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[[Image:Donsavatar.gif|frame|left|Don's Avatar]]'''Don''' joined the [[Creatures Community|Creatures community]] back in December 1996 as the webmaster of [[AmberCreatures]], a known [[developer]] for each of the games and our unofficial [[Creatures]] technical support.
+
[[Image:Don21a.jpg|frame|left]][[Image:Donsavatar.gif|frame|right|Ettin Avatar]]'''Don''' joined the [[Creatures Community]] back in December 1996 as the webmaster of [[AmberCreatures]], a known [[developer]] for each of the games and our unofficial [[Creatures]] technical support.
 
__NOTOC__
 
__NOTOC__
She is a regular visitor to [[alt.games.creatures]], [[JRChat]], [[Sine]] and the main [[Creatures Community|community]] forums, and even featured in the first ever [[Much ado about Norns]] [[Newsletter|newsletter]] [http://www.webpetz.com/creatures/muchado.htm here.] She is also a [[User:Don|wikicities]] [[Creatures_Wiki:Administrators|administrator]] and [[Wikipedia:User:Don21a|wikipedia]] user.
+
She is a regular visitor to [[alt.games.creatures]], [[CC Chat]], [[Sine]] and the main [[Creatures Community|community]] forums, and even featured in the first ever [[Much ado about Norns]] [[Newsletter|newsletter]] [http://www.webpetz.com/creatures/muchado.htm here] in 2000. She is also a [[User:Don|wikicities]] [[Creatures_Wiki:Administrators|administrator]] and [[Wikipedia:User:Don21a|wikipedia]] user.
 +
 
 +
In RL, Don is an overworked CTO, having previously worked at [[Wikipedia:Maxis|Maxis]] as a Content Designer on [[Wikipedia:The Sims|The Sims]], with a Masters degree in Software.
 +
 
 +
She has a keen interest in [[Wikipedia:Cross-platform|cross-platform]] software development, graphic design, web engineering and [[Wikipedia:MMOG|online RPGs]]. Don mostly programs in [[Wikipedia:C++|C++]], [[Wikipedia:Java|Java]], [[Wikipedia:PHP|PHP]] and [[Wikipedia:SQL|SQL]], designs graphics & layouts in [[Wikipedia:Adobe_Photoshop|Photoshop]], and all too frequently upgrades her computer to keep up with the latest technology.
 +
 
 +
During her time off Don tries to steer away from computers where she can, enjoying travel, photography, and tech shopping ;)<br clear="all" \>
 +
 
 +
==Contact==
 +
You can usually find Don in [[CC Chat]] or get hold of her through email on don(at)computerpetz.com
 +
 
 +
==Obsession==
 +
[[File:DonsCreHoard.jpg|600px]]<br clear="all" \>
 +
 
 +
[[File:GardenBackground2.jpg|341px]]<br clear="all" \>
 +
 
 +
Don has been a Creatures fan since the initial release of Creatures 1 and has followed the series fanatically ever since. The above photo shows the main bulk of her Creatures hoard, which includes every Creatures box set ever released for every system (even though she does not own a PlayStation).
  
In RL, Don is a full time Software Engineer in Games Development (having previously worked at [[Wikicities:Maxis|Maxis]] as a Content Designer on [[Wikicities:The Sims|The Sims]]) with a Masters degree in Software Engineering, useful for developing new Creatures applications.<br clear="all" \>
 
 
==Summary==
 
==Summary==
[[Image:Donnorn.gif|frame|right|Norn Avatar]]
+
[[Image:BetaNorn51s.jpg|frame|right|Don's nine official and three home made [[Norndoll]]s]]
 +
[[Image:DonsTableOfNornsSmall.jpg|frame|right|Seventeen of Don's official [[Norndoll]]s sat on a table]]
 
*'''Gender''': Female
 
*'''Gender''': Female
*'''Age''': Mid-twenties
+
*'''Interests''': Programming, alife, tech
*'''Interests''': Programming, alife, graphic design, web-design & socialising
+
*'''Causes''': Animal welfare and Endangered species
 
*'''Games''': Strategy and god games
 
*'''Games''': Strategy and god games
*'''Main Platform''': Windows XP Pro SP2
+
*'''Main Platform''': Windows
*'''Other OS''': All Windows 95+, Fedora, RedHat, Mac 7.5 68k
+
*'''Location''': Sunny old England
*'''Location''': England
 
 
*'''Docking Station ID''': Don
 
*'''Docking Station ID''': Don
*'''email''': admin&#40;at&#41;amberz.net
+
*'''email''': don&#40;at&#41;computerpetz.com
  
 
===Previous Aliases===
 
===Previous Aliases===
*[[Shee Apprentice|The Shee Apprentice]]
+
*The Shee Apprentice
*[[AmberShee|Don the AmberShee]]
+
*Don the AmberShee
  
==Affiliations==
+
===Affiliations, Past and Present===
[[Image:DonsMugs.gif|right|Cup of tea?]]
+
*Community Ambassador for [[Creatures Online]]
*Manager at [[Creatures Caves]]
+
*Moderator for [[Sparky]]'s [[DockingStation Aftermath|DS Aftermath]]
*Moderator for [[DockingStation Aftermath|DS Aftermath]]
+
*Op in the [[CC Chat]] irc room
*Temp-op at the [[JRChat]] chat room
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*[[Sine]]r/Op in the [[Sine]] irc lobby
*Coordinator for the [[CCSF]] [[CCSF 2005|2005]]-[[CCSF 2006|2006]]
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*Web Coordinator for the [[CCSF]]
 
*NeoPets [[Creatures Community (neopets guild)|CC Guild]] Leader
 
*NeoPets [[Creatures Community (neopets guild)|CC Guild]] Leader
 
*[[AmberCreatures Community Project|CCP]] Project Coordinator
 
*[[AmberCreatures Community Project|CCP]] Project Coordinator
*[[Sine]] IRC OP/Irregular
+
*Manager at [[Creatures Caves]]
 
 
===Previous Affiliations===
 
 
*Member of the now closed [[Metacore]]
 
*Member of the now closed [[Metacore]]
 
*Responsible for [[C12DS]] breed re-conversion
 
*Responsible for [[C12DS]] breed re-conversion
 +
*Op for the now closed [[JRChat]] chat
  
==Interesting Facts==
+
===Interesting Facts===
 
*Don featured in the first ever [[Much ado about Norns]] [http://www.webpetz.com/creatures/muchado.htm here]
 
*Don featured in the first ever [[Much ado about Norns]] [http://www.webpetz.com/creatures/muchado.htm here]
 
*She won second place in the first [[Survivor|Creatures Survivor]] game, two votes behind [[Gryph]].
 
*She won second place in the first [[Survivor|Creatures Survivor]] game, two votes behind [[Gryph]].
 +
 
===What's In a Name===
 
===What's In a Name===
 +
[[File:Donnorn.gif|frame|right|Norn Avatar]]
 
The story behind the AmberShee...
 
The story behind the AmberShee...
  
 +
Having begun in the community as 'The Shee Apprentice' in 1996 while gathering resources, documentation and programming tools to learn how become a Creatures developer, it seemed appropriate that once ready to start making her own cobs, breeds and worlds that she should take a new name. Don had always had a fascination with the stone 'amber' and the secrets it might keep from the age of the dinosaur; So, after having completed a number of small projects such as new butterfly and fish critters for Creatures 1, she decided she should evolve into the 'AmberShee', and began work on an ancient AmberCity world, reminiscent of the later Ettin temple in the desert of Creatures 2.
 +
<br/>
  
=Developer Information=
+
=Programming=
Don has developed addons for [[Creatures]], [[Wikipedia:Dogz|Dogz]], [[Wikipedia:Catz|Catz]], [[Wikipedia:Oddballz|Oddballz]], [[Wikipedia:Babyz|Babyz]] and [[Wikipedia:The Sims|The Sims]] artificial life games, amongst other things.
+
 
 +
===Development Platforms===
 +
[[Image:Don P7057922 small.jpg|frame|right|Some of Don's [[Norndoll]]s with the C2 world plan sketch]]
 +
Her main development machines are as follows:
 +
*Intel Core 2 Quad <small>@</small> 4 x 3.0GHz - Windows 7 Ultimate
 +
*Intel Core 2 Duo <small>@</small> 2 x 2.13GHz - Windows XP Pro
 +
*Intel Core Duo <small>@</small> 2 x 2.0GHz - Windows Vista Ultimate
 +
*Intel Pentium 4 <small>@</small> 2.4GHz - Ubuntu Linux
 +
*Mac Mini G4 <small>@</small> 1.42GHz - Mac OSX Leopard & Tiger
 +
*Intel P4 <small>@</small> 2.66GHz - Windows 2003 Server
 +
*''In need of an Intel Mac OSX Yosemite next''
 +
 
 +
For testing purposes Don also runs Windows 95, Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP Home, Windows XP Pro, Windows 2000 Server, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Ultimate, Red Hat 9 ''(pre Fedora)'', Fedora, Mandrake 10 ''(pre Mandriva)'', Mandriva, Knoppix, Mac OS 7.5 68k, etc.
 +
<br />
 +
 
 +
===Developer Information===
 +
Don has developed addons for [[Creatures]], [[Wikipedia:Dogz|Dogz]], [[Wikipedia:Catz|Catz]], [[Wikipedia:Oddballz|Oddballz]], [[Wikipedia:Babyz|Babyz]] and [[Wikipedia:The Sims|The Sims]] games, amongst other things.
 
[[Image:Creature-habitat.gif|right|Herbivore creatures from The Habitat]]
 
[[Image:Creature-habitat.gif|right|Herbivore creatures from The Habitat]]
==A-Life Projects==
+
===A-Life Projects===
*[[The Habitat]] - Virtual life game in development (see right)
+
*[[The Habitat]] - Artificial life computer game that was in development but has since been put on hold (see right).<br />
 +
<br />
 +
==Creatures Development==
 +
[[Image:DonsBreeds.gif|left|frame|A miscellaneous image of some of Don's breeds, including the [[Creatures 1 Ettin]], [[Red Kanga Norn]]s, [[Day Norn]]s, [[Ettin family]], [[Butterfly Norn (C2)|Butterfly Norns]], Blueberry Norns and the [[Grendel family]].]]<br clear="all" \>
  
==Creatures Development==
 
 
*'''C2 Script Range''': 15,201-15,401
 
*'''C2 Script Range''': 15,201-15,401
 
*'''C3 Script Range''': 15,600-15,700
 
*'''C3 Script Range''': 15,600-15,700
  
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tr><td valign="top" style="padding-right: 30px" width="50%">
+
 
 +
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="608px" style="border:1px solid #CCCCCC; background:#FAFAFF;"><tr><td valign="top" style="padding-right: 30px" width="50%">
  
 
===Creatures 1 Contributions===
 
===Creatures 1 Contributions===
 
*[[Creatures 1 Ettin]]
 
*[[Creatures 1 Ettin]]
 +
*[[Grendel family]]
 +
*[[Pepper Grendel]]
 
*[[AmberCity|The AmberCity]]
 
*[[AmberCity|The AmberCity]]
  
 
===Creatures 2 Contributions===
 
===Creatures 2 Contributions===
 
'''Breeds'''
 
'''Breeds'''
*[[Butterfly Norn]]
+
*[[Butterfly Norn (C2)| Butterfly Norn]]
 
*[[Day Norn]]
 
*[[Day Norn]]
 
*[[Red Kanga Norn]]
 
*[[Red Kanga Norn]]
Line 80: Line 119:
 
*[[Magic Forest|Magic Forest (FW)]]
 
*[[Magic Forest|Magic Forest (FW)]]
 
*[[Grendarno|Grendarno (FW)]]
 
*[[Grendarno|Grendarno (FW)]]
 +
*[[Five Worlds|C1 for C2 (FW)]]
 
</td><td valign="top" width="50%">
 
</td><td valign="top" width="50%">
 +
 
===Creatures 3/DS Contributions===
 
===Creatures 3/DS Contributions===
 
'''Breeds'''
 
'''Breeds'''
Line 103: Line 144:
 
