aquarium -pecks those aliens rather slowly -although he inflicts damage on aliens, he's not good at containing them. Not good if an alien is about to make its way towards your prized fish Comments: Worthless on levels where only Gus shows up. He may dish out decent damage at first, but once you upgrade your laser, you can do much better in killing those aliens faster (by rapid tapping and sheer power of your upgrades), as well as keeping them away from your fish. --------- Rufus the FIDDLER CRAB - attacks aliens at the bottom of the tank +moves fast for a crab +has more power -can only attack aliens you force or lure to the bottom of the tank -doesn't seem THAT much more stronger than the Swordfish Comments: Same as Swordfish. Forcing aliens to the bottom isn't always possible, since there may already be fish there. I find the Swordfish more useful and even that isn't saying a lot. ----Revenue generating helper pets---- --------- Niko the CLAM - produces pearls every 45 seconds or so. +$200 pearls here and there +it's more of a one time deal. Get your 200 big ones now, and stop by later for more, rather than constantly tapping for the smaller change -no audio cue. Can miss it from time to time when you're busy with other tasks Comments: I think that Clam and Skel Fish produce that same amount of money given the same time period. It's a matter of preference of whether you'd care to click less for more money but risk missing a bigger basket or risk losing small change here and there from dropped gold coins you miss. --------- Vert the SKELETON FISH - drops gold coins regularly +just like a big guppy, but won't starve or get killed by aliens +throws out gold coins as often as a big guppy does -A LOT of extra tapping in the long run! -doesn't get a coin dropping boost from the Mermaid's songs -can be easy to miss his coins if he's hugging the bottom of the tank Comments: I prefer Skel Fish over Clam. I often find myself $35 - $300 short of buying the next button item, so having $35 right away, or $70 after a short time 2 gold coins (plus whatever else your other fish are dropping) is helpful, as opposed to waiting longer for $200, which may not be in time to upgrade your laser to fight aliens or buy that egg before prices increase. Otherwise, similar to the Clam's comments above. Pair him with Snail to have an automated "input/output" cycle running along. --------- Meryl the MERMAID - sings every 30 to 40 seconds. When she does all your fish drop coins faster for a short duration +ALL coin and star dropping fish* enjoy this benefit +actually sings! The audio melody (less melodious on non enhanced sound handhelds I presume) is your cue to scour the ocean floor and start rapid tapping your riches -Skel Fish and carnivores are the exceptions to "coin dropping fish" for the singing boost -not too lengthy of a duration. 3 to 5 coins are only dropped per fish Comments: The Mermaid effectively multiples output. Due to this reason, you'll reap maximum money by having LOTS of fish that are affected by the singing. Having only 5 coin guppies on the screen does NOT do this ability justice! Have dozens of fish will literally litter the floor with coins and give anyone a much needed raise on challenge and time modes. Pair her with SNAIL to cut down on some of your tapping. ----Coin catching helper pets---- --------- Stinky the SNAIL - crawls along the bottom and catches coins, diamonds, and stars for you +moves pretty quickly for a snail -still moves pretty slowly -can't always to count on him to get stuff, even if it's close by him -doesn't prioritize. He'll sometimes go for the smaller pile of 2 sides or the pile that he clearly won't make it to in time. -will sometimes collect a star before a star catcher gets the chance to convert it to a diamond Comments: Another personal preference choice. Since all money to be collected ends up on the bottom, he's a more sensible choice than Jellyfish if you want a coin collector. Pair him with Skeleton Fish or Mermaid to have an "input/output" cycle running along. He'll retreat into his shell when you're under siege, but then again, fish don't drop money when under alien duress. --------- Clyde the JELLYFISH - collects coins and other stuff for you +can go anywhere to collect them, as in he's not limited to the ground -moves pretty slowly for a jellyfish -doesn't seem any faster than the Snail -since most coins and other money items sink to the bottom, he's more inclined to miss them -like the Snail, will sometimes collect a star before a star catcher gets the chance to convert it to a diamond Comments: Same as above. But I prefer the Snail if I had to chose a collector ----HIDDEN BONUS pets---- --------- Brinkley the scuba diving ELEPHANT - eats food if not full and spits out a silver coin, gold coin, star, or diamond upon being fed +nice novelty/trophy pet +guaranteed net profit since food is only $5 but the smallest output is a silver coin at $15 +spits out money high up instead just dropping it down, giving you a better chance of not missing it +won't try to snatch food from others +like other helper pets won't starve -sometimes eats food (not to mention potions) that happen to be in the way that were meant for other creatures -he won't starve but he won't eat when full. There's a cool down period of when you won't be able to get money from him -haven't seen any diamonds come from him yet [If anyone has please email me with the game version and platform you're on and describe the conditions (e.g. mode of play, how much time and money you had as well as the environment, like A LOT of fish, or _these_ helper pets were being used. Thanks)] -DIFFICULT to unlock -doesn't do much else Comments: Treat him like a manual version of the revenue generating pets. He needs food for money which requires some effort on your part, but on