Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts
One of the CCSF activities centered around a writing prompt. Only one entry was submitted, but enjoy reading through this wonderful piece of Creatures fan fiction! Can you imagine just what's going on on this Shee world?
Written by SpringRain
PROMPT: “The home world of the Shee, established thousands of years ago, has finally crumbled. The species has fled from the derelict world, leaving very few behind. At the last working space port, a pieced together mess of a ship lies in wait. Abandoned crates litter the area, left to crumble in the last places where they were
dropped during the last mass exodus. Dust has already begun to creep into every crevice, but there is a newly marked trail of timid footprints from the entrance to the spaceport. The lonely sound of the wind rushing through the empty corridors sends an eerie emptiness hurtling through the air. Yet something stirs among the rubble..."
A pair of shimmering grey eyes peered out from behind the pile of rubble at the remains of the dilapidated ship lying in wait. Shards of broken eggshell of an unassuming dusty grey were all that remained of the owner’s former home. Perhaps that was why it had been overlooked and left behind when the mass exodus had occurred.
Tiny paw prints led from a broken crate near the entrance to the port, the only sign of life pressed into the thin film of dust which layered everything like old icing sugar in an abandoned bakery. From the moment it hatched, it was led by an urge…an instinct stronger than any other emotion; to seek out energy sources to absorb. That was the way it would feed. Delicate filaments like waving threads of spider silk fluttered either side of its translucent greyish skin, sending signals back to the brain, much like a bat’s sonar system, creating images. It could pinpoint faint energy sources, marked out by differing colours depending on their potency.
Pale, dragonfly styled wings rustled and flitted upon its back as it stumbled out from where it had been foraging, too weak to lift its own weight by hovering just yet. A long, tattered and distinctly leafy tail drew a wavering line in the dust between the footprints, undulating in the cold wind that whistled in ghostly howls through the empty corridors.
Falling upon an old piece of machinery, it clawed off the hatch concealing an ancient battery and pulled out the contents with a sigh as energy was drawn into its palm, glimmers of bluish light cascading through the veins networking its body and wings. Licking its lips hungrily, it gave a noise of disappointment when the scant supply all too quickly faded out.
Large batlike ears swivelled atop its head and the creature closed light silver optics to detect another food source, sensing hints of dormant energy in the mass of broken ship that had drawn it here. It wavered towards the structure on wobbling legs, scrambling, wings flitting weakly so that sometimes it half-hovered, half crawled, continuing in this way until it fell against the rickety door that led into the structure with a soft thwump that disturbed a cloud of dust. “T-chih!” A sharp
sneeze ricocheted off the silence that lingered in the absences of the wind’s moanings. The creature shook its head, rubbing at the bluish grey pad with a paw and a sniffle.
Gnawing instinct drove it to perseverance. In the gloomy half-light, it lifted its spectral body and placed padded palms against the slightly rusting, warped door, leaning into it with desperation, willing itself to pass through into the empty space behind, to somehow get in.
The wind picked up again and shrieked around the puny form, rippling the short, downy fur and fluttering the scarf-like tail, making the thready whiskers dance. It let out a tinny sounding cry and began hammering upon the unyielding portal which barred access to the vital energy. The sounds of its pummeling were swallowed up by the thick metal and invisible gusts. An inexplicable panic set in.
It had to get through, it had to get to the source, it had to, it HAD to! – all at once it felt itself falling forwards, tumbling onto a hard surface with an unexpected jolt and a searing pain in one arm.
Sitting up with a whimper, the creature cradled one elbow in its free hand and slowly opened wide eyes to see itself within new surroundings, cast in a faint light from the eerie glow its own body gave off. It stuttered to its feet again, almost able to taste the hidden energy in the air. Following the signals tingling through its whiskers, it let its paws lead it through empty corridors, cluttered jumbles, giant rooms and hollow spaces, across bridges over unseen depths and strange terrains…
Finally, it stopped, deep into the bowels of the ancient vessel, a pea sized figure before a puzzling complexion of buttons and gadgets. Its fur frizzled out with the static electricity that clung to the cold atmosphere as it looked up at the panels, ears quivering expectantly. There was some way to get to the idle food source, but how?
Fluttering its wings, it stretched on tip-toe, reaching out one splayed hand for all it was worth and making sounds of effort as it hopped up and down, trying to reach the coloured bumps and switches. It tripped, falling back on its lengthy tail with a crackled squeak of dismay much like an out of tune radio. Hot liquid stung at its eyelids.
Rolling onto its belly, the creature took a couple of steps back until it was about in the middle of the room, just far enough for a running start. Its wings whirred with renewed passion as it started a shaky jog towards its target. With a spark of glee and a swoop in its stomach, it launched successfully off the ground at the last meter, wings whirring loudly, tail acting as a rudder. The searing ache that
shot through the tender appendages could not have been expected. Crush! It lost momentum as the flimsy insectoid wings gave out, dropping it forcefully onto the slanted, knobbly panel where it rolled over them in a painful tumble and bounced off, spiraling across the floor before crashing into a machine in the middle of the room with an injured cry. Head ringing, blackness closed in on it for a moment, while scrambled messages were sent through its brain.
Eventually, it realized the ringing sounds were being joined by other noises, alien bleeps, boops and mechanical whining…a pale lilac grew in its image maps, blossoming steadily into an electrifying blue. Slowly, the creature cracked open its eyes, gasping in breaths of air. Its entire body felt the surges. Tingling, buzzing energy was circulating through the area, spreading outwards, filling the environment. Old parts creaked and bioengineered techno-organisms began to stir. Licking its lips in
excitement, it turned and scratched frantically, almost madly at the covering panel of the machine that had smacked its head only moments ago. It had to get in…it had to get the energy…it HAD to – Pwoop! It’s paw phased through the hatch without warning, disappearing up to the elbow. Grasping the components and wires within as instinct told it, the creature felt an explosion of blissful joy at the flow of blue light pouring into its palm, fizzling throughout its body in sparking, glimmering blue networks. Wings outspread, it looked like it was in pure heaven.
Closing its eyes, it began to feel, to sense…other things outside its own body; the shape of the ship, every part, every wire, every tiny movement as the beast awakened and began to heal. It could feel the crunchy ground under its belly, the layers of dust powdering the windows and outer shell, the jammed doors. The energy lit up everything in its mind, showing where it was strongest, where it flowed to and from. Essentially, it now was the ship.
In the empty Shee spaceport, the sound of powerful engines roared to life.
Drawn and Written by Lauren
A frozen world would never be complete without some living beings in it. The Ferret Ettins are a new breed concept, and their lifestyle makes them perfect for living in cold, icy conditions!
From Lauren: "Anyone is free to make this into a real breed.
Living in the mountainous ranges of tundra and rock, the Ferret Ettins are an ancient breed that live deep underground in tunnels and only come above ground to search for their food.
Although mostly solitary, some Ferret Ettins have been found to live happily in tight knit family groups that help care for each other's young.
Their pale coats keep them warm in the frost and provide excellent cover from anything looking to eat these Ettins. Although technically predators themselves, that doesn't stop other critters looking at them like snacks.
Food: Their natural diet usually consists of critters, critter eggs, bugs and sometimes even fish if they are able to catch them, although upon capture we have found they will eat a normal diet but this is at the expense of them having less nutrition.
Movement: Movement is fairly easy for these Ettins, as they are lithe and quick and have no problem at all chasing down prey.
Reproduction: These Ettins are photo-receptive breeders, meaning that they come into season based on the amount of light that they absorb into their bodies just like plants do for photosynthisis. They are good breeders.
