What is Thrive?

Thrive is a game for PC, Mac, and Linux about evolution, in which the player guides a species from their origin as a microbe to the space age and beyond. Gameplay is split into seven stages - microbe, multicellular, aware, awakening, society, industrial and space. Through each of these you will guide your creature towards intelligence, sentience and the stars.

Where can I download it?

So far, there is no finished game to download. However, we expect to have the first stage, the microbe stage, done by the end of the year, and we plan to release subsequent stages as we finish them. Currently, you can download the experimental alpha releases over at the Thrive Development Forums.

What is the game rated?

Since we are a non-profit community, we cannot pay to be rated by PEGI, ERSB, etc. Be warned, though, that natural and war violence will feature to an extent, and sexual references in nature will also be present, though these can be turned off in game if need be.

How do I play?

Gameplay is divided into three modes (depending on the stage) - observer, organism and strategy. In observer mode, you are able to move away from your creature and, as the name suggests, observe. It is perfect for Machinima. In organism mode, you are the creature itself, seeing the world through its eyes. Rendering techniques will be used to change how the landscape looks depending on what type of vision your creature has, such as night vision or colour blindness. Strategy mode is used for controlling large numbers of troops on a battlefield as you guide a nation towards dominance.

Doesn’t this all sound a bit like Spore?

Yes, it does. However, unlike Spore, Thrive aims to simulate evolution in a way that both sticks to scientific theory and is fun to play. In a way, we aim to fix the problems Spore had and at the same time develop a fun and intuitive gameplay experience.

How much will it cost?

Absolutely nothing. Yes, you heard right - it’s free.

How do I evolve my species?

Evolution will not be completely Darwinian, as it is impossible to simulate a world complex enough to do this with current home computer technology. Instead, AI creatures will evolve randomly, gaining mutations that will either help or hinder them, while your own creature will be directly edited by you, changing by a predetermined amount in each generation. The entire evolution system is governed by a system named Auto-Evo, which you can learn about here and here. To learn about how to edit your creature, visit this page.

Can I play as a plant?

Yes, you can play as a plant using the same evolution system as organisms, although your options will be limited and you won’t be able to gain intelligence, meaning you cannot advance to further stages.

Can I play as an aquatic species?

As in Earth’s history, aquatic species will be the main species on a planet for the first part of the game. On some planets, there will be no land at all, so you will have to stay aquatic. However, although you can achieve intelligence underwater, fire cannot be discovered, and therefore you will not be able to become a nation without leaving the ocean and arriving on dry land. For those of you who end up on an all water planet, don’t despair - it’s possible you could meet with a space faring civilization that grants you metal technology, allowing you to advance.

How can I get involved?

Excellent question - we need as many people to get involved as possible. If you are able to program, even only a little, we need you. If you are a graphic designer, music producer or scientist, we need you. If you don’t have any special skills but still have ideas for the game, we need you. To join in the development, register here, read this thread, and welcome to the team!