Megaquarium News

I'm delighted to announce a brand new expansion for Megaquarium: Introducing Deep Freeze!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

This is Megaquarium's most ambitious expansion to-date, chock full of popular elements from previous expansions plus loads of brand new features including a five-level campaign.

Later in the post I'll be touching on a couple of the key ideas for this expansion, but for a top-level rundown head over to the store page.

Remember to wishlist so you'll be notified when it goes live! ːsteamhappyː

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2574770/Megaquarium_Deep_Freeze__Deluxe_Expansion/

The expansion will be priced at $13.99 (or your regional equivalent) and will launch in mid-October on both GOG and Steam.

As usual this expansion will be launching alongside a big upgrade to the base game with improved UI, animation and rebalanced gameplay. More on those another time.

[h3]Two for one![/h3]
In Deep Freeze we've added two unique biotopes unified by a central frozen theme. On one side you have the abyssal animals. These are deep ocean species that dwell in the perpetual darkness.



On the other side we have the aquatic polar animals who need a special enclosed polar dome supported by racks of compressors and air-conditioners!



Each type of habitat has specific design challenges associated with it. However, there are some core mechanics that reach across. The result is varied gameplay with a unified theme.

[h3]Giving me chills[/h3]
I love coldwater animals and in this expansion I'm delighted to fill out the roster with some amazing species. Every single animal in Deep Freeze requires cold water.



But we've not stopped there. Many of the animals from the deep ocean and polar regions don't just need cold water, they need it to be positively freezing! That's where the 'Superchilled' requirement comes in.

[h3]More to come[/h3]
During my playtesting I've really loved how much variety Deep Freeze adds, especially when combined with the other expansions. It's possible to build a truly MEGA-aquarium!

There is so much to talk about with Deep Freeze, over the course of the next few weeks I look forward to revealing more features and details.

To make sure you don't miss a thing, click the 'follow' button under the trailer on the main store page and at the top of my developer page.

Until then,

Tim Twice Circled

I'm thrilled to announce that Megaquarium is part of Simfest – the Steam festival celebrating all things related to simulation games.

From today through the 24th of July, 10am PDT 2023, you can save 60% off the base game plus 30% off each of the DLCs.

Make sure to check out all that's on offer across Simfest, there's a bunch of titles on discount as well as demos for games that are coming soon, all within the wonderful Sim genre!

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In Megaquarium news, as many of you know, I have been working on something new for the game for several months. I'm not in a position to share more details at this time, but I'm getting close so watch this space! ːsteamhappyː

Hello aquarium architects. I hope you've had a great start to the year. I've been working on a little update for you guys. Let's take a look.


Shortly after the Architect's Collection DLC launch, a suggestion was made to me. With the addition of all the new "dividers" (a selection of low wall-like objects which block movement but not visibility), was it possible to add a divider which only staff could pass through?

I'm very happy to announce that the all-new Staff Gate has been added to the Architect's Collection with this update.

This object is essentially a cross between the Staff Door and the One-Way Gate which was added to the base game last November. Like the Staff Door, only employees can use the Staff Gate, but it has the nice low aesthetic associated with the One-Way Gate that makes it look good paired with the dividers added with the Architect's Collection.



In the above picture I've used the Staff Gate to separate off a section of the aquarium where I'm storing gift shop refills away from potentially thieving guests.

In fairness, a One-Way Gate from the base game facing in the correct direction could be used to achieve the same result.



Here is where the Staff Gate comes into its own. When you have just a single line of dividers but want to allow an employee to take a short-cut rather than walk all the way around the route.

Like almost everything else in the Architect's Collection, the Staff Gate is paintable so you can customise it to your liking. What will you use it for?

[h3]Changelog[/h3]
Along with the Staff Gate there are bunch of bug fixes and improvements included with this update:

• Feature: Added Staff Gate to Architect's Collection.
  
• Fixed bug: Double clicking trade button very fast would cause multiple animals to be traded away while filing only a single trade slot.
  
• Fixed bug: Impossible "Biodiversity" objective offered in sandbox mode.
  
• Fixed bug: Floating plants in Feeding Platform Tank appeared at the wrong height (FF).
  
• Fixed bug: Fixed occasionally bugged UI with guppy breeding (FF).
  
• Fixed bug: Sand eel appears in wrong place when staff carrying it and a tool belt does a fixing task.
  
• UX: Fixed UI positioning in save and load menus in non-English languages.
  
• Optimisation: Sped up message log loading.
  