*[[Norn Builder]] - Breed developer tool
 
*[[Norn Builder]] - Breed developer tool
 
</td></tr></table><br />
 
</td></tr></table><br />
 +
 
=Creatures Collection=
 
=Creatures Collection=
 +
<gallery orientation="square" widths="160" spacing="small" captionalign="left">
 +
GardenBackground2.jpg
 +
DataDon ButterflyNorndoll.jpg
 +
DonsNorndollsMugs1.jpg
 +
DonsNorndollsMugs2.jpg
 +
DonsNineNorndolls.jpg
 +
DonsTableOfNornsSmall.jpg
 +
Norn_Builder_preview.gif
 +
</gallery>[[File:DonsCreHoardMugs.JPG|thumb|left|400px|Mugs, and the backboard & coconut from the C1 Hatchery [[Background model]]]]<br clear="all" \>
 
===Norndolls and Norn Beanies===
 
===Norndolls and Norn Beanies===
[[Image:DonsNorndolls.gif|right]]
+
[[image:Butternorn.gif|right]]
[[Image:Butternorn.gif|left]]
+
Don is the proud owner of a hand made [[Butterfly Norn]] [[Norndoll]] (shown right), designed especially by her good friend [[Data]] back in May 2003.  
Don is the proud owner of a hand made [[Butterfly Norn]] [[Norndoll]] (shown left), designed especially by her good friend [[Data]] back in May 2003. She also now has three official [[Norndoll]]s - a purple Blueberry Norn from America (right), one from Australia, and a green Norn from England (also right) - measured at around 6.5 inches tall each.
+
 
 +
She also now has '''twenty two''' (22) official [[Norndoll]]s measured at around 6.5 inches tall each: the group consists of '''ten''' purple Blueberry Norns , '''ten''' green Norns, and '''two''' brown Norndolls.
 +
 
 +
===Merchandise===
 +
Don owns the full collection of Creatures posters: the four [[Creatures 2]] posters and one [[Creatures 3]] poster, both Creature Labs and Gameware Development mugs, the Creatures mouse mat, The Forest Scene [[background model]], and a couple of souvenirs from the Hatchery model.
 +
<br clear="all" \>
  
===Posters===
+
===Creatures Titles Owned===
Don owns the full collection of Creatures posters: the four [[Creatures 2]] posters and one [[Creatures 3]] poster.<br clear="all" \>
+
[[Image:DonsCreDVDBoxes.jpg|thumb|left|300px|DVD boxed - Each of the versions published by Kutoka, Gameware, Fusion, FastTrak, Focus, and TuxGames]]<br clear="all" \>
  
==Creatures Titles Owned==
+
====List of Titles====
[[Image:DonBlueberry03.gif|left]]
+
[[Image:DonBlueberry03.gif|right]]
Don is a long term supporter of the Creatures series and therefore her collection includes twenty-three titles, twenty-one box sets and two electronic-only releases:
+
Don is a long term supporter of the Creatures series and therefore her complete collection includes '''thirty''' unique titles, twenty-eight box sets and two electronic-only releases:
  
