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{{indevelopment}}
  
{{indevelopment}}
−
[[File:C4Cover.jpg|thumb|142px|Creatures 4 Box Art]] '''Creatures Online''' (originally announced as '''Creatures 2011''', later dubbed '''Creatures 4''') is a new official creatures game currently in development by [[Fishing Cactus]], licensed by [[Gameware Development]].
  
   
  +
'''[[File:Logo-creatures-online-800.jpg|thumb|260px|Creatures Online Logo]]Creatures Online''' (first dubbed '''Creatures 2011''', later known 
−
==Development==
  
  +
as '''Creatures 4''') is a new official creatures game currently in development by [[Fishing Cactus]], licensed by [[Gameware Development]]. It will be the first major Creatures game since [[Docking Station]] in 2001, and is set on planet [http://creatures.wikia.com/wiki/Sphericus Sphericus].
   
  +
==History==
⚫
The game was officially [http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/72296/2011_The_Year_of_CREATURES_return.php announced] on 16th May 2011 and it will be the first Creatures game for iOS. BluesNews were able to confirm that the free-to-play game will be microtransaction-based (small fees), though "most of the content will be entirely free."
  
  +
  ⚫
The game was officially [http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/72296/2011_The_Year_of_CREATURES_return.php announced] on 16th May 2011 and will be the first Creatures game for iOS and Android. BluesNews were able to confirm that the free-to-play game will be microtransaction-based (small fees), though "most of the content will be entirely free.
   
 
[[Bigben]], the publishers, were given the rights to distribute Creatures Online, and all of the previous Creatures games in Europe.
  
[[Bigben]], the publishers, were given the rights to distribute Creatures Online, and all of the previous Creatures games in Europe.
Line 16: Line 18:
 
Grendels and Ettins will not be in the initial release of the game, as confirmed by Fishing Cactus, however they are on the "we might make them in an upgrade list".
  
Grendels and Ettins will not be in the initial release of the game, as confirmed by Fishing Cactus, however they are on the "we might make them in an upgrade list".
   
  +
In May 2013, Bigben partnered with ProSiebenSat.1 Games, who will distribute, maintain and market the game in Europe. Fishing Cactus also changed the name of the game from Creatures 4 to Creatures Online.
−
Fishing Cactus confirmed that the artificial life technology that the previous games were renowned for is returning in Creatures Online.
  
  +
−
==Rooms==
 +
==Areas==
−
Creatures Online is the first Creatures game to be set on planet Sphericus. The game initially features four environments, each with their own unique Norn [[breed]], but more may be developed for sale in the future. Some areas of the world will be dangerous. The areas initially revealed are:
+
Creatures Online is the first Creatures game to be set on planet Sphericus. The game initially features five environments; it is likely that more areas may be developed for sale in the future.  The areas that have been confirmed are:
 
*[[The Hatchery]]
  
*[[The Hatchery]]
 
*[[The Treehouse]]
  
*[[The Treehouse]]
  +
*[[The Cavern]] (may be renamed Lumin Cave as of the June [[Creatures Online Live Session]])
⚫
*[[The Cavern]]
  
  +
*[[The Beach]] (may be renamed Seashell Lagoon as of the June [[Creatures Online Live Session]])
⚫
*[[The Beach]]
  
  ⚫
*[[The Cave]]
−  
−
Another area, revealed with the change of name to Creatures Online, is [[The Cave]].
 
   
 
==Breed List==
  
==Breed List==
−
Creatures Online was originally announced as coming with four Norn breeds, two of which were officially been announced, the other being included as a sneak peek. 
 +
Creatures Online was originally announced as coming with just four Norn breeds. However, on March 2013, Fishing Cactus [http://blog.fishingcactus.com/index.php/2013/03/22/creatures-4-procedural-fur-patterns/ announced] that there would now be 12 - 16 breeds included with the game. 
−  
−
In March 2013, Fishing Cactus [http://blog.fishingcactus.com/index.php/2013/03/22/creatures-4-procedural-fur-patterns/ announced] that there would now be 12 - 16 breeds included with Creatures 4. The Wildling Norn was also unveiled at this time.
  
