Darwin Day 2008 - Evolved virtual creature compilation video

[kaimialana]

That end over end worm is epic. Flawless design by natural selection, and done so in a computer sim as well!

[death5409]

chalenge:

evolve a bipeadle, humionoid creature

[ActiveStorage]

thats not how nature would program it 

[jeetendrag10acc2]

8 people believe in creationism....

[MultiRutele]

Respect. Totally incredible work, these things really inspire. GOOD LUCK.

[SnowWalkerPrime]

Amazing stuff. Just boggles the mind the creatures you create.

[kjlg74]

@SnowWalkerPrime Thanks, man! They still surprise me sometimes. :)

[perrid13]

So how far does the competition go? Do the creatures need food and have to eat each other? And congrats on doing all of this, it looks really cool.

[kjlg74]

@perrid13 Thanks a lot!

This version has nothing at all like predation or food, but I might try some kind of one-on-one combat activity at some point :)

[prime342]

this is fucking awesome!!!!!

[kjlg74]

@prime342 Thanks a lot :)

[SirRecluse]

What if this program was left on for Millions of years? ---> Read more on my

sirrecluse.tumblr.com/

[kjlg74]

@SirRecluse Thanks, I'll try to check that out sometime :)

[thefrozenmercury]

8 people only see moving shapes and not the logical principles behind them.

[kjlg74]

@thefrozenmercury Sadly, you could be right, lol

[Doomside]

So friggin cool.

[kjlg74]

@Doomside Thanks a lot! :)

[MarshmallowRadiation]

I've seen a lot of these, and my favorite by far are the frogs and the end-over worms. I can't wait until computers can handle a whole bunch more data, allowing for more elegant, efficient creatures.

[kjlg74]

@MarshmallowRadiation I agree. It should get even more interesting as more and more computing power becomes available :)

[xilliah]

I'd love to enter a world where all creatures were evolved digitally, so I've never seen them before!

[kjlg74]

@xilliah Yes, that would be a lot of fun!

[dan70411]

where can i get this evolution program ? iv been looking all over for it !

[kjlg74]

@dan70411 There's a link in the video description. It takes you to the website for the project. There's a download section there.

[houkou1]

@kjlg74 How good of a computer do you need to run it?

[kjlg74]

@houkou1 I'm not sure what the minimum requirements would be, but I'd wager any computer not more than 6 or 7 years old should be able to handle it.

[houkou1]

@kjlg74 Ok thanks!

[aUsernameAvailable]

What was the song?

[jetsam50000]

Notice in this game you must interact to create.

[chrisxy123]

Notice it is a very simple simulation.

Notice there is no quantum fluctuation.

Notice it is not running billions of years in possibly an infinite amount of universes.

[jetsam50000]

Simplicity is irrelevant, no matter the complexity their will always be any outside force interacting with the simulation. And if you've ever hear of chaos theory you'd know that if you ran this simulation 100 times with the same inputs, that you would get different results everytime. And although time is an important part to this theory, that does not deject from my earlier statement.

[chrisxy123]

There is someone spawning random things, yes. With simple I mean there's one goal set by someone. The simulation would be really complex if you set no rules and let it run on itself.

Of course the outcomes of the experiment are pretty random. But chaos theory does not only say something about chaos it does also tell us something about patterns Watch v=TBC4GZynbZs

And time IS important. Let this simulation run in realtime for billions of years and then look what the creatures look like.

[jetsam50000]

Your making a big assumption, the environment in this world is a 2-d plane. given a billion years I wouldn't except something all that amazing. After all, they do nothing but walk. Also even if there were no rules I would doubt that anything would be accomplished. Like I said this simulation is far to simple.

[jingleby1]

@jetsam50000 The Cambian seas were full of wierd and wonderful animal designs, most left no legacy. The most basic animals can't swim, even today, and so exist in a 2D plane, confined to the ocean floor.

