FishVille
Encyclopedia
FishVille is a real-time aquarium
simulation
game developed by Zynga
, available as an application on the social-networking website Facebook
. The game allows members of Facebook
to manage virtual
aquarium
s by rearing fish. As of October 2011, FishVille had 1.6 million monthly active users.
Players can purchase up to eight additional tanks if their tanks run out of space. Recently, Zynga
launched a new feature in FishVille called "Arena Tanks". In an Arena tank a user can place fish which are classified as arena or super arena. These fish can then be trained using "super foods" which help improve certain traits of the fish which include IQ, Strength, Agility and Health. The fish then can "combat
" with other arena fish which helps the player gain XP, coins and other rewards.
The store also allows the user to change the environment (wallpaper) and gravel of the tank.
The FishVille store is constantly updated with new items and content. Items are also added for seasons and for special themes. Special themes when added, provide players with the opportunity to decorate the tank with items related to a particular season or theme.
games, FishVille incorporates the social networking aspect of Facebook into many areas of gameplay. Players may invite their friends to be their neighbors, allowing them to perform certain actions on each other's tanks per day by "visiting" it. Neighbors may also send gifts and other supplies like medicine to each other and complete specialized tasks together for rewards.
Through the FishVille Forums and FishVille fan page, weekly contests like "Tank of the Week" are held where users can provide screenshots of their tanks and can compete for prizes. Prizes often range from "Sand Dollars" to "exclusive fish".
, said that the game was "easily one of Facebook's greatest underwater adventures" and that "FishVille offers up a perfect blend of familiarity and freshness that any fish lover can enjoy". Ryan Geddes, from IGN
, stated that the game is an incredibly efficient advertising and microtransaction delivery tool".
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
simulation
Simulation
Simulation is the imitation of some real thing available, state of affairs, or process. The act of simulating something generally entails representing certain key characteristics or behaviours of a selected physical or abstract system....
game developed by Zynga
Zynga
Zynga is a social network game developer located in San Francisco, United States. The company develops browser-based games that work both stand-alone and as application widgets on social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace....
, available as an application on the social-networking website Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
. The game allows members of Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
to manage virtual
Virtual
The term virtual is a concept applied in many fields with somewhat differing connotations, and also, differing denotations.The term has been defined in philosophy as "that which is not real" but may display the salient qualities of the real....
aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
s by rearing fish. As of October 2011, FishVille had 1.6 million monthly active users.
Gameplay
When users begin the game, they can start by choosing a background and gravel for their aquariums. The users start with four fish already present in their tank. A tutorial then commences which takes the user through some of the basic functions of the game which include adding fish to the aquarium, feeding and selling fish. Upon selling fish, the user earns "sand coins" and experience points (XP). The player also earns XP and coins for completing certain tasks and helping in neighbor missions. At certain XP benchmarks, the player's level rises. As the player obtains more items and progresses through levels, fish, decorations, environments, creatures and plants become available to them via the "store" where items can be purchased using either sand coins or "sand dollars". Sand dollars are earned by leveling up, completing offers or microtransactions.Fish
Fish rearing is the main activity in FishVille. Players can buy fish from the store using sand dollars or sand coins. Fish can also be added into the aquarium by receiving gifts sent by neighbors and facebook friends. Fish require to be fed as they age. Each fish has three stages of growth - Baby, Junior and Adult. Once the fish become junior or adult fish they can be sold for coins and XP. The XP and coins earned by selling the fish depends on the type of fish. If the fish are not fed, they become sick and then eventually die.Players can purchase up to eight additional tanks if their tanks run out of space. Recently, Zynga
Zynga
Zynga is a social network game developer located in San Francisco, United States. The company develops browser-based games that work both stand-alone and as application widgets on social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace....
launched a new feature in FishVille called "Arena Tanks". In an Arena tank a user can place fish which are classified as arena or super arena. These fish can then be trained using "super foods" which help improve certain traits of the fish which include IQ, Strength, Agility and Health. The fish then can "combat
Blood sport
Bloodsport or blood sport is any sport or entertainment that involves violence against animals.Bloodsport includes coursing or beagling, combat sports such as cockfighting and dog fighting, or other activities...
" with other arena fish which helps the player gain XP, coins and other rewards.
Decorations and Other Items
In addition to fish, players can also place decorations, plants and creatures to deck up their tanks. These additional items can be purchased from the store with the in-game currency or can be acquired through the game's gifting mechanism. The FishVille store has a vast array of decorations and creatures which get unlocked and are available for purchase as the user levels up in the game.The store also allows the user to change the environment (wallpaper) and gravel of the tank.
The FishVille store is constantly updated with new items and content. Items are also added for seasons and for special themes. Special themes when added, provide players with the opportunity to decorate the tank with items related to a particular season or theme.
Social Interaction
Like most ZyngaZynga
Zynga is a social network game developer located in San Francisco, United States. The company develops browser-based games that work both stand-alone and as application widgets on social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace....
games, FishVille incorporates the social networking aspect of Facebook into many areas of gameplay. Players may invite their friends to be their neighbors, allowing them to perform certain actions on each other's tanks per day by "visiting" it. Neighbors may also send gifts and other supplies like medicine to each other and complete specialized tasks together for rewards.
Through the FishVille Forums and FishVille fan page, weekly contests like "Tank of the Week" are held where users can provide screenshots of their tanks and can compete for prizes. Prizes often range from "Sand Dollars" to "exclusive fish".
Reception
Jim Squires, from GameZeboGamezebo
Gamezebo is a website that focuses on editorial coverage of the casual games industry, offering interviews, features, reviews, previews, strategy guides, news and podcasts....
, said that the game was "easily one of Facebook's greatest underwater adventures" and that "FishVille offers up a perfect blend of familiarity and freshness that any fish lover can enjoy". Ryan Geddes, from IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
, stated that the game is an incredibly efficient advertising and microtransaction delivery tool".