   
−
''The breeds that have been confirmed are as follows:''
 +
''The breeds that have been confirmed are as follow:''
 
*[[Aqua Norn (C4)|Aqua Norn]]
  
*[[Aqua Norn (C4)|Aqua Norn]]
  +
*[[Bono Norn]]
  +
*[[Choo Norn]]
 
*[[Cavern Norn]]
  
*[[Cavern Norn]]
 
*[[Classical Norn]]
  
*[[Classical Norn]]
  +
*[[Froggy Norn]]
  ⚫
*[[Ito Norn]]
  +
*[[Kabuto Norn]]
  +
*[[Lab Norn]]
 
*[[Mystic Norn]]
  
*[[Mystic Norn]]
 
*[[Wildling Norn]]
  
*[[Wildling Norn]]
   
−
==Demo Gameplay==
 +
==Demos==
   
−
[[File:DemoScreenshot_2.jpg|thumb|left|258px|Gamescom 2011 Demo Gameplay]]At Gamescom 2011, Fishing Cactus unveiled the first demo of Creatures 4. At the start, the player could choose either to create a male or a female Norn. Only two or three Norns could be created at the beginning. 
 +
[[File:DemoScreenshot_2.jpg|thumb|left|258px|Gamescom 2011 Demo Gameplay]]At Gamescom 2011, Fishing Cactus unveiled the first demo of Creatures Online. At the start, the player could choose either to create a male or a female Norn. Only two or three Norns could be created at the beginning. 
   
 
Once the player had selected the gender, they could then use sliders to customise their Norn's look and the fur colour. Once they finished, an egg appeared in the Treehouse.
  
Once the player had selected the gender, they could then use sliders to customise their Norn's look and the fur colour. Once they finished, an egg appeared in the Treehouse.
Line 46: Line 52:
 
Like the previous games, the player could punish and reward their Norns by either tickling or slapping them.
  
Like the previous games, the player could punish and reward their Norns by either tickling or slapping them.
   
−
At Gamescom 2012, Fishing Cactus exhibited a second demo of Creatures 4. This demo took place in the Hatchery rather than the Treehouse, and several new features, such as a Norn speech and the [[Science Kit]] were added. The demo also delivered a glimpse into some work-in-progress interfaces, such as the hatchery, the splicing machine and the Norn collections. [[Angry Nornito]] also made a first appearance.
 +
At Gamescom 2012, Fishing Cactus exhibited a second demo of Creatures Online. This demo took place in the Hatchery rather than the Treehouse, and several new features, such as Norn speech and the [[Science Kit]], were added. The demo also delivered a glimpse into some work-in-progress interfaces, such as the hatchery, the splicing machine and the Norn collections. [[Angry Nornito]] also made his first in-game appearance.
   
  +
The [[Creatures Online Live Session]] demo showed many aspects of the gameplay, including the introduction of the [[Owner's Kit]] and [[Supply Kit]].
−
The Gamescom 2012 demo also had several enhanced graphical features implemented, such as realistic Norn fur, shadows and lighting effects.
  
  +
  +
A third demo of Creatures Online was exhibited their last at Gamescom 2013, where they introduced the Kabuto Norns, along with many other new breeds, along with an update to the baby Norns that reduced their head size to a more realistic standard. 
   
 
==Norn Stats==
  
==Norn Stats==
   
−
At one point, Fishing Cactus considered implementing a skill system, to get the norns to take care of plants, play with critters, repair toys and machinery etc. Skill at these tasks was intended to improve the norns' abilities and was meant to be inheritable by children. The stats were coded into genes, storing the value of each stat so that they could be inherited. Due to "side-effects" and the system not being "satisfactory", as of June 2012 its inclusion was being reassessed, and it is currently unknown if it will feature in the final game.
 +
At one point, Fishing Cactus considered implementing a skill system, to get the Norns to take care of plants, play with critters, repair toys and machinery etc. Skill at these tasks was intended to improve the norns' abilities and was meant to be inheritable by children. The stats were coded into genes, storing the value of each stat so that they could be inherited.
  +
  +
Due to "side-effects" and the system not being "satisfactory", as of June 2012 its inclusion was being reassessed, and it is currently unknown if it will still feature in the game.
   
