Tiny Diggers – An iPad Construction Truck Game for Kids Age 2-5

While the Nintendo DS has seen its share of virtual pet-type games, due to its widespread casual appeal and stylus-based control, one thing we haven’t seen yet on the platform is an aquarium. Nintendogs still stands as king of the portable worldwide, and an array of imitators, both with dogs and other animals (or animalz in the case of Ubisoft’s offering) have appeared to capitalize. Mercury Games has announced that they’ll be bringing a pair of aquarium simulators to the Nintendo DS this year in Europe, in partnership with Japanese publisher Ertain BV. I was unable to find any information about who’s actually developing the game in the press release, which might be a bad sign. The two products are called Aquarium by DS and Fantasy Aquarium by DS.

It’s clear that these people are doing some things right, though. First of all, the visuals are pretty sharp considering the platform. In particular, you can see the detail in some of the fish like the guppies and the clownfish. While something like this could easily fall apart once it’s in motion, quality stills are a great sign for a handheld game. Beyond that, there’s the fact that you’re not simply limited to fish in a little tank if you opt for the Fantasy Aquarium by DS version. You can set up a huge tank with blue whales, penguins, and an assortment of other animals, though the press release seems to call them all just fish. It’s unfortunate that, for technical or whatever other reason, they’ve chosen not to roll all the creatures onto one game card.

Click through for the press release and all the screens, scaled up for easier viewing.

KEEP PET FISH WITHOUT GOING NEAR THE WATER

Mercury Games announces Aquarium by DS and Fantasy Aquarium by DS as part of the Zen Games series

London: 4th September 2007

Two additions to the Zen Games series were announced today by growing UK games publisher, Mercury Games as part of their partnership with Japanese publisher Ertain BV. The games, “Aquarium by DS” and “Fantasy Aquarium by DS” both for the Nintendo DS are simulation games that allow the player to keep fish in a tank.

Just like keeping fish in real life, the fish need to be fed and have their tanks cleaned. “Aquarium by DS” allows the player to keep the usual types of fish that one would find in a fish tank including Clown Fish, Angelfish, Neon Tetra and Guppy.

While “Fantasy Aquarium by DS” allows the player to keep fish which could never be kept as pets in a tank such as Blue whales, dolphins, Seals and sharks.

There are five tanks of differing sizes to choose from, which can then be customised with different backgrounds, plants and accessories such as rocks and bridges.

There are more than 30 varieties of fish to choose from in both “Aquarium by DS” and “Fantasy Aquarium by DS” and more can be unlocked though good fish care. The player can also name their pet fish. Fish can also be swapped via WiFi with the player’s friends.

If the player doesn’t switch their DS on for a few days or if the environment is wrong and the fish are not cared for they die and disappear from the tank. And if the wrong combination of fish are added the consequences can be lethal; for example if the player puts a killer whale in the same tank as a penguin, the Killer whale will eat it.

Leo Zullo, President, Mercury Games said: “Aquarium by DS and Fantasy Aquarium by DS will provide players with the relaxation of having pet fish without the hassle. The game can be played by people of all ages.”

Aquarium by DS and Fantasy Aquarium by DS are due for release in December 2007. The SRP will be