indielib.com

Download here:
Download source here:

Concept:
Watch a glade grow in pseudo real-time (a tree won't take years to grow etc.) with a primitive ecosystem for a little spice including fireflies and such. Weather and a day-night cycle will be implemented to the best of my abilities to give it a little more playing value. The player won't be directly in control of how the game progresses, per se, instead the player will be able to influence weather and such to see how the glade reacts.

Planned features:
*IK Tree system
*Weather system
*Day-Night cycle
*Ecosystem with primitive natural selection

Screenshots:

The current IK Tree algorithm growing three trees. - 14th March


The current IK Tree algorithm growing a tree with leaves and wind implemented. - 15th March


Implemented some bugs flying around at random for the moment. - 16th March


Changed the debug treerendering-code to something a bit more appealing. - 25th March


The preliminary day-night cycle is now in. - 26th March

If anyone wants to work with me on this project, I could use someone doing the graphical parts. Drawing leaves, backgrounds, concepting sunrise/sunset and so on. If you only feel like doing one thing, no problem. If you're interested just send a PM my way and we can probably work something out.

Critiscism, ideas, suggestions or questions are all very welcome as always.

Wow, this idea is really original. I don't think I ever came across this concept. Looking forward to see it in full bloom!

If there is some time left, maybe let some butterflies fly around or other insects.

Thanks, and nice pun Yeah I'm going to put in some insects, fireflies to be precise (cause they look cool in the night). This is next on my todo list and it will hopefully add a little bit of life to the scene.

Hadn't though of butterflies but now that you say it I could swap between butterflies in the day and fireflies in the night, might make for an interesting effect

Really original concept. I'm really looking after this project. Just waiting for some screenshots.

I hope you have time enough for playing with the visuals, this could be really beaituful.

I have some tree sprites that Danc (lostgarden.com) sent me.

I think you could use them by scaling / rotating the different parts (they are in a .psd and you could save each part with transparency. Are you interested?

Yeah, im interested

And yes, I really hope I'll have time for the visuals as well. The base elements are pretty much all done though, so now I have a couple of weeks for polishing

http://indielib.com/temp/Tree.psd

Please, credit Danc in your game. http://lostgarden.com (It's a great blog about game design with really good "compos").

So I've hit the point where I'm running on fumes, basically. Except adding grass and weather, what more do you think I should add or change? The speed of time won't be as fast as it currently is, it's just for debugging and testing purposes. The tree growing isn't autonomous at the moment either.

So, if you want to help me out, any and all suggestions as to what I could/should change/add to make it more fun, interesting or what have you would be great


Click anywhere to grow a tree at that X position.

I started losing framerate.
You should be able to destroy the trees by burning them.
Or try to make the tree grow as tall is you can by taking care of it or something

Well, I'm as done as I'm going to get. I didn't get half of what I wanted into the game but hey, atleast I learned how to make some sort of tree algorithm. Personally, I blame the great weather keeping me outdoors.

If anything, this competition has made it clear beyond doubt that I don't mesh well with deadlines, even very generous ones like this. The active time I've spent on this is probably below ten hours. If we do this sort of thing again I'll be sure to plan the work out better.
It's been fun however, and I would do it again (will, if any more competitions come up).

Anyways, here is the link (as well as in the OP):
(Click anywhere to spawn a tree there).
Edit: I almost forgot! Credits go out to Danc of LostGarden for textures!

Lastly, good luck to all the people that entered. Seeing other peoples work is great

Heres the source if anyone is interested.