Microbe Stage Final Draft

This Topic is about the Progression and working of the current Cell Phase prototype, and the future one(s).
If You would like to make Your own version, and let The community test it out, to give good criticism and results, and especially whether they liked it or not, please post a link to it here on this topic. We can also discuss the stage some more, to get into more detail about the Cell Phase.
This topic was posted by: Shane, AKA MeowMan1. Thanks Guys, and I hope to have some comments on this topic soon.

I wanted to make a topic after having the AI done, but since you made this post I won't leave you waiting.

I have been working on the prototype for some time now. So far, it has cells with various properties (but no organs). The properties are all absolutely random, except for mass wich is equal to volume. Each cell falls under a type wich determines it's attributes. Collision detection works, meaning you can push smaller cells around and bounce off larger cells.

The AI isn't there yet, meaning other cells don't do anything yet. I plan to implement some simple AI first and then finally start accepting your feedback and add features you want to see.

Screenie time:



Note: Please DON'T post or link this on any other site! This thing is very basic and wouldn't make a good impression on anyone outside the team.

Download link here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/54710394/Thrive_Cellstage_26_5_2012.rar

I have compiled it under Windows XP 32-bit, so there might be trouble using it on OS. Just try it and report if there's a bug.

Coolio! i would love to see it once you finish AI!

Commander Keen wrote:

I wanted to make a topic after having the AI done, but since you made this post I won't leave you waiting.

I have been working on the prototype for some time now. So far, it has cells with various properties (but no organs). The properties are all absolutely random, except for mass wich is equal to volume. Each cell falls under a type wich determines it's attributes. Collision detection works, meaning you can push smaller cells around and bounce off larger cells.

The AI isn't there yet, meaning other cells don't do anything yet. I plan to implement some simple AI first and then finally start accepting your feedback and add features you want to see.

Screenie time:



Note: Please DON'T post or link this on any other site! This thing is very basic and wouldn't make a good impression on anyone outside the team.

Download link here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/54710394/Thrive_Cellstage_26_5_2012.rar

I have compiled it under Windows XP 32-bit, so there might be trouble using it on OS. Just try it and report if there's a bug.

compliments good job

To anyone who can't control the cell use W to move were the mouse is pointed. I prefer the classic WASD but it is you call, that way to control is nice and rather easy after a few seconds.

Also i know that background looks great but will it be on the final game? Or are the bubbles going to be animated?

This post is starting to sound like I am a complaining douche but I liked this prototype, I opened 50 times and it didn't crashed nor made the same cells any times. I can imagine how it will work with a AI and the sound put together.
Commander you made my day.

I would a green backround btw. Sorry I cannot test this out at the moment because winzip is all dumb and stuff. But, for the final, here are My planss and prefferences: again, a green, primordial soup backround similar to the spore beta backround for cell stage, good AI, cells that actually wander, enemy viruses, bateria, ect. that try to kill Your cell, good cell editing, weapons, details, paintjobs, and graphics. Ofcourse this sounds like a lot, but if Spore did it, so can we. I have no technical skills, so I will be a tester simply, to give response and constructive criticism.
Good job commander, and ThankYou all for helping me bring this subject back to life-With Thanks, Shane.

MeowMan1 wrote:

I would a green backround btw. Sorry I cannot test this out at the moment because winzip is all dumb and stuff. But, for the final, here are My planss and prefferences: again, a green, primordial soup backround similar to the spore beta backround for cell stage, good AI, cells that actually wander, enemy viruses, bateria, ect. that try to kill Your cell, good cell editing, weapons, details, paintjobs, and graphics. Ofcourse this sounds like a lot, but if Spore did it, so can we. I have no technical skills, so I will be a tester simply, to give response and constructive criticism.
Good job commander, and ThankYou all for helping me bring this subject back to life-With Thanks, Shane.

that sounds strangely similar to SPORE's Cell Stage.......

Sure would like to know if the background moves step over or remain so.

p.s. i send u a PM commander

that sounds strangely similar to SPORE's Cell Stage.......[/quote]
well, on that quote...Yes it will be in some ways, that is if we all agree on something.
Like we discussed in the microbial stage questions topic, it will be very realistic. But,.... What we didn't say is: would it be like the Spore beta, I repeat BETA, not the stupid Spore, but the one Will Wright had in mind and was fun and was actually somewhat realistic.
I personally see Thrive partially as acomplishing Will Wright's dream, and making a good evolution game. Our cell prototype actually was a recreation of Will Wright's 2005 beta Cell stage Spore.
I mean, the background would look pretty awsome, and all that I said in the previous post sounds awsome to me, thus I actually typed it in the first place.
So let the microbial stage be more realistic and more Thrive, but I think a touch of Spore beta wouldn't be too bad, thuswe started our microbial stage prototype AS the old spore cell stage.
In conclusion, it should be more realistic, and more serious as Thrive is, but a little bit like the Spore Beta.
Anyone who would like to commen on this post, please do so.-Shane Cihelka.

