It's been a while, hasn't it? Last time we posted here we were looking for more talent to fill up the team and boy did we get it. A friendly Reddit post sent dozens of fresh faces to our forums and we're picking up speed like never before, meaning development is becoming increasingly technical. That doesn't mean we're all work and no play, however. Development hasn't felt this fun for me at any point in recent memory, and we're creating increasingly beautiful concepts, prototypes, art and music.
On the subject of music, we've shown you a few songs before which you loved. We're now officially releasing for the first time thirty original pieces by our team's composers and artists outside the team who were gracious enough to allow us to use their art. We'd love for you to spend the next week bathing yourselves in the melodies and ambiance we've created, and our composers are immensely pleased to see their work being enjoyed. So go right ahead and download the compilation, we're sure you'll find something you love in it.
Thrive Music Compliation
If you want to keep up with our music as it's made, be sure to subscribe to Doggit's youtube channel. For more frequent updates on development and discussion with other fans, follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook.
Now that you've connected yourself to Thrive in every way possible, it's time for us to share with you some development news. Microbe stage exists in many different partial forms as I write this. We have one prototype focusing on compound management- the chemical processes of cellular life, one prototype ironing out endocytosis and gameplay, and finally a microbe editor prototype. Two or three of these will be officially released for your amusement over the following few weeks. You'll be able to see the beauty of dozens of AI microbes competing for resources, and start planning what your microscopic species is going to look like. Microbe stage will end up being quite expansive, encompassing many of the ideas we've had for multicellular stage and serving as a proving ground for the implementation of our complex evolution, autotroph distribution, and biome systems. The first official in-engine release will resemble the coming prototypes, but will be constantly built up in subsequent releases, implementing more and more of our concepts. I'm getting excited and you should be excited as well.
On the Subject of Money
In the past few months, many of you expressed to us the excellent and quite flattering idea of Revolutionary Games starting a Kickstarter to fund the game's development. While we're amazed so many of you are willing to give us your hard-earned money, we haven't jumped on these suggestions for some very good reasons.
We really have nothing to spend the money on. We are making this game on a $0 budget and releasing it for free. Volunteers have made everything for Thrive so far, and we don't foresee any big expenses in pushing out this game. Our members are intrinsically motivated, and want Thrive to be a reality as much as you do. This shared goal has propelled us quite far to date, and we don't want to spoil our culture by monetizing the work we do. Our coders have rejected the idea of being paid specifically for their contributions because they're the heart of our team, and didn't sign on to the team to make a quick buck. At some point, we will most likely have a fundraiser, but the proceeds would be all for charity. It would be difficult and unpleasant to divide up money between the dozens or hundreds of people who have contributed to Thrive, and for the most part we don't want your cash. We're content with your love.
On that rather wholesome note, I'll end this update. Be sure to subscribe to all of our various feeds and watch them closely, since there will be a prototype ready for you next week. Thank you so much for your support.
~sciocont, Revolutionary Games Team Lead
Glad to hear of such good things! Lovely soundtrack, too!
Glad too see that this project isn't dead!
Why would you even think its dead?
We've taken a few pages out of the opossum's book at times.
When I found out this entire thing will be Free, my jaw dropped to the floor.
A very professional update right there. Plenty of information to feed Thrives hungry fans and keep them motivated. Really, your doing a brilliant job, keep it up! -Gawbad
a comprehensive cell stage > all of spore
That's some fine news.
Just shut up and take my love!
The love is reciprocated! Thank you all so much for your enthusiasm and support.
You guys are making what Spore should have been.
For free.
And you guys aren't dead like I thought you were for the past 6 months.
Hell yeah.
Well I've been tracking this for a while because it looks like the most ambitious indy project going.
I downloaded version 0.0.9 and was... well you know.
I really am rooting for you guys, If i wasn't donating my spare time to another project atm I'd be willing to hop on board. However biology wasn't my best subject and I was immediately over my head listening to some of the debates raging on you forums.
I was however part of the forum on the possibility of aquatic life reaching the stars, and while possible I see you stuck with the mainstream idea that it isn't likely. Too bad, but from a dev point of view I can understand why it probably wasn't worth your time.
I really hope to see some sort of proof of concept emerging for what looks like your main focus, the cell stage. Everyone keeps mentioning spore, like its some kind of baseline, but it seems like you guys are setting a new, and probably more apt, bar for what constitutes this style of game.
Please don't ever tire, and continue working until this gem is released to the public. Also bear in mind your audience, and make it fun. I look forward to seeing your updates pop up in my indyDB notification box.
Be well.
Thank you for the kind words and support. If you ever free up some time, We'd love to have a little help on the forums.
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