Aggression: Not much is known about their aggression, as they can be fairly solitary, but tests have shown that by waking them up from naps they do get pretty grumpy... Other then that they are pretty friendly, but have problems with overcrowdedness.
Evolutionary History: Blood tests have shown a distant link from the Ettins of the swamp in Albia but how they got here is a bit of a mystery. It is thought that their ancestors were brought here after a long journey and escaped off the Shee ship into the wilderness and became what we see today.
Immunity: They seem to suffer from a lot of sneezing.
Recovery: Recovery of this species on board the ship was relatively easy although they have a habit to play which kept the crew busy before we could set off again. They are settling in well and more tests will be carried out over the course of the journey."
Written by Jessica as Part of the Shee Journey Series Our only chance was a frozen planet in the same star system: The institute had always had a great deal of interest in one like this, since ancient life could have been perfectly preserved. I quickly jumped into action, and told the Shee of this possible discovery. Though they kept control of the spaceship, they were eager to not miss out on this world. I jumped to action, guiding everyone into the emergency vehicle. It was a tight squeeze, and some of the Grendels were ready to eat the nearest Norns. If this plan was to work, I had little time left. And one shot. One very long shot... I returned to brew my best cup of tea since the voyage had begun. I sipped it slowly, as a lone tear trickled to my lips and offered a salty note to the otherwise perfect cup of tea. I took a deep breath as we drew closer. I passed by the group of Norns, Grendels, and Ettins jammed into the tiny ship. There was enough room for a good amount of food, and lots of seeds. My assistants looked at me with a mix of fear and anticipation. I gave them my usual stern look, but followed it up with a genuine smile. Again, we needed no words to communicate our thoughts and feelings. They knew what had to be done, whether or not I made it in time. As I boarded the exploratory vessel, I started my timer. Though this vessel was more of an enemy, I needed it for this final journey. The Shee Intergalactic Research Institute would be watching closely, but I was confident. I had to be. Everything was rather surreal as I approached this mysterious frozen world. Ice and snow swirled far into its atmosphere, and I was immediately blinded. Perfect. Fortunately, this was not a world with any life. No chance of the vessel collecting any samples, which was better than I expected. As the ground finally came into view, I spotted exactly what I was looking for: A small mountain range. I glanced at my timer: It was just about time. With a flick of my fingers, I input a complex sequence I had known by heart from the start of this journey. It was the manual override for a collision course. Only I had modified it, ever so slightly. The vessel would never know. I transmitted a signal back to the institute warning of hostile enemies who were in full pursuit. With a wry smile, I set the course and headed to the back of the vessel. In a moment, the escape hatch opened, though it did so unwittingly. The Shee who were listening merely heard a recording of my voice, which would transmit until the crash. This had to work... I checked the timer just as it finished its countdown. Almost in slow motion, I jumped. The icy air was a muddle of bright pain, but I met it with excitement. I knew the emergency ship was on its way: There was no way the institute could turn it back from a rescue mission. Only they had no idea what it was rescuing... In the distance, I watched the vessel turn into a glowing ball of fire for little more than a few seconds. Its demise was the end of its treachery. I could scarcely breath the freezing air, though, and I disappeared into the blackness of unconsciousness long before I could know if my assistants had located me. No matter what happened to me, these Creatures would forever be safe from the prying hands of the Shee from the institute. Research was what this journey was based upon, but I discovered something much more important than anything that could be found in a lab. I had found life: Not just new life, but my own life, as well. And that was worth it all. From Jessica: "Can you believe it? Today marks the final day of the CCSF 2012! This has been an amazing two weeks, and we finish off with a frozen world. The main storyline has now come full circle... Or is it really finished? Check back throughout the day for the final releases, along with the announcement of the activity winners! Thank you again to everyone who has made this year's CCSF a wonderful one!"
Written by Jessica as Part of the Shee Journey Series Fuzzy outlines and blurred images made me wonder if I was stuck in a dream. Or perhaps I had crossed over to the other side... The pain across my head told me otherwise, and I let out a short cry of pain. I was alive: Possibly the luckiest Shee at the moment. I pulled myself into a sitting position, and found that the vessel was upside-down. Wonderful. The on-board communicator chattered, and I recognized the voices of my assistants. With a shaky hand, I touched the button to respond. The screen came alive not only with their familiar faces, but also with the concerned eyes of the Creatures. After a systems check, it appeared that the vessel had simply gone off course and crashed itself. I knew I couldn't trust the devious thing. Yet it had saved my life in the way it crashed into the sand. Sand, indeed. There was nothing visible outside the window but a great expanse of sand. I was told to stay put and await the emergency rescue vehicle, but I couldn't risk another vehicle. This vessel merely needed to right itself with the push of a button... I failed to negotiate the barrel roll, and ended up in an untidy heap on the floor. My head still ached like it never had before, yet nothing was broken. It was a curious thing the vessel had done. Before I could guide it back to the spacecraft, it jetted off at a perilous speed to pick up something it had been vastly interested in collecting. This had to have a mind of its own. I was convinced of it all, and a little frightened. Yet the desert world was soon a small marble behind us as we returned to the spacecraft. Though I had only been gone for about a day, it was the most heartwarming reunion I had ever experienced. There was even a cup of tea waiting for me, and I could honestly say that the Norn who brewed it had done a great job. Just as we started to go through the objects brought back by the vessel, an incoming transmission came in. It was the institute. The vessel's crash had initiated an emergency beacon that had traveled back home. It was simply assumed that our off-course position was due to a problem, and that our journey would have to come to an end. They knew we had found the Creatures they so desperately wanted to study. The exploratory vessel had been sending information back to them covertly this entire time. I knew there was something traitorous about it. Under section 728 of the Shee Intergalactic Research Institute's code, the automatic guide was initiated from home. We had no way of controlling it, and I felt a nauseous wave fall over me. Our plan to keep these Norns, Grendels, and Ettins from the grasp of greedy researchers was doomed. I would be welcomed as a hero: The best of the Shee. It meant nothing to me. I could not abandon these Creatures as my ancestors had. My hands were tied. Unless... From Jessica: "Amazingly, the Creatures Community Spirit Festival has almost reached its conclusion! However, the storyline still has a number of twists in it. The Shee survived the crash, but what will happen next? Today's theme continues with the desert world, though don't expect to be bored with the same monotonous sand! Expect some excellent releases today and tomorrow! Also, don't forget to read Ask Laura, and send in your questions!"
Written by Jessica as Part of the Shee Journey Series Days of staring at star maps and endlessly hailing our home world had led to absolutely nothing. We were lost, and it was time to decide what to do. This journey had to continue, yet we had two paths before us. One was to try to return home with all of the Creatures and findings. My youngest assistant was certain he recognized a small star system, which might bring us home. The other option was the more extreme... I had grown attached to these Norns, Grendels, and Ettins. They were thousands, perhaps even millions, of miles from their homes. What would become of them if we brought them back? I had the distinct feeling that the institute would treat them more as research subjects than actual living beings. Fortunately, my assistants seemed to agree. We headed off into the unknown... Naturally, my tea brewing had suffered from my stress. I spent the better part of one morning crafting a special cup of the delicious beverage for myself, and I even found a few Creatures who seemed to appreciate its warm flavor. My serious exterior had melted away, and I found myself less drawn to my research notes than to the simple activities of interacting with these Creatures. However, the ship alerted us all to the presence of a nearby planet. With no idea where we were, I knew we had to stop. I cringed, for this was a desert planet. I remembered the ordeal with the sand, and resigned myself to put up with it a second time. The vessel easily could have reached the surface on its own, but I secretly enjoyed these planetary visits. I bid farewell to everyone aboard, and promised a quick return. There was very little I expected to find in such a dry, arid world. Indeed, the yellows and browns quickly blurred into one boring image outside the window. I actually spotted what looked like a colony of Creatures, which brought unexpected surprise to me. In such a bland place seemingly devoid of life, how could life exist? I let the vessel guide itself so I could get a closer look. I only had a split second to register the collision alert before the world went black... From Jessica: "After the ordeal with the black hole, one may have assumed that the Shee would not endure any more problems. On this desert world, it seems that we may have lost our main character... Stay tuned for the last few chapters! The twelfth day of the CCSF is set on a desert world. What does a desert hold? Beneath all that sand, one never knows! Check back throughout the day for more!"
