N15: Garden

content/posts/newsletter-015/index.md

@@ -215,6 +215,47 @@ For updates and possible playtesting opportunities, follow
 [chrispatuzzo]: https://twitter.com/chrispatuzzo
 [/r/WorshipTheSunGame]: https://reddit.com/r/WorshipTheSunGame
 
+### [Garden][garden]
+
+![Garden](garden_scaled_1.png)
+_A couple of trees growing and basking in the sun_
+
+[Garden][garden] is a procedural tree-growing, strategical ecosystem-restoration
+and biological simulation game with an infinite amount of plant species where
+every leaf is simulated, and the natural resources are scarce.
+Every specimen is unique, as the plants grow by responding to the live changes in
+the environment.
+The player has to balance many complex mechanics to sustain life and go
+forward in the game.
+The game and the custom engine are developed in Rust with an OpenGL backend.
+
+Garden developers (temporary name) are preparing for a demo release in a couple
+of months by tying everything together into a coherent experience.
+The game is also continually optimized to run on less powerful GPUs,
+so that everyone can enjoy it.
+
+Some of the [updates from the October devlog][garden-devlog]:
+
+- Near-infinite variety of plant species
+  achieved through treating branch segments as Markov chains
+  (enabling different growth speeds and probabilities
+  for other segment types' growth from one another)
+  and simulating photosynthesis as an electrical circuit
+  (enabling sugar storage in the form of root vegetables, for example).
+- Concrete brick destruction mechanics was implemented.
+  Dust particles for the animation that appears upon breaking,
+  as well as the debris, were also added to the game.
+- Saving and loading are almost complete.
+- A watering can was added.
+- Smoother soil and debris outlines.
+
+Follow the developers [@logicsoup] and [@epcc10] on Twitter for more updates.
+
+[garden]: https://www.cyberplant.xyz
+[@logicsoup]: https://twitter.com/logicsoup
+[@epcc10]: https://twitter.com/epcc10
+[garden-devlog]: https://cyberplant.xyz/posts/october_2020
+
 ### [Akigi][akigi]
 
 [Akigi][akigi] is a WIP online multiplayer game.