 
==Characters==
  
==Characters==
Line 60: Line 70:
 
[[File:Master_Shee.png|thumb|Concept art of Master Shee]]On the 2nd of March 2012 Fishing Cactus [http://blog.fishingcactus.com/index.php/2012/03/02/fresh-creatures-news/ confirmed] that a [[Shee]] will be making an appearance in-game. The Shee featured is known as "Master Shee" and will act as a help assistant in the game and provide the player with information. He is the first ever official Shee to make an actual live appearance in-game, and his design said to been inspired by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmett_Brown Emmett "Doc" Brown] from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_to_the_Future_trilogy Back to the Future trilogy].
  
[[File:Master_Shee.png|thumb|Concept art of Master Shee]]On the 2nd of March 2012 Fishing Cactus [http://blog.fishingcactus.com/index.php/2012/03/02/fresh-creatures-news/ confirmed] that a [[Shee]] will be making an appearance in-game. The Shee featured is known as "Master Shee" and will act as a help assistant in the game and provide the player with information. He is the first ever official Shee to make an actual live appearance in-game, and his design said to been inspired by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmett_Brown Emmett "Doc" Brown] from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_to_the_Future_trilogy Back to the Future trilogy].
   
  ⚫
==Norn Design==
−  
−  
⚫
==New Norn Design==
  
 
[[File:Norn_creatures_4_big.jpg|left|thumb|180px|The revamped Norn design]]Along with a screenshot of the actual game, one of the first concept art images Fishing Cactus [http://blog.fishingcactus.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/norn_creatures_4_small1.jpg released]on one of their blog posts was a pre-rendered image of a new Norn design that will feature in the game, with the most prominent feature being that the Norns will have realistic fur, smaller eyes and a less cartoony appearance.
  
[[File:Norn_creatures_4_big.jpg|left|thumb|180px|The revamped Norn design]]Along with a screenshot of the actual game, one of the first concept art images Fishing Cactus [http://blog.fishingcactus.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/norn_creatures_4_small1.jpg released]on one of their blog posts was a pre-rendered image of a new Norn design that will feature in the game, with the most prominent feature being that the Norns will have realistic fur, smaller eyes and a less cartoony appearance.
−  
−
As the player progresses through the game they will encounter many different species of Norns. In the demo, there were two species shown: a typical Norn with big ears and a large head, and a [[Cavern Norn]]. There will be five different norn breeds available on release, with each having a distinct 'look' related to its environment.
  
−  
−
Fishing Cactus released a [http://instagram.com/p/SlDTWGI_BR/ sneak peek] of a new aquatic Norn breed, the [[Aqua Norn (C4)|Aqua Norn]] , on their Instagram account in November 2012.
  
   
 
Despite achieving mostly postive feedback from the Creatures Community, some members criticised the new design due to it being less cartoony and somewhat less cutesy than the previous Norns in the other games. As a result, the community member [[Norngirl]] made an [http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h78/Getchuz/Compare_norn__ngirl.png edited] version that more closely resembles the Norns in the previous games, which [[Don]] also mocked up [http://www.creaturesvillage.com/public/DonC4NornModTrio.png here]. [[Norngirl]] also made two other pics [http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h78/Getchuz/Norns_.png] and [http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h78/Getchuz/Fusionofnorn-mogwai_WhereisTail.png] as a helpful reminder of what past norns look like.
  
Despite achieving mostly postive feedback from the Creatures Community, some members criticised the new design due to it being less cartoony and somewhat less cutesy than the previous Norns in the other games. As a result, the community member [[Norngirl]] made an [http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h78/Getchuz/Compare_norn__ngirl.png edited] version that more closely resembles the Norns in the previous games, which [[Don]] also mocked up [http://www.creaturesvillage.com/public/DonC4NornModTrio.png here]. [[Norngirl]] also made two other pics [http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h78/Getchuz/Norns_.png] and [http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h78/Getchuz/Fusionofnorn-mogwai_WhereisTail.png] as a helpful reminder of what past norns look like.
   