Written by Steve Grand
One of the most important people to Creatures is its original creator, Steve Grand. He was responsible for the beginning of our beloved series, and deserves a great deal of credit for all he has done! Before the CCSF 2012 began, members of the community were given an opportunity to send in questions to ask Steve. Thankfully, he took the time to answer every question with a good amount of details! Have a wonderful time reading through this interview with Steve on the 16th anniversary of the release of Creatures 1!
From Steve Grand: "Hi everybody! Happy CCSF! You have no idea how thrilled I am that people are still playing and talking about Creatures after all this time. It makes me feel really old, but it’s extremely heartwarming nonetheless! Thank you all for making the game a success."
- How does it feel to make one of the most successful artificial life games in existence?
Haha, that’s a very small category to be top of! The fact that Creatures is still close to the state of the art in scientific terms, more than a decade after it was written, is something to feel quite proud of, I guess, but at the time the whole thing was a rather surreal and stressful experience, from what I remember. I’d just been quietly tinkering away on much the same kinds of things I’d been working on since 1978 and nobody had shown the slightest bit of interest up to that point. Then suddenly... Pow! To be honest I didn’t really know how to deal with the “fame” side of things, because I’d never wanted to be a games programmer at all, never mind a successful one, And while some people would give their eye teeth to have someone make a TV documentary about them or whatever, I’m basically pretty shy and self-conscious. I kept thinking it was all a dreadful mistake and someone would find out eventually. The only times I remember being relaxed enough to feel a momentary sense of accomplishment were the day that I received my OBE from the Queen, and one other time when it suddenly hit me between the eyes that silly little uneducated me was standing chatting to a Nobel prizewinner on one side and an astronaut on the other, while casually sipping whisky with the royal family! But although it was all a bit unreal in that respect, Creatures gave me the chance to become friends with some truly amazing people who otherwise I would never have had the slightest hope of meeting. So when I’m very old and look back on my life, I think that will be the thing I remember most fondly.
- What is your favorite part of the Creatures universe?
Hmm. That’s tricky. I liked all of it. In my head I don’t so much see the world as it appeared in the game, but as it appeared in the model that was built to form the graphics. Although I built the first clay burrow myself, just to test out the feasibility of producing the graphics photographically (there was no such thing as 3D software in those days), I had nothing to do with creating the model itself, and so the first time I saw it I was amazed. It was like having your own giant doll’s house built! I still have the airship from it sitting on my bookshelf. I guess the coast in C1 probably appeals to me the most, because the idea of a journey was important in the original plotline, and the coast just beckons you to encourage your norns to travel (if you can ever get the stupid creatures in the boat). There are two reasons I love computers. One is that you can build living things in them and the other is that you can build places to explore. I’m a sucker for simulations – I particularly love flightsims but I also have a ship simulator, a train simulator and I even just bought a truck simulator. In all cases it’s the ability to travel through a virtual world that excites me. So I’d love to have been able to do more on the idea of a journey, with endless new places for you and your norns to discover, but computers were pretty limited in those days, so a little circular world was all we could manage.
- Do you still think of new ideas for the Creatures games?
Not so much for the game itself, but ever since I finished Creatures I’ve been working on a whole bunch of new ideas for how to build artificial lifeforms. Norns are complex beings by computer science standards but as you all know, they’re embarrassingly stupid. And they don’t really have thoughts, not in the sense that we do – no daydreams or plans or hopes for the future. So since the game was released I’ve been doing a lot of experimentation into the biology of consciousness and imagination. It’s been very hard, but I feel like I’m really onto something now. I tested out my early ideas using robots, but now I’m back in the virtual world again. I don’t think I’ve stopped thinking about these things for a single day since 1992! I’d love to spend time thinking up new ideas for the gameplay and the world, too, but to my mind everything revolves around the creatures and so although I do have a few ideas up my sleeve, I need to wait and see what the new creatures’ personalities are like before I decide what world they should live in.
- What was your favorite moment when developing Creatures?
I think it was probably the moment when Michael, our CEO, suddenly “got it”. Creatures was a follow-on from the previous game I’d written, called Rome AD92. Rome had been published by Maxis in the States, and so when they wanted to work with us again, Creatures was the idea we put forward. So as far as Michael was concerned, this was just another adventure game in a line of adventure games. It was just another business deal and that was that. In fact his first verdict on all my hard work was “the scrolling really sucks”. But then one of my first norns did something strange and Michael asked me, “why did it do that?” I answered “I don’t know” and Michael said “what do you mean you don’t know?” I think he felt a programmer really ought to know why their code was doing whatever it was doing. But when I explained that the Norn hadn’t done that thing because I’d programmed it to, but because the creature itself chose to do it, Michael’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped. Suddenly he got the point of what I was doing. From that moment on he was sold on the idea and worked hard to make it commercially possible. He took it out of the schedule and told me I had all the time I needed.
- Did you ever anticipate how successful Creatures would be, or how prominent it would still be over a decade after its release?
Heavens, no! If somebody had told me then that some of the kids who were going to play my game would one day grow up, have kids of their own and then introduce them to the very same game, I’d have sent for the men in white coats to take them away! If I’d had any idea that people’s entire careers might be influenced by playing Creatures and they’d end up becoming doctors or programmers or biologists in part because of something I’d made, or that one day I’d be standing up in front of scientists from, say, the Human Genome Project, to tell them about the genetics of a video game, I’d just have laughed. I guess I can claim some of the credit for sparking people’s interest, but in large part the longevity of the game is a testament to you guys and all the work you put into developing the community.
- What inspired the appearance of Norns?
They were a sore point, actually. My original Norns looked something like chickens, because I wanted them to be perky, curious and something of an “ugly duckling,” but nobody else in the company shared my feelings on that, so we explored all sorts of ideas. A lot of them came from Mark Rafter, our art director, but Mark’s tastes were about as unconventional as mine, so most of his suggestions were considered a bit delicate and “girly” (although I liked them). Back in those days, the idea that macho video games might ever be girly was a pretty dangerous one! At one point we had a group of people from Disney come in to make suggestions, if I remember right, and that was probably when the big eyes and general furriness started to take hold. My original proposal for the game was entitled “Small Furry Creatures” after a phrase in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (funnily enough I didn’t know Douglas Adams until much later and I’m not sure if I ever did actually tell him that I stole his title), and in that proposal I described them as being rather like Ewoks, which perhaps isn’t too far from how they ended up. So there were various different concepts floating around and everybody had their own opinion on the subject. There was a lot of argument and I don’t really remember why they ended up looking the way they did.
- Were Grendels designed to be evil monsters, or were they more along the lines of misunderstood cousins of Norns?
