Bringing the Evolution

Posted by FredFredrickson on May 22, 2006, 4:51 p.m.

So no news post about 64D's excessive bandwidth usage huh? Hehe, no worries guys… At least it's back up and running!

If you have not checked out Evolites (my current WIP), I suggest you give it a try… you can find it at <a href="http://games.martincrownover.com/evo1.php">my website</a>. Here's a slightly outdated screenshot, for the lazy or unmotivated:

<center><img src="http://games.martincrownover.com/images/evo/evo2.jpg"></center>

This weekend I didn't make as much progress on Evolites as I thought I would, but I did get to add some exciting features, and brainstorm some others that I think everyone who plays the game will enjoy. I had planned on getting a new update out over the weekend, but since i got caught up in programming a lot of extra features (and an unexpected, but excellent surprise visit from my girlfriend), I think I will just be holding off on an update until everything is ready.

For anyone interested, here's what should be in the next Evolites update:

- A new (and easy-to-use) type of save system for an evolution sim

- A slick menu system

- User interaction tools… control the environment, and influence your creatures

- Updated set of internal statistics for the Evolites

- Possibly new abilities for Evolites (like fighting and evading)

- Pollution system for the environment… Complete with Evolite poop!

- Statistics system that tracks roughly 20-30 minutes of play time history

- Some internet connectivity…

- Probably more!

I am anxious to get this demo out, but I am not going to rush it, because I want things to be working at or near the quality they will be for when the game is finished, which isn't too far off either. Anyway, glad the site's back, and thanks for reading!

Comments

melee-master 18 years, 6 months ago

Quote: Fred

So no news post about 64D's excessive bandwidth usage huh? Hehe, no worries guys… At least it's back up and running!

Well, in my latest blog post it says a bit about it. =D I personally didn't think it needed a news post, so I didn't post one.

Anyways, I haven't downloaded Evolites yet, but I've been watching your GMC topic, and it sure appears to be doing well! I will download it soon, if I remember… Internet connectivity seems like it has a lot of potential, like downloadable enemies, food, etc…

takua108 18 years, 6 months ago

Coolness! Is this going to be kinda like Spore?

Neat stuff though. I'll be awaiting the release of the next demo.

FredFredrickson 18 years, 6 months ago

I'm not particularly sure how far I want to take the 'net connectivity, but I already have a few things planned, courtesy of some ideas that Fox-NL and I came up with. It definitely won;'t take on the scope that Spore does… but it will be unique in it's own right.

One thing that should be fairly easy to implement will be the ability to share any of your Evolites with others, so they can drop them into their own pool and see what happens. You could even face off your evolites against your friends' this way! [:D]

melee-master 18 years, 6 months ago

Heh, dropping them into other player's pools would rule.

neonut99 18 years, 6 months ago

Quote: Fred
So no news post about 64D's excessive bandwidth usage huh? Hehe, no worries guys… At least it's back up and running!
Thats the secpnd time for me. MEh no big deal!

Joewoof 18 years, 6 months ago

Quote: Fred
User interaction tools… control the environment, and influence your creatures
> Make sure you put a lot of focus into this. I've seen a few well-made life sims that turned out to be completely boring, since all you can do is watch or nudge a few things. Obviously, games are games because of interaction. Take that control away, and you lose a great deal of fun.

Quote: Melee
Heh, dropping them into other player's pools would rule.
> Hell yeah!

noshenim 18 years, 6 months ago

Crada seems to be the best…

needs interaction, lots.

DesertFox 18 years, 6 months ago

Evolites - cool.

Does anyone remember the old evolition sim that used polygons that changed shape slightly ever generation?

noshenim 18 years, 6 months ago

make sure you have on-screen controlls, unless its all mouse click.

Otherwise it's hard to remember everything.

Cesar 18 years, 5 months ago

cool, only thing is that there's really nothing to do…

bad: i had a 99% mutated evolite but when he was next to the sunlight for the magical 100 he died!!