genetics-vs-zombies/docs/en/genome_and_player.md

Genome and player

This document describes principles I have came up with. I don't think I'd be angry if you use them in your projects. This document is mostly for me to remember things.

Used terms

MC - Modification Currency. Currency that player spends on modifications

The core principles are:

• Every plant that is represented as graph can be drawn.
• Player should have all necessary instruments to create anything he likes by the end of his playthrough.
• Player's tools should progress through game

Progression

• Player should start small
  • Player starts with somewhat of a currency to spend on modifications each level
  • Player starts with allelic crossingover and "combine" tools
• Progressing through the levels, player gains the most important instruments
• Optional instruments and template plants are bought through shop

Levels

• Before level, player may adjust his plants collection through experimentation.

Planned tools

Early game:

• Allelic crossingover
  • Player picks two plants, and they exchange genes that are on the same places.
  • As an output, player gets two plants.
  • Upgrades to "Swap places" tool
  • Costs 1 MC
• Categoric crossingover
  • Player picks two plants, and they exchange genes that hold the same label.
  • As an output, player gets two plants.
  • Upgrades to "Swap" tool
  • Costs 1 MC
• Combine tool
  • Player picks donor and recipient plant. Then, algorithm decides whether to replace one node or to add as a child. Then, algorithm picks subgraph from donor, and applies it to recipient.
  • As an output, player gets two plants - recipient and donor.
  • Upgrades to "Add" tool
  • Costs 1 MC
• Random deletion tool
  • Player picks one plant, and algorithm randomly deletes genes from it.
  • As an output, player gets one plant.
  • Upgrades to "Remove" tool
  • Costs 1 MC
• Random mutation tool
  • Player picks one plant. Then, algorithm mutates it randomly and uncontrollably.
  • As an output, player gets one plant.
  • Upgrades to "Batch mutation" tool.
  • Costs 1 MC Midgame
• Remove tool
  • Player picks one plant. They might pick one or more nodes to delete. Then, selected genes are deleted.
  • As an output, player gets one plant.
  • Costs 1.5 MC
• Add tool
  • Player picks donor and recipient plant. Then, player selects one or more genes. Then, player selects to replace or position subgraph.
  • As an output, player gets two plants - recipient and donor.
  • Costs 2 MC
  • Upgrades to "Create" tool
• Swap tool
  • Player picks two plants. They must pick first and second genes.
  • As an output, player gets two plants with swapped genes.
  • Costs 0.25 MC
  • The cost is low because it was meant to be applied multiple times
• Swap places tool
  • Player picks two plants. Then, player selects one or more genes that will be swapped.
  • As an output, Player gets two plants with swapped genes.
  • Costs 1.5 MC
• Batch mutation tool
  • Player picks one plant. Then, player selects amount of mutations.
  • As an output, Player gets one plant.
  • Upgrades to "Batch controlled mutation" tool
  • Costs 3 MC
• Batch controlled mutation tool
  • Player picks one plant. Then, Player selects genes to mutate.
  • As an output, player gets one plant.
  • Costs 5 MC

Endgame

• Create tool
  • Player has genes dock. Player constructs tree from them, and then attaches it to selected plant, or creates new.
  • As an output, player gets one plant.
  • Costs 10 MC