As promised, below are behind-the-scenes stuff and my thoughts about things while I was making these videos.
Unlike what I said here, I will not make a long 1-hr video that I was planning to do. Because I was able to fit much of what I wanted in Part 1 and Part 2 after an editing magic.
By popular demand on Discord, I eventually added release dates for each release to make it easier to follow the timeline. Many early releases have no known release dates but they “do” have a creation date on their files. These might not be the most accurate dates which you can see them below. For some reason, Microbe Editor Prototypes appear to have earlier dates than all 0.1.X releases.
Creation dates (approximate):
-0.0.1 - Jan 30, 2013
-0.0.2 - Jan 31, 2013
-0.0.3 - Feb 1, 2013
-0.0.4 - Feb 12, 2013
-0.0.5 - Mar 19, 2013
-0.1.0 - May 14, 2013
-0.1.1 - May 26, 2013
-0.1.2 - May 26, 2013
-Microbe Editor Prototype (0.1.5) - Apr 18, 2013
-Microbe Editor Prototype (0.1.6) - Apr 23, 2013
-Microbe Editor Prototype (0.1.7) - Apr 28, 2013
-Microbe Editor Prototype (0.1.8) - May 4, 2013
It seems that earlier releases of the game were written in C++ and ~sciocont considered these as the official releases of Thrive (the comment at the bottom of the forum post). For example, Microbe Editor Prototype was made in C++ and the maker of the prototype (FunnyGames) used the Thrive version numbering (X.X.X) without an issue.
Old Thrive-related prototypes I found so far:
-AI Editor from 2010 (download link posted earlier)
-Cell Editor Prototype from 2010
-Microbe Editor Prototypes by FunnyGamer (download link posted earlier)
-Microbe Ecosystem Prototype by UntrustedLife (download link posted earlier)
-Microbe Prototype by RodGame (requires compiling with Unity)
-Eukaryote Ecosystem Prototype by Anagennesarcus (many download links broken)
There are a lot of things that were either not shown or mentioned thoroughly in two videos for various reasons. So I thought the list below would be memorable to include here. There is even more stuff in the actual patch notes (e.g. bug fixes) but I excluded them for clarity.
Legacy versions:
0.0.6 - 0.0.9 (?)
-I actually found an archived page that mentions these in a YouTube video description uploaded by Thrive Game Italia aka Doggit, an old sound team member of Thrive
-To support this claim, one comment on an old forum post also mentions a release 0.0.8
Microbe Editor Prototypes [0.1.5 - 0.1.8 (?)]
-Microbe Editor Prototypes appear to have the X.X.X version numbering in their program title that Thrive uses for releases
-On a download website that I linked earlier, one version was called as 1.8 which is probably an incorrect version numbering
Microbe Ecosystem Prototype
-The version I show in the video is an unfinished version of the prototype as the newer one is lost
-You can actually see bacteria added in an old forum post for a newer version
-This prototype was made in Game Make (?) which is probably why it has no X.X.X version numbering that the game releases use
0.2.0
-This is the only missing release that is officially listed by ~sciocont on an old forum
-The forum post listing releases up to 0.2.0 was created on August 27th, 2013 which means 0.2.0 must have come no later than this date
-Another forum post has a Microbe stage progress made by Nimbal on August 22nd, 2013 which was called release 0.2.0 by the commenters later on and on another forum post
-There is a “prototype” branch by bkloster (likely Nimbal worked with this account as there is a Nimbal username that no longer exists and bkloster was sometimes referred as Nimbal in GitHub posts) who merged their code commits with Thrive “master” branch around that time and the source code of it can be downloaded on GitHub
-bkloster’s code is probably the closest thing to release 0.2.0 but it needs to be compiled for it to be playable
-An old forum post that is worth checking out
I found no reference of 0.1.3, 0.1.4 and 0.1.9 anywhere.
So far, I asked UntrustedLife, jjonj (Crovea) and Doggit if they had any of legacy releases. Unfortunately, they said they didn’t have the ones that were currently missing.
Modern versions:
0.2.1
-F1 key goes to alternate reality, it kind of works like a reset
-Player cell can get glucose and oxygen compounds from emitters
0.2.2
-Esc key no longer closes the game
0.2.3
-The earliest version available in GitHub
-Ammonia and CO2 emitters added
-Mutation point at zero can cause a bug, making the editor unusable
-Win and lose conditions added (killing a cell with toxin is a win)
-A console added which can be brought up for debugging via ’ key
-Wrong version numbering in the main menu, it shows 0.2.2 instead, lol
0.2.4
-Game saving and loading added
-Reproductase at 5 replicates player cell and enables editor
-Better ammonia emitter model
0.2.5
-Initially named like this, this release stopped existing after it came out as the release 0.3.0 for being large enough of a major release with the addition of procedural membrane generation
0.3.0
-This version gives my device “Failed to Create OpenAL Device.” audio error, crashing the game
-Colored cell membranes
0.3.1
-Linux support
-Cytoplasm added
-Damage indicator nucleus flashing with red
-Organelle rotation via A and D keys
0.3.2
-The earliest version available in the launcher
-Colored cell organelles
-More damage indication via flashing membrane
-Floating organelles can be engulfed
0.3.3
-Movement based on cell mass
0.3.4
-More soundtracks added
0.4.0 / 0.4.0.1 / 0.4.0.2
-Beginning of bug fix releases with the additional fourth number in the version (e.g. 0.4.0.1)
-Switch to new Leviathan engine
-New organelles added (e.g. chemoplast)
-Win and lose conditions re-added (surviving for 15 generations is a win)
-Organelle info re-added
-Procedural species names
-Chemosynthesis and hydrogen sulfide added
-Phosphate added
-Oxygen, CO2 are now environmental compounds
-Amino acids, fatty acids and nucleic acids were removed
-New biome (cave?)