 
==Payment==
  
==Payment==
−
Creatures Online will be a free-to-play game. An online registration is neccessary; the game will require you to be logged in online in order to play, and there will be levels in the game,[[File:Creatures_Shop.png|thumb|274px|"The Creatures Shop"]] unlocking items in the shop and in the machines. There will also be a boxed version available to buy, containing "all the old chapters in the series (1, 2, 3, DS at least)" along with a Norn figurine, a Norn with a unique genetic code for their game and the equivalent of twenty euros in the game's virtual wallet.
 +
Creatures Online will be a free-to-play game. An online registration is necessary; the game will require you to be logged in online in order to play, and there will be levels in the game,[[File:Creatures_Shop.png|thumb|274px|The Creatures Shop]] unlocking items in the shop (named "[[The Shee Market]]" in the [[Creatures Online Live Session]]) and in the machines. There will also be a boxed version available to buy, containing "all the old chapters in the series (1, 2, 3, DS at least)" along with a Norn figurine, a Norn with a unique genetic code for their game and the equivalent of twenty euros in the game's virtual wallet.
   
−
There will be two currencies in game: coins, which will be collectable in-game by doing actions, and golden eggs, which are occasionally given out as special occasions or will be buyable in the shop for real money.
 +
There will be two currencies in game: [[coin]]s, which will be collectable in-game by doing actions, and [[golden egg]]s, which can are occasionally given out as special occasions, can be traded for coins or can be bought in the shop for real money.
   
  +
The idea of payment in a Creatures game has garnered a lot of criticism since its announcement. However, Fishing Cactus have reasurred players that it will be possible to play the game without spending a single cent.
⚫
==The Splicing Machine==
  
  +
⚫
[[File:Creatures_4_Editor.jpg|thumb|left|292px|The Norn Creator as it appeared in the Gamescom 2011 demo]]In the Gamescom 2011 demo, it was shown that one of the many features included in Creatures 4 is the Splicing Machine, which allowed players to create their own Norn genomes rather than choose from a list of breeds. The player could also randomize what they wanted their Norn to look like.
  
  ⚫
==The Gene Splicing Machine==
  ⚫
[[File:Creatures_4_Editor.jpg|thumb|left|292px|The Norn Creator as it appeared in the Gamescom 2011 demo]]In the Gamescom 2011 demo, it was first shown that one of the many features included in Creatures Online is the Splicing Machine, which allowed players to create their own Norn genomes rather than choose from a list of breeds. The player could also randomize what they wanted their Norn to look like.
   
 
As shown in the demo, whenever the player's Norns reproduce the player could choose what features are inherited from the parents using sliders to control each future, if wanted the Norn to more closely resemble one parent than the other. There are limits imposed from the norn's genetic code on how customisable their appearance is, as they inherit their potential appearance from their parents.
  
As shown in the demo, whenever the player's Norns reproduce the player could choose what features are inherited from the parents using sliders to control each future, if wanted the Norn to more closely resemble one parent than the other. There are limits imposed from the norn's genetic code on how customisable their appearance is, as they inherit their potential appearance from their parents.
   
−
The first part of the Norn Creator allowed the player to change the physical appearance of their Norn in several ways:
 +
The first part of the Gene Splicer allowed the player to change the physical appearance of their Norn in several ways:
   
 
*'''Pattern Layout''' - Controls the layout of the Norn's fur patterns
  
*'''Pattern Layout''' - Controls the layout of the Norn's fur patterns
Line 95: Line 101:
   
 
==Release==
  
==Release==
−
Creatures 4 was originally planned to be released in January 2012 on iOS (iPhone/iPad/iPodTouch), Android, PC (online client) and Mac (AppStore, online client), but Fishing Cactus delayed the game to add more content, giving an estimated release date of Q2 2012. In June 2012, Fishing Cactus announced another delay, this time to Q4 2012.
 +
Creatures Online was originally planned to be released at the end of 2011 on iOS (iPhone/iPad/iPodTouch), Android, PC (online client) and Mac (AppStore, online client), but the game was delayed to add more content, giving an estimated release date of Q2 2012. In June 2012, Creatures Online was delayed again, this time to Q4 2012.
  +
  ⚫
In November 2012, Fishing Cactus confirmed yet another delay, stating that they hoped to enter a beta phase around January or February, and that if this happened, a 'live date' of March to April 2013 was possible. The PGW page about Creatures Online had a release date of 26 April 2013, which was described by [[Lord Shee]] as being "not definitive". The game entered an in-house alpha stage on the 4th of March, and lasted about 8 weeks.
   
