''Feeding Frenzy'' is a

single-player A single-player video game is a video game where input from only one player is expected throughout the gameplay. Video games in general can feature several game modes, including single-player modes designed to be played by a single player in add ...

mode and arcade-style aquatic

video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...

written by Sprout Games, and published by PopCap Games. With an initial debut on February 11, 2004, it saw a re-release on the

Xbox Live Arcade Xbox Live Arcade (or XBLA) was a video game Digital distribution in video games, digital distribution service that was available for the Xbox (console), Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles. It focused on smaller downloadable games from both major publisher ...

service, with versions for both the original

Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand that consists of four main home video game console lines, as well as application software, applications (games), the streaming media, streaming service Xbox Cloud Gaming, and online services such as the Xbox networ ...

and the

Xbox 360 The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the Xbox (console), original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detail ...

. The Xbox 360 version, released on March 15, 2006, was the 17th most popular Xbox Live Arcade title for 2006. In March 2006, the sequel to this game, '' Feeding Frenzy 2'' was released. In 2016, ''Feeding Frenzy'' was made available for

Xbox One The Xbox One is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. Announced in May 2013, it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was first released in North America, parts of Europe, Austra ...

backwards compatibility and is free to members on EA Access.

Gameplay

In ''Feeding Frenzy'', players control a hungry marine predator intent on munching as many other fish as possible. During the course of the game's 40 levels, they switch off between 5 marine animals, with the last eight levels having them play as Orville the

Orca The orca (''Orcinus orca''), or killer whale, is a toothed whale and the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. The only extant species in the genus '' Orcinus'', it is recognizable by its black-and-white-patterned body. A cosmopol ...

, and the last level being a 'boss battle' against the "Shark King", a

great white shark The great white shark (''Carcharodon carcharias''), also known as the white shark, white pointer, or simply great white, is a species of large Lamniformes, mackerel shark which can be found in the coastal surface waters of all the major ocea ...

. The player takes on the role of different aquatic species each trying to move up the

food chain A food chain is a linear network of links in a food web, often starting with an autotroph (such as grass or algae), also called a producer, and typically ending at an apex predator (such as grizzly bears or killer whales), detritivore (such as ...

. As smaller fish are eaten, the player's own fish grows in size and becomes capable of eating somewhat larger fish. By the end of each level, the fish is sufficiently large enough that it can eat almost anything on-screen. Players must be vigilant for hazards which include

depth charge A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon designed to destroy submarine A submarine (often shortened to sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. (It differs from a submersible, which has more limited ...

s, larger predators,

naval mine A naval mine is a self-contained explosive weapon placed in water to damage or destroy surface ships or submarines. Similar to anti-personnel mine, anti-personnel and other land mines, and unlike purpose launched naval depth charges, they are ...

s, irradiated fish, and

jellyfish Jellyfish, also known as sea jellies or simply jellies, are the #Life cycle, medusa-phase of certain gelatinous members of the subphylum Medusozoa, which is a major part of the phylum Cnidaria. Jellyfish are mainly free-swimming marine animal ...

. If the player eats a sufficiently large number of fish in a short period of time, a score-enhancing ''Feeding Frenzy'' is initiated. If the player continues to rapidly consume other fish, a further ''Double Frenzy'' can be achieved. The Frenzy bonus depletes rapidly when there is no further rapid consumption. The full game includes both a normal mode and a "

time attack In many racing sports, an athlete (or occasionally a team of athletes) will compete in a time trial (TT) against the clock to secure the fastest time. The format of a time trial can vary, but usually follow a format where each athlete or team se ...

" mode.

Release

The free

ActiveX ActiveX is a deprecated software framework created by Microsoft that adapts its earlier Component Object Model (COM) and Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) technologies for content downloaded from a network, particularly from the World Wide W ...

version of ''Feeding Frenzy'' can be played online at websites such as the

MSN Gaming Zone MSN Games (also known as Zone.com and formerly known as The Village, Internet Gaming Zone, MSN Gaming Zone, and MSN Games by Zone.com) is a casual gaming website, with single player, multiplayer, PC download, and social casino video games. Games ...