• Modding: If only English strings are present, these will be used even when the selected language is not English.
  

Hey! It has been a while since I have posted a Fishblast for you all. From now on Fishblasts will be coming out every 2 months rather than every month.


Whenever you are playing a map, it is often a big challenge to keep staff active but not overworked. User Jasper found a great way of planning their aquarium and placing the filtrations and such on strategic points as shown at the end of this video! Jasper created a 30 minute video to show their big build. And the thing I want to praise here is the great layout. It must take a lot of time to plan such a build.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo1pzO37PD4


Often people are looking for challenges. Sometimes having no idea what to create. This short segment will give you some guides to unfold your very own creativity. Are you ready to give it a try?

Try and build this: Presentation Arena

How to build this:

• Place a podium near a tank.
  
• Place benches around this podium (around 2 tiles away from it)
  
• Place stairs and platforms behind these benches to create multiple layers
  
• These layers will give the impression of multiple seating heights
  

Have fun building!


The many waters on our planet are either saltwater or freshwater. However, there is an in between. It is called brackish water. One of the most important ecosystems in our world is the mangroves. Unique flora and fauna living in harmony while the flora is keeping the ocean away from claiming more land.

[h3]Amazing Mangroves by Anubite and the H.A.A.I. Team[/h3]


This is a fan-made expansion that adds animals and plants from this unique biotope. Both for freshwater and saltwater. So definitely worth a look as it adds animals such as: Horseshoe crabs, Fiddler crabs, Scats, Whistling ducks, Upside-down jellyfish and for plants a huge variety of trees and grasses!



[Click here to discover this fantastic mod]


[h3]Common Name: Picasso Triggerfish[/h3]
[h3]Scientific Name: Rhinecanthus aculeatus[/h3]





Range: Western Indian Ocean
Habitat: Reefs
Size: 30cm (1ft)
Diet: Meaty foods such as squid, shrimp and small fish.
[h3]Needs in Megaquarium:[/h3]

• Tropical waters
  
• Water quality at least 65%
  
• Eater of Crustaceans, Starfish, Clams, Gorgoians, Stony corals.
  
• Feeding Skill: 1
  
• Territorial
  
• Bully
  
• Nibbler
  
• Explorer
  

[h3]Fun facts:[/h3]

• The Picasso Triggerfish is known in Hawaii as: humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa
  
• With powerful jaws and sharp teeth, Picasso triggerfish are formidable guardians, and have been known to nip at divers who intrude on their territory.
  
• The Picasso Triggerfish is able to grunt. This is a sound they make to get attention from others (with aggression).
  

In this segment we are looking into the life behind the scenes of machinery or tasks that happen in public aquariums. We might ponder the question: How do UV filters work? Or investigate the breeding progress of a certain species.

For this edition of “How does it work” we will be looking into how PH meters work.

All the water in the world has an acidity, also known as pH. Aquaria in the world need to measure the acidity to make sure the fish they are planning on adding, will survive. The reason for this is that everywhere in the world, the water has a different acidity. Some water can have more acid in it than other places in the world. Some places even have alkaline waters. The water's pH even changes from time to time in smaller bodies of water. It is important to measure this once in a while, even in your home aquarium!



The pH meter shown above is an electrical version of a test that can also be done with fluids on a special piece of paper. In the pH meter is a piece of glass that works with specialized electrodes. Very complicated! The electrodes measure the acidity of the water while another electrode is a reference to a fixed sample that is set as a base. The voltage in these machines is measured and is linked to a pH level.

But if you do not have a machine available testing strips work just fine.

Have you ever measured pH in any type of water?

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Want to be more involved in our community? Join our [Discord] and share your works, we love seeing what you created and maybe we will feature your work in the next FishBlast.

See you in the next one!
Your community liaison, Anubite

Today is a day I've been looking forward to for ages. SO thrilled to finally announce that Freshwater Frenzy - the first deluxe expansion for Megaquarium will be coming to Switch, Playstation and Xbox on 1st March 2022!

[previewyoutube][pic][/previewyoutube]

I know most of you reading this will be familiar with the fan-favourite expansion, but for anyone new to the world of Megaquarium, feel free to head on over to the official Megaquarium website for a full rundown of what's contained.

Just like the console edition of the base game, I've partnered with Auroch Digital to develop this expansion. Check out what they have to say about the new DLC in this blog post!

EDIT: When this post was initially published we were hoping to release on the 25th January. Due to issues outside of our control we made the difficult decision to delay the launch until 1st March 2022. Click here for further information.