This is a small step on the way to Vilmonic 2.0! This version contains more craftable and buildable items, like light sources, rugs, dirt floors and walls, a new artifact, and more. And new terrain types that create new biomes. Fungs now have overnutrition, which can poison fungols and may make the game more challenging. NOTE: The this beta version changes the simulation, so be careful. I suggest starting a new game rather than opening an existing one. BETA CODE: EnterTheBeta

Fixed a color palette issue stemming from bad metadata in certain png images. This release also adds a message about the patreon for funding the new features planned for Vilmonic 2.0 or Vilmonic 2.

I've started a Patreon to help crowdfund Vilmonic 2.

Now you can can switch your language preference from within the app! Plus a bunch of bug fixes and UI tweaks.

Important Announcement from the Vilmonicouncil

Export and import your avatars, and trade them with friends! To export, you'll need to craft a camera first. Share your avatars (and other creatures!) with the community here on Steam or on the Vilmonic Discord: https://discord.gg/vilmonic

This update merges in optimizations and improvements and fixes from the mobile release, including ALL NEW Chinese translations!

There's a NEW CONTEST going on in the Vilmonic Discord:

Find the Hidden Beverage Effect Contest! There's one pretty surprising effect that hasn't been found yet, by ANYONE.

Vilmonic is really fun on phone and tablet. Try it out, it's free-to-play with in-app-purchases to unlock the full features of the desktop version. Vilmonic on iOS https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vilmonic/id1490354980 Vilmonic on Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bludgeonsoft.vilmonic

Happy Vilmolidays! I hope everyone has a vilmonifun time and enjoys their vilmonifetivities!! Remember to reset your vilmonichron cycle responsibly. #VilmonichronCycleResetDay #Vilmonic #holiday #time #public #service #announcement

Join the Android ALPHA!

Changes include:

• New beverage: Liquidium!
• A camera is now required to export creatures
• Creatures now must be exported from photos
• New achievement: Zombiton Summoner
• Override your movement keys
• There's a new "frame skipping" setting
• Some new animations, bug fixes and optimizations.

(This pic is a hint at one of the changes coming.) If anyone wants to try out the beta on Steam, here's the code:

letsallbeta102

Playing around with some new items for "vanilla" Vilmonic, plus experimenting with new life forms and craftables packs. Join in the Vilmonic discord server for updates!

Here's a mock-up for the in-game GENE EDITOR I'm working on. Trying to simplify the UI as much as possible to work with mouse/touch. Top: copy buffer, Bottom: genes and selection range. If it seems like I'm bouncing around haphazardly between Vilmoniprojects, it's because I AM! Gene Editor... or New Life Form... or Mobile... or Humod Future... or More Craftables... Ugh, which one next??? :-) - Mark

Experience the strange sounds of the synthorganic post-vilmoniclysmic far future in the relative safety and comfort of your own home. This collection of outstanding music includes 20 songs from the Vilmonic Soundtrack as well as 3 BONUS TRACKS never before heard outside of the Vilmonicomputer. All 23 tracks brought to you by the world-class masterful virtuoso experimental band Wizardmaster in hi-fidelity MP3 and lossless FLAC formats.

Vilmonic Soundtrack (by Wizardmaster!) is DONE! I plan to add it to Steam soon (currently available on Bandcamp wizardmaster.bandcamp.com/album/vilmonic ) Twenty-three songs, including bonus tracks!

Based on cellular automata, i.e. Conway's Game of Life, with some additions to make them fit into the Vilmoniverse. Will poison fungs? Can be eaten?? Antagonize zombs??? New crafting ingredient???? This will be a new DLC add-on. Here's an animation showing how jelly-like these are: https://twitter.com/Bludgeonsoft/status/1096223238911225857 Another add-on in the works, L-system "trees":

Working on the mechanism for implementing DLC in Vilmonic. Here's my test, a new avatar add-on body part!

Vilmonic Discord is Now Verified!

Join the Vilmonic Discord and help add to the research that's being done into Vilmonic's complex world and rules.

I'm active on there too!

Thanks so much to everyone for helping to support the development of this game! Many great features are still in the works, so stay tuned...