, but has only a limited number of levels. The Windows version, ''Feeding Frenzy Deluxe'', is available for download as a trial, with the full version available for a fee. Additionally,

and

versions exist. The original Xbox version was available via an

disc from Microsoft, or from

Official Xbox Magazine ''Official Xbox Magazine'' (''OXM'') was a British monthly video game magazine which started in November 2001 around the launch of the original Xbox. A preview issue was released at E3 2001, with another preview issue in November 2001. The maga ...

discs. The Xbox 360 version could be downloaded from the

Xbox Live Marketplace Xbox Games Store (formerly Xbox Live Marketplace) was a digital distribution platform previously used by Microsoft's Xbox 360 and formerly by the Xbox One. The service allowed users to download or purchase video games (including both Xbox Live Ar ...

, either as a free demo, or as a full version. This version was also included on the disc that came with the Xbox Arcade bundle for the Xbox 360, alongside ''

Pac-Man Championship Edition is a 2007 maze video game developed and published by Namco Bandai Games for the Xbox 360. It has since been released on several other platforms, including iOS, Android (operating system), Android, and the PlayStation Portable as a PSP mini title ...

'', '' Uno'', '' Luxor 2'', and ''

Boom Boom Rocket ''Boom Boom Rocket'' (''BBR'') is a downloadable video game for Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade service. ''Boom Boom Rocket'' is the first rhythm game for Xbox Live Arcade and was developed by '' Geometry Wars'' creators Bizarre Creations and publis ...

''. The Xbox 360 Pro and Elite versions included this version as one of the 16 game demos preloaded on the hard drive. An arcade version was released by UltraCade Technologies which featured a ticket redemption system and an automated difficulty tuning system. The

arcade cabinet An arcade cabinet, also known as an arcade machine or a coin-op cabinet or coin-op machine, is the housing within which an arcade game's electronic hardware resides. Most cabinets designed since the mid-1980s conform to the Japanese Amusement Ma ...

also features built-in bubbler tanks on both sides with flowing water and artificial fish. A

J2ME Java Platform, Micro Edition or Java ME is a computing platform for development and deployment of porting, portable code for embedded system, embedded and mobile devices (micro-controllers, sensors, gateways, mobile phones, personal digita ...

ported version of the game was released for some

mobile phones A mobile phone or cell phone is a portable telephone that allows users to make and receive calls over a radio frequency link while moving within a designated telephone service area, unlike fixed-location phones ( landline phones). This radio ...

by Real Arcade in 2006, with fewer levels due to the limitations of the mobile phone's storage medium.

Reception

IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...

'' criticized ''Feeding Frenzy''s simple mechanics, lack of difficulty, and overall lack of depth, resulting in a score of 6.6 out of 10 for the Xbox 360 version. The review suggested that additional online elements could have helped with the title's otherwise limited lasting appeal. ''

TeamXbox ''TeamXbox'' was a gaming media web site dedicated to Microsoft's Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One platforms. While the majority of content was Xbox and Xbox 360 related, the site occasionally covered general technology and other video game news. ...

'' also criticized the game's difficulty and replayability, suggesting that it may be better suited towards children. Despite considering ''Feeding Frenzy'' 'somewhat shallow', ''TeamXbox'' concluded that the game was still accessible and fun, awarding the Xbox 360 version a 7 out of 10. ''

Eurogamer ''Eurogamer'' is a British video game journalism website launched in 1999 alongside parent company Gamer Network. In 2008, it started in the formerly eponymous trade fair EGX (Eurogamer Expo until 2013) organised by its parent company. Fr ...

'' gave the Xbox 360 version of ''Feeding Frenzy'' an overall score of three out of ten, expressing that while initially "charming in its simplicity", the game quickly becomes 'boring' and 'repetitive', further stating that every level is "just more of the same".

References

External links

''Feeding Frenzy'' website
* {{PopCap 2004 video games Arcade video games Casual games Flash games J2ME games MacOS games Original Xbox Live Arcade games PopCap Games games Single-player video games Video games about fish Video games developed in the United States Video games set underwater Windows games Xbox 360 Live Arcade games