[notNEWW]

i find it funny as they evolved polyworld ... and this is for the folks that watched the hour long version here on youtube ...

that when posed with working out the "bugs" in the system they could find only one solution ...

the "diety" being the programmers limiting certain features ... and helping other features ....

it's pretty remarkable ... that the computer model of evolution fails .. without the "diety" overseeing ... hmmmm

[kjlg74]

You mean the "deity" had to step in and adjust weaknesses in their design that evolution was exploiting (if you're referring to the sorts of "bugs" I think you are). I agree, that is interesting. Evolution doesn't care what desired results the programmer has in mind - it's just going to do whatever it can in the given circumstance. To get a desired result, the system may need adjusting - just as with any other complex search algorithm. At least, that's how it goes for us non-omnipotent designers

[notNEWW]

yes thanks for seeming to be openminded ... yet when they modified the programm again ... another situation occured where it was counter productive towards evolution, ie cannibalism via procreation = nutrient ...

if you haven't seen the 1hr vid here on yt ... i'll send you a link .... yes indeed it's pretty remarkable

[kjlg74]

I haven't looked at polyworld in quite a long time. Cannibalism of offspring sounds like just the kind of "bug" I thought you were referring to. Others who have worked with 3D creature projects like mine have seen similar quirks (dubbed "cheaters" in at least a couple papers) such as maximizing travel distance just by being tall and falling over instead of "walking". Some cheaters are quite amusing - finding clever loopholes. If you should happen to come across that link, please send it my way.

[notNEWW]

10-4 ... i'll review... next reply will be in your inbox providing... friend acceptance?

[kjlg74]

certainly

[kaminarigaston]

"another situation occured where it was counter productive towards evolution, ie cannibalism via procreation" Understand that evolution doesn't have a goal. If a species' individual has the trait of eating all of his offspring, then his offspring dies before breeding and the lineage dies. No matter how nutritious is the offspring, eating all of it can't be selected for. Eating SOME of it can be advantageous to some species in certain scenarios, thus it happens in some cases. (continues)

[kaminarigaston]

In some species that have a f*ckload of offspring it doesn't matter if the mother eats a few, and if they are born completely functional like spiders, it's a way to filter the slowpokes. Another case is if eating your offspring in a time of hunger will allow you to possibly breed many more times. Or maybe eating some of your offspring allows you to take care of the rest. Or when the offspring eat each other, the ones who are born healthier and stronger are favoured.(continues)

[kaminarigaston]

Of course, gestation is a very, very inefficient way to provide yourself of a meal. It's like growing a leg to eat it, it just requires more nutrient and time that it provides. So it wouldn't be selected for in all cases anyway. When there's a good chance of death on childbirth, when kids often die before breeding age, you often a single child per birth, population is always in check, gestation and raising takes a long time, etc. When you live like our ancestors lived, it just isn't viable.

[kjlg74]

I don't recall the exact behavior in polyworld, but I imagine it might be one or more of...

1) no cost for gestation

2) more nutrition available in offspring than were lost in making them

3) immortality. combined with 1) and 2) this might allow for "freeloaders" that do nothing but sit and reap the rewards of free nutrition by eating offspring.

None of that is biologically plausible, but in an artificial virtual world strange things like that arise from time to time. Frustrating but amusing!

[ReductioAdAbsurdum]

Fixing bugs in a crude approximation of biological evolution is not "playing deity". The programmer has a goal, evolution does not.

Evolutionary algorithms demonstrate that a blind process can produce designs. Programmers tweak the rules or environment to get evolution to work, but they aren't tweaking the RESULT. They can't. Evolved algorithms are inscrutable; human engineers used a divide and conquer approach to managed complexity in light of our intellectual limitations, evolution doesn't.

[TheOnlyHonk]

@ReductioAdAbsurdum

Evelution has a goal. The difference is that it doesnt reach it by manage the complexity, it reaches it by try-and-fail, like children are doing their first steps in life.