This update includes Spanish language support! Oh, and only FIVE days 'til LAUNCH!

Here's the PRESS RELEASE:

Vilmonic, a living world of pixels and genetics and mathematical biology is launching on Steam November 5, 2018!

Your goal is to bring life back from the brink of extinction.

Vilmonic is a deep and complex artificial life sandbox.

It's about Science

And Crafting

And Cooperation

Vilmonic launches November 5 on Steam for Windows, macOS and Linux

This update includes French language support, as well as a bunch of minor bug fixes and some tweaks to the Zombiton Humod Vilmonicentral Hub.

This update fixes a bunch of bugs, including an important one that impacts carnivores' feeding habits. Oh, and it also adds some fixes to the zombinet. If anyone wants to try out the beta, here's the code: givemebeta60 To use this code (you must already own Vilmonic), restart your Steam client (just in case) and go to your Steam library and right-click on Vilmonic in the list of games, then select "Properties" from the popup menu. In the window that opens, click on the "BETAS" tab and paste the beta access code in the text area provided then click on the "CHECK CODE" button. Once the beta is unlocked, you can switch back and forth between beta and latest release using the drop-down menu at the top of the tab.

Victoria on the Vilmonic discord has been doing some pretty great research into the genetic code of exported life forms. Join in the scientific fun https://discord.gg/whFVMXA and help figure out the rules of this weird virtual world! Also, get great game play tips. Want to evolve carnivores? Check out research by Lionwave and Mantis and many others! Or just grab an interesting carnivore from the creatures section...

Join us on WobblyPython's Vilmonic Twitch stream, DAY 4! 9pm EDT Tonight and tomorrow (Thurs and Fri) https://www.twitch.tv/wobblypython We've had major EXTINCTIONS, invasive species, zomb crises, and finally EVOLVED OMNIVORES. Watch us ruin the ecosystem as we try to save it! And DRAW with us: Amazing Vilmonic Art by https://www.instagram.com/vulcant55

Vilmonic is STREAMING ALL WEEK starting at 9PM EDT on Wobbly Python's Vilmonic Art Rodeo! Enter the DRAWING CONTEST for a chance to WIN a Vilmonic Steam key. I'll be hanging out to answer questions and drop hidden Vilmonic secrets. Check it out! https://www.twitch.tv/WobblyPython
(Drawing by Wobbly Python himself!)

Just wanted to let everyone know what I'm working on lately. It's all PR now. Vilmonic is in "feature freeze" as I prepare to launch out of Steam Early Access! (This is the new Steam cover art^) If anyone knows any youtubers / letsplayers who might be interested in streaming Vilmonic, let me know! Also, if you feel like it, please leave a review, it will really help! As always, any tips/ideas/contacts to help spread the word are greatly appreciated!! - Mark

Finished the NEW TRAILER! It was a struggle to make it with my old failing computer (gfx card died) Let me know what you think!

Come hang out and say hello and play Vilmonic at MAGWest http://magwest.org/ today through Sunday! And grab a tshirt or a poster or a postcard

I just started a Vilmonic server on Discord: https://discord.gg/whFVMXA I've posted some creatures there and a marshland map, and I'll be putting more stuff up regularly! I encourage people to join and share creatures and islands and tips!

Now you can monitor anim brain activity in the Analyzer. Use the binoculars to analyze anims and see their brain activity LIVE!

Export and Import your creatures or your friends' creatures!

What is going on with these weird creature cards and all that digital noise at the bottom?

This is a pretty big update: In-game music! Tasks! More achievements! Vilmonic is now Feature Complete for the version 1.0 launch out of Early Access! Of course, that doesn't mean there won't be plenty of additions and updates after launch.

I decided to add just ONE MORE FEATURE, after getting tasks working, and that is music. It's almost complete. I'll release a new version soon (I also need to translate all the new copy for tasks). This is it, Vilmonic version 1.0 will launch out of early access very soon!

A minor update that fixes some UI issues for small window/screen sizes.

