Investigating C1 climate (for a huge fail)

We all now C2 has an complex ecology model, where temperature,wind light, radiation and others such parameters dynamically shape the worlds face.

But did you know that basic ecology elements are also present in C1 to some extent?
Let's find out about those together.

Finally, a Creatures 2 Norn autopsy tool

So, we've just learnt how to extract various information from C2 History files, among which a list of concentrations for a Norn's bloodstream chemicals at time of death.

We've also learnt how to map a chemical's number to a readable chemical name.

We can finally get to perform autopsies of dead C2 Norns!

Getting C2 chemicals descriptions (chemicals.def file format)

What a sneaky bastard I am.
This was supposed to be a C2 Norn autopsy article! (I swear I'm not doing that to avoid awarding anyone the promised carrot.)

I just realised something was still missing from the last article.
In the C1 chemicals information article we were able to pull out both chemical names and descriptions from the chemicals.txt file.

So where's that information in C2 ?

Reversing and Parsing C2 allchemicals.str file format

Aright, we already covered how to obtain an up to date list of Chemical numbers and names inside our programs by extracting it from C1 game files.

Obviously this is an ability of much practical value for C2 too, so let's see how we could do that now.
I haven't found the allchemicals.str file format described anywhere so far, but the format is simple enough so reversing it should be Norn's play for us at this point :)

Back to more traditionnal automated Norn genealogy using python and graphviz ( Intro )

We've already had a glimpse at using advanced tools for experiments in Albian genealogy.
Gephi is a nice tool for interactively browsing decently sized datasets on the macro scale, but what about more conventional genealogy tools ?

In this post I will show you basic use of graphviz in python to make some more traditional but far more detailed family trees automatically.This will once again be only a short glimpse at graphviz possibilities so we can use it as an useful tool further down the road.
Hopefully it will make you want to add this to your Albian explorer toolbox.

Parsing C2 histfiles

Once again, a quick filler post about parsing a random creatures file format.

This time we will be investigating the Creatures 2 "History file" format.

 This one is also already documented online, but being able to parse it can allow us to extract some interesting data.

I guess this post needed at least one picture

Designing farting norns (Tutorial)

Many colored alternative breeds exist for all of the creatures games.

In this tutorial I will show you how to design a new breed for C1.
But not one that involves making new sprites for new colored or punk Norns, but rather one that implements new Norn behaviours and possibilities.
Using those techniques one could add loads of interesting behaviours to Norns such as :

• Adding a kicking stance and associated behaviours to fight off Grendel more efficiently
• Making Norns that can reinvigorate and heal by resorting to meditation
• Enabling actual telekinesis in Norns ( yes, this IS possible with some work )
• Making jumping Norns
• Mimicking more realistic life behaviour ( digestion, elimination ... )
• ...

But this time we will be:

Making Farting Norns: