It was getting to be so easy for me to give up on Creatures 2 worlds. There were just too many problems with the gameplay and built in genetics. And then GimmeCat posted this awesome article on how to pull genetic files from eggs. Great work, GimmeCat!
Now, I was finally able to play with Nova Subterra norns like I’d wanted. Instead of creating a new world to play with and get to know norns, however, I wanted to play around with the genomes, like I often did with Docking Station. Just as with the Kannova, I decided to add instincts to eat other foods and to drink when thirsty. This set of genes missing just seemed very strange to me, especially given the problems with learning that the default genomes had. Then again, looking at the instincts, I also saw that there were 3 instincts to reward eating food and 3 for fruit. One food instinct and one fruit instinct for The Embryo, Adolescent and Adult stages. Uh. What?
Anyway, instead of replacing these, I instead added the new instincts for each of the three life stages used by the food and fruit instincts. To start with, I added the instincts to drink when thirsty. Why was this missing? Then, instincts to push dispensers when hungry. Finally, I added instincts to eat seeds, leaves and roots. Before too long, I had my first test norns.
These two are some of the updated norns. I decided on the Bahama norn sprites only because I like them. I added more norns just like them to pad out the population a little and hopefully prevent extinction. Now I only had to wait to see what the eight of them would do.
They spent much of their time wall bonking, unfortunately. After a while, I moved them to the lower level near the swamp, where the carrots and potatoes were growing. I thought at the very least that the abundant food would be good for them. Unfortunately, a few died anyway. Perhaps I should add instincts to eat flowers? It was an idea, anyway. Another idea? I should probably take the time to teach these guys some lessons about life. This test group wasn’t doing so well. Eventually, the game crashed anyway.
We must be thinking very similarly lately! I just posted about how Creatures 2 has never clicked for me, due to a whole bunch of problems. I think you pointed out the underlying issue: It’s like the developers tried to make C2 so complex and amazing, but ended up breaking things and making it frustrating. I’m still planning on getting back into creating a C2 genetic breed I started working on… Yet I’m with you on feeling the need to give up on Creatures 2! I hope you make some progress with these Norns, though. I’ve always wanted to try making their genomes much simpler, sort of how they were in Creatures 1, to see if that would actually help with their intelligence. Good luck with the new instincts!
I’ve actually decided to give up on Creatures 2, at least for the time being. With my computer falling apart, the stability issues were only worsening, so every time I take a step forward with Creatures 2 the game usually crashes and I take two steps back. It’s just gotten to be too frustrating. 🙁
I think the line , “Eventually, the game crashed anyway,” would be an accurate ending to all C2 related posts ever.
I agree. That’s why I’ve given up on C2 altogether, at least for now.