sandbox evolution

"With Tyranis technology, that can easily be done," the Hive Mind replied. "However, the players won't be able to level up by killing monsters like in one of Earth's MMORPGs."

Ethan nodded.

It wasn't a real game, after all—that was only to be expected.

Besides, he didn't want to create a system that encouraged players to hunt monsters just to grow stronger. His vision was something more like Minecraft: an open-world sandbox where players could explore, evolve, and create whatever they wanted.

It would also share elements with Spore and a lesser-known title, Mole Manor—games where players could farm, build, and enjoy peaceful activities.

Ethan planned to set the rate of cell division in the game at 10,000 units. Players would begin as simple spores and evolve into any species they desired.

They'd have full control over their cell growth, evolution, aging, and death. A full playthrough of Spore Evolution would take several days. Hopefully, they'd be creative enough to surprise him with the kinds of species they developed.

This was just a little side project Ethan had dreamt up on a whim.

It wouldn't take much effort, and his primary focus was still the large sandbox world he was constructing.

The players wouldn't be allowed into that vast sandbox. Instead, they'd be confined to a smaller environment to entertain themselves.

He couldn't let them share a world with the native inhabitants. Without a monster-based leveling system, the players would always be weak. Letting them grow strong through slow and patient training, like the natives?

Yeah, right.

Like I have time to babysit you all.

Since this smaller, independent sandbox would be the birthplace of many new species, Ethan decided to name it The Land of Genesis.

From among the species that players evolved, Ethan would choose the most powerful and unique—those with the greatest potential—and transfer them to the larger sandbox. This would help him perfect the new world he was constructing after the Great Flood and the fall of the Sumerian civilization.

After all, he couldn't allow the Bugapes to monopolize intelligence.

Ethan understood that relying on a single intelligent species would lead to imbalance and possibly destroy the sandbox ecosystem. He needed a diverse world with many sentient races.

As for making money from the game?

Ethan had no such plans. His only goal was to cure his cancer. That was all that mattered.

"How long will this take?" Ethan asked.

"About three days," the Hive Mind replied. It was surprisingly quick. "We can use existing VR gaming glasses as a medium."

"Huh? VR? Will that even work?" Ethan was taken aback.

While VR movies were popular, every VR game he'd tried had been complete garbage.

Still, if the Hive Mind said it would work, he was willing to trust it. The former Tyranis civilization had focused their evolution on intelligence, resulting in scientific and technological miracles.

"Alright then. I'll start by creating a small sandbox in the yard as the setting for Spore Evolution."

Compared to the first time he did something like this, his physical condition had improved tremendously.

"It'll just be a thirty-square-meter area right in front of my house." He swung his hoe. "That way, if any of you get annoying, I can squash you under my boots on the way out."

It would take the Hive Mind a few days to build the game's network and other components. Ethan planned to use that time to finish preparing the sandbox environment.

"I've really turned into a farmer, haven't I?"

Hoe in hand, Ethan worked the land and created a thirty-square-meter sandbox. Thanks to his prior experience, it wasn't difficult. He quickly recreated a similar layout to the one he had built before.

Once finished, he used a flamethrower to clear out any remaining plants or animals in the area.

This time, his body was strong and healthy. It only took him a day and a half. By the end, he was caked in black mud and headed off to shower.

...

Across town, a veteran gamer named Carl Weston sat in front of his computer, still frustrated after a brutal session of Sekiro. Once he calmed down, he started browsing Steam's list of new indie games, looking for a hidden gem.

"What's this?"

A VR game?

Spore Evolution – Closed Beta.

Casual simulation. Species evolution. Endless possibilities. The top pick for fans of chill gameplay?

Carl skimmed the description and laughed. He cursed the developer under his breath—probably some no-name indie studio from who-knows-where trying to make a quick buck.

Endless possibilities? Evolve from a spore?

What is this—Civilization 7? Even in that game, you start as a primitive tribe. Here, you begin as a single cell? That kind of freedom is impossible. You think you're better than the big Western studios?

He had played enough VR games to know most of them sucked. "Yeah, right," he scoffed as he downloaded the game.

It was 43 gigabytes. Ridiculous.

Once the download finished, he registered an account—AkinasSpeedster—put on his VR glasses, and launched the game.

"At least the title screen looks decent," he muttered.

But as soon as he logged in, the screen faded to black. Only one prompt appeared:

[Do you want to begin your evolution?]

He clicked yes.

Darkness surrounded him. He felt like he was floating through an endless sea.

"How is it possible that I can actually feel my limbs... like I'm really swimming?" Carl froze in disbelief. Was this some kind of miracle tech that sent signals straight to his brain?

Was this true full-immersion virtual reality?

In reality, Carl's consciousness had been digitized and transmitted into the small sandbox Ethan had built in his backyard.

Ethan didn't understand the technology behind it—and frankly, he didn't care.

"It's so dark," Carl muttered, drifting blindly in the void.

What the hell is going on?

Why can't I see anything?

Then a system prompt appeared:

"You are currently a spore. Please evolve eyes to gain vision."

...What?

Evolve eyes?

Carl was stunned.

This damn game... This so-called casual sim was even more hardcore than Sekiro!