  ⚫
In May 2013, Fishing Cactus revealed that they and BigBen had partnered with ProSiebenSat.1 Games, who will distribute, maintain and market the game in Europe. Fishing Cactus also revealed that they were changing the name of the game from Creatures 4 to Creatures Online. ProSiebenSat.1 Games booked the server network for Creatures Online, and planned to be ready with the server by roughly July 2013. A closed beta was planned to run at this time, but did not eventuate.
⚫
In November 2012, Fishing Cactus confirmed another delay, stating that they hoped to enter a beta phase around January or February, and that if this happened, a 'live date' of March to April 2013 was possible. The PGW page about Creatures 4 had a release date of 26 April 2013, which was described by [[Lord Shee]] as being "not definitive".
  
   
  +
On the official Creatures 4 Facebook page the game was (and still is) advertised as "coming 2014". On April 9th 2015, the official Creatures Online facebook account responded to a comment to state that "... very soon (this year) we'll [sic] like to make a sof [sic] launch of Creatures Online", however no announcement from either Fishing Cactus or BigBen Interactive has been made to verify this.
⚫
In late February, Fishing Cactus stated that Creatures 4 would enter an in-house alpha stage on the 4th of March, and estimated in the live Q and A session that this could take about 8 weeks. They also later revealed they hope to have released the game by the end of 2013. In May 2013, Fishing Cactus revealed that they and BigBen had partnered with ProSiebenSat.1 Games, who will distribute, maintain and market the game in Europe. Fishing Cactus also revealed that they were changing the name of the game from Creatures 4 to Creatures Online. ProSiebenSat.1 Games has booked the server network for Creatures Online, and they plan to be ready with the server by roughly July 2013. A closed beta will then run.
  
   
 
==Third-Party Development==
  
==Third-Party Development==
Line 111: Line 119:
 
==External Links==
  
==External Links==
   
−
* [http://creatures4-thegame.com/ Official Website]
 +
* [http:// Official Website] (defunct and link removed because possible infection of virus/malware)
 
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYSSkrr8ySw&feature=related Official Teaser Trailer]
  
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYSSkrr8ySw&feature=related Official Teaser Trailer]
 
* [http://blog.fishingcactus.com/index.php/2011/05/18/announcing-creatures-4-on-ios-mac-and-pc/ Fishing Cactus Blog]
  
* [http://blog.fishingcactus.com/index.php/2011/05/18/announcing-creatures-4-on-ios-mac-and-pc/ Fishing Cactus Blog]
Line 121: Line 129:
 
* [http://myth-games.com/news4990.htm Creatures 4: Gamescom Preview]
  
* [http://myth-games.com/news4990.htm Creatures 4: Gamescom Preview]
 
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quk0QQ_PFcw Video of Gamescom 2012 demo]
  
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quk0QQ_PFcw Video of Gamescom 2012 demo]
  +
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7w05u1Q9aM Creatures Online Gamescom 2013 Exclusive presentation]
⚫
[[Category: Creatures games]]
  
−
[[Category:Creatures 4]]
 +
[[Category:Creatures games]]
  ⚫
[[Category:Creatures Online]]

Latest revision as of 12:30, 3 November 2017

Editnorn This article is about a project that is in development.
Information may change significantly as the project progresses.
Logo-creatures-online-800

Creatures Online Logo

Creatures Online (first dubbed Creatures 2011, later known 

as Creatures 4) is a new official creatures game currently in development by Fishing Cactus, licensed by Gameware Development. It will be the first major Creatures game since Docking Station in 2001, and is set on planet Sphericus.