[[Creatures|<font color="#000000">Creatures 1</font>]]&#42;, [[Life Kit|<font color="#000000">Creatures 1 Life Kit #1</font>]], [[Creatures Deluxe|<font color="#000000">Creatures 1 Deluxe</font>]], [[Creatures 2|<font color="#000000">Creatures 2</font>]], [[Life Kit|<font color="#000000">Creatures 2 Life Kit #1</font>]], [[Life Kit|<font color="#000000">Creatures 2 Life Kit #2 (electronic)</font>]], [[Creatures 2 Deluxe|<font color="#000000">Creatures 2 Deluxe</font>]], [[Creatures 3|<font color="#000000">Creatures 3</font>]], [[Docking Station|<font color="#000000">Docking Station (electronic)</font>]], [[Creatures Internet Edition|<font color="#000000">Creatures Internet Edition</font>]], [[Creatures Gold|<font color="#000000">Creatures Gold</font>]], [[Linux Creatures Internet Edition|<font color="#000000">Linux Creatures Internet Edition</font>]], [[Creatures Adventures|<font color="#000000">Creatures Adventures</font>]], [[Creatures Playground|<font color="#000000">Creatures Playground</font>]], [[Creatures Village|<font color="#000000">Creatures Village (Remastered)</font>]], [[Creatures - The Albian Years|<font color="#000000">The Albian Years (Remastered)</font>]], [[Creatures Exodus|<font color="#000000">Creatures Exodus (Remastered)</font>]], [[Creatures PS1|<font color="#000000">Creatures  (PlayStation)</font>]], [[Creatures - Raised in Space|<font color="#000000">Creatures Raised in Space (PlayStation)</font>]] and [[Creatures GBA|<font color="#000000">Creatures (Gameboy Advanced)</font>]]. Plus the eleven [[Creatures Mall|<font color="#000000">Creatures Mall breeds</font>]], [[Creatures - Official Strategies & Secrets|<font color="#000000">Creatures 1 Strategy Guide</font>]] and [[Sea-Monkeys|<font color="#000000">Sea-Monkeys</font>]].
+
[[Creatures|<font color="#000000">Creatures 1</font>]]&#42;, [[Life Kit|<font color="#000000">Creatures 1 Life Kit #1</font>]], [[Creatures Deluxe|<font color="#000000">Creatures 1 Deluxe</font>]], [[Creatures 2|<font color="#000000">Creatures 2</font>]], [[Life Kit|<font color="#000000">Creatures 2 Life Kit #1</font>]], [[Life Kit|<font color="#000000">Creatures 2 Life Kit #2 (electronic)</font>]], [[Creatures 2 Deluxe|<font color="#000000">Creatures 2 Deluxe</font>]], [[Creatures 3|<font color="#000000">Creatures 3</font>]]&#42;&#42;, [[Docking Station|<font color="#000000">Docking Station (electronic)</font>]], [[Creatures Internet Edition|<font color="#000000">Creatures Internet Edition</font>]], [[Creatures Gold|<font color="#000000">Creatures Gold</font>]], [[Linux Creatures Internet Edition|<font color="#000000">Linux Creatures Internet Edition</font>]], [[Creatures Trilogy|<font color="#000000">Creatures Trilogy</font>]]/[[Creatures Trilogy Gold|<font color="#000000">Gold</font>]], [[Creatures Adventures|<font color="#000000">Creatures Adventures</font>]], [[Creatures Playground|<font color="#000000">Creatures Playground</font>]], [[Creatures - The Albian Years|<font color="#000000">The Albian Years (Remastered)</font>]], [[Creatures Exodus|<font color="#000000">Creatures Exodus (Remastered)</font>]], [[Creatures Village|<font color="#000000">Creatures Village (Remastered)</font>]], [[Creatures Triple Pack|<font color="#000000">Creatures Triple Pack</font>]], [[Macintosh Creatures Exodus|<font color="#000000">Creatures Exodus (Mac)</font>]], [[Macintosh Creatures Village|<font color="#000000">Creatures Village (Mac)</font>]], [[Macintosh Creatures Exodus|<font color="#000000">Creatures Exodus (Mac<small>+</small>Win)</font>]], [[Macintosh Creatures Village|<font color="#000000">Creatures Village (Mac<small>+</small>Win)</font>]], [[Creatures PS1|<font color="#000000">Creatures  (PlayStation)</font>]], [[Creatures - Raised in Space|<font color="#000000">Creatures Raised in Space (PlayStation)</font>]] and [[Creatures GBA|<font color="#000000">Creatures (Gameboy Advanced)</font>]]. Plus the eleven [[Creatures Mall|<font color="#000000">Creatures Mall breeds</font>]], [[Creatures - Official Strategies & Secrets|<font color="#000000">Creatures 1 Strategy Guide</font>]] and [[Sea-Monkeys|<font color="#000000">Sea-Monkeys</font>]].
  
<small>&#42; Three versions, two of which are [[Windows|<font color="#000000">Windows</font>]] and [[Macintosh|<font color="#000000">PowerPC Mac</font>]] dual-format games.</small>
+
<small>&#42; Three different versions, two of which are [[Windows|<font color="#000000">Windows</font>]] and [[Macintosh|<font color="#000000">PowerPC Mac</font>]] dual-format games (see below).</small> <small>&#42;&#42; Full sized box release and DVD boxed</small><br clear="all" \>
  
