idlerunner00 / procedural-pixel-creatures

# Procedural Pixel Creatures
A pixel creature generator, animation framework and genetics workshop built with **Godot 4.5.2 .NET / C#**.
Body shapes, limbs, faces, colors, markings, rigs and movement are generated in code.
There are no premade creature sprites or AI-generated source images. After the initial setup,
the application runs offline without an AI service.
Explore nine creature families, edit their genes, breed new variants and watch up to 100 creatures
roam a landscape with hills, cliffs and underwater habitats.
Built primarily with Claude Opus 5.5 from one initial prompt, followed by
refinements with GPT Astra. The author's estimate is roughly 95% initial prompt and 5% follow-ups.
## Quick start
1. Clone this repository or choose **Code → Download ZIP** on GitHub.
2. Extract the ZIP into a writable folder on **Windows 10/11 x64**.
3. Double-click **`Start.cmd`**.
The launcher downloads missing tools, builds the project and opens the workshop. You do not need
to install Godot or .NET yourself, choose executable paths, or run as administrator.
The first setup needs an internet connection; subsequent starts reuse the downloaded tools.
## What it does
| Mode | Features |
|---|---|
| **Workshop** | Edit individual genes, lock traits, reroll the rest, undo/redo, inspect rigs and foot contacts, and preview animation with a fixed camera. |
| **Genetics** | Generate four animated offspring with adjustable mutation strength, or combine two compatible parents. |
| **Overview** | Generate 1–100 creatures, filter by family or archetype, keep favorites during rerolls, and send any creature back to the editor. |
| **Test area** | Explore five map sizes with terraced hills, slopes, cliffs, vegetation and ponds. Land creatures follow the terrain; aquatic creatures swim below the water surface. |
| **Export** | Save versioned JSON presets, transparent PNGs, or sprite sheets with animation metadata and a playback preview. |
| **Framework** | Use the engine-independent C# core or Godot `CreatureActor` in your own project. Plantfolk demonstrate how to add a family through the public extension API. |
| Workshop | 100-creature overview |
|---|---|
| | |
| **Living terrain** | **Underwater swimming** |
| | |
The nine families are **quadrupeds, humanoids, reptiles and dragons, arthropods, winged creatures,
serpents, aquatic creatures, slimes and tentacled creatures, and plantfolk**. Variation changes body
structure as well as appearance. Humanoids also receive procedural clothing, armor and equipment.
The repository includes 54 sample genomes: six per family.
Animation includes standing, walking/running or anatomy-specific movement, actions, hit reactions
and rest. Creatures support eight facing directions. Seeds and separate anatomy, color, pattern
and motion streams make results reproducible for a given generator version.
## Requirements
| Platform | Setup |
|---|---|
| **Windows 10/11 x64** | Automatic setup through `Start.cmd`. PowerShell 5.1 and a graphi