History

The game was officially announced on 16th May 2011 and will be the first Creatures game for iOS and Android. BluesNews were able to confirm that the free-to-play game will be microtransaction-based (small fees), though "most of the content will be entirely free.

Bigben, the publishers, were given the rights to distribute Creatures Online, and all of the previous Creatures games in Europe.

From the Gamasutra website:

Fishing Cactus (Belgium based developer), Bigben (Publisher) and Gameware Development (the IP rights owner) are set to deliver a new Creatures game that maintains the characteristics of the earlier games. It will be free-to-play and available on PC/Mac and iOS platforms - iPod, iPhone and iPad. A collector gift box full of surprises will also be created.

In approximately 2009, Fishing Cactus floated the idea of C4 amongst themselves and approached Gameware. Fishing Cactus then contacted BigBen Interactive about the game, and they provided funding.

Grendels and Ettins will not be in the initial release of the game, as confirmed by Fishing Cactus, however they are on the "we might make them in an upgrade list".

In May 2013, Bigben partnered with ProSiebenSat.1 Games, who will distribute, maintain and market the game in Europe. Fishing Cactus also changed the name of the game from Creatures 4 to Creatures Online.

Areas

Creatures Online is the first Creatures game to be set on planet Sphericus. The game initially features five environments; it is likely that more areas may be developed for sale in the future.  The areas that have been confirmed are:

Breed List

Creatures Online was originally announced as coming with just four Norn breeds. However, on March 2013, Fishing Cactus announced that there would now be 12 - 16 breeds included with the game. 

The breeds that have been confirmed are as follow:

Demos

DemoScreenshot 2

Gamescom 2011 Demo Gameplay

At Gamescom 2011, Fishing Cactus unveiled the first demo of Creatures Online. At the start, the player could choose either to create a male or a female Norn. Only two or three Norns could be created at the beginning. 

Once the player had selected the gender, they could then use sliders to customise their Norn's look and the fur colour. Once they finished, an egg appeared in the Treehouse.

Like the previous games, the player could punish and reward their Norns by either tickling or slapping them.

At Gamescom 2012, Fishing Cactus exhibited a second demo of Creatures Online. This demo took place in the Hatchery rather than the Treehouse, and several new features, such as Norn speech and the Science Kit, were added. The demo also delivered a glimpse into some work-in-progress interfaces, such as the hatchery, the splicing machine and the Norn collections. Angry Nornito also made his first in-game appearance.

The Creatures Online Live Session demo showed many aspects of the gameplay, including the introduction of the Owner's Kit and Supply Kit.

A third demo of Creatures Online was exhibited their last at Gamescom 2013, where they introduced the Kabuto Norns, along with many other new breeds, along with an update to the baby Norns that reduced their head size to a more realistic standard. 

Norn Stats

At one point, Fishing Cactus considered implementing a skill system, to get the Norns to take care of plants, play with critters, repair toys and machinery etc. Skill at these tasks was intended to improve the norns' abilities and was meant to be inheritable by children. The stats were coded into genes, storing the value of each stat so that they could be inherited.

Due to "side-effects" and the system not being "satisfactory", as of June 2012 its inclusion was being reassessed, and it is currently unknown if it will still feature in the game.

Characters

Master Shee

Main Page: Master Shee

Master Shee

Concept art of Master Shee

On the 2nd of March 2012 Fishing Cactus confirmed that a Shee will be making an appearance in-game. The Shee featured is known as "Master Shee" and will act as a help assistant in the game and provide the player with information. He is the first ever official Shee to make an actual live appearance in-game, and his design said to been inspired by Emmett "Doc" Brown from the Back to the Future trilogy.

Norn Design

Norn creatures 4 big

The revamped Norn design

Along with a screenshot of the actual game, one of the first concept art images Fishing Cactus releasedon one of their blog posts was a pre-rendered image of a new Norn design that will feature in the game, with the most prominent feature being that the Norns will have realistic fur, smaller eyes and a less cartoony appearance.

Despite achieving mostly postive feedback from the Creatures Community, some members criticised the new design due to it being less cartoony and somewhat less cutesy than the previous Norns in the other games. As a result, the community member Norngirl made an edited version that more closely resembles the Norns in the previous games, which Don also mocked up here. Norngirl also made two other pics [1] and [2] as a helpful reminder of what past norns look like.