The remaining games left for her to collect are [[Macintosh Creatures Exodus|<font color="#000000">Creatures Exodus (Mac)</font>]], [[Macintosh Creatures Village|<font color="#000000">Creatures Village (Mac)</font>]] and [[Creatures Trilogy|<font color="#000000">Creatures Trilogy</font>]]/[[Creatures Trilogy Gold|<font color="#000000">Gold</font>]].
+
====Screenshots====
 +
[[Image:C1mac.gif|left|frame|Creatures 1 on my Mac OS X Tiger in Classic]] [[Image:CEEPair.gif|right|frame|Don test of running dual Creatures Docking Station games]]<br clear="all" \>
  
 
==Other Creations==
 
==Other Creations==
[[Image:DonsFimoNorns.gif|right|frame|Don's Clay Creatures]]
+
[[File:DonsFimoNorns.gif|right|frame|Don's Clay Creatures]]
 
===Clay Creatures===
 
===Clay Creatures===
 
Back in 1998 Don, being the artistic type, even had a go at making a few Creatures 2 Norns of her own. The small tribe of clay creatures she produced were around 2cm high  and included purple, brown and blue Norns. It wasn't long before she decided to try her hand at Grendels and Ettins as well in order to complete the miniature scene. See right.
 
Back in 1998 Don, being the artistic type, even had a go at making a few Creatures 2 Norns of her own. The small tribe of clay creatures she produced were around 2cm high  and included purple, brown and blue Norns. It wasn't long before she decided to try her hand at Grendels and Ettins as well in order to complete the miniature scene. See right.
 +
 +
===Don's DIY Norndolls===
 +
Back in July 2010 Don began wondering how difficult it might be to make a Norn, so she bought a pack of felt and some supplies and, despite having not made a plush toy before and not being willing to take any of her dear Norns apart, nine attempts on here are the results:
 +
 +
[[Image:Dons7DIYNorns2.jpg|left|frame|Don's first seven home-made Norns]]<br clear="all" \>
 +
 +
The following gallery shows Don's progress on designing her own [[Norndoll]] template pattern and starting a small new Norn colony, with a little Nornish help holding the pieces ;)
 +
 +
The first Norn was nicknamed Beta Norn, then came an Aqua Norn, Burgundy Norn, Fuchsia Norn, a black Ninja Norn and a Ruby Norn. You can find the template v5.0 with full instructions, released during the [[CCSF 2010]], [https://web.archive.org/web/20211015110000/http://www.creatures.org.uk/ccsf2010/articles.php?id=32 here] with prior preview photos [https://web.archive.org/web/20201021233328/http://creatures.org.uk/ccsf2010/articles.php?id=29 here].
 +
 +
<gallery captionalign="left" widths="100">
 +
BetaNorn01s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn03s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn04s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn05s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn06s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn08s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn10s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn15s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn16s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn17s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn18s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn19s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn20s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn21s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn22s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn23s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn24s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn25s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn26s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn27s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn28s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn30s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn31s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn32s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn33s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn34s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn42s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn51s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn52s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn53s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn55s.jpg
 +
BetaNorn62s.jpg
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
====Designing a new Norndoll Trio====
 +
<gallery captionalign="left" widths="256">
 +
Don_NornsCols2s.jpg
 +
DonsNorndollPreparation.jpg
 +
</gallery>
  
 
==Related Links==
 
==Related Links==
Line 133: Line 240:
 
====External Links====
 
====External Links====
 
*http://www.webpetz.com/creatures/
 
*http://www.webpetz.com/creatures/
[[Category:People]][[Category:Agent Engineers]][[Category:Software Developers]][[Category:Breed Makers]][[Category:Graphic Artists]][[Category:World Builders]][[Category:Geneticists]][[Category:Siners]]
+
*https://www.youtube.com/don21a
 +
*https://twitter.com/don21a
 +
*www.gamewaredevelopment.co.uk/ds/active/user_profile.pl?hid=10&uid=1411 (DS Profile)
 +
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20211015110000/http://www.creatures.org.uk/ccsf2010/articles.php?id=32 Don's Norndoll Template and Instructions] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20201021233328/http://creatures.org.uk/ccsf2010/articles.php?id=29 Previews]
 +
 