-Many features could not be added back for a while (e.g. tutorials, cell direction arrow, P cheat key)
0.4.1 / 0.4.1.1
-Multiplayer prototype was last seen in the version 0.4.1.0
-Better cell death
-Rusticyanin and nitrogenase added
-New estuary biome
0.4.2
-Launcher refused to load it, manually running it works
-New graphics engine and audio library
-Light is now a property
-Toxin organelle added for prokaryotes
-Decreasing glucose
0.4.3 / 0.4.3.1
-Launcher refused to load them, manually running them works
-These versions have a weird bug with GUI graphics not always refreshing on my device
-Process efficiency of organelles now shown
-AI now moves to other patches
-Membrane types (e.g. cell walls) have different effects
0.5.0
-This version required deleting thrive_settings.json file of a newer version as it uses an older game settings format
-Switch to Godot Engine
-P key enables editor (again)
-Only usable compounds appear in GUI
-Fading effect added for screen transitions
-Particle effects added (unique ones in a few biomes)
-Better view for clouds in lighter biomes
-Mac support
0.5.1 / 0.5.1.1
-These versions required deleting thrive_settings.json file of a newer version as they use an older game settings format
-I don’t remember exactly but… somewhere around these versions, I had to clean up my savegame folder with modern saves to prevent load/save screen from crashing the game likely due to an incompatible save format introduced in a later version
-Chromatic aberration and distortion added
-Death effect added (e.g. slowly breaking down membrane)
-Screenshot via F12 key added
-Automove X key added
-Help button now works in Microbe stage
0.5.2
-Options can now be changed during a play
-In-game year is now shown
-Patch depths are now shown
-Hexes in current session are now different colors than previous ones
-Species name and color can now be saved
-Less random and more accurate auto-evo with the new algorithm
-More options added
0.5.3 / 0.5.3.1
-Tips and easter eggs shown in loading screen
-View source code button added
-Saving improved
-Arrow showing cell’s direction re-added
-Disconnected hexes are now impossible to keep
-Unusable compounds are no longer absorbed
-Extinct species shown in auto-evo results
0.5.4
-Improved loading screen
-Improved patch report (with new icons and tooltips)
-Editor grid follows cursor instead of covering the whole screen
-Newly placed organelles can now be moved for free
-Appearance tab renamed to Membrane
-AI can now shoot toxins again and can get tired of hunting the same prey
-Glucose decreases (once again) as it didn’t do it as previously intended
-Compound storages reduced
-New cheat menu can be enabled via F6 key
0.5.5
-Improved shaders
-Improved colonies
-Iron chunks improved
-Saving between updates via save upgrade
-Spawn system improved (e.g. stationary cells slow down spawn rate)
0.5.6 / 0.5.6.1
-Improved auto-evo (split and migrated species and predictions on population are included)
-Toxins can now be fired while inadequate (with a reduced damage)
-Extinction screen has buttons
-Saves now use the default species name as the file name
-Moving to a patch in freebuild in one step is now possible
-Mouse hover shows relative compounds amounts instead of numerical amounts
-Mouse hover now shows multiples of same species in a single line with a multiplier
-Translation progress shown
-Licenses added
-Empty graphs say they have no data
-Cheat added to spawn enemy cell
-Auto-evo raw numbers added /0.5.6.1/
-Mod shows internal name /0.5.6.1/
0.5.7
-Introduction to part modification
-Cell hard collision sound added
0.5.8
-Procedural patch names
-Colony mass now affects speed
-Improved AI (can now use chemoreceptor)
-Microbe editor now shows total storage /0.5.8.1/
0.5.9
-Local population is shown instead of total population in Microbe stage HUD
-Part/organelle names are now hidden by default
-Improved spawn system for less boring gameplay
-More parts of the game can now be saved (non-editor Multicellular stage)
-Hex placement sound added
0.5.10
-Environment panel can now be hidden separately
-New Multicellular soundtracks added
-More cheats added
-Loading screen art now changes in 10 seconds
-Button added for suggestions website
0.6.0
-An improved launcher came around this time
-Digestion stats are now shown for each digestion type
-Social media icons added
0.6.1
-Introduction to part upgrades
-Evolutionary tree in freebuild
-Day and night cycle tutorial
-Multiworld support and exportable data for auto-evo explorer
-Microbe stats actively update in current session
-Expanded fossilization
-New screen-relative movement mode added
-Patch notes shown inside the game (got broken after a future change)
0.6.2
-Multicellular organelles added (axon and myofibril)
-New soundtracks (for Aware, Awakening, Society, Industrial stages)
-ATP balance shows values at equilibrium rather than at max speed
-Initial compounds are now proportional to cell usage