I can’t remember much about where Grendels came from either. I’d always had it in mind to produce several species, and thanks to one of my earliest design documents I’d gone off on a Scandinavian mythology kick, which is where the name Norn came from. They were named after the Nornir, the three old women who sat beside three wells, under the great World Tree Yggdrasil, to weave men’s fates. Coincidentally, I believe there is an echo of those three wells and the tree in the coat of arms for the tiny city of Wells, where I grew up, so it was kind of an homage. So, given the context I guess I thought of the Grendel from the Beowulf epic as being another potentially useful name and that in turn suggested something pretty nasty. A big inspiration for the game in the first place was a novel called The Planiverse, by A.K.Dewdney, which was about a computer simulation that had somehow got connected up with a real two-dimensional universe. The main character was called Yndrd, and he went on a journey, during which he came across various nasty creatures. I guess I had that in mind when thinking of a second species, but I honestly can’t remember my thought processes any more. I expect I intended them to be somewhat nasty, but I do tend to assume that people who are nasty are really just misunderstood, so I think the answer might be a bit of both! The Shee, incidentally, were named after the Side (where the “d” is really an old letter called eth, and is hardly pronounced). These were people from ancient Irish sagas, sometimes thought to be the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age people who built the megalithic tombs in Ireland. As you can see I like mythology, but it was a bit of an eclectic mixture!
- What made you decide on the Creatures design in general?
There’s a sense in which I didn’t so much design it as discover it, I think. Sometimes people say that the job of a sculptor is to carve away the bits that aren’t needed, to reveal the sculpture that was inside the wood or stone all along, and I had that sense with Creatures. Things just kind of fell into place. I’ll answer about the look-and-feel in another question, but from the point of view of the science and technology behind it, Creatures was just a step in a long sequence of events. When I first discovered computers I was training to be a teacher, and so my interest in how children’s minds develop led me naturally into artificial intelligence. I read all the books on the subject in the college library and decided everybody was doing it all wrong (in the way that 19 year-olds tend to do!) There wasn’t enough notice being taken of biology. It was all hard-nosed mathematics and not nearly emergent and self-organized enough. So I started experimenting with very simple artificial plants that could evolve through natural selection, and strange neural networks that had a lot more in common with biological ones than any others that existed at the time. This was just a hobby, but at the same time I started a small business writing educational software. It was very important to me that children should not be taught things – they should be helped to discover them for themselves. So as part of this philosophy I started writing an unusual kind of adventure game. The games had no plot – they just consisted of some people, a place and a time, and the children would hold a conversation with one of the people in the virtual world, asking them to travel around, interact with objects and describe what they could see. The programs were extremely open-ended – there was nothing you had to do, only things you could decide for yourself to do and learn about. You can probably see how that desire for open-endedness found its way into Creatures! But so did some of the technology, too. Conventional adventure games are very structured and controlled, but to create a world in which children could do more or less anything they wanted, I had to develop some unique ideas (based on watching how a fly washed its face, as it happens, but that’s too long a story!) So Creatures grew out of several years of experiments in writing software from the bottom up, instead of the more conventional top down. There are some pretty interesting ideas underlying Creatures, and I guess they must have worked well enough!
- What is your general opinion on the third party content that has been created for the Creatures series? Are you pleased by what's been developed or do you feel user created content is detrimental to the game(s)?
Detrimental? Definitely not! I think it’s truly amazing what people have done! I had absolutely no idea that people would take the idea and run with it like that. The fact that people could add stuff to the game at all was actually something of an accident. When I started writing it the game was for MS-DOS, but about that time, Windows 3.1 became a feasible platform for writing games, and then Windows 95 went into beta. Windows had a technology called DDE, which was later replaced by OLE Automation, and I decided to use this new API to make it possible for me to write the difficult biology and game code in C++, while most of the user interface – what eventually became the genetics kit, etc. – could be written in Visual BASIC, as separate little applications. VB was much quicker for producing rich user interfaces, so it seemed like a good idea, and OLE allowed one program to interact with another in just the right way. When people realized Creatures was going to be a major title instead of the fairly average game they’d originally anticipated, Toby decided to get other programmers to rebuild all of my little VB kits in C++ anyway, so all the work I’d put in to open up the API turned out to have been a waste of time. But it was there, and some of you guys figured out how to use it! And of course biology is very much a construction set by its own nature, so that also made it a very open-ended system. If I’d had any idea that people would go to such lengths to write add-ons for the game I’d have put more effort into making it easier and more powerful, but originally the API and the building-block nature of the code was just for my own benefit. If it hadn’t been for that, you wouldn’t have been able to extend the game, but, more importantly, if you guys hadn’t extended the game it would never have lasted for a decade. I’m extremely grateful to everyone who has written COBs and tools and manipulated the genome. That’s what made it all such a success.
- What gave you the idea to make Creatures the way it is?
In terms of look and feel and the storyline, it all began with the geology. I reasoned that rocks make landscapes, landscapes make history, and history makes for self-consistent reasons why the world is the way it is. So I started with the plan to make the game a side-scroller (it was either that or top-down, and I felt the latter would have left people too unconnected with their creatures). This meant the world was effectively forced to be a disk, and this in turn had consequences for the structure of the planet, how the weather worked and suchlike. Very little of this actually made it into the game but the important thing when you’re creating a new universe is to make it self-consistent, so it was a valuable process to go through. One consequence of living on a disk, for instance, is that you’re likely to form a strong psychological distinction between east and west (just like we do with “sunwise” being good and “widdershins” being bad, but even more so when there is no north or south), and this would have an influence on the creatures’ mythology. It also suggested the idea of a journey as a rite of passage, and so on. Like I say, I didn’t manage to get all of this into the game but it did help inform the way things should look and fit together. So it all started with the rocks. It’s interesting to look at human society and see how powerfully that has depended on geology, too.
- What are your favorite breeds in the games and why?
I don’t really know much about them, because by the time the game came out I was sucked into a media frenzy, followed by promotion to company director and all the challenges that this entailed. I lost contact with the game very quickly and the most I could do in terms of watching how the breeding efforts were going was to grab a few Norns off the Web now and again to use as examples when giving talks. But my heart would definitely have been with the underdogs; the Norns with the most embarrassingly quirky behavior. I don’t think I’m alone in that, either. People talk about Norns evolving but really they DE-volved, because the weird ones with serious problems were much more interesting than the normal ones and so people were more likely to share and breed the freaks than the well-adapted ones. I think that’s great, actually, and I loved the way people did feral runs and studied the mutations and suchlike. I remember seeing a full-blown “scientific” paper about a genetic disease, written by a couple of German guys, I think. I hope someone thanked them, because all that stuff was and is fantastic.
- If there was one thing you could change about Creatures, what would it be?
Oh, that’s easy. All of it. In some ways I’m fairly proud of the way I did things but mostly all I see are the mistakes, the compromises and the shortcuts. If I’m forced to narrow it down to one thing that I’d change then I’d say the brains. I had to make a working commercial product and that meant I had to play relatively safe when it came to the AI in order to be reasonably sure it would work (to the extent that it ever did work!). Norn brains are quite innovative in a number of ways (most of which I don’t suppose most people even know about) but they’re not like our brains in ways I regret. In particular the fact that they react to things instead of thinking about them or anticipating them. Ever since C1 I’ve been trying to develop better brains and now I think I have a really good theory, which I’m building into my new game. But boy is it complex! C1 was a very high-risk project but still much tamer than I would have liked. This time I don’t have an employer or milestones, so I can take even bigger risks. It’s pretty scary, actually, but I feel I have to do it. I’ve been driven by these questions since I was a child. I’ve kind of messed up my life in most respects, thanks to my little obsession, but even so, it’s something I just have to do.
- Do you still play Creatures today?