 +
=====Supported Creatures Groups=====
 +
*https://www.facebook.com/CreaturesCommunity (page)
 +
*https://twitter.com/CreaturesFans
 +
*https://community.livejournal.com/creaturesseries/
 +
*https://albianarchive.deviantart.com/
 +
*http://ccchat.creaturesvillage.com ([[CC Chat]])
 +
[[Category:People]]
 +
[[Category:Absent from the CC]]
 +
[[Category:Agent Engineers]]
 +
[[Category:Software Developers]]
 +
[[Category:Breed Makers]]
 +
[[Category:Creature Breeders]]
 +
[[Category:Graphic Artists]]
 +
[[Category:World Builders]]
 +
[[Category:Metaroom Mappers]]
 +
[[Category:Geneticists]]
 +
[[Category:Siners]]

Latest revision as of 01:44, 24 March 2024

Don21a.jpg
Ettin Avatar

Don joined the Creatures Community back in December 1996 as the webmaster of AmberCreatures, a known developer for each of the games and our unofficial Creatures technical support.

She is a regular visitor to alt.games.creatures, CC Chat, Sine and the main community forums, and even featured in the first ever Much ado about Norns newsletter here in 2000. She is also a wikicities administrator and wikipedia user.

In RL, Don is an overworked CTO, having previously worked at Maxis as a Content Designer on The Sims, with a Masters degree in Software.

She has a keen interest in cross-platform software development, graphic design, web engineering and online RPGs. Don mostly programs in C++, Java, PHP and SQL, designs graphics & layouts in Photoshop, and all too frequently upgrades her computer to keep up with the latest technology.

During her time off Don tries to steer away from computers where she can, enjoying travel, photography, and tech shopping ;)

Contact[edit]

You can usually find Don in CC Chat or get hold of her through email on don(at)computerpetz.com

Obsession[edit]

DonsCreHoard.jpg

GardenBackground2.jpg

Don has been a Creatures fan since the initial release of Creatures 1 and has followed the series fanatically ever since. The above photo shows the main bulk of her Creatures hoard, which includes every Creatures box set ever released for every system (even though she does not own a PlayStation).

Summary[edit]

Don's nine official and three home made Norndolls
Seventeen of Don's official Norndolls sat on a table
  • Gender: Female
  • Interests: Programming, alife, tech
  • Causes: Animal welfare and Endangered species
  • Games: Strategy and god games
  • Main Platform: Windows
  • Location: Sunny old England
  • Docking Station ID: Don
  • email: don(at)computerpetz.com

Previous Aliases[edit]

  • The Shee Apprentice
  • Don the AmberShee

Affiliations, Past and Present[edit]

Interesting Facts[edit]

What's In a Name[edit]

Norn Avatar

The story behind the AmberShee...

Having begun in the community as 'The Shee Apprentice' in 1996 while gathering resources, documentation and programming tools to learn how become a Creatures developer, it seemed appropriate that once ready to start making her own cobs, breeds and worlds that she should take a new name. Don had always had a fascination with the stone 'amber' and the secrets it might keep from the age of the dinosaur; So, after having completed a number of small projects such as new butterfly and fish critters for Creatures 1, she decided she should evolve into the 'AmberShee', and began work on an ancient AmberCity world, reminiscent of the later Ettin temple in the desert of Creatures 2.

Programming[edit]

Development Platforms[edit]

Some of Don's Norndolls with the C2 world plan sketch

Her main development machines are as follows:

  • Intel Core 2 Quad @ 4 x 3.0GHz - Windows 7 Ultimate
  • Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2 x 2.13GHz - Windows XP Pro
  • Intel Core Duo @ 2 x 2.0GHz - Windows Vista Ultimate
  • Intel Pentium 4 @ 2.4GHz - Ubuntu Linux
  • Mac Mini G4 @ 1.42GHz - Mac OSX Leopard & Tiger
  • Intel P4 @ 2.66GHz - Windows 2003 Server
  • In need of an Intel Mac OSX Yosemite next

For testing purposes Don also runs Windows 95, Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP Home, Windows XP Pro, Windows 2000 Server, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Ultimate, Red Hat 9 (pre Fedora), Fedora, Mandrake 10 (pre Mandriva), Mandriva, Knoppix, Mac OS 7.5 68k, etc.

Developer Information[edit]

Don has developed addons for Creatures, Dogz, Catz, Oddballz, Babyz and The Sims games, amongst other things.