This update includes an extensive reworking of the genetics-to-morphology-to-physiology algorithms in the game. This will impact how your anims' bodies are grown. Anims now have attraction-repulsion brains, leading to simpler yet more interesting behaviors. Behaviors are emergent based on the relationships of internal and external senses. Insight into this can be found in the Analyzer. Also new in the Analyzer, clicking on the image will switch between normal view and "bones" (or branches) view. This allows you to see the previously hidden bone/branch shapes that are used to determine the morphology of each life form. Balancing your ecosystem will be a lot harder, and anims will require more assistance early in the game. At least until your ecosystem is somewhat balanced. Anims now lay eggs, and new progenitors are shipped to you if all of your anims die. Plus, you can now craft with Liquidium!

I just updated the beta! Coming soon: this update will go live for everyone once translations are in.

I'm still working on changes to the biology. Here's an example of the bone structure "inside" one of the anims. My current problem is that the DNA to morphology rules are not leading to enough variety... I still plan to update the beta soon, stay tuned!

Just wanted to let you all know that I'm still hard at work on re-balancing the game due to changes I made to the genetics and brains. I also took a break over the new year for a major family reunion! Re-balancing was much harder than I thought. The ecosystem of Vilmonic is now so complex that I need to be very careful with changes I make. >:- In this screenshot you can see that desert fungs are currently growing tall and skinny, I don't know if this will always be the case, have to run more tests... (Factoid: The height of the trunk affects how many spores are dropped, and the smoothness/size of the cap affects how much moisture is evaporated.)

Posted a quick update of bug fixes and some ecosystem re-balancing in the beta. Gearing up for a non-beta update soon! And then FULL LAUNCH! If you play this beta version, let me know how you like the new balancing. It should be a bit harder to keep your anims from going extinct, especially in small and medium worlds. And you will have to pay more attention to your anims. Oh, and anims are now much more susceptible to overhydration. And in case you missed it, here is the beta access code: GiveMeBeta029 To use this code, restart your Steam client (just in case) and go to your Steam library and right-click on Vilmonic in the list of games, then select "Properties" from the popup menu. In the window that opens, click on the "BETAS" tab and paste the beta access code in the text area provided then click on the "CHECK CODE" button. Once the beta is unlocked, you can switch back and forth between beta and latest release using the drop-down menu at the top of the tab. - Markus

Just posted a new update to the beta that includes new anim morphology changes and balancing. Quick Update: I'm currently working on getting syringes to work and adding the option to choose different starting biomes.

This is open to everyone who owns Vilmonic. This next version includes a pretty big change to animatroids, so please start with a new world! Also, this can be much harder than before, anims early in the game need a lot of help. Oh, and anims now lay eggs. Feel free to post any bugs you find here in the comments, or post a report here: http://bludgeonsoft.org/report-a-bug/ Here is the beta access code: GiveMeBeta029 To use this code, restart your Steam client (just in case) and go to your Steam library and right-click on Vilmonic in the list of games, then select "Properties" from the popup menu. In the window that opens, click on the "BETAS" tab and paste the beta access code in the text area provided then click on the "CHECK CODE" button. Once the beta is unlocked, you can switch back and forth between beta and latest release using the drop-down menu at the top of the tab. - Markus

New anim brains are working well, but there are still balance issues. But maybe those issues are OK...? As it is right now, it is much harder to get your anims to survive, and they devastate fung populations. It's also really hard to get carnivores to survive for long, they tend to eat their young/parents. I'm thinking of opening up an alpha version soon for anyone who wants to try it out. Stay tuned! - Markus

Just wanted to let you all know what I'm working on. I'm rewriting anim brains to be much more evolvable. This is a necessary first step toward adding "god mode" (and the full launch out of early access!), which I will begin soon after. These are big changes that affect the genetics of anims, which in turn affect the whole ecosystem, including fungs. I am also toying with adding similar brains to zombs, as well as allowing you to manipulate the brains. We'll see! Right now things are... crazy. - Markus

Loads more junk and debris and some new craftable items and beverages! Become super strong and push walls around! Make yourself mega popular! Blow some soap bubbles to amaze your friends - and enemies! And more... Next up: Better weirder anim brains, and God Mode!

