Kutoka ships Creatures

today released Creatures: Village, an game title that introduces the notions of genetics, biology and ecosystems that includes 15 themed played areas; it is described as "an experiment in artificial life where you hatch, play with and breed your own adorable virtual life forms called Norns. Just like pets, Norns are there to amuse and be cared for. Each one is unique and has its own Creatures Digital DNA™, brain and biochemistry. They need to be fed and to be given medicine when they get sick. They need someone to play with them. If children take good care of them, they will see their Creatures grow, fall in love and have babies." It will be available in early October on a hybrid CD-ROM for $20.

"The Norns’ behaviors are not pre-programmed. They make their own decisions and learn from their mistakes so players must help their creatures by training them to learn right from wrong even if, just like real pets, this does not mean they will always listen.

"The Norns live in a colorful and fanciful world that includes 15 exciting themed play areas with lots of activities and fun things to do from parachuting from an airship to baking a cake and even flying through CloudLand in a magical sky boat. The Creatures: Village world is a dynamic, living environment complete with weather and seasons that affect the Norns’ daily activities.

Creatures: Village is a true game where the young gamers will be introduced, without even realizing it, to some notions of genetics, biology and ecosystems. “Because this game is open-ended, it allows children to make up their own stories and to create their own goals. It really is a playground for their imaginations”, said Richard Vincent, Kutoka’s CEO and Creative Director.

by MacNN Staff