[ReductioAdAbsurdum]

"Evelution has a goal"

Perhaps EvElution does (whatever that is), but EvOlution doesn't. It's dumb chemistry. No purpose, no goal. Living organisms have a goal, simply because those who didn't failed to survive, but that doesn't mean Evolution has a goal.

[newcoleco]

I have a question... Darwin day only occurs in 2008? I would like to see the creatures of 2009 in a single video with comments like this one.

[kjlg74]

It occurs every year. '09 was a big one, 200 years since Darwin's birthday and 150 since the publication of Origin of Species.

[newcoleco]

Great!

Will we see more video compilations in the near future? so this experimentation is classified?

[kjlg74]

Perhaps! I guess I am overdue for another. I hope I can find the time :)

[Remindor]

Oh noes, they're going to take over the earth!!!

[BalthazzarCH]

sorry i just wrote some bullshit that the competition element is missing, but when i watched it the second time, i saw it in the intro. Now my question is: how is it implemented in the programm?

Is there competition for food or anything? i don't see any scenes of eating/hunting etc. sure it'd be hard to animate, but you could simulate it..

[deathsminion25]

The program works by racing the creatures.

[kjlg74]

Sorry for the slow reply. There is a population of creatures. Each one gets evaluated and assigned a "fitness" number (usually the measurement is the total distance the creature travels). Then the population is used as parents for a new generation. Those with higher fitness have a higher chance of being selected as parents.

I'd *love* to implement some kind of one-on-one or group competition at some point. Predator/prey/food dynamics would be fun as well.

[sonicboom970]

/facepalm

[sonicboom970]

After checking the account, it is confirmed that he is against evolution theorey in EVERY way, and has blammed this without even looking at it, as is typical with overly-conservative people (I'm a conservative too, and I love this). This isn't going against God in any way, shape (no pun intended) or form. Seriously. Get over yourself.

[ajtaggs]

Those rolling worm creatures crack me up! I just want to scream,

"Assemble my army of ferocious worms, we roll to battle!"

[Abengoshis]

Yeah the rolling worm is the best creature in my opinion, it's so fluid with its movements!!

How do I put loads of a creature on the same plane?

[TGGeko]

This is awesome. now get a bunch of those creatures together, and set up things like food, reproduction, death, ect, and see where it goes.

[kjlg74]

Would love to, once enough processing power is available ;)

[jcrada82]

Great video... What is the name of the song?

[kjlg74]

Thanks!

The songs are "Dies Irae" and "Video Game Trailer". Both by Hamilton Cleverdon.

[nameno1elsehas]

first, my friends and i on the robotics team were discussing if we could program evolution. basically, for a computer to do a series of games where the loser is erased and to little by little improve upon the winner until it creates the perfect organism for a task. this vid is really cool

and second, wut is the song called?

[kjlg74]

Thanks!

The songs are "Dies Irae" and "Video Game Trailer", both by Hamilton Cleverdon.

[newton3010]

Excellent Vid ....

[kjlg74]

Thanks!

[StormWolf01]

Hello.

This is by no mean an hostile comment. But as one can see in the begining of the vid, it seems that you put a symmetry constraint on the creatures. Why. Do you take the hypothesis that symmetric creatures will be more efficient? Is it to narrow the possible shapes of a creature?

It is true that in nature, most of animals are symmetric. But using that fact to force symmetry upon your creatures seems an error to me. (But you must have your reasons)

Anyway, good job!

[kjlg74]

Their representations (genomes) allow the use of symmetry, but do not enforce it. Without explicitly programming it as an option, they would be unable to evolve "proper" symmetry on their own because the expressiveness of their representations is too limited.

A richer, more flexible representation and growth scheme might allow symmetry to evolve "from scratch", and that would be pretty cool. Won't happen under the scheme I've chosen, though (chosen for simplicity).

Cheers!

[sincon777]

are you going to make this available to people?If so will it have a cost or will it be free?

[oneheadedboy]

Oh, damn, I see you've already mentioned water.

[kjlg74]

Yep. Never did get it working satisfactorily. Hopefully some future version will have it.