Um, I don’t think I’ve EVER played Creatures, not really. I never had the chance. During development, every time I got something working I’d have to move straight on to the next problem on my list. And after it was released there were too many other things to worry about. I suppose the closest I’ve come to playing it is when I’ve given talks to the public or other scientists and used the game to illustrate one point or another. To me, Creatures was just a step in a long story. I don’t mean to sound dismissive of it; I just mean that as soon as I’d got it working well enough to burn onto CD I lost the ability to develop it any further and had to move on (and anyway it was out of my hands – I had very little to do with C2 and C3). I didn’t stop playing with artificial life in general; I just had to work with other kinds of creature instead. So not long after I left Cyberlife I built Lucy, my scruffy little orang-utan robot, and played with her. Then came Lucy 2 and Grace, although in both cases the projects ended before I’d got beyond the hardware stage. Now I’m working on Grandroids. So I’ve spent a decade playing with the descendants of Norns, just not the Norns themselves!
- If Norns, Grendels and Ettins were real, would you keep them as pets in real life?
Wouldn’t it be great if they could just climb out of the screen into our world? I started to get a sense of how that might feel with Lucy the Robot. She would really freak me out sometimes. But ironically I’m not much of a pet lover at all. I used to keep tropical fish because they were soothing, and as a child we had cats, rabbits and birds, but I was never really very interested in them for some reason. I think life in the abstract interests me more than individual creatures, and to be honest I sometimes prefer people in the abstract too! So if Norns were pets then I’d probably be the type who would forget to feed them. I don’t know how you guys manage to have enough patience with them but I’m glad for their sakes that it was you who looked after them and not me.
- When will Grandroids be available?
Ask me again in another year! ;-) I honestly don’t know. The whole thing is a balancing act between the need to produce something before the money finally runs out, and the drive to follow my destiny, as it were. When I started my Kickstarter project I was pretty desperate – for complicated reasons I won’t go into I’d exhausted pretty much all my own resources, so I hoped to throw something together in the space of about a year that could use some of the ideas I’d had since Creatures and yet wasn’t so ambitious that it required massive levels of innovation. But when I managed to raise more money than I’d expected, and especially when I found out what a lovely, patient and encouraging bunch of people my 600 backers are, I confess I got sucked into attempting something far more ambitious than any sane person would dare to undertake! I could just have used ordinary keyframe animation instead of physics, tarted up technology I already understood instead of inventing everything again from scratch, and focused on making something commercial and entertaining. Creatures 4, basically. But writing C1 set me on a lifelong quest to understand some really important things about where consciousness comes from and what it really means to be alive, and I do think I have something quite interesting and unique to say on the subject, so I got a bit carried away! I have a really exciting theory but putting it into practice is very demanding. Anyone can write a book about their theory of the brain or whatever but when you try to explain something to a computer every tiny detail really matters, and sometimes the devil is in the detail. So I’m working every hour I can but it’s taking a lot longer than I’d originally planned. It’s sort of like when you urgently need to go to the bathroom but you’re watching a really good thing on TV that you’ll miss if you leave now, so you have to catch the moment just right! In my case I’m torn between doing what I feel driven to do, and being able to keep a roof over my head. Sooner or later the latter will overtake the former in importance and shortly after that you’ll have a new game! :-)
- What do you think of Creatures 4?
It’s hard to say, because I haven’t really paid much attention. I’ve been kinda busy! I admit to feeling a bit hurt or sheepish or disappointed or something vaguely depressing about people still making money out of something I created all that time ago, when I’ve really struggled to do my research on a shoestring budget in the meantime. But that’s my stupid fault for being naive. I do wish Fishing Cactus well – they seem like nice people, although I’ve not had any direct contact with them. I think they’re being fairly honest about what it is they’re doing – it’s a game, using existing technology, and I’m sure it will be a lot of fun. For me, though, it’s not about the entertainment; it’s about earnestly trying to create life and trying to make things you can genuinely care for and about. Maybe Fishing Cactus can bring some of that to a new generation of people by updating something that certainly seemed to catch people’s imagination at the time. Meanwhile, for those who are more interested in the hardcore end of artificial life, where looks aren’t as important as underlying substance, I’m working on something new and possibly even startling. There’s plenty of room for all of us, I think! With Creatures I was able to make something for which the question “Are they really alive?” was respectable enough even for scientists and philosophers to ask, not just the rest of us, and I guess C4 will continue to make people ask similar questions for a while longer. With Grandroids I would like people to feel no less justified in asking themselves, “Are they conscious? Do they know they exist?” If Norns are alive then they certainly aren’t very alive by biological standards, and if my new creatures are conscious then they certainly aren’t very conscious, but in both cases they’re at least an honest attempt and not fake. I reckon if I can continue to make people feel it’s legitimate to cry because their creature is sick, or be genuinely delighted when it figures something out for itself that makes it happy, then my work is done!
A huge thank you to Steve Grand for replying to me and taking the time and effort to be a part of the CCSF 2012! He's always been a part of Creatures, but hopefully both new and old fans know more about the mind behind the Creatures series now. Make sure to keep an eye out for more news about Steve's latest project, Grandroids! If we enjoyed Creatures this much, Grandroids should prove to be an even more advanced form of artificial life!
Written by Jessica as Part of the Shee Journey Series None of us could believe what was staring back at us from one of the spacecraft's windows. The history books had made several mentions of this ancient Shee world, but most of the details were shrouded in mystery. Our biggest embarrassment still brought dangerously red blushes to our cheeks, and made even the best scholar lose his or her mind for a moment. Albia. Just the name sent shudders down my back, and made me drop a second cup of tea. My assistants paid no attention to the shattered glass, though I felt a pang of guilt for wasting even more tea. This was an amazing discovery. The coordinates of Albia were supposedly known, but had been locked away for centuries. For us to stumble across this old world was a one in a million chance. I hardly could contain myself: Scans showed lifeforms. Although this was the unmistakable planet of my past, Albia had morphed a bit. It was still rather disc-shaped, though the damage to the surface indicated possible meteors and a definite volcanic pattern. I nearly jumped into the exploratory vessel. Another uncharacteristic Shee thing to do, yet this surpassed any sort of research we could do. This was where everything had begun: The beginning of Norns, Grendels, and Ettins. Even the beginning of the Shee, to a certain degree. Without Albia, our ancestors may never have created the same beings, nor evolved in the way they did. The vessel blasted forth, ready to explore every inch of the planet. I was in awe at the amazing structure of Albia. It was still mostly intact, and even from the clouds I could see groups of Norns across the land. They had survived, against all odds. I was careful to keep a low profile, since my species had virtually abandoned them. The few who approached the vessel had nothing but joy, and a good bit of curiosity. I spotted a most peculiar Creature among them, which made me nearly jump. It was so strange, so dangerous looking, yet the Norns treated it as an equal. I hardly wanted to return to the ship, so thrilling was my newest discovery. The vessel opened to take back some samples for further study... When I was back in orbit again, my assistants raced to find out what the vessel had brought back. The portal opened and they found... Nothing. I expected them to chastise me and tell me all about the importance of Shee research, and how these Creatures were the most important. These were the originals: The beginning of it all. I slowly raised my eyes to theirs, ready to defend my position. They met my gaze, and suddenly, that gaze was all that was needed. We were in complete agreement, without needing to speak a word. To see Albia overrun with the Shee would destroy it, and all of its mysteries. It would remain as it was, forever a piece of our past. From Jessuca: "Today marks the 16th anniversary of the release of Creatures 1, so it is most fitting that our journey takes us back to Albia, where it all began! Don't miss out on some of the releases today! Although there is a decidedly Creatures 1 feel to today's theme, there is one very long post that may intrigue many fans of the Creatures series. Enjoy celebrating C1, the very first Creatures game!"