Ok, the next update is almost ready! Please help test it.
This is open to everyone who owns Vilmonic. Here is the beta access code: JoinTheBetaTest To use this code, restart your Steam client (just in case) and go to your Steam library and right-click on Vilmonic in the list of games, then select "Properties" from the popup menu. In the window that opens, click on the "BETAS" tab and paste the beta access code in the text area provided then click on the "CHECK CODE" button. Once the beta is unlocked, you can switch back and forth between beta and latest release using the drop-down menu at the top of the tab. To play it safe, please start with a new world. Things to look for: * Frame rate issues * Graphics issues, especially when drinking beverages Feel free to post any bugs you find here in the comments. - Markus

Just a quick status update to let you all know that I'm still hammering away at the next update. One of the new beverages required a bunch of new control changes that were... difficult. And I'm trying out a new beverage FX scheme that could increase frame rate (and make it possible for day/night modes in the future) but it has some issues with older graphics cards! Ugh!! I still say the next update will be SOON! - Markus

Loads more junk and debris and some new craftable items. Blow some soap bubbles!

I kept adding new items to this release, but had to force myself to stop and roll some of them out for the next update. I made changes to the nutrient-use system, which required SO MUCH balance testing, basically me running loads of simulations (i.e. games) and checking statistics to make sure I didn't mess anything up. Still no DNA tweaking in this update, I just can't figure out how I want to implement it in a way that doesn't feel like a cheat - but soon! So what's new? * New dungeon walls and floors! They're now the zombs favorite structures. * Toxic waste is now a crafting material. * Added tables and chairs. * Added more avatar body parts. * You can now analyze zombs (beta). * More stuff to craft, like the Fungiburger! Plop one on the ground and your anims will eat it up. Or feed one directly to your anims if their health is low. Or eat one yourself if your health is low. Or eat one if you just want a snack. * Other stuff...

Text is off to be translated, so any day now :-) - Markus

A quick post to let you know that I'm finishing up the next update which will include a new crafting material (hint: it's toxic) and some new craftables (for the home and office and home office) and new body parts! Also, have you ever wondered what's going on inside the mind of those zombs? This update will begin to shed some light (just a bit, for now).

Phew, finally! Version 0.26.00 is out. Try out the new Camera! Build one, or if you are lucky, dig one up. Document your world and all of its changes. Then export and share your photos. There's a new beverage: Revolt™ soda. Drink some if you are (hint) antisocial. This version contains a lot of behind-the-scenes changes to anim and especially fungol biology. WARNING: This will cause a bunch of your fungs to die off! Don't worry though, the species that survive will grow back pretty quickly. Consider this the First Great Extinction event in Vilmonic. These changes were necessary so that in future updates I can start adding features that allow players to view and modify the internal biology of creatures in the world. This will make possible features like an x-ray machine, syringes for extracting DNA, gene splicing, etc. The Vilmonic simulator now has much more complex model of nutrients and hydration. One example of this is that creatures now return their nutrients to the soil as fertilizer when they die. So if you have some fungols that need more nutrients, try planting them where something has died (including zombs). Currently fertilizer in a location is used up in the first stage of fungol growth, so it only really helps germination. As always, let me know what you think of these changes. Enjoy! - Markus

Just wanted to quickly say that the next update is coming VERY SOON. I'm finishing up a multitude of game/ecosystem balance issues. ETA Monday? Tuesday??

Cameras and photos are now working, but there is still a little bit of polish needed before I officially release the next version. This is taking forever :-) , so I decided to allow everyone to try the beta version. This beta is super stable, but still, you may want to start a new game. If you open an old game, the only issue is that new items may not play so nicely if you go back to the previous version. There have been substantial changes to fungs, so you may see a bunch of them die off when you open up an old game, but most should grow back pretty quickly. There's also a new beverage: Revolt!

Still to be added before releasing this new version (0.26.00):

• Photos in the notepad need an export/delete menu
• Russian translations for new items
• Sounds for new items

Here is the beta access code:

Hoping to make some of those junk cameras you dig up actually able to take some pix... This is my way of taking a break from completing the new fung biology. (About 2/3 done with that!)

