Hey everyone!
Time really does fly by when you’re trying to build an empire in the deep sea – we’re already in September! I’ve been working on an upcoming update aiming to introduce wildlife to Primordial Empire, and some of you might have seen some snippets in last month’s round-up. This monthly post will ressemble more of a dev log -- we'll go through some of the work-in-progress with a bit more detail and a few more screenshots.
Wildlife Incoming
You might have already seen the above life forms last month, and here's a different shot of these “wildlife” components coming in the future. The yellow cells are progenitor cells (spawned by the yellow plant on the left), which are basically “wild stem cells” that work like the player-controlled ones. They eat and then they split, serving as the foundation of certain wildlife interactions (e.g. there will also be predators). They are generally harmless, but if they get into your feeding grounds, they may cause an "infestation" and eat away at any food for your own cells. When you see them, keep an eye on their numbers! I wonder if there's a way to make use of them...
Long Distance Wanderers
This little guy is a Nomad Cell - you will encounter them in the Salt Barrens biome. As an adaptation to the harsh arid landscape they are native to, they form migratory pathways between their spawn hubs, potentially across vast distances. They are opportunistic omnivores that eat both cells and food particles, and can endure long journeys without food. It’s a single-cell organism with fin structures and a calcified endocytosis site (or “beak”), and the “eye” is actually the cell nucleus with endoplasmic reticulum around it. The sponge-like structure at the bottom is a filtration system they can use to absorb thinly distributed nutrients, allowing them to last longer even if they don't find any solid food.
A Dance Among Crystals
And finally, introducing the Conjugator Cells, the latest creature I’m working on. Native to the mineralized biome, they come in two flavors: Conjugator A (red) and Conjugator B (blue). Like most other life in Primordial Empire, the mobile cells spawn out of sessile buds. But unlike other cellular life, these guys have discovered a peculiar way of reproduction: they mate! Conjugator A cells will seek out Conjugator B cells, and if they “click”, they do a little "dance" upon which some genetic material from A gets transferred to B, fertilizing them. Fertilized B cells will then search for a new place to settle, where they will transform into a new bud. Fun fact: Fertilized B cells can sparkle!
Back to School
Before we go, just want to quickly mention that Primordial Empire is in the Back to School Games Celebration. You can find a massive collection of fun and educational titles ranging from scientific knowledge to language and mathematical skills, and of course, Primordial Empire is here to get you ready for biology. Check out the event here!
I hope you like these new creatures that are coming in the next update. If you want to know more about them, join us on Discord! I'll be posting development updates regularly, and feel free to ask any questions you have about the the creatures, gameplay or anything else you can think of.
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