Written by Jessica as Part of the Shee Journey Series Even with a few new additions, I could hardly rest assured that everything was well. There was no sign of any communication from home, and it seemed like we would be lost in space. Yet apart from the anxiety of not knowing where we were, I almost felt a rush of excitement. This exploration had turned into more than a dull journey, and I was becoming a different sort of Shee. Not too different, though: My tea still tasted delicious, and I could never kick the habit of sipping it throughout the day. Short range radar showed us that there was a world not too far from where we had escaped from the black hole, and I had set the navigation controls to take us there. What appeared outside the window was a strange picture, though, and I wondered if it was actually a planet at all. I scrunched my face in confusion. The oddly oblong object below was certainly made of substance, though it seemed exceptionally strange. I pointed it out to the Norns, Grendels, and Ettins, for we had let them out of the cage room. It was supposed to be temporary, but my assistants enjoyed their company. I kept a close eye on the Grendels, who seemed to have some aggressive moments, though they were careful to stay in check when I was around. That serious stare came in handy. For the time being, though, I had to leave them while I made another voyage to the surface. The exploratory vessel was actually rather comfortable, and had not malfunctioned the day before. I felt I could trust it. After I zipped through the atmosphere, this world appeared to be a gigantic forest, with scarcely an opening to reach the ground. I searched for a long time, simply trying to find a way to penetrate the thick layer of leaves and branches. The vessel quickly darted into a clearing through its auto-pilot feature, though it moved a little too erratically. It was plotting something... All of a sudden, it came to a dead halt in a very dark spot of the forest. Something was out there. Many somethings, in fact. Only the glow of the vessel's interior lights could be seen. Something leaped against the window at the same moment that the vessel captured something else... From Jessica: "Welcome to the tenth day of the CCSF! Can anyone believe how quickly the festival is flying by? Today's theme is that of a forest, where virtually anything could be hiding beneath the shadows of the giant trees. Will the Shee bring back a critter or two? Or perhaps we'll see some Norns, Grendels, or Ettins? Or maybe the oblong shape indicates a formerly disc-shaped world... It all will become clear as the day progresses on!"
Written by Jessica as Part of the Shee Journey Series The alarms droned on, while my assistants and I raced from one control panel to another. We were desperate to alter our course, but the sudden appearance of what could only be a black hole had startled everyone. The Norns, Grendels, and Ettins had been hastily locked away, while I gave them words of encouragement. Wide eyed, I knew there was no way to avoid this. Our course had been perfectly clear, though, and the spacecraft had drifted away. The institute would hear plenty about this, provided we survived. Even with the engines whirring away at their highest speed, we were slowly being pulled towards the deep blackness. I gulped down the last of my tea... This could be the end. Completely out of character, I smiled at my assistants. If this was the end, I could not have imagined a better pair of friends. An odd tingling sensation was all I was aware of for what seemed like hours. Days? There was no way to know. Yet suddenly, I could open my eyes. Everything snapped back to reality, only it all seemed slightly different. My assistants were next to me, also blinking away the daze. Without pause, I turned and eloquently raced for the cage room. As the door opened, I closed my eyes with fear. I could only hope... And then I heard the sounds my ears had been desperate to hear: The Creatures called out to me bewilderingly. Fright had frozen some faces, but all was well. No one had even been injured. Then, it hit me: We were alive, but where were we? All communication was down, though I told my assistants to keep trying to get back in touch with our home world. I secretly held the one piece of bone chilling evidence: Our coordinates made absolutely no sense. None. It looked like we were in an area of uncharted space, with no way of returning to the areas close to home. Yet I nearly toppled over when I peeked out the window: There was a planet nearby. It was like nothing I had ever seen, and its surface changed each time I looked at it. There was no other option: Perhaps we would find help here, though it was equally likely that we would be met with hostility. What else could I do? For the first time, I made the decision to ride inside the exploratory vessel. Although I still had trust issues with the blasted thing, I couldn't send it off into an absolutely unknown region. As much as I had despised it and thought it had a mind of its own, there was no other choice. My assistants stayed with the Creatures, while I nervously set forth on my first surface visit. What I found there was hardly much help, yet my mind was set at ease. I even drifted off to sleep on the long voyage... Although I ended up bringing back several specimens, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had completely dreamed it all. Perhaps it was just the strange properties of the planet below. From Jessica: "Oh dear! Our CCSF voyage seems to have gone off course, thanks to a black hole. Never fear: The dream theme of the day promises to offer a number of interesting releases. The nightmare of day nine seems to have been confined to the black hole incident! Prepare yourself for some fun downloads... And don't forget about the Activities, whose deadlines are approaching very quickly!"
Written by Jessica as Part of the Shee Journey Series My first encounter with the Grendels from the previous day had been rather frightening, and my tea still sloshed over the sides of my mug from time to time. Despite my fear, these were some of the more interesting research subjects. They were so similar to the Norns that were so beloved, yet the ancient Shee must have written them off as a genetic mistake and decided to label them as the enemy. I slipped quietly into the cage room when my assistants were preoccupied. The Grendels were sleeping soundly, eyes twitching with dreams and mouths letting little sighs and snores escape. Our planetary approach forced me to return to my post, yet that moment gave me a glimpse into the future of these Grendels: They would be studied and destroyed, without a second thought. Such a pity. The beautiful sapphire color shining from beyond the spacecraft brought a feeling of renewed joy. There had to be a way to convince the Shee Intergalactic Research Institute to understand that these Norns, Grendels, and Ettins were far more important than to be used as a means to an end. They appeared to have survived for hundreds of years without the aid of the Shee, and they were scattered throughout the planets. Wasn't that proof enough that there was something special about them? Wasn't the feeling of attachment I had unintentionally developed worth fighting for? Before I could resolve these questions, the vessel started off. I read through the data reports as they came in. This was an interesting world, consisting almost entirely of endless oceans. The water was hardly devoid of life, and the vessel had a difficult time photographing anything without having its lens obstructed with some aquatic critter or another. I quickly denied its request to send a low level electric shock through the water: I saw no value in it for a simple picture. Suffice to say that the vessel sent back "accidentally" blurry shots before collecting several interesting discoveries. The fact that its indicator panel recommended a water tank told me everything. I wanted a close look at these new additions. From Jessica: "The CCSF may have already featured a somewhat aquatic world, but today has an even more watery theme! Hopefully worlds have taken shape and been filled with many of the new downloads. For those looking for a few more truly aquatic-themed releases, look no further than the eighth day of the CCSF! Who knows what we will discover beneath the depths of the oceans?"
Drawn and Written by Ylukyun
Written by Jessica as Part of the Shee Journey Series It was a welcome surprise when the ship picked up a mass amount of activity originating from a planet in a nearby star system. I had to keep the Norns from getting too close to the controls: They seemed fascinated with the buttons and dials, yet one wrong move could send us hurtling off into uncharted space. Surprisingly, both the Ettins and Norns had adapted to life aboard the spacecraft. Yet those cages almost ate away their very essence when my assistants locked them away. I even had misgivings about some of the tests: A young one cried out when I picked him up roughly, and my heart felt like it was breaking. I was careful to keep these thoughts out of my reports. The institute would have been very upset if its prime researcher was showing signs of anything more than analytical curiosity. The tea bubbled ever so gently as I sipped its warm contents. The exploratory vessel took off, almost with a grin. It was sure to return with something interesting from this planet. Atmospheric scans indicated that this was not such an organic planet: Industrial smoke filled some parts of the world, and it all was rather advanced. Up until this point, my voyage had taken me to very natural habitats. I anxiously awaited the opening of the portal. It could have been minutes or hours that I sat lost in thought, but even before the vessel could communicate back its findings, there was an unsettling feeling in the Norns. They seemed afraid of something... Very afraid. From Jessica: "The CCSF has been going on for nearly a week now, and our journey is far from over! Today features an industrial world that seems to hold a dangerous mystery. One may be able to deduce just what that danger is from the reaction of the Norns, though it may be worth checking back to learn more. Have another wonderful day enjoying the past downloads, and looking forward to the new posts!"
