Parasites i was reading arsodog's mindwreaking return and one of the posts said "i tought there was going to be a FLOOD of information" apoun reading this, some random connection in my brain called up Halo's Flood and how they zomibfiy creatures... could you create a creature that can do the same thing in Spore? (without involving a copyright infriament)
http://loom.corante.com/archives/2006/02/02/the_wisdom_of_parasites.php I think that's exactly what you're talking about.
There is a parasite icon, but then your parasites could not dominate the world now could they? Considering that they are always dependant from a host, unless they opress their hosts as if they were some kind of breeding being that they use. So they enslave that being and then develop themselves. In the civilization stage I guess there are tons of those enslaved host creatures and your little parasite being living amongst them, in a faked harmony. Oh, how interesting and complex, is it possible?