the plus side, you'll be ready to catch your treat, unlike SKELETON FISH or CLAM who just spit out money without really informing you, thus possibly making you forgot to collect your due. The only thing really better about him over SKELETON FISH is that he shoots money upwards first, while you're more prone to miss coins coming from SKELETON FISH. Otherwise, the occasional silver coins you may get plus cost of food really offsets more money in favor of SKEL FISH. Furthermore, he also takes a lot of patience to unlock (see hints/tips section below). Interestingly enough, he also eats potions from Tank #2, but this of course isn't a good thing to do. You're losing out even if you get a diamond. --------- If >I< had to pick 3 for ALL situations in the game, my picks would be Sea Horse, Skeleton Fish, and Mermaid. Just my 2 cents. ====================================================== IX. Buttons/Power-ups/upgrades There are 6 buttons, with button 1 (b1) being the left most NOTEs: -In time trial mode, the "buy egg piece" button will not be there -Also, the prices listed are basic costs. The actual cost will vary in challenge mode ----Tank #1 (with the blue background)---- This appear once you have a medium guppy B1 - add guppy ($100) These appear once you have a large guppy B2 - upgrade food quality (up to 2 more levels) ($200 per level) B3 - upgrade food rate (up to 3 more levels) ($300 per level) B4 - add carnivore ($1000) These appear once you get a carnivore B5 - upgrade laser (up to 8 more levels) ($1000) B6 - buy egg piece (up to 3 more pieces) ($150 - $5000 per piece) Description B1 - the basic building block of your "insaniquarium". They either make money later on or feed other money makers right now. Also see guppy notes 2 sections above. B2 - I'd say get this ASAP. You'll save more money since 1) they grow up faster and 2) they go longer without food per feedings, saving you money both ways B3 - In quest mode, 2 - 3 at a time food pellets on the screen is enough. If facing Gus, then better to have at least 3 - 4, especially if he hangs around the top of the aquarium where its harder to keep constantly feeding him. In challenge mode where fish go hungry pretty swiftly, have at least 6 - 9 to facilitate multiple feedings. B4 - The "big guns" of this tank type. See carnivore notes 2 sections above B5 - If you're squaring off vs. multiple aliens (not counting Gus of course) or have a full aquarium, you'll want to have a stronger taser to be able to kill them off quicker to minimize the number of guppies, carnivores, and star catchers they kill. On challenge mode, the aliens get harder with every wave, so definitely put some levels into this, or else, be prepared to do some really rapid tapping. B6 - On quest mode and challenge mode, get 3 of them to finish the current level. Furthermore, on challenge mode, these are EVEN MORE expensive, but will act as score bonuses/multipliers, with higher multiplying values and bonuses for more pieces you have. ----Tank #2 (with the orange-red background)---- This appear once you have a medium guppy B1 - add guppy ($100) These appear once you have a large guppy B2 a/b - upgrade food / upgrade food rate (after all 'upgrade food' upgrades are completed) ($200 / $300) B3 - drop potion ($250 per potion) B4 - buy star catcher ($750) These appear once you get a star catcher B5 - upgrade laser ($1000) B6 - add egg piece ($750 - $10000) Description B1 - Same notes as mentioned for tank #1 above. B2a - I'd say get this ASAP as well, but with some cautions. You'll need to keep track of the fact that your large guppies will go longer before they will be willing to feed again, so that you can time your potion feedings accordingly. This can also be a hindrance (at first) because it gives you less windows of opportunities to stuff your large guppies with potions instead B2b - Same notes as mentioned for tank #1 above. B3 - tap it once, the money gets deducted from your budget immediately, and the next time you drop a food pellet, a potion will be dropped instead. Use it to turn a hungry large guppy into a golden guppy. BEWARE; feeding a potion to a small or medium guppy will kill it! B4 - The "big guns" of this tank type. See star catcher notes 2 sections above. B5 - Same notes as mentioned for tank #1 above. B6 - Same notes as mentioned for tank #1 above. ====================================================== X. Aliens: NOTE: aliens can only hurt guppies, carnivores, and star catchers. NOT helper pets Blue aliens - float around and destroy guppies that it comes into contact with Yellow aliens - like the blue alien, but takes more hits Gus (aka type 'G' alien) - they move rather slowly but also take out guppies on contact. Keep shoving a constant supply of food not only kills it quicker, but will ensure that it won't get a chance to eat other things (like guppies). Lure it away from your fish by dropping pellets away from your fish. Immune to your taser attack. Destructor (aka type 'D' alien) - tread along the ground fire missiles in waves of 3. The missiles move at a medium speed and once fired, must be shot down before they reach your guppies to save your them. Nice thing is that you'll know if a guppy is being targeted due to the targeting recticles that appear over them after the missiles are released. They also normally go after the furthest targets. Tapping constantly between its launchers, at the alien simultaneously and your guppies is a good way to take out missiles as soon as they're launched while laying fire to the robot. ====================================================== XI. Hints/Tips Tank #1 -as soon as you buy a carnivore, immediately buy a guppy, as it'll be feeding time for the newcomer anyways -be more liberal about spawning baby guppies when you have packs of carnivores (especially Challenge mode). You're