Written by Jessica as Part of the Shee Journey Series I found it difficult to focus on the spacecraft's computers: This next planet would take us further from home than ever, and it should have felt like a true step for advancement. It was impossible to keep a decent sleep schedule, yet my glossy eyes were a clear sign that I had experienced troubled sleep. I glanced forlornly at my cup of tea, which had cooled to a dangerously low temperature. My assistants had the courtesy to leave me in peace... I could hardly tell them that I thought our cargo hold held more than mere research specimens. With a ragged sigh, I peered out into the great empty expanse of space. The outline of a planet was just coming into view. I almost felt a pang of guilt, as if taking any more Norns, Grendels, and Ettins would be cruel. I brushed aside the strange thoughts quickly. This planet was one that the Shee Intergalactic Research Institute had warned me against. Most of it was a deep, dark jungle with questionable forms of life. I was only too glad to send the exploratory vessel into the green murkiness... Better it than me. There was the fleeting moment when it seemed like it had become lost near a tangled canopy of trees. My heart fluttered, for this would give me extra time to spend with the Norns and Ettins. Research subjects, of course. This was all in the name of Shee research. Nothing more. Yet the vessel reappeared on the radar screen, and seemed to defiantly sneer at me from the planet's surface. Cheeky. From Jessica: "Welcome to the jungle! Danger and death are often associated with the jungles from the Creatures series, though they offer much more... If one is willing to take the chance! The sixth day of the CCSF will be full of surprises, just as the Shee from the main storyline seems to have a surprise or two. Thanks to everyone for making the CCSF 2012 such an interactive experience! Keep on commenting, rating, and downloading!"
Submitted by Malkin With well over a decade since the original Creatures game was released, some of the early media content has been lost or completely forgotten. Luckily, this early review of Creatures 1 has been recovered! Read through this informative two page document to find out what Computer Gaming World had to say about the game! Download the Creatures 1 Review (600 KB PDF File) From Malkin: "This is a PDF of a review of Creatures 1 from November 1997 (likely a US publication: C1 came out in the US at that time). Reading through it, I had the thought - The more things change, the more they stay the same. It reminded me a lot of my own experiences with C1, and of the C1 Norns at Discover Albia."
Written by Sam999
The mountainous world featured as today's theme contains multiple data caches, including an excerpt about Shee religion! Although we have seen some glimpses into the culture behind this mysterious species, the interpretation of who they are and how they act is still up for debate. This excerpt provides insight into some possible information behind the Shee religion. Read more about this interesting side of the Shee!
From Sam999: "This is a guide about the three religions of the Albian Shee (Cyberlifogenis Genoformattis):
Entry - Wikipedia Galactica
Sentient Species - Shee
Culture - Religion Shee have three primarily practiced religions, not counting the now-extinct Caos Mages, following their summoning of the Borland, which drove all those present insane1.
Sentient Species - Shee - Primary Page
Sentient Species - Shee - Culture
Sentient Species - Shee - Biotechnology and Biology
Semi-Sentient Species - Norn - Primary Page6
Planet - Albia - Primary Page
Planet - Sphericus - Primary Page 1 Or possibly more insane, considering they had just attempted to summon an eldritch abomination via the ritualistic sacrifice of a Doozer.
2 Some documents refer to this process as having “coded” the world.
3 Some documents refer to them as the Creatauri-Labeth.
4 A gigantic statue of an Eggist priest in full ceremonial egg-tooth mask has been erected below its location.
5 For further information on the intriguing phenomenon of Albia’s flatness we have absolutely no credible idea.
6 WARNING – Said page has been known to trigger cuteness overload. Do not view if you or your species is vulnerable to said hazard.
Sentient Species - Shee
Culture - Religion Shee have three primarily practiced religions, not counting the now-extinct Caos Mages, following their summoning of the Borland, which drove all those present insane1.
- The Church of the Grand Stvye, which worships a relatively typical monotheistic entity who "wrote2" the universe into being with the aid of the Cybreoulyth3, a race of demigod-like entities. The primary commandment of the Grand Stvye is to continue to improve upon his/her/its creation.
- Eggism, believing the universe has yet to truly be born, or rather hatched, and that its egg can be found hovering above the eastern sea4 of Albia.
- The Menders have the idea that any gods, if they exist, are at fault for poorly designing the universe, and are therefore not to be worshiped as much as blamed. They separate this viewpoint primarily due to the inexplicably disc-shaped nature of Albia5, which has historically limited the Shee living area.
Sentient Species - Shee - Primary Page
Sentient Species - Shee - Culture
Sentient Species - Shee - Biotechnology and Biology
Semi-Sentient Species - Norn - Primary Page6
Planet - Albia - Primary Page
Planet - Sphericus - Primary Page 1 Or possibly more insane, considering they had just attempted to summon an eldritch abomination via the ritualistic sacrifice of a Doozer.
2 Some documents refer to this process as having “coded” the world.
3 Some documents refer to them as the Creatauri-Labeth.
4 A gigantic statue of an Eggist priest in full ceremonial egg-tooth mask has been erected below its location.
5 For further information on the intriguing phenomenon of Albia’s flatness we have absolutely no credible idea.
6 WARNING – Said page has been known to trigger cuteness overload. Do not view if you or your species is vulnerable to said hazard.
Written by Jessica as Part of the Shee Journey Series My mind was abuzz with information, now that we had our first real Norns aboard. The genetic testing was fascinating, with clear indications that the original Shee creations had adapted to survive. I was so caught up in running another set of data, that I nearly jumped when my assistants tapped me to point out the window. The spacecraft had found another planet, and my hyper-focused mind had completely tuned out the notices. With a trusted cup of tea in hand, I watched the vessel slowly disappear as it hurtled toward the world below. Preliminary scans indicated enormous mountain ranges, which all seemed too steep to support any ground dwelling critters. I drummed my fingers on the console board, and then stopped. I was excited. My serious demeanor was somehow drifting away out here in space. It was a rather disappointing homecoming when the exploratory vessel indicated no signs of life. Surprisingly, it had discovered several caches of data scattered around the planet. I deduced that this had been the home of an advanced species long ago, or it was simply a world where ships often crashed. As if thinking the same thing, my assistants jumped to the controls and decided to bid the mountainous planet farewell. I had so longed for another great discovery, yet the Ettins and Norns we had already brought aboard were thrilled to be the center of attention. I wondered just how they would be treated once they were brought to my home world. From Jessica: "The space journey continues on with an interesting planet dotted with enormous mountain ranges. Many may remember the purple mountains from the original Creatures 1! Today will feature a few different sorts of releases, so be sure to stop by for news and updates! The data caches referenced by the Shee may just hold some important information about Creatures and related topics."
