Hello folks! Creatura 2.0, as previously teased, is more than just an update; it's a full-fledged upgrade intended to deliver a more polished and engaging experience. Following up on my last community post, let's uncover more about the tweaks and additions in gameplay, genetics, and the UI, starting with the significant revamp of game difficulty.

Taming the Wild - Game Difficulty Overhaul

In the nascent stages of Creatura, back in 2016, my vision was straightforward - akin to a sophisticated "tamagotchi" game with realistic genetics and customizable environments. Over time, and due to various factors such as feature creep and certain gameplay diversions, this vision shifted, leading to a game where challenge and reward weren't always congruous. While it was rewarding to successfully use edyGene or create visually appealing vivariums, the challenge was often skewed more towards struggling with UI rather than meeting the game's objectives. In Creatura 2.0, we're bringing the focus back to the original intent. We're restructuring the game to make creating, evolving, and discovering new animals the true objective through and through. In most cases, all animals will require only other animal orders to evolve, with exceptions for some early-tier creatures. While the environment will still impact animals' genomes (e.g., adjusting colors for better camouflage), no specific plant will be needed for evolution to occur. This change will also address the current limitation where the visual appeal of your vivarium is tethered to your progress. We're ensuring that altering your tank's flora won't directly impact its fauna, leaving you with more freedom to aesthetically decorate your tank or concentrate on resolving animal dependencies to progress its evolution. While it may not be entirely realistic, this adjustment is designed to enhance enjoyment and reduce idle time. For example, you could use the waiting period for new animals to evolve to either get creative with plant decorations or discover new genome markers.

Genome Editing - Part of the Interface

In Creatura 2.0, we're integrating genome editing more seamlessly into the user interface, removing unnecessary hurdles and making the process more intuitive and enjoyable. The complexity of genetic engineering, although a realistic aspect of the game, has previously been an intimidating feature for many players, especially newcomers. To address this, we've worked on decluttering the genome editing interface, specifically the edyGene 2.0. For instance, the earlier versions displayed all genome base pairs which, while educational, often overwhelmed players with its complexity. In Creatura 2.0, we've removed this element to make the tool more accessible and user-friendly. Another area of focus has been the genome editing tools themselves. Despite being a game producer, even I have found it challenging to explain the difference between using InVitro and Cas9 methods, while the X-ray method, with its intricate setup, was commonly misused as a "kill this specimen" button. Here's how we've improved the tools:

• X-ray Tier: We've made this tool more streamlined. It will now require you to select a single codon to apply random value changes, removing the need for additional manual input.
• In Vitro Tier: This tool has seen a complete overhaul. Once you select a single codon from the active genome, it will copy values from the same codon of a selected stored genome (provided you have one).
• Cas9 Tier: While this tool will still allow for direct genome editing, it now comes with a unique interface equipped with new utilities and tools. This change will make the process more approachable for expert players without compromising the intricate manipulation of genes.

Additionally, we're introducing a "minimap" for genomes to visualize and compare active and stored genomes. This feature is a significant quality-of-life improvement, allowing for quick visualization of differences without the need for extensive scrolling, as the minimap doubles as a scrollbar.

One Genome to Rule Them All

Under the banner of simplifying and enriching the gameplay, we're thrilled to announce the unification of our genetic system. In the current version, each animal group (fish, crustaceans, etc.) has its unique set of DNA markers, requiring meticulous "mapping" for each order. This process often becomes a tedious hurdle for newcomers, creating a steep learning curve, and weird artificial barriers between otherwise interconnected species. In Creatura 2.0, we're simplifying this by ensuring all species across each vivarium share the same genome. This means a DNA marker that influences the 'head size' of reptiles will now have a similar effect on other animals in the tank. This shift does more than just making edyGene easier to use; it adds value to each marker discovery, as its applicability now expands across all species. This is a notable stride in reducing complexity and enhancing gameplay engagement. Furthering our efforts, we're extending this unification to plant and animal genomes. The new genome structure will consist of 256 codons, maintaining the spirit of discovery and experimentation cherished by players. 64 codons will affect plants, 64 will influence animals, and 128 will be vital. Modifications in plant or animal codons will yield similar results as changes in vital codons. The marker system is also being streamlined. We're replacing the color tags with more descriptive tags such as Vital, Animal, or Plant. This change will also influence the "map-the-genome" achievement, making it more straightforward and rewarding.

Auto-Almanac and Local Sourced Inventories

Encouraging more experimentation, we're moving the Almanac to its own dedicated menu. Now automated, it will document your species creations and evolutions without any need for manual entries. As soon as you plant a new cutting or evolve a new animal family, the Almanac will generate new species entries. Moreover, players will have the option to merge these entries at their discretion. We're also overhauling the inventory system in Creatura 2.0. The current global inventory system will be replaced with local only inventories. This change aligns well with the introduction of global genetic markers, as species can now be recreated between tanks using early game genome editing. This transition not only simplifies the inventory management but also opens up new gameplay opportunities in Laboratory Mode. For example, you may need to recreate a species from one tank in another using the available genetic information, bringing more variety and strategic thinking to the gameplay.

La-La-Laboratory Mode

And finally, I'm excited to bring to you one of most significant changes - the all-new Laboratory Mode. I've come to realize over the years that most players derive satisfaction from a clear end goal, a sense of completion. Hence, we've reimagined our gameplay to cater to this preference without taking away from the free exploration and creative components of Creatura. Laboratory Mode is a game-changer, replacing all the old Scenarios and bringing a linear structure to the gameplay. However, for our players who currently relish the Creatura Freeplay mode, rest assured, it's not going anywhere. The main emphasis of the game, however, will now be on this new Laboratory Mode. As you step into this mode, you will be greeted with a host of interesting challenges, designed to test and entertain. These won't be easily bypassed using global inventory, adding a refreshing layer of complexity and strategy. Moreover, conquering these challenges will bring worthwhile rewards, including higher-tier edyGene tools, new vivarium slots, and the ability to handle animals directly. The Laboratory Mode is also where narrative meets gameplay. Expect to see familiar faces like Eli and Paul as they navigate their work in Creatura Laboratories, all under the watchful eye of their new boss, Kiran. --- I hope that these changes enhance your anticipation for Creatura 2.0, promising a more streamlined gameplay experience filled with depth and customization. Our team is juggling two titles concurrently, so an exact release date is still under wraps. However, we're running internal tests and striving to bring you the most immersive version of Creatura yet. A quick note for those who haven't purchased Creatura yet - if you buy Creatura before the release of Creatura 2.0, you'll receive Creatura 2.0 for free upon release. Considering the upcoming price hike with the 2.0 version, buying it now during the current sale could be a smart move. Please note that save data won't be compatible between Creatura 1.0 and 2.0, but we'll do our best to retain as much player data as possible. Stay tuned for more updates and the announcement of the 2.0 open beta. As always, we appreciate your continued support!