Artificial Life Dynamic Ecosystems

Artificial Life Dynamic Ecosystems - the competition and evolution of artificial life.

Another example of virtual life, artificial life dynamic ecosystems include artificial life that competes for its survival with other artificial life. Many times these virtual life organisms evolve new forms and behaviors to help them in their struggle to compete.

Galapagos Interactive Exhibit by Karl Sims

Galapagos - red creature: example of artificial life

This is an interactive media installation, displayed at ICC in Tokyo from 1997 - 2000, that allows visitors to evolve 3D animated artifical life forms by selecting the artificial life forms that they find most aesthetically appealing. The forms that are chosen create offspring, and the ones that aren't die off and are replaced by these offspring. The virtual life offspring receive their appearance from the digital DNA of their parents modified by added mutations. More info on this virtual life exhibit.

Panspermia by Karl Sims

The theory that life exists and is distributed throughout the universe in the form of germs or spores is called Panspermia. Panspermia, by Karl Sims, is an animation that depicts the virtual life cycle of an evolving artificial life organism from the start of its germination on a new planet. The artificial life organism evolves via random mutations and becomes more and more advanced. More info on this artificial life animation.

Evolved Virtual Creatures by Karl Sims

This is a video showing the results of a research project done on a supercomputer that involved the Darwinian virtual evolution of several hundred block-like artificial life creatures that competed with each other in different tasks such as swimming, hopping, and competing for a cube. The more successful artificial life creatures passed on their virtual genes to their offspring. More info on this artificial life video.

Life Spacies II by Christa Sommerer and Laurent Mignonneau

This is an exhibit at the ICC in Tokyo where virtual life creatures move, feed, mate and reproduce. Both live visitors and internet visitors can create new artificial life creatures to join the exhibit by typing in a text message. The text message determines the virtual creature's shape, color, texture, limbs, and locomotion. Futhermore, food is created for the creatures via text messages. More info on these virtual creatures.

A-Volve by Christa Sommerer and Laurent Mignonneau

This exhibit consists of a pool of virtual life creatures that move, feed, mate, and reproduce. Visitors can create new artificial life creatures for the pool by drawing a 2d image that is converted into a 3D virtual creature. Color and texture of the creature is based on speed of drawing. The form of the creature influences its locomotion and its ability to survive. The artificial life creatures interact with eachother; the most fit are predators and will prey on the weaker ones. Survivors mate and reproduce. These artificial life creatures also interact with visitors; they'll flee from their hands but will stay still if caught. More info on this pool of artificial life.

Interactive Plant Growing by Christa Sommerer and Laurent Mignonneau

This installation contains many different species of plants. By touching or moving a hand towards one, the visitor will be shown on a display the virtual growth and evolution of the plant via several different artificial life variations. The growth and evolution of the artificial life versions are influenced by the difference in electrical voltage between hand and plant. More info on these virtual life plants.

Genma by Christa Sommerer and Laurent Mignonneau

This machine allows the visitor to touch/grab one of the shown artificial life creatures; after which, the genetic code for the virtual creature is displayed. The visitor can add, cut, and replace elements of the genetic code. The appearance of the virtual life creature immediately changes to reflect these modifications. More info on these virtual life organisms.

Verbarium by Christa Sommerer and Laurent Mignonneau

This internet-based application allows users to send in a text message which is converted into a 3-D virtual life form which develops and is displayed to the user in real-time. The sum of all the text messages ever sent create a collective and complex form. This form is like a virtual herbarium; touching any part of it will display the text message used to generate that part. More info on this virtual life herbarium.

Pico Scan by Christa Sommerer and Laurent Mignonneau

This installation allows the scanning and capturing of various dimensions of its user's body. These different measurements are used to generate artificial life creatures. These artificial life creatures feed on color values provided by the video image of the user. More info on these artificial life creatures.

Nerve Garden: A Public Terrarium in Cyberspace

Nerve Garden is a online collaborative virtual life terrarium. It is an experiment in artificial life in which the ecosystem grows, decays, and performs energy transfers. Users over the internet can create a new artificial life plant that is inserted into this multi-user 3D world. More info on this virtual terrarium.

(image courtesy of www.biota.org)

Framsticks by Maciej Komosinki and Szymon Ulatowski

Several framsticks artificial life forms

Framsticks is a 3D artificial life simulator. Users can design artificial life consisting of both mechanical structures and control systems; both which evolve over time as these artificial creatures compete and evolve. More info on Framsticks artificial life simulator.

Also be sure to check out the Framsticks Deathmatch Challenge.

Creatures Trilogy by Creature Labs

Creatures: artificial life Norns near an ocean

The Creatures series simulates real biological systems via the artificial life creatures called the Norns. These artificial life creatures come with their own biochemistry, brains, and digital DNA. The artificial life creatures make their own choices and learn from their mistakes. The player guides the Norns through their lives, and help teach them to survive in their environment. When the artificial life creatures become adults, they can even mate and create new offspring, passing on their genes. They interact in a dynamic ecosystem full of other virtual life: plants, butterflies, fish, caterpillars, ants, etc.. and even the malicious race called Grendels and the pesky race called Ettins. More info on these virtual life creatures.

Aquazone Deluxe

Aquazone - raise artificial life fish. 'Neptune's Garden' by Goldy

Aquazone allows you to raise artificial life fish - up to 6 species - in a virtual aquarium that you can stock with different varieties of plants and a wide selection of decorative accessories, gravel, and backdrops. Your artificial life fish each have their own personalities, and if neglected, if neglected, their virtual lives can end.. More info on this virtual life aquarium.

SimEarth

SimEarth allows you to manipulate the atmospheric, geologic, climatic, and life processes on a planet and help it to evolve artificial life from the most basic up to intelligent technology-using ones. More info.

SimAnt

SimAnt allows you to manage a virtual ant colony and help it to conquer a suburban backyard by overcoming insect and human obstacles. You manage the virtual ant colony by controlling just one artificial life ant and manipulating ant caste and behavior (i.e. laying down of scent trails, etc..) Eventually, you can lead your virtual ants in an invasion of the human's house. More info on these artificial life ants.

SimLife

This is an biological simulation that allows you to create artificial life plants and animals from the genetic level to influence their appearance, behavior, and evolution. You can play with genetics, mutations, extinction, food webs, and natural distasters to view the effects on the virtual ecosystem and artificial life gene pool. More info on this artificial life simulator.