[oneheadedboy]

Hey guys, can't it be a bit easier to do it in water-like environment? Probably we could use the way the things were evolved.

[Yund7]

Amazing. I can't even dance that good.

[CorndogMaker]

that is pretty amazing. How is one chosen to breed from? is there a limited resource they must reach, like a food? do they need to attract mates?

[kjlg74]

Thanks!

Breeding works as follows:

The best individual from a generation is always copied unchanged to the next generation. The rest of the individuals in the next generation are produced either by crossover of two parents or by mutation of a single parent. When a new parent is needed, a small tournament is held: N creatures are chosen at random from the current generation - the one with the best fitness wins and becomes a parent. N is usually about 3 or so.

(will continue in next reply..)

[kjlg74]

the only limited resource they have is time. they have to travel as far as possible in a fixed amount of time (most of the runs use a fitness problem like that, a few do something different: example, it can be set up so they have to jump as high as possible in a limited time instead of traveling as far as possible)

they don't attract mates at all. mating is all done via the tournaments, crossover, and mutation I mentioned in the previous reply.

cheers!

[McConsumer]

twitchy bastards

[HeathenWarriorPoet]

I can't wait for Evolution the Video Game.

[kjlg74]

There are a few evolution-based games out there, but no extremely popular ones have come along yet, that I'm aware of. Spore is extremely popular (and deservedly so from what I've seen) but it isn't the sort of evolution you (and I) have in mind, I think.

[hawanja]

So when you gonna package this and make a billion dollars? Because I would totally pay to mess around with this.

[keysle]

is there any air friction so that these creatures can fly? maybe some day?

[kjlg74]

Unfortunately, no. But maybe in some future version. I'd like to at least get the water environment working, which so far has caused me no end of trouble :( Several other 3D creature evolution projects have managed to do water successfully, so I ought to be able to... somehow :)

[keysle]

so this is your OWN program!!! Woah.. THat's impressive.

I think the hardest programming for air will be the resistence. (if a bird is flying behind another one, which one will use up more energy or be more effecient)

[Ecks54]

This didn't really show the creatures evolving, it just showed pre made creatures hopping around

[kjlg74]

That's true. The main reason is that it takes days for a full run of evolution. Some of my other videos show a kind of time-lapse animation where each frame is the best creature from one generation, running through hundred of generations in a few seconds, but that's about as close to a workable watch-the-evolution-occur format as I've come up with so far.

[MichaelTannock]

It'd be great if this could somehow be applied to the Spore creature creator.

[OurFamilyHomeVideos]

Lee,

Thanks for your fascinating presentation at TAM 6 this year - you were one of my favorite presenters again. I would sure love to see something like this in the form of a game to teach kids about evolution. I envision something like your project mixed with Viva Pinta. Maybe by the time the next video game systems come out the processing power will be capable of producing a evolution simulator with elements of a game. Many "animals" competing for scarce resources would be awesome.

[kjlg74]

Thanks a lot! :) I had a blast presenting 3DVCE at TAM.

I'd also love to see a game like you describe. Perhaps users could evolve their own combat creatures and pit them against others on the web. With enough computing power, a whole ecosystem with multiple populations would be pretty cool too.

[maccollo]

The creatures at 3:40 looks like frogs :O

[kjlg74]

Yes, definitely frog-like. That's one of my favorite creatures :)

[labrat882]

This was so delighting :D and sounds like a fun project what everyone can learn alot from, I'll be keeping an eye on it.

[kjlg74]

Thanks, labrat :)

[Tzelemel]

The first bit of the vidoe hurt my eyes, but the rest was fine. I enjoyed seeing what you can do by applying Evolutionary Theory to AI.

[mdk31]

I almost forgot to say, nice video. Did you make this program?