This is My brother Holden typing as of now: based on the video i saw it looked pretty dull and quiet. I have no ideas for how it should be, you should just make it more actiony and exciting. and also the graphics look kinda stupid tbh. the end.
I show him a spore beta video of the cell stage.
That was his opinion.
I honestly understand what he meant and why, but I somewhat disagree.
Here is the video link, copy and paste it into Your search bar and press enter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=407ykCgLhOU&feature=related
There ya go. Please, give Your opinions if You have any.
ThankYou all very much-Shane.

The physics when the cells collide is so good, I can imagine them looking much better with actcual cells but this prototype looks and plays well, good job

I am still trying to let My computer to play this prototype for me, but I'm afraid My efforts are infact failing.
Oh well. But from these comments it sounds really good Commander, keep up the good work!
-Shane Cihelka.

Wow. This calls for a Dev Blog. Good job, everyone! Our ideas have developed into a thing!

I will test it out as soon as it isn't very late at night anymore.

I meant great to hear.

Actualy Keen said he has to make an AI yet. Better not get ahead of ourselves. For me it would be presentable to the public with an AI and different cells other than colors.

And good news! I am from now on a important member of society (Thrive society). I finally instaled 3D Studio Max 9. So I can help you now Keen. Just say the word.

That's Awsome filipe!
Now it'll be even better!
I'll inform sciocont and a few others.

I've finally got round to trying it, and it is... Exactly as you said. Yeah...! Okay, I admit playing it is a bit anti-climactic, but it's still a thing.
But what happened to the menu‽ It seems to have gone... That's the entire previous prototype, just left out! But anyway, we have colourful bouncy balls of different sizes, that's good progress from a nonfunctional menu.

Thrive has risen in equivalent value from a pretty picture to a free app! Rejoice, for tomorrow, the world could be ours to use as we please! Mwuhaha-... Or not, of course. Much more probable. In fact, forget I mentioned that.

You are right Uteen, it sshould have the menu. But Commander, You have done a great job, even though I still cannot get it to function for me...
I will try again today.

Great work, Keen

We can merge it with the menu later.
I'm actually thinking that we shoulf go a different direction, stylistically- have all of the microbe gameplay happen on a surface, so there's no up/down movement, simplifying the game, and have the surface be that of an undersea vent or the bottom of a shallow pool. In this way, we can have a more interesting background, and you can encounter biofilms and such that serve as obstacles. I'll flesh this out later, but if we expand our minds a little, cell stage could be a lot more interesting and complex than spore's simple "primordial soup".

The Uteen wrote:

I've finally got round to trying it, and it is... Exactly as you said. Yeah...! Okay, I admit playing it is a bit anti-climactic, but it's still a thing.

But anyway, we have colourful bouncy balls of different sizes, that's good progress from a nonfunctional menu.

Give it a while and they will be colorful self-propelled bouncy balls of different sizes.

The Uteen wrote:

But what happened to the menu‽

I made the whole thing from scratch because Roadkill used a few Linux-dependencies wich are very buggy on Windows. Still, a menu is there, it appears when you press escape.

Unfortunately, I somehow broke it a few hours before posting the prototype and didn't feel like fixing it. The screen is black but the buttons still work. It's weird.

Quote :

I'll flesh this out later, but if we expand our minds a little, cell stage could be a lot more interesting and complex than spore's simple "primordial soup".

That sounds great. Spore's cell stage looked as if it was set in a fresh glass of water, not some place teeming with life. The vent will be a very interesting environment for the gameplay when we include the biofilms and areas with different acidity and temperature.

Quote :

But Commander, You have done a great job, even though I still cannot get it to function for me...

What OS do you use? It probably works only on Windows.

Can everyone tell me what OS do they use and if it works for them? It will help a lot.

~sciocont wrote:

I'm actually thinking that we shoulf go a different direction, stylistically- have all of the microbe gameplay happen on a surface, so there's no up/down movement, simplifying the game, and have the surface be that of an undersea vent or the bottom of a shallow pool. In this way, we can have a more interesting background, and you can encounter biofilms and such that serve as obstacles. I'll flesh this out later, but if we expand our minds a little, cell stage could be a lot more interesting and complex than spore's simple "primordial soup".

I like that idea, sounds much more feasible than spore plus it'll make the stage much less repetitive too.

Commander Keen wrote:

Can everyone tell me what OS do they use and if it works for them? It will help a lot.

I use windows 7 and its works for me.

Windows 7.
meow.

MeowMan1 wrote:

Windows 7.
meow.

What happens when you try to run the program?

Doggit wrote:

You do produce some brilliant music man If my mate had ever got me the software I needed I could be producing some too :/ *sigh* Keep up the good work (Y)

It just brings up the winzip registration again, I think it's just winzip, not the Microbial phase prototype, don't worry I'll be able to test it soon, I hear it's very good!