Payment

Creatures Online will be a free-to-play game. An online registration is necessary; the game will require you to be logged in online in order to play, and there will be levels in the game,

Creatures Shop

The Creatures Shop

unlocking items in the shop (named "The Shee Market" in the Creatures Online Live Session) and in the machines. There will also be a boxed version available to buy, containing "all the old chapters in the series (1, 2, 3, DS at least)" along with a Norn figurine, a Norn with a unique genetic code for their game and the equivalent of twenty euros in the game's virtual wallet.

There will be two currencies in game: coins, which will be collectable in-game by doing actions, and golden eggs, which can are occasionally given out as special occasions, can be traded for coins or can be bought in the shop for real money.

The idea of payment in a Creatures game has garnered a lot of criticism since its announcement. However, Fishing Cactus have reasurred players that it will be possible to play the game without spending a single cent.

The Gene Splicing Machine

Creatures 4 Editor

The Norn Creator as it appeared in the Gamescom 2011 demo

In the Gamescom 2011 demo, it was first shown that one of the many features included in Creatures Online is the Splicing Machine, which allowed players to create their own Norn genomes rather than choose from a list of breeds. The player could also randomize what they wanted their Norn to look like.

As shown in the demo, whenever the player's Norns reproduce the player could choose what features are inherited from the parents using sliders to control each future, if wanted the Norn to more closely resemble one parent than the other. There are limits imposed from the norn's genetic code on how customisable their appearance is, as they inherit their potential appearance from their parents.

The first part of the Gene Splicer allowed the player to change the physical appearance of their Norn in several ways:

  • Pattern Layout - Controls the layout of the Norn's fur patterns
  • Fatness - Controls how fat or thin the Norn is (this doesn't appear to be modifiable with the player's first Norn(s))
  • Fur Length - Control how thick or thin the Norn's fur is

The second part allows the player to change their Norn's fur colour and/or patterns:

  • Eye Color - Changes the colour of the Norn's eyes
  • Fur Base Color - Changes the base color of the Norn's fur
  • Fur Pattern Color - Changes the colour of the Norn's fur pattern
  • Fur Detail Color - Changes the color of the Norn's fur details

As of June 2012, this is the main mechanism by which the players will be able to edit the genome of their norns - focussing on the appearance of the norn. There are currently no specific plans for a Genetics Kit.

Release

Creatures Online was originally planned to be released at the end of 2011 on iOS (iPhone/iPad/iPodTouch), Android, PC (online client) and Mac (AppStore, online client), but the game was delayed to add more content, giving an estimated release date of Q2 2012. In June 2012, Creatures Online was delayed again, this time to Q4 2012.

In November 2012, Fishing Cactus confirmed yet another delay, stating that they hoped to enter a beta phase around January or February, and that if this happened, a 'live date' of March to April 2013 was possible. The PGW page about Creatures Online had a release date of 26 April 2013, which was described by Lord Shee as being "not definitive". The game entered an in-house alpha stage on the 4th of March, and lasted about 8 weeks.

In May 2013, Fishing Cactus revealed that they and BigBen had partnered with ProSiebenSat.1 Games, who will distribute, maintain and market the game in Europe. Fishing Cactus also revealed that they were changing the name of the game from Creatures 4 to Creatures Online. ProSiebenSat.1 Games booked the server network for Creatures Online, and planned to be ready with the server by roughly July 2013. A closed beta was planned to run at this time, but did not eventuate.

On the official Creatures 4 Facebook page the game was (and still is) advertised as "coming 2014". On April 9th 2015, the official Creatures Online facebook account responded to a comment to state that "... very soon (this year) we'll [sic] like to make a sof [sic] launch of Creatures Online", however no announcement from either Fishing Cactus or BigBen Interactive has been made to verify this.

Third-Party Development

Third-party development will not be supported at the time of Creatures Online's release, but Fishing Cactus are looking at Valve's method of allowing third-party addons for Team Fortress 2 in developing a third-party content system for Creatures Online.

See Also

External Links

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