Preferences for Learning About Creatures Genetics
I have been contemplating a series of genetics tutorials and lessons for quite some time, and have only held off because it seems like a genetics case study pops up often enough! Yet I would love to delve into Norn genetics on a more specific basis, and provide more details about each gene. For me, Creatures 1 genetics seemed all too complicated, and I never wanted to look at the genetics in Creatures 2, Creatures 3, or Docking Station. With a leap of faith and some excellent resources, though, I discovered that the majority of the genes were not as crazy and complicated as I had originally assumed. Granted, there are still certain aspects that confuse me, but I consider it all part of the learning process! Creatures genetics always offer many new challenges.
There are many different formats that I have thought of utilizing, such as step-by-step tutorials for the D-DNA Analyzer and Genetics Kit, or YouTube videos to illustrate important points. Charts, graphs, and other visual aids are also in the mix. As I’ve learned, though, it certainly helps to publish the elements that will be most helpful to others. For that reason, I hope everyone will take the time to respond to the following short questions. Feel free to post any other comments directly in response to this entry! Thanks so much!
I know this probably goes beyond your realm of knowledge, but lately I’ve been trying to learn more about the brain genes, with little success. The brains are just … ugh.
I’ve been trying to come up with a norn genome that’s more likely to explore, since my C3/DS norns always seem to end up living most of their lives without moving from the first source of food they find. I tried comparing their genomes to those of Ettins, trying to figure out what makes the ettins get around like they do, but I’m afraid that the genes responsible for this behavior are hiding somewhere in the brain, and as such I’m completely clueless.
I didn’t mention it in the poll because I have a feeling you and I are in the same boat when it comes to the brains. I just wish I could find some resource that could at least give me a starting point …
Brains are quite complicated! What you mentioned sounds like it might involve instincts and/or stimulus genes: I also think Norns feel satisfied when they find a food source, and have no need to leave a comfortable place that offers them what they need. Having seasonal food sources might encourage more exploration… But I’m sure there are some genes involved! Ettins probably explore more because they’re wired to seek out machines, bring them back to the desert terrarium, and head off again. Hopefully you and I will both learn some more about the brain and how to help out with exploration!
I thought that it might be their instinct to approach gadgets, but even when the desert terrarium is full of gadgets, they still choose to go exploring rather than hang out at home and admire the gadget collection they already amassed.
I’ve been following some ettins around. Not interfering, just watching what they do completely on their own. They seem to always be on the move. Sometimes they’d settle in the Norn Meso for a few moments to grab a bite and a quick nap, but soon they’re out exploring every square inch of the ark, capillata, and any metarooms I have installed. I just can’t figure it out! Gendiff tells me that the norn and ettin brains are full of differences, and it’s really the last area of genes I haven’t exhausted yet.
I’ll keep trying and experimenting, and let you know if I find anything!
Maybe try making a norn with an ettin-style brain, and see if they have wanderlust too.
I’m pretty knowledgeable about genetics, but brains are the ‘last frontier’ for me. Hopefully I can get more understanding of them. Sadly, in C3/DS, I can’t seem to make brain genes mutate – long ago I made them mutate but the 2nd gen norns crashed the game. You can have deliberately modified brains, such as the CFE norns or the brainswitch norns, but nothing random. I should get more into C1 and C2, they can have random brain mutations.
I wonder if C4 will bring back brain mutations? Grandroids definitely will, but they’ll also have far more complicated brains, and I despair of ever being able to understand them. (Not that I won’t try!) I’m a backer for Grandroids, so I have access to Steve Grand’s developer blog, and it makes my head spin!
A Norn with an Ettin brain would be very interesting! I’ll have to keep that in mind for the future, when it’s about time to jump into the more advanced brain stuff. Hmm, I wasn’t aware that brain lobes couldn’t mutate in C3/DS. Another thing to check out!
Hopefully the genetics tutorials and lessons will also be useful to you, even though I know some of the more advanced users will know a lot.
I should have become a backer for Grandroids! I keep hoping that something will be available to the public soon. I guess it keeps me on my toes! Complicated brains sound daunting, but maybe there will be some things taken from Creatures, so that we don’t have to learn absolutely everything from scratch… Just 90% or so. Ha!