Procedural verb

From SporeWiki, the knowledge base dedicated to Spore

In language, a verb is a word that expresses action. (To write, to live, to be, etc.) In Spore, procedural verb is used to describe actions taken by the creature, "procedural" referring to the technology used to design the game. During his 2005 GDC presentation, Will Wright mentions as his creature begins to eat that he has given it (the Willosaur) the verb command "eat". He proceeds to demonstrate the ability to combine two verbs and create another when he gives the Willosaur the verb command "eat" and "walk" simultaneously, creating "drag", as the Willosaur drags its prey backwards with its teeth.

[edit] Method

It is unknown whether verb commands must be given manually (ie. typed) or via another method, but it is widely assumed that Will simply walked backward with the corresponding keyboard command while the Willosaur was eating to create "drag". His commentary includes phrases such as "tell him to walk", which does not specify exactly how the creature is "told".