I just found my copy of Planiverse, bought at the University bookshop - I was in my 3rd year of my engineering course when it was published. Just rereading the introduction when it covers the simulation program 2DWORLD I remember at the time thinking it would be cool to develop such a program. I'm quite surprised that one was hasn't really developed (of course lots of the 2d scrollers and roguelike games could be thought being in that vein, but I'm thinking of the more detailed physics and biology that A.K. explored in the book). Or is there something like it out there?
Planiverse was one of my favorite books in my teenage years, and by chance last week I started reading it again. What a coincidence to see the author's name on HN front page today. May he rest in peace, his mind influenced many of us.
I love the concept of the story, that something life-like can emerge from computer software, and the illustrations in the book are wonderful. I also like that the author included a kind of mystical or metaphysical point - similar to Flatland - about our own existence and reaching for what's beyond it.
> is there something like it out there?
Somewhat in the same direction is "Lenia - Biology of Artificial Life".
> We report a new system of artificial life called Lenia (from Latin lenis "smooth"), a two-dimensional cellular automaton with continuous space-time-state and generalized local rule. Computer simulations show that Lenia supports a great diversity of complex autonomous patterns or "lifeforms" bearing resemblance to real-world microscopic organisms.
