NESLife 4

A world much like our own, as it once was. On the surface, nothing much stirs, save for the restless waves. Perhaps some slimy scum here and there. The most advanced lifeform is a single cell; in the warm, shallow sea it swims along with a confident swagger. Humble and microscopic as it may be, this cell is at the leading edge of an unbroken chain of life that has already existed for billions of years. This versatile cell is packed with the latest nano-machinery, a toolkit of organelles for digesting scraps of biological debris that it comes across, burning oxygen and even making use of sunlight for some of its chemical reactions.

This cell and its kind are greatly outnumbered by the mass of simple bacteria that has thrived for eons. But life will not stop here. Bigger, better, more complex lifeforms await. And eventually, the blank canvas of the world will be filled with macroscopic life.



OK, so here we go again! For those that don't know, the way this works is that you put forward one 'evolution' per turn. Your creations don't require orders from you, and there is no long-term commitment on your part. However, you can get bonus evolution powers from having very successful or unique creations.

The changes from NESLife3 are as follows:

* We now deal with whole groups/families of 'species' at a time, rather than pretending to represent every individual species. Branching will still occur, but an evolution may now be handled as an 'upgrade' that simply adds to a family's abilities. Each family will be owned by only one player at a time, this can change depending on who has made the best input.

* To start off gently, we begin in the 'Cell stage', where Eukaryote-analogues have yet to branch into plants and non-plants. There are no hard stats yet, and in fact there may never be any hard stats at all, depending on how this goes. By default, you have the power to add one or two new features/improvements, and to make a similar number of reductions (streamlining is important, generalists don't always win).

Example evolutions are shown below. This is the kind of thing you should post. Someone may in fact copy these if desired, otherwise it won't actually appear in-game:

Archaeoblobus -> Blobster Mk1 (DaftPanzer)
(Note: although a new family may not actually branch out, please suggest a new name anyway!)
Additions: a number of cells have joined forces to create a small sphere with an opening, that regularly pulses to suck in water (and trap any tiny food particles it may contain).
Subtractions: none at this time.

Archaeoblobus -> Algae Mk1 (DaftPanzer)
Additions: while remaining as single cells, a simple form of photosynthesising bacteria has become incorporated into the cells in a symbiotic relationship.
Subtractions: none at this time.

reserved post

reserving this one too, why not

Please feel free to post any evolutions, comments or questions

Looks complex, but fun. Think I'll give it a shot.

Archaeoblobus -> Spiculus (Lord_Iggy)
Additions: A cluster of elongate cells possessing a dense, sensitive tip, the Spiculus is an occasionally colonial organism possessing a well-developed network of filamentous nanostructures capable of extending and contracting. Sclerotized (hardened) tips exist at the poles of each cell. When these tips are stimulated, the cells thin and extend, launching the sharp-tipped weapon into whatever has contacted the Spiculus. Once extended, the cells secrete digestive enzymes to break down any organic material, absorbing the nutrients and directing them back into the main body of the organism. While this behaviour has proven highly effective for sustaining individual cells, Spiculi have been observed in colonial forms, where a collection of multiple cells attach themselves to form a combined filament, engaging in limited amounts of cooperation and very minor specialization, such as non-terminal cells failing to develop hardened tips, and terminal cells forming combined tips with their neighbours. These colonial structures tend to reproduce by simple fission, and have been observed dissociating back into monocellular forms when nutrient levels can no longer sustain the larger multicellular organism.
Subtractions: None at this time.

Archaeoblobus -> Gelitonicia (Luckymoose)
Additions: Multiple cells clump into circular groupings, and float to photosynthesize, making a film like slime on the surface near shores. These colonies of slime are adapted to starve out competition in warm, sunlit waters, by depriving life forms of nutrients and blocking out sunlight.
Subtractions: None yet.

Archaeoblobus -> Pingucontegius
Addition: Multiple cells clump together loosely, forming a sphere of filter-feeding cells. The cells can share nutrients, and the cell membranes of the cells are slightly thicker, allowing for survival in harsher conditions.

*sigh* Despite my threats to boycott this, NESLife is actually tons of fun. Soooo.

Archaeoblobus -> Archaeofilium (Thlayli)
Additions: While remaining as a single cell, thin filament projections have aided the ability of the cellular organism to move quickly and sense the environment. It is also slightly larger, aiding in phagocytosis of smaller Archaeoblobii. Specialized proboscii for other purposes are beginning to develop.

@electric926 I should say, I want this one to run much faster and with much less graphics than NESLife3, that was during my obsessive OTT days.

EDIT: cool evolutions guys, thanks

Daftpanzer, since we're still at a level of development with very low cell counts, do you think that major symbiosis and endosymbiosis (cells assimilating other cells) is likely to happen in the confines of this NES?

Hmmmm....... Looks fun! (Info on bottom)

Archaeoblobus -> Bumeriolus
Additions: Single cell organisms that produce asexually, but then cluster into huge clumps. They cluster into huge clumps because living near the bottom of the ocean is hard when there is hardly any warmth.
Subtractions: Zip, zero, nadda.

Archaeoblobus -> Clastud
Additions: Dormancy- survives desiccation, strong osmotic gradients, heat and cold by assuming a spore-like form that will later rehydrate and begin to grow anew.
Subtractions: None.

Archaeoblobus -> Archaeoautotropha

Additions: From humble origins in the tidal pool, Archaeautotropha began by engulfing small bacteria that could convert solar energy into chemical energy. They are now one of the first organisms to be capable of producing its own energy. It exists by sticking in small, moist environments.

Lord_Iggy said:

Daftpanzer, since we're still at a level of development with very low cell counts, do you think that major symbiosis and endosymbiosis (cells assimilating other cells) is likely to happen in the confines of this NES?

Click to expand...

@Iggy I thought it could happen on the first turn? no set #millions of years for each update yet. But I should add to the first post that those who actually know about biology should correct me as often and bluntly as they like

Archaeoblobus -> Bastrovicium

Additions: Near the deep sea vents of this young world, Archaeoblobi have begun to evolve to become dependent on chemosynthesis of sulfide compounds in the cytoplasm by incorporation of chemoautotrophic bacteria. These deep sea dwelling unicellular organisms have also begun to develop other organelles to dominate their environment, including a strong flagella to propel them for feeding of rival Archaeblobi and other Bastrovicium through cellular ingestion.

Hey,

Good luck everyone. May your goo grow good.


Blaze Injun

Half of these families are like, hyper-redundant and should be combined for sanity's sake.

Archaeoblobus-> Carpeolis
Additions: A thin bunch of cells devolopes to the sides of the mouth resembling a clear sheet which causes Carpeolis to sail with ocean currents collecting food along the way.
Carpeolis also developes tail like extensions which flap to help keep Carpeolis in the major currents.
Subtractions: Carpeolis no longer pulses to obsorb food but simply collects the food in it's "mouth" while "sailing".

OOC: Noob here, is this what you are looking for?

Archaeoblobus->Riggedavoteium
Additions: The cell has little sensors around itself. When another cell touches these sensors, their organelles go completely haywire as faulty RNA is sent into the cell. Mitocondrias shut down, the Golgi stop proccesing protiens, the Cell Membrane numbs up, etc. Eventually, the Lysosome is ordered to burst, which kills off the cell.

With this, would-be predadors back off, as they will die if they eat the cell. Also, this will remove peer hunters, as a cell that accidentilly touches it will hit the fan.