SimCity should do a galactic sim to design species | Hacker News Reader

SimCity should do a galactic sim to design species

2 pointsvtempest4 comments

After playing SimCity, I think: Why not go galactic? Imagine a version where you are the god-like consciousness of the universe. You input various characteristics of how you want the universe designed and the species that live on various planets. You watch them evolve (like Conway's game of life) and eventually they will contact each other and compete for planets. SimStar Wars. It's like Starcraft but you get to design the way planets and various species are structured, instead of playing for a side. Would a more Star Trek Borg-like species beat a logical Vulcan species? Ah what a video game that would be, the grandest of them all.

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You mean Spore?

I not sure if the OP is being serious or not after reading his description and realizing he does not mention spore once. EA is honestly not the company I would want to make this kind of game though. I played Spore when it came out and although it had a lot of potential, you could feel it was rushed and limited to what was envisioned. Combined with the way EA has changed their business model in recent years, I fear for what a reincarnation would look like.

If I had to choose a AAA studio/publisher over alternatives, would go with Firaxis, makers of Civilization. An Indie developer though would be the best bet to getting a game that isn't made for just casual gamers.

Kerbal Space Program[1] has a some of what the OP might want, but with a more narrow, realistic scope. Also allows modding for extending the game.

Also Civilization 4 had some great mods (including several Star Trek ones)[2]. They were good enough, you actually felt you were playing a turn based space sim and not one on a planet. Not sure if any are out for Civ5 yet. I own it, but I have not had time in a while to to play much.

[1] http://store.steampowered.com/app/220200/?snr=1_5_9__205

[2] http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=233074

I played Spore when it came out. It seemed like that was more about raising and customizing your organism through different stages of evolution. This idea is quite different. You play as the universe itself. There's a famous Sagan quote saying we are a way for the cosmos to know itself. You get to design planets and stuff that exists in the cosmos. You input various characteristics for the species you make and them evolve like SimCity cities. What inventions and ideas will they adopt? what galactic events will affect them?

I would love this.

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