Major changes are coming to how DNA affects morphology which in turn affects the physiology of fungs in Vilmonic. (anims to follow) Everything is now based on the number of pixels in each "organ". This reworking is to make it easier to surface some of the depth and detail that is currently hidden in the game. Features will be added to so that you will be able to view the internal workings of each life form. (X-ray machine? Dissection?)... Fungs will now require hydration based on their cap size, take in water from the environment based on how much is available in its biome, and lose hydration based on the surface area of its cap. The surface-area-to-cap-size ratio will be a strong selector for fitness in different environments. This creates interesting stresses that will affect the evolution of morphology in the game. For example: more water than needed without enough surface area to dissipate the excess and the fungol will possibly die before reproducing. Similarly, the number of spots and height of the stalk will affect how many spores are released. The growth of these structures is (already) controlled by the DNA of each organism. Genetic mutations will change how a life form grows, and affect its fitness for its environment. Nutrient use will also be affected. I'm deep into this change, and it's a pretty intense one, but I just wanted to give a quick update to let you all know that things are still moving! Also, more beverages are coming: one that repulses zombs, one that attracts anims, one that makes you super strong, and another that heals you! Stay tuned! - Markus

Added natural rocks (or mountains) and a whole bunch of ecosystem balancing.

Fig. 1 An example of the hidden bone structure (based on the MASSO gene) used to procedurally generate each creature's body in Vilmonic So I'm still finishing up the next release which adds rock outcroppings (or mountains) and tweaks to island generation and some ecosystem balancing. I've been delayed a bit by a bunch of conferences (submissions and attendances) and other PR work. The feedback I've been getting has been really helpful, and I think the next few releases will focus on making some of the hidden details of the game more easily discoverable. For example, there's a bone structure underneath the Anims skin (i.e. "behind the scenes") that is controlled by the MASSO gene. The length and curvature of the bones determines the overall size of the creature, and thus affects its nutrient requirements and movement speed and stamina, etc. There are a bunch of these hidden systems, and I really need to figure out how to make them visible in a fun way. In the bones example above, I think I may add a craftable X-Ray machine that you can push anims on top of to view their internal structure. People have also asked for a control panel to allow changing the default attributes of islands (how much water, how much desert, etc). In the meantime, I may just open up the hidden back-end in a "cheat mode" to allow players to tweak most of the attributes of the game, at the risk of giving away too many spoilers. Let me know what you think! - Markus

Added an option to disable sub-pixel animation, which may improve the frame rate on slower computers. Now on to more fun additions, I swear!

Much more aggressive zombiton swarming behavior. Don't destroy zombs! They only calm down either by destroying things or building things. And they're terrible builders.

Now with tooltips! Hover your cursor over icons to get more info...

Steam cloud saves are now working! The next time you play Steam should merge in all of your Vilmonic save games from all of your computers. Don't worry, they're tiny.
(These creepy chicken-like creatures are from an old Windows save, now also accessible on my Linux box or MacOS slab.)

Enabled graphics acceleration on more devices, should improve the frame rate for many people.

This is just an update to let you all know what I'm currently working on. I've gotten sidetracked from adding more game features to trying to make the game run faster on all graphics cards. Currently Vilmonic doesn't recognize some computers' graphics hardware, and so the frame rate could be low on those machines. Not an exciting addition, but one that should make animation smoother for a lot of people. Then on to improving the zombiton hive-mind...! - M

Version 0.21.00

• New Hi-Fi Color FX (For fast CPUs, for slower computers they can be turned off in the settings.)
• Fiberoyd walls and floors: You'll need to breed some yellow fungols to craft them.

Conservators! The dimensional flux has shifted and a new gateway has opened to the Mad Zone! Vilmonic needs your help transitioning the Vilmonisphere to this new realm. Message me through Steam or electronic mail me at vilmonic@bludgeonsoft.org if you'd like to try out the beta version of the upcoming release. If you enter the Mad Zone (some may say "play the beta") I suggest you start a new world. Some new features, like new building materials, are not currently backwards-compatible (should you choose to switch back to the non-beta (I mean, leave the Mad Zone.)) - M

Vilmonic is launching on Steam Early Access June 15th!