spending $100 a pop to save $1000 a pop respectively, but the latter will provide $200 a pop. Ya dig? -try to have some large guppies in the midst of a carnivore metropolitan. If some of those carnivores starve or get gunned down by aliens, then having a band of medium large guppies will help you buy carnivores quickly and get back on your feet. They're also much cheaper to feed Tank #2 -do you're best to keep track of golden guppy and non-golden guppy. You don't want to feed a regular pellet to a large guppy when you could've converted it, but you also don't want to waste $250 to feed an already golden guppy -to reduce the chance that a non-large guppy will eat a potion try to drop potions right above a large guppy so that IT eats it before all the others -you may want to consider letting SEAHORSE sitting out this mode. Those food pellets he automatically drops may disrupt your potion feeding opportunities -star catchers seem to have a wide feeding period but lesser full and starving periods. Because of this, a 2:3 ratio of golden guppies and star catchers seems to be ideal for maximizing your profit per golden guppy. When in doubt however, go lighter on star catchers at first. You can always add star catchers later. If you make too many, that's $750 a pop you're losing for starved units. Time mode -build up quickly to get your economy rolling. Once you do, you'll need some time to amass you're wealth -when time is drawing near ... say around less than 2 minutes to go, be already at mass collection period and ignore unnecessary expenditures (laser, food upgrades, but not baby guppies to feed carnivores nor potions to get some last minute golden guppies) Challenge mode -again, it's your score, NOT YOUR BUDGET that determines your high score in this mode -get egg pieces if possible. They put quite a dent in your wallet, but they'll add a nice flat bonus amount and even multiply parts of your score -get your economy rolling in full swing from the start. Mass carnivores and golden guppies/star catchers are needed to keep up, else you'll be hard pressed to catch up and let alone buy egg pieces -good luck. You'll need it General -replay the quests with different helper pets to get a better feel for them individually as well as in teams as needed Obtaining Brinkley: perform the following steps: -complete all the quest levels -go back to tank 1-5 (that's level 5 of tank #1) -complete it without ANY fish dying (guppies AND carnivores) for any reason (aliens, starvation, getting eaten by a carnivore) NOTES/TIPS: >you need to get a carnivore at the last second, lest it'll either eat a baby guppy or die itself if bought from the start >$16,000 is the magic number to go for. 1 X 1000 = $1,000 to buy a carnivore which will enable the button to buy egg pieces + 3 X 5000 = $15,000 to buy 3 egg pieces to complete the level equals: $16,000 >this takes patience. One dead fish and it's back to the drawing board all over again >better to stick with just 2 guppies. Having more guppies may get you to $16,000 faster, but it also means a much greater chance of losing fish to aliens (especially if they come in pairs), and all it takes one to end your search for Brinkley >try to herding your fish with pellets into one side or preferably corner before the aliens come. It makes it easier to protect them since it scattering them gives the aliens a better chance at hitting one, again especially if they come in pairs >herd attacking aliens away from the fish, as sometimes the dumb fish will swim towards them in ignorance ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- GETTING REALLY DESPERATE/FRUSTRATED? -try using 2 styli (or fingers) so that you won't need to go back and forth between a pair of attacking aliens with a single stylus just trying to keep them away from your fish ----- ----- ----- Create a Save State with your attempted game to unlock Brinkley. WARNING: SOME OF THESE METHODS MAY MODIFY YOUR DATA, AND EVEN SYSTEM SETTINGS. DON'T ATTEMPT THESE UNLESS YOU'RE SURE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING!! I've seen a Palm Backup card work (16MB or 64MB, depending on your handheld memory) by creating the save state by exiting the game, then backing up your internal memory. Restore that state if needed by exiting the game, then restoring that backed up state. Note that since these cards are ALL OR NOTHING, any other information on your handheld (including games that run off memory cards, since information like progress and high scores are still saved on your handheld) will be reverted to the point in time of the last backup state. It's also slow, taking around 5 minutes to back up around 12MB of data and half as long for each restoration Backup programs such as BackupBuddy or BackupMan which use regular memory cards to back up your information may also work (never tried this). The neat thing about variations of these backup programs is that you can backup single apps at once. Saves A LOT of time and hassle mentioned from the Palm Backup Card above. Maybe using FileZ (freeware) to locate the file ("Insaniquarium_AWIq"?) that stores info about your game on your handheld, then copying that and restoring that when needed may work. I've never tried this either. Hotsyncing to set a specific conduit so the desktop overwrites the handheld may help, after hotsyncing normally of course. Never tried this either. ====================================================== XII. Final Notes My thanks to: Astraware and Popcap - for creating this game Family and friends - no explanation needed here Readers - for supporting this FAQ Contributors - for their free FAQs that created the gamefaqs and online FAQs community that it is today. Copyright 2004 Ackmondual All trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by their respective trademark and copyright holders.