Written by Jessica as Part of the Shee Journey Series Nervous tension had worked its way into my thoughts, and I felt rather strained. I could tell the Shee Intergalactic Research Institute was not entirely convinced that I would find anything... The Ettins were virtually ignored, and I got the distinct feeling that there would be no use for them back on my home planet. My tension was everywhere: Even my usually perfect cup of tea had a decidedly acidic taste to it, and my assistants were careful to avoid contact with me. As we approached the next planet on our journey, I felt weary. It was only a few days, yet a Shee loses hope rather quickly. Embarrassment was something that never went over exceptionally well. Still, I sent the vessel on its way with a glimmer of hope. This planet was teeming with life. Surely some being was living on the surface. Reports immediately began to trickle back, not so much with images, but with smells. This was a world of every type of flower: The air was thick with a delicious perfume that struck a chord with me. I nearly broke out a smile, but again, I held onto my somber demeanor. Though this was the most promising world I had seen, it was still unclear whether there was anything more than fragrant flowers on the surface. Then, the alarms buzzed to life and the ship was awash in warning lights: A Norn. The dejected feeling left my spirit in one breath, and I was immersed in excited wonder. This was it: One of the main goals of my mission. Had I discovered the long lost Norns? From Jessica: "Judging by the story for today, it looks like we should be expecting an interesting release at some point! The theme of the fourth day centers around a floral world, where beautiful colors and fragrant flowers grow every which way. Creatures is all about creation and growth: Celebrate the CCSF 2012 today by making sure your worlds are fully stocked with flowers, plants, and life of every type!"
Drawn and Written by Sam999 Not all Creatures need wings to fly, as this wonderful drawing and description prove! The Zeppelin Grendels would be a sight to see in any world, complete with their methane air sacs and bodies designed for flight. Included with this download are the following: Zeppelin Grendels Art
Zeppelin Grendels Information
Zeppelin Grendels Report Enjoy this unique take on a Grendel breed that could certainly exist in Creatures at some point! Also make sure to read the complete report about them. They have a lot of features not usually found in Grendels! Download the Zeppelin Grendels (690 KB RAR File)
From Sam999: "Recovered on, or rather in the upper atmospherical layers of world twenty, the Zeppelin Grendels are at present one of only three known species of airborne Grendel. The others are Winged Bulbous Grendels and Skyswimmer Grendels, which Shee biologists suspect they may be related to. I don't intend to make Zeppelin Grendels a breed, but if anyone would like to, you have my approval.
- Maneuvering: Zeppelin Grendels have developed webbed and elongated hands and feet, as well as a flattened paddle-tail for propulsion and maneuvering, although flight is achieved via fleshy methane sacs.
- Feeding: Diet is largely composed of airborne vegetation such as hover-kelp, balloon-blossom fruit and drifting seeds from assorted species. Some specimens have been observed to filter-feed via their beards, picking out seeds or small floating plants caught following flying through clouds.
- Reproduction: Unlike regular Grendels, they give birth to live young due to the disadvantages of an egg when the only "ground" consists of a rocky core kilometers below covered in air pressurized into a solid. Further information has been irretrievable due to our Grendel reproductive specialist position being unfilled. Apparently embarrassment due to having that career on a resumé or something.
- Aggression: Zeppelin Grendels are quite peaceful creatures, presumably as slap-fights would likely lead to both Grendels puncturing each other's flight bladders and falling until crushed by atmospheric pressure. Even deliberate attempts at provoking aggression via a Norn-shaped puppet failed.
- Evolutionary History: Unknown. It is clear that they can not have evolved in their present location due to the impossibility of a flightless ancestral form. Presumably their ancestors were genetically engineered from standard Albian Grendels at some point.
- Recovery: Unfortunately, due to the inability to successfully simulate their preferred conditions abroad ship no specimens have been recovered. Further exploration will be required for study of this species."
Written by Jessica as Part of the Shee Journey Series With most of the sand finally swept up, I made a note that these sandy worlds were not very pleasant. I had to endure sandy, gritty tea for the better part of the day. My tea brewing skills were always my finest point, so I was rather disturbed by this development. Fortunately, the next planet located by the spacecraft appeared to be one giant mass of clouds. The exploration vessel would be unable to bring back another mess. I glared at it as it disengaged and headed off to discover anything it could. I returned to my research on the Ettins: As fascinating as they were, they were not exactly the Norns I expected to find. My scanning tools mysteriously disappeared, only to be located in a pile by one of my assistants. These Ettins were obsessed. At least they showed some devious intelligence, though. I decided to take a look at some of the images sent back by the vessel. Part of me believed it would make another miscalculation, despite it being in perfect diagnostic condition. As the screen flickered to life, it appeared that this was a world completely crafted of clouds. Wispy ones danced in the sunlight, while giant puffy ones almost formed islands in the sky. Some of the clouds formed strange shapes... I startled myself when I thought I spotted a Grendel. Then, the vessel moved around the supposed shape, and it disappeared into the whiteness. There were indications that a world could exist below these thick clouds... Yet the vessel had plans of its own. My head was still filled with the strange images from this world. Was it merely my imagination? I shook it off, and brewed myself another delicious cup of tea. The rising steam reminded me of the clouds, and my assistants alerted me that the vessel had brought back something rather interesting. Those wings looked so familiar, and I frantically pulled out a history book detailing some of the early Shee critters. Sure enough, these were listed as extinct. My eyes grew wide: They originated on Albia. Yet this world was light years from those secret coordinates... From Jessica: "Our journey through the new worlds featured in the CCSF 2012 now turns to a mysterious cloud world. Most Norns, Grendels, and Ettins have kept their feet firmly planted on the ground, though flight has been made possible for numerous breeds! Keep your eyes peeled as these images from the clouds materialize throughout the third day of the Creatures Community Spirit Festival!"
Written by Jessica as Part of the Shee Journey Series It was actually a lucky break that my first discovery was from the Ettin species: Shee lore held that they were excellent servants, and I was able to put that idea to the test immediately. It was preposterous to imagine anyone else brewing my tea, however. My assistants had a decidedly uneasy appearance when we locked the Ettins away. Their sad eyes gave me a twinge of guilt, yet the journey had only just begun. A much more pressing concern was the speed at which the spacecraft was traveling at. Suffice to say I was unable to enjoy the same amount of tea and biscuits as I had on solid ground. Fortunately, the next planet on the star map was described as an ideal vacation spot. Although I would never actually get near the surface, it was a comforting thought to think of solid ground again. The initial scans proved rather disconcerting: This was a vastly aquatic world, with a rather sandy atmosphere. The exploration vessel took an uncharacteristic spill into a large sand barrier just beyond the water's surface. No serious damage was done, but I sent a rather strongly worded report back to the Shee Intergalactic Research Institute. I could only hope that the actual spacecraft was free from this sort of miscalculation. My assistants were more curious than worried: They seemed to be treating this mission as a fun excursion, rather than a serious journey. A stern look was all I could manage. More than ever, I needed them focused. We anxiously awaited the return of the vessel, which reported that it had picked up a strange being that was not quite Norn, Grendel, nor Ettin. I expected to see some sort of hybrid when the portal opened. Instead, I found myself greeted with a pile of sand. I put the Ettins from the previous day to work, with my assistants managing the situation. In the end, I found sand cascading from every crease in my clothing. Another strongly worded report found its way back home. This certainly was not a Shee creation... The banana solidified that fact. From Jessica: "Welcome to the second day of the CCSF 2012! Our theme of the day is all about beaches, and some of the ways to incorporate them in a Creatures world. Although C1, C2, and C3/DS don't exactly have true beaches, they can certainly be found throughout the series! Whether you're getting ready for summer or still bidding it farewell, today's releases should bring everything but the sand to your computer!"
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