Communication without speech

Sorry if this was discussed before, but I haven't see it anywhere.

Earlier today, I had to write out a concept for a made up game for my game design class. It was an RPG from the point of view of a dinosaur, but as I was creating this game in my head, I created a gameplay element that could possibly work with Thrive. In my made up game, the player could only communicate with other creatures through vocalizations/body gestures, and in turn, that was the only way other creatures could interact with the player. This means that player must learn what indicates other creatures are mad at you, calling for help, etc.

This by itself would probably not work for Thrive, since we won't have set creatures, meaning there'll be literally unlimited variations of communication. However, I have a way to fix it. Suppose there was a system somewhat like in the Sims, where a sort of speech bubble appears that indicates a vague representation of what the creature is trying to get across to you? This could also be used to simulate the creature learning by not showing these bubbles at first. For example, you come across a creature you haven't met before, and it makes a threat call at you. Perhaps this threat is so weird or alien that you don't realize it is one, so you get closer to the creature to investigate. Then the creature makes a swipe at you, clearly displaying that it doesn't like you. From then on, the bubble will show up telling you that the creature is threatening you.

Well, that's my idea. What's your thoughts on this?

Hrm... I'm not that happy with the bubbles idea. I like the idea of having communication, but i'd rather stay away from such extrinsic and artificial elements. I'd rather something change on the minimap, and the player actually intrinsically learns it. For instance, if i hear a call from something and then the icon for that creature turns red, i know that when i hear that call something has just become hostile towards me.

In other words, make the players learn rather than the creatures.

US_of_Alaska wrote:

Hrm... I'm not that happy with the bubbles idea. I like the idea of having communication, but i'd rather stay away from such extrinsic and artificial elements. I'd rather something change on the minimap, and the player actually intrinsically learns it. For instance, if i hear a call from something and then the icon for that creature turns red, i know that when i hear that call something has just become hostile towards me.

In other words, make the players learn rather than the creatures.

I actually didn't really like my bubble idea either, it's just what I came up with when I wrote this. I'm liking your idea better.

tklarenb wrote:

US_of_Alaska wrote:

Hrm... I'm not that happy with the bubbles idea. I like the idea of having communication, but i'd rather stay away from such extrinsic and artificial elements. I'd rather something change on the minimap, and the player actually intrinsically learns it. For instance, if i hear a call from something and then the icon for that creature turns red, i know that when i hear that call something has just become hostile towards me.

In other words, make the players learn rather than the creatures.

I actually didn't really like my bubble idea either, it's just what I came up with when I wrote this. I'm liking your idea better.

Liking that.

US_of_Alaska wrote:

Hrm... I'm not that happy with the bubbles idea. I like the idea of having communication, but i'd rather stay away from such extrinsic and artificial elements. I'd rather something change on the minimap, and the player actually intrinsically learns it. For instance, if i hear a call from something and then the icon for that creature turns red, i know that when i hear that call something has just become hostile towards me.

In other words, make the players learn rather than the creatures.

It would be interesting if the icon would only turn red once for that particular call, so that way the player has to remember the sound.

Gryphogrox wrote:

US_of_Alaska wrote:

Hrm... I'm not that happy with the bubbles idea. I like the idea of having communication, but i'd rather stay away from such extrinsic and artificial elements. I'd rather something change on the minimap, and the player actually intrinsically learns it. For instance, if i hear a call from something and then the icon for that creature turns red, i know that when i hear that call something has just become hostile towards me.

In other words, make the players learn rather than the creatures.

It would be interesting if the icon would only turn red once for that particular call, so that way the player has to remember the sound.

Maybe, but not after just once, it would have to be shown at least 2/3 times, or else if the player isn't listening the first time, they'll be in trouble.

One thing I forgot in my concept, players could also communicate to other creatures in the same manor, and the other creatures would have to determine what the player is trying to get across. I'm thinking giving the player simple communications like threat displays, submissiveness (like how wolves of lower rank in a pack react to an alpha), or calling out for help (in the case of social creatures).

tklarenb wrote:

One thing I forgot in my concept, players could also communicate to other creatures in the same manor, and the other creatures would have to determine what the player is trying to get across. I'm thinking giving the player simple communications like threat displays, submissiveness (like how wolves of lower rank in a pack react to an alpha), or calling out for help (in the case of social creatures).

Good ideas. It seems like we could use someone like you helping over in the Aware Stage subforum.

[/hint]

Sign language for intelligent creatures and body language for all organisms.

Perhaps a mood bar which shows above other organisms? Red for vicious, blue for calm, etc.?

I do like the idea of having to learn to associate calls with actions.

As for communication techniques that might be employed- sounds, patterns, bioluminescence displays, scents, electric fields, and perhaps the most interesting is the one I used with the Coatzl on my Multiverses co-op project (no links yet, feel free to search 'Coatzl multiverses') - patterns inside the eye, meaning that conversation can only be two-way, but much more information can be transferred.

All have strengths and weaknesses- sound is probably the best.

Holbenilord wrote:

Perhaps a mood bar which shows above other organisms? Red for vicious, blue for calm, etc.?

This (or something similar) is what the minimap will show. An "angry" or hostile organism will be red once detected and realised to be dangerous, and other organisms will show up as a more neutral color.