Microbe Stage

The Microbe Stage is the name given to Thrive's first stage. Currently (page created with version 0.2.4 as a reference), it is the only stage that is implemented although unfinished and is currently being developed. The stage's only editor is the Microbe Editor.

Gameplay
In the Microbe stage, you control a microbial organism which a player can control the evolution of. The player can explore the environment, collect compounds and upgrade their microbe. As the player travels the world around them, compound emitters and microbes are procedurally generated. To collect compounds, the player must find compound emitters and gather what they release. Compound emitters can be several different shapes and colors which correspond to the emitted compound (see Compounds). Compounds released from an emitter resemble smaller versions of the emitter, and after a short distance of traveling, disappear. Other microbes are also found, which can be hunted or can hunt the player if either individual possesses a toxin vacuole. Occasionally the player may also find a clear bubble with a golden center, which, if collected, unlocks the toxin vacuole organelle.

Compounds are stored in vacuoles, compounds are processed in mitochondria, ATP is used by flagellum, chloroplasts make ATP from CO2 and sunlight and toxin vacuoles allow the hunting of enemy microbes by pressing the 'E' key. If a microbe is killed, it spills all of it's compounds onto the ground to be collected.

The player can achieve reproduction by gathering 5 "reproductase", and by clicking the cell division button in the top left corner of the screen to enter the editor (see Organelles). The player has a limited amount of 'Mutation Points" (or MP) when in the editor and can have their limit reset next time they enter the Microbe Editor.

The player can die by losing all of their ATP or losing too much HP to hunter microbes. When this happens, all of their stored compounds are released and the player takes control of another microbe of their species with default compound reserves.

Editor
The Microbe Stage's main editor is the Microbe Editor, in which the player upgrades their single celled organism by adding new organelles, and in the future, upgrading current ones. For more in-depth information, see the Microbe Editor page.

Gallery
Editor's Note: Add pictures here of the microbe stage and captions of what is happening in the picture.