This has already been partially implemented in the form of an approach to a rocket taking off at the industrial stage.
The first tool - your creature takes a stone/stick in its hands, the camera approaches it, after which, when you press the button, the creature transforms it into a tool, the creature is very surprised by the tool, looking at it carefully.
First Fire - your creature lights a stick (by holding it close to a burning tree, for example) and is very surprised by the fire on the stick.
The first steam engine - you are shown a close-up of a steam engine, when you press a button the creature lights the steam boiler and the engine starts moving.
First Plane - Your creature boards the plane, the engine starts and the plane takes off into the air, other creatures watch with excitement and awe.
I think all these would only be to be added once we reach their stages’ development.
Should there be a cutscene for going onto land (first steps)? Or for when your creature evolves primitive eyes (first sight)?
That is to come in later phases of development. But I think the land transistion would be important enough to have a cutscene tied to it.
Problem with cutscenes is that they make the game stage transitions less smooth, which is the goal of Thrive. So cutscenes are kind of against the entire goal of the game (though I’m willing to say there are exceptions). However, I absolutely do not think going on land is one. In Thrive (if I remember the science correctly) you need to start off as an amphibian that can go on land a bit in order to transition from the sea onto land. So it doesn’t make much sense for there to be a cutscene, early on you just go on land for a bit and then back to water, and later when you are more adapted you can just go on land whenever you want after spawning in the water.
Right. Also, would ALL stage transistions have a cutscene, or would certain smoother ones (like aware-awakening perhaps) lack them?