Creatures (artificial life series)

Creatures is a series of computer games, which deals with the creation and simulation of artificial life (KL ). In contrast to the computer game The Sims, the creatures can not directly control, but it can only manipulate the environment.

Gameplay

The concept of the game is creatures, mostly to breed called Norns. The creatures in the game have a relatively well-developed neural network, in addition, a biochemical system and a DNA simulated to allow the " intersection " between creatures. This is basically not possible crossing of different breeds.

A real aim of the game does not exist in Creatures. In the first part of the series the players had only a limited number of Norn eggs available, so a longer gameplay this was given only through successful breeding.

The creatures are not controllable for the player, but can only be influenced by the environment. However, the player has the possibility to move the cursor with the creatures interact and, for example to by reward and punishment consistently influence their behavior. It is also possible to grant them with keystrokes direct orders - but only if they have learned the appropriate words before. So speaking lessons initially absorbs a large part of the playing time. Later, when several Norns exist in the game world, they learn from each other.

Species

Ettins

The Ettins came from Creatures add 2 and are generated by the Ettin mother. Although the Ettins presented in Creatures 2, differ from the Ettins in Creatures 3, they have it in common that they have a shorter lifespan than Norns and cope better with a warmer climate and various toxins.

Grendel

The Grendel is available from Creatures 1 and are generated by the Grendel mother. Grendel are the evil counterpart to the Norns, by eg Steal food or injure Norns by blows. The player shall be responsible to keep his Norns through education of Grendel. Their life span is shorter than of Norns and they can also survive in Toxic Environments. They also carry diseases that are harmful to the Norns.

Norns

The Norns are the species to their development and persistence of it in the game is mainly. They are generally playful, friendly and love to explore things. The adaptation to particular environments or climates may differ from breed to breed. For each part of the Creatures series, there are several official and numerous fan-made Norn breeds.

Shee

The Shee are a highly evolved species consisting of scientists and inventors. They are the Urspründlichen residents of Albia and the creator of the Norns, Ettin and Grendel. So far Shees never came officially before in a part of the series. However, there are fan-made breeds.

Publications

The first version of Creatures, also known under the name of "Creatures 1" or "original Creatures", was founded in 1996 by the English company Cyberlife Ltd.. (later renamed Creature Labs Ltd.). published and was primarily based on the concepts and the work of Steve Grand. In 1998 came the development Creatures 2 on the market. Back in 1999, followed Creatures 3 and 2001 finally the freely available online expansion " docking station ", which "dock" not only to the game world of its predecessor leaves, but can also be played independently. Later Creatures 3 has been ported to the Creatures Docking Station expansion of Linux Game Publishing for Linux and released under the Creatures Internet Edition.

• Creatures (1996 )
• Creatures: Life Kit # 1 (1997)
• Creatures 2 (1998)
• Creatures 2: Life Kit # 1 (1998)
• Creatures 2: Life Kit # 2 (1999)
• Creatures 3 (1999)
• Creatures Adventures (1999)
• Creatures Playground ( 2000)
• Creatures Docking Station ( 2001)
• Creatures: Raised in Space (2002)

Planned:

• Creatures Online ( initially announced in 2011 as Creatures 4)

In addition, there are several summaries of various series title in the form of games collections and as a budget title.

Fan Scene

To all parts of the Creatures series can be found online active fan pages that deal with the theory, as well as Creatures offer extensive download areas. Especially the latter gained since the start of the series ever greater popularity - the number of game accessories created yourself is almost with The Sims Download Scene comparable. In addition provided on the site own Norns (which can be stored in the game so they spread easily ), there are new objects ( so-called " cobs " (C1, C2), or " agent " (C3, DS) ), new races ( " Breeds " ), programs with which the DNA of the Norns can be edited and new Norn own worlds ( " worlds " or" Metarooms ").

Cyber ​​Life Inc. has accommodated with an " Agent Kit" of Fan Scene from Creatures 2. This addition it is possible to include objects in the game or cause by Cob -Files changes in the current world.

Cyberlife self-released on their official page also many additions as well as some programs, for example, the Creatures 2 World Switcher with which it is possible to save multiple worlds instead of just one.

The fans also repeatedly lead by actions, which the Norns have to compete against each other and must achieve certain game objectives. For example, there are Wolfling runs, where it comes to which Norn survived the longest without a player intervenes.

In addition, is called periodically at certain " Community Events ", with the intention to motivate the fans to more commitment, but above all to demonstrate the current rights holders of the Creatures license that certainly there is still keen interest in the game series. These events include the weekly online meetings, held on the " dock " and the organized annually, two-week "Creatures Community Spirit Festival ", which is connected to a competition.