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[lordcooper]

Eh, not too much to discuss as of yet.

Steve Grand has chosen to utilize a version of the Creative Commons license for the information at present, meaning that info can be shared freely, although he has expressed a desire that it be kept to a minimum where possible.  I can totally respect that, so while I will definitely keep you all up to date on some of the more exciting details, expect there to be a bit of vagueness at times.

Details are lacking at present, due to the early stage of the project and the fact that given the originality of the project, Steve is having to work a lot of this out as he goes along, while still keeping track of how every individual aspect will affect the whole.  I'll post something up as soon as I have access to something that isn't pure rhetoric.

Fake edit:  Ninja'd, but I'm gonna post this anyway   Out of curiosity, how many other B12ers are in on this, and to what level?

[lordcooper]

Here's a post from Steves' personal blog that may be of some interest for those with a little knowledge of code.  In fact, it would be absolutely amazing if anyone wanted to have a go at picking up this project.

If I stop being actively involved then I’ll definitely release the source, I promise, but somehow or other I have to make this work as a business. This is the only time I’ll ever be able to ask for charity like this and I’m really grateful to everyone for investing in my project and making it possible for me to carry on with my life’s work, but that’s exactly what I need to be able to do – carry on. I’ve put years of work into this already, so it’s not like I can take the kickstarter money, work incredibly hard to write hundreds of thousands of lines of completely unique AI code and then just give it away so that anyone can do what they like with it. Where do I go after that? I have no pension, no savings, no property and I’m not a kid any more, so it’s important. So what I want to do is open the thing up as much as possible to you enthusiasts, while still retaining the opportunity to sell enough copies of the core product to the rest of the world to be able to carry on with this ridiculous, stupid vocation of mine.

I do understand the concern. Actually, I think people are underestimating how powerful the API will be and overestimating what they’d be able to do with the raw source code if they had it, but we’ll see. I really don’t know how to deal with all this yet. I’m just relieved I’m not going to go bankrupt in a few weeks after all. Let me write the damn thing first and then we’ll figure out how to please everyone without me having to step off the edge of the Grand Canyon in despair! I’m not going to let it die like Creatures – that’s part of the reason I’m doing it this way and not signing another pact with the devil / talking to venture capitalists. I want to continue making cool things and inventing new kinds of artificial intelligence for as long as my brain holds out. In the mean time, if anyone really wants to play around with source code that I’ve written, rather than write their own, then be my guest – there’s half a game up on sourceforge already. I decided to drop it because it wasn’t going to work commercially, amongst other more personal reasons, so Tom Barbalet persuaded me to make it open source, but I don’t think anyone’s even touched it. I can’t afford ANY time to support its development, so you’d be completely on your own (it’s well commented), but it’s a couple of years’ worth of work just sitting there rusting. http://sourceforge.net/projects/simergy/

[SalmonGod]

This guy sounds unbelievably cool.  I can't wait to see what he produces.  Wish there were more people and projects out there like this.

[Xgamer4]

Fake edit:  Ninja'd, but I'm gonna post this anyway   Out of curiosity, how many other B12ers are in on this, and to what level?

I'm in on it, and I'm at the guru level. Same username over there as here (and everywhere else, for that matter).

[Puzzlemaker]

Thanks for the update guys; Yeah, I can respect his wishes too.  Oh, and thanks for posting that game link; try to spread that around because that sounds like it could turn into something interesting.

[Neonivek]

I just can't wait until he starts putting pictures of the creatures up. (assuming he isn't sticking with the horse)

though I still hopes he has more then one... but I am not holding by breath.

[Xgamer4]

I just can't wait until he starts putting pictures of the creatures up. (assuming he isn't sticking with the horse)

though I still hopes he has more then one... but I am not holding by breath.

As far as I've been able to figure out, nothing has really been set in stone, but the intention is for the engine to be able to support multiple kinds of creatures. It's just a question of how those creatures will come about and what form they'll take.

[Neonivek]

Heck I wouldn't even mind Norns comming back... Though I have a feeling they won't.

Though looking at the graphics... I am not sure I want to see them THAT ugly. (unless that was just a placeholder and he can actually make things look somewhat nice)

[PTTG??]

The Squonk-nosed Haggis (the horsey thing in the prototype shots) is merely a standin.

[Areyar]

I wouldn't mind if gandroids were ASCII characters, as long as the actual simulation (and possibly gameplay) are good.

[DeKaFu]

I wanna say, I'm really hoping for (at least the option of) a quadruped. I can't really articulate why... I guess because I'm dissatisfied with the way everything everywhere always needs to be as human as possible.

I'm sort of regretting missing my chance to donate, or else I could've brought this up personally, I guess.

[mendonca]

Fake edit:  Ninja'd, but I'm gonna post this anyway   Out of curiosity, how many other B12ers are in on this, and to what level?

I'm in on it, and I'm at the guru level. Same username over there as here (and everywhere else, for that matter).

I'm there, on the one that was $50. I'm away from my own computer until next week, so haven't been able to have a look round the forums / community yet but really looking forward to having a good root round next week.

[Neonivek]

I wanna say, I'm really hoping for (at least the option of) a quadruped. I can't really articulate why... I guess because I'm dissatisfied with the way everything everywhere always needs to be as human as possible.

I'm sort of regretting missing my chance to donate, or else I could've brought this up personally, I guess.

The only reason they don't generally use Quadrapeds is that there is so much lost when you use one.

Such as hands and... arms.

Though I assume you don't mean a Centaur

Though to admit I do like the Horsey

[lordcooper]

My preference would be for a race of gorilla-like things that can walk on all fours or upright depending upon neccessity/personality/IG stuff.

[Saint]

Heck I wouldn't even mind Norns comming back... Though I have a feeling they won't.

Though looking at the graphics... I am not sure I want to see them THAT ugly. (unless that was just a placeholder and he can actually make things look somewhat nice)

I loved the norns because they were cute to cater to the younger crowd yet sophisitcated to cater to the more mature crowd.
It's a win/win.
I don't mean those creatures:adventures games, those don't count.