@theromanticscrooge, I saw your research on the Cowplant — it’s fantastic work!
I’d like to share some additional information about the Cowplant that could help expand your research.
1. Developer Chat
Here’s a transcript from a developer chat session dedicated to The Sims 2: University. In it, the developers answered the question about whose idea it was to create the Cowplant:
ToeNailSim (Jan 27, 2005 6:38:35 PM) Whos idea was the cow plant? MaxisDoctorVu (Jan 27, 2005 6:38:35 PM) Collaborative design effort. It
The person who answered the question MaxisDoctorVu is Thomas Vu, a designer and associate producer of The Sims 2 University and executive producer of the Arcane series.
2. Concept Art
There’s concept art showcasing the stages of creating the Cowplant model for the game. Its elements include:
Original Sketch:
Sketches showing the animation stages and behavior of the Cowplant, such as waiting, luring the victim, feeding, milking, and the full cycle. There’s also a version with an alternate form.
Photo Reference:
References included images of real cows, their udders, and carnivorous plants (e.g., Nepenthes) for inspiration when designing the model.
Final In-Game Model:
The finished 3D model of the Cowplant, combining the features of a cow and a carnivorous plant.