Herbivore creatures from The Habitat

A-Life Projects[edit]

  • The Habitat - Artificial life computer game that was in development but has since been put on hold (see right).


Creatures Development[edit]

A miscellaneous image of some of Don's breeds, including the Creatures 1 Ettin, Red Kanga Norns, Day Norns, Ettin family, Butterfly Norns, Blueberry Norns and the Grendel family.


  • C2 Script Range: 15,201-15,401
  • C3 Script Range: 15,600-15,700


Creatures 1 Contributions[edit]

Creatures 2 Contributions[edit]

Breeds

Cobs

Updates

Worlds

Creatures 3/DS Contributions[edit]

Breeds

Egg Fixes

Metarooms

Tools/Patches

Creatures Contributions general[edit]

Tools/Patches


Creatures Collection[edit]

Mugs, and the backboard & coconut from the C1 Hatchery Background model


Norndolls and Norn Beanies[edit]

Butternorn.gif

Don is the proud owner of a hand made Butterfly Norn Norndoll (shown right), designed especially by her good friend Data back in May 2003.

She also now has twenty two (22) official Norndolls measured at around 6.5 inches tall each: the group consists of ten purple Blueberry Norns , ten green Norns, and two brown Norndolls.

Merchandise[edit]

Don owns the full collection of Creatures posters: the four Creatures 2 posters and one Creatures 3 poster, both Creature Labs and Gameware Development mugs, the Creatures mouse mat, The Forest Scene background model, and a couple of souvenirs from the Hatchery model.

Creatures Titles Owned[edit]

DVD boxed - Each of the versions published by Kutoka, Gameware, Fusion, FastTrak, Focus, and TuxGames


List of Titles[edit]

DonBlueberry03.gif

Don is a long term supporter of the Creatures series and therefore her complete collection includes thirty unique titles, twenty-eight box sets and two electronic-only releases:

Creatures 1*, Creatures 1 Life Kit #1, Creatures 1 Deluxe, Creatures 2, Creatures 2 Life Kit #1, Creatures 2 Life Kit #2 (electronic), Creatures 2 Deluxe, Creatures 3**, Docking Station (electronic), Creatures Internet Edition, Creatures Gold, Linux Creatures Internet Edition, Creatures Trilogy/Gold, Creatures Adventures, Creatures Playground, The Albian Years (Remastered), Creatures Exodus (Remastered), Creatures Village (Remastered), Creatures Triple Pack, Creatures Exodus (Mac), Creatures Village (Mac), Creatures Exodus (Mac+Win), Creatures Village (Mac+Win), Creatures (PlayStation), Creatures Raised in Space (PlayStation) and Creatures (Gameboy Advanced). Plus the eleven Creatures Mall breeds, Creatures 1 Strategy Guide and Sea-Monkeys.

* Three different versions, two of which are Windows and PowerPC Mac dual-format games (see below). ** Full sized box release and DVD boxed

Screenshots[edit]

Creatures 1 on my Mac OS X Tiger in Classic
Don test of running dual Creatures Docking Station games


Other Creations[edit]

Don's Clay Creatures

Clay Creatures[edit]

Back in 1998 Don, being the artistic type, even had a go at making a few Creatures 2 Norns of her own. The small tribe of clay creatures she produced were around 2cm high and included purple, brown and blue Norns. It wasn't long before she decided to try her hand at Grendels and Ettins as well in order to complete the miniature scene. See right.

Don's DIY Norndolls[edit]

Back in July 2010 Don began wondering how difficult it might be to make a Norn, so she bought a pack of felt and some supplies and, despite having not made a plush toy before and not being willing to take any of her dear Norns apart, nine attempts on here are the results:

Don's first seven home-made Norns


The following gallery shows Don's progress on designing her own Norndoll template pattern and starting a small new Norn colony, with a little Nornish help holding the pieces ;)

The first Norn was nicknamed Beta Norn, then came an Aqua Norn, Burgundy Norn, Fuchsia Norn, a black Ninja Norn and a Ruby Norn. You can find the template v5.0 with full instructions, released during the CCSF 2010, here with prior preview photos here.

Designing a new Norndoll Trio[edit]

Related Links[edit]

External Links[edit]

Supported Creatures Groups[edit]