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(start documenting the genome file format, badly)
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.gen files contain the genetic information for new breeds as well as individual [[creature]], identified by the [[moniker]].
 
.gen files contain the genetic information for new breeds as well as individual [[creature]], identified by the [[moniker]].
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==Format==
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Genome files start with the three characters 'd', 'n', and 'a', followed by the (textual) number representing the genome file version - '1' for [[Creatures 1]], '2' for [[Creatures 2]], and '3' for the [[Creatures Evolution Engine]].
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This is then followed by any number of genes, which consist of the four characters 'gene', a gene header and gene data, which differs depending on the contents of the header.
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When all the genes have occured, there is then a end-of-file marker consisting of the four characters 'gend'.
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All numbers in the file are in little-endian form.
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===Gene header===
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A gene header starts with two 8-bit values, representing the gene type and the gene subtype.
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There are then another four 8-bit values, representing the gene identifier (for reference by [[GNO files]]), the generation number of the gene, the age at which the gene should be switched on, and the gene flags.
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In version 2/3 genomes, there's then an 8-bit mutability weighting value, and in version 3 genomes, an 8-bit variant value, used in [[Creatures Village]] to turn on different genes for different species without needing separate genome files for each species.
  
 
==Related links==
 
==Related links==
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==External links==
 
==External links==
*[http://www.gamewaredevelopment.co.uk/cdn/cdn_more.php?CDN_article_id=9 Creature Labs' GEN Technical Information]
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*[http://www.gamewaredevelopment.co.uk/cdn/cdn_more.php?CDN_article_id=9 Creature Labs' GEN Technical Information] - This is known to be extremely inaccurate.
  
 
[[Category:File formats]][[Category:Genetics]]
 
[[Category:File formats]][[Category:Genetics]]

Revision as of 22:54, 30 December 2005

.gen files contain the genetic information for new breeds as well as individual creature, identified by the moniker.

Format

Genome files start with the three characters 'd', 'n', and 'a', followed by the (textual) number representing the genome file version - '1' for Creatures 1, '2' for Creatures 2, and '3' for the Creatures Evolution Engine.

This is then followed by any number of genes, which consist of the four characters 'gene', a gene header and gene data, which differs depending on the contents of the header.

When all the genes have occured, there is then a end-of-file marker consisting of the four characters 'gend'.

All numbers in the file are in little-endian form.

Gene header

A gene header starts with two 8-bit values, representing the gene type and the gene subtype.

There are then another four 8-bit values, representing the gene identifier (for reference by GNO files), the generation number of the gene, the age at which the gene should be switched on, and the gene flags.

In version 2/3 genomes, there's then an 8-bit mutability weighting value, and in version 3 genomes, an 8-bit variant value, used in Creatures Village to turn on different genes for different species without needing separate genome files for each species.

Related links

External links