-Pulling cilia has a new icon
-Chunks and projectiles are now shown at mouse cursor
-Smoother light level changes
-Faster membrane generation algorithm
-Improved cloud visuals
-Better separation of divided cells and colonies
-Negative ATP balance now gives warning when exiting
0.6.3
-New soundtracks (for Space and Ascension stages)
-Deletable fossils
0.6.4 / 0.6.4.1
-Cell turning now depends on cell density along with speed
-Improved performance
-Improved physics (e.g. deceleration, improved hitboxes)
-Editor visuals improved
-Thriveopedia with organelle pages
-Improved organelle stats visuals
-Cell positioning of colonies in editor is now more accurate
-AI now avoid things it wouldn’t be able to engulf
-Mac support halted for now
0.6.5
-Improved Thriveopedia (e.g. page linking)
-First tutorial message now reflects the start patch
-Auto-evo now shows energy before population and shows previous values for comparison
-Ability to eject all ingested matter
-A key can now open Thriveopedia page of an organelle if its tooltip is visible
-Iron chunks are now easier to push
-New volcanic vents music added
-Macroscopic stage hotkeys added
-Middle mouse button now pans society stage camera
-More models added in the gallery
-Cheat added for unlimited growth speed
0.6.6 / 0.6.6.1 / 0.6.6.2
-Larger Revolutionary Games logo in the intro (everything else is same)
-Red osmoregulation cost values
-Better performance with Godot 4 upgrade
0.6.7 / 0.6.7.1
-Cells spawning at night now get extra resources
-A stat added to show how long each compound takes to fill up
-GUI and warning added for insufficient storage to survive the night for photosynthesizer cell
0.7.0
-Macroscopic stage with underwater movement
-Healing cooldown added
-Improved compound cloud visuals
-Engulfment is now possible while getting damaged
-Pilus damage cooldown added
-Cell colonies can now send HUD messages
-Process panel view added in editor
-Experimental features added
0.7.1
-New music for tidepools and ice shelves
-Default toxin type is now cytotoxin instead of OxyToxy NT
-More editor stats added for energy and production for configuration
-Expanded Thriveopedia (e.g. mechanics, strategies, more parts)
-Improved cell wiggle animation
-Some processes now do not require oxygen (e.g. toxin production and iron metabolism)
0.8.0
-Improved AI sprinting
-Better macroscopic jumping speed based on mass
-Experimental features now have a warning text
-Better macroscopic jumping speed based on mass
-Mac builds reintroduced
0.8.1 / 0.8.1.1
-BG blur added and distortion is now enabled
-Multicellular stage now has organism stats panel and per cell ATP balance bar
-Macroscopic is now its own stage instead of being a substage of Multicellular, aka Late Multicellular
-AI can now engulf while getting damaged
-More tutorials added (e.g. finding a good patch and getting the nucleus)
0.8.2 / 0.8.2.1
-The earliest version with patch notes showing up correctly
-Water currents added
-Optimal value marks added to tolerances
-Tutorial redone (e.g. only show me unseen tutorials, select a control type for movement)
-Full Mac support /0.8.2.1/
0.8.3
-Enhanced Multicellular menu (e.g. tooltips, preview, more reliable cell placement)
-Increased max zoom for cell colonies
-Colonies can now passively reproduce
-Auto-evo now has more generation diversity
-Compound bar now have a text shadow for better visibility of compound values
0.9.0 / 0.9.0.1
-Improved graphics (better ambient reflection)
-Pop-up added to ask player whether they load a previous auto-save if they die too much
-Fossils now use a new saving format
-More tutorials added (e.g. binding agents required to advance)
-Better saving system
-Saving is now possible in Multicellular editor
0.9.1 / 0.9.1.1
-Simple cell division animation added
-Instant kill protection is now toggleable
-Partial mod support since Godot 4 added (Harmony using mods currently don’t work)
-Multicellular species other than player colony can now be viewed /0.9.1.1/
0.9.2
-Terrain chunks now have ambient occlusion
-Improved pilus damage and sound
-Movement speed sound is affected by cell speed
Every minor update of a release (e.g. 0.4.0.2) had only small additions and they were more stable than the major release (e.g. 0.4.0.0) due to many bug fixes. Therefore, I decided to only record the latest minor release when showcasing a major release of a similar version number.
Now, let’s talk about the future of this project. As I already mentioned, I’m currently planning to make more videos like this for future releases (e.g. releases 1.0.1 through 2.0.0 for Multicellular stage and so on). I think the best strategy to keep myself up-to-date without too much pressure is that I need to record every worthy feature of each release when they freshly come out. That way, I will have all the recordings ready and I will only need to worry about the video editing when the game reaches a milestone.