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 Malkin   Manager  |
Let's say that you're talking to someone who's never heard of Creatures before. How do you explain to them what's inside a creature, in detail? That it's not a tamagotchi or a neopet? My TCR Norns |
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 Bearthing |
Difficult question, because I've had a similar issue. Basically -- if the hypothetical person isn't too familiar with genetics -- I explain that, like people, creatures have a set of genetics, and thus a set of traits. A long-lived chillax Bondi norn and a normal Fallow norn will produce a norn that looks half-and-half, perhaps with the Bondi calmness but not the Bondi lifespan. In creatures, however, these traits can also mutate, or change, very quickly when passed on to their offspring. And the mutations add up. It isn't immediately obvious unless you're lucky, but after only twenty gens sometimes, your vanilla purple Chichi pair might have produced descendants with a pinkish tinge, a moonwalking limp, and the ability to gain starch from eating detritus. You never know. A Neopet, as far as I know, can't breed. They didn't when I was a kid, anyway. Tamagotchis might be able to, depending on whatever new-fangled model they have out now, but I doubt they can pass on traits. Creatures also have personality, whether it's imagined (vanillas) or not (CFEs, Gizmos), as well as a definite intelligence quotient. Neopets and Tamagotchis don't have either of these, I don't think. Usually if I'm talking to someone on the internet, I use pictures of two parents and their adult child to show how appearance genetics work. Then I explain some genetics stories: how stillborns work, why Magmas get cold so easily, sliders, color-changers, the odd sprite-slot switch, etc. And I explain that because they learn from other norns and their own actions, you can have two completely different full-blooded siblings: one who is intelligent and knows what to do with his instincts, and one who refuses to take care of his fat craving with anything but eat button. Don't care; I'm a bear. |
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 Small Birb Pann |
That's a good way to explain it, Bear! And yeah, Neopets can't breed. I still play on my old account from time to time, they're nothing like these creatures, they're just pictures that get hungry and bored, mostly hungry, and never age or die. Small bird who lives here sometimes, and wanders other times. Got Creatures related content to share? Submit to Heck Yeah, Creatures! Icon by gettehld on twitter! |
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Malkin Manager |
But what about the brains and the chemistry - how do you explain those? I can explain that you look after small furry creatures and guide them through life, but I'm a bit stuck on how to explain creatures' thought processes. My TCR Norns |
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Bearthing |
Again, I think a (hugely simplified) human parallel is in order. We all have a pre-set brain chemistry -- but how our body reacts to it, how we react to it, is different for everyone. Our brain tells us to be angry about something, and we deal with the anger depending on three things: our genetics (are we predisposed to getting angry all the time, like Hardman people?), our upbringing (did our Mama Hand teach us how to deal with the anger properly?) and the present circumstances (is it the appropriate time to get angry, or are we just really hungry?). Same with creatures, really. A norn's pre-programmed brain tells him he wants starch, because his body needs to transform it into something so he can continue being a happy little norn and not a happy dead norn. But how he tries to acquire that starch, and where he can get it, depends completely how he is taught by others/you and what sorts of genes he inherited. Toxic Norns are another fun example: yes, they desire detritus and gross stuff, but you can train the dumber ones to think they want normal norn food. It's totally mean and they won't stay alive for longer than a few minutes, but it's possible. Don't care; I'm a bear. |
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