''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 course of the gaming session. A single-player game is usually a game that can only be played by one person, while "single-player mode" is usuall ...

mode and arcade-style aquatic

video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...

written by Sprout Games, and published by

PopCap Games PopCap Games, Inc. is an American video game developer based in Seattle, and a subsidiary of Electronic Arts. The company was founded in 2000 by John Vechey, Brian Fiete and Jason Kapalka. Originally founded under the name "Sexy Action Cool", ...

. With an initial debut on February 11, 2004, it saw a re-release on the

Xbox Live Arcade Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) is a digital video game download service available through the Xbox Games Store, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360. It focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent ...

service, with versions for both the original

Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft. The brand consists of five video game consoles, as well as applications (games), streaming services, an online service by the name of Xbox network, and the development arm by the na ...

and the

Xbox 360 The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox series. It competed with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation ...

. The Xbox 360 version, released on March 15, 2006, was the 17th most popular Xbox Live Arcade title for 2006. In February 2006, the sequel to this game, ''

Feeding Frenzy 2 ''Feeding Frenzy 2: Shipwreck Showdown'' is an arcade-style video game by American developer Sprout Games involving the marine food chain. It is the sequel to the 2004 game ''Feeding Frenzy''. The game was developed and published by PopCap Games ...

'' 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 base console in the Xbox series of video game consoles. It was first released in North America, parts of ...

backwards compatibility and is free to members on

EA Access EA Play (formerly EA Access and Origin Access) is a subscription-based video game service from Electronic Arts for the Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Microsoft Windows platforms, offering access to selected games ...

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. The last level is where they attempt to dethrone a large shark, the "Shark King", using Orville the

Orca The orca or killer whale (''Orcinus orca'') is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member. It is the only Extant taxon, extant species in the genus ''Orcinus'' and is recognizable by its black ...

. 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 starting from producer organisms (such as grass or algae which produce their own food via photosynthesis) and ending at an apex predator species (like grizzly bears or killer whales), det ...

. 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. It is intended to destroy a submarine by being dropped into the water nearby and detonating, subjecting the target to a powerful and destructive Shock factor, hydraulic shock. Most depth ...

s, larger predators,

naval mine A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to damage or destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, any ...

s, irradiated fish, and

jellyfish Jellyfish and sea jellies are the informal common names given to the medusa-phase of certain gelatinous members of the subphylum Medusozoa, a major part of the phylum Cnidaria. Jellyfish are mainly free-swimming marine animals with umbrella- ...

. 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. These both end when a short period of time without further rapid consumption elapses. The full game includes both a normal mode and a "

time attack Time attack is a type of motorsport in which the racers compete for the best lap time. Each vehicle is timed through numerous circuits of the track. The racers make a preliminary circuit, then run the timed laps, and then finish with a cool-dow ...

" 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 Web. ...

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

MSN Gaming Zone MSN Games (also known as Zone.com - formerly known as The Village, Internet Gaming Zone, MSN Gaming Zone, and MSN Games by Zone.com) is a casual gaming web site, 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 is available via an

disc from Microsoft, or from

Official Xbox Magazine ''Official Xbox Magazine'' (or OXM for short) 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. Th ...

discs. The Xbox 360 version can be downloaded from the

Xbox Live Marketplace Xbox Games Store (formerly Xbox Live Marketplace) is a digital distribution platform used by Microsoft's Xbox Series X, S, Xbox One and Xbox 360 video game consoles. The service allows users to download or purchase video games (including both ...

, either as a free demo, or as a full version. This version is also included on the disc that comes 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 appeared on several other platforms, including iOS, Android, and the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable as a PSP mini title available on ...

'', '' Uno'', ''

Luxor 2 ''Luxor 2'' is an action-oriented casual puzzle game developed by MumboJumbo. First released in 2006, it is the sequel to the original ''Luxor'', which was released in 2005. The title can be played online at several different sites, and can be p ...

'', 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 publishe ...

''. The Xbox 360 Pro and Elite versions include this version as one of the 16 game demos preloaded on the hard drive. An arcade version was released by

UltraCade Technologies UltraCade Technologies, also known simply as UltraCade, was a computer and video game hardware company, founded in 2002 by David R. Foley. Founded on the original UltraCade multi-game platform that Foley's design team developed in the mid-1990s, ...

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.

Reception

IGN ''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game 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 distri ...

'' 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 and owned by alongside formed company Gamer Network. Its editor-in-chief is Martin Robinson. Since 2008, it is known for the formerly eponymous games trade fair EGX ...

'' 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 Flash games Mobile games PopCap games Windows games MacOS games Video games developed in the United States Xbox 360 Live Arcade games Original Xbox Live Arcade games Casual games Single-player video games Video games with underwater settings