[kjlg74]

Thanks! I made this to conduct experiments and collect data for my thesis. The interface is fairly poor because it was written in a hurry, but I tried to make it somewhat usable by the average person. That way, I could make it available for interested users in exchange for some processing time to collect more data than I can collect alone on my own machine. So far this is working out well, and many users have contributed their own evolved creatures to an ever-expanding "zoo" (see the website).

[xenophile1956]

Lovely video.  Thank you!

[kjlg74]

Thanks, xenophile :)

[shraleina]

I almost neglected to say: Nice video, kjlg74!

[kjlg74]

Thanks :)

[Akillituerk]

This guy is evil and if i were his neighbour i would have killed him because he brought more evil to earth than good things. I think darwin was and still is more dangerous man than the greatest dictators on earth like hitler, lenin and these bad guys because these guys followed the same fundamental idea lik darwin did: atheistic materialism -> A human and all life is seen as worthless beings created from selfforming matery which is intelligent. If this was so where comes colour from?

[kjlg74]

I can't believe I'm dignifying this blither with a response, but polls show about 10% of people are atheist, and about 50% accept evolution. So at least 80% of people who accept evolution are also religious. Atheistic materialism, eh? I'm sure the 80% resent that and don't want you speaking for them.

You'd kill a man over what amounts to free speech? I'm sure that same 80% (or any civilized adult, really) won't side with you there either.

ps. You may want to update the wiki on Hitler's religion.

[Izzetpasadangelme]

Before writing your comment you should have cleared your lack of knowledge. Guy, go into a library and read about Darwin´s ideological view to world, and you will see that this man was evil. If you read some of his letters you will see that this man was a kind of devil in form of a human sent to ppl to bring dangerous blood pulling ideas. Today we are no more confrontated with Darwin theory of evolution, no!, today it was made to a fact and is not more called theory -> Nonserious and dangerous.

[kjlg74]

Sorry, but you're in the raving lunatic minority. Even if he were evil, it's neither here nor there anyway. His ideas turned out to be correct. Sorry if you don't like that for whatever zealous religious reasons (shrug). Not only correct in biology, but useful in A.I. Akillituerk said he would have *killed* the guy had he been his neighbor. Even if you disagree with everything Darwin ever said, that's totally uncivilized barbarism. Gonna side with that are you?

[Izzetpasadangelme]

Darwin was an evil man, many of his works in biological science are false and only theory. I recommend death penalty for Darwinists because Darwinists and Materialists educate humans without any hope and humans with a dangerous view on earth and other people like "Survival of the Fittest". But new biological findings show that there is also sth. like love and religion that controls our developement. Many other findings in molecular level brought even down Darwin´s theory.

[kjlg74]

The death penalty for the ~50% of the population who accept evolution? Wow. At least Akillituerk only wanted to kill one person who was already dead. On the plus side, your solution would at least reduce traffic congestion. Seriously, though, people should be free to believe whatever they like. After all, there's "no compulsion in religion", or so I'm repeatedly told. By Muslims. That's civilization. Give it a try.

You want to kill large fractions of the population, but it's Darwin who's evil?

[shraleina]

Once again a "good' believer advocating genocide, just like his forebear the Fuhrer. Perhaps you want to go out and read some educational books instead of creationist lies and propaganda.

[quasarsphere]

Wow! You're a complete dick, aren't you, mate?

[Demonaphia]

You have no concept on the freedom of speech, do you? No, you think you have all the answers, so what point is there, right? Only if we still need to grow intellectually would there be a reason for freedom of speech. So, you're consistent, but you're ignorant all the same. We have very much to learn and very much to gain from the free expression of ideas. Try to come out of the Dark Ages and help to contribute to society. Stop being selfish and only thinking about your ideas, please. Thanks.

[Izzetpasadangelme]

You spent ya life with unimportant things guy. I give you an advice. Don´t waste your time with these worthless theme. Darwins build his theory on the same fundamental philosophical systems of Sumerers which where also materialsts and explained developement in a similar way Darwin did. There were many other scientists who had got same ideas, the difference is Darwin did make scientific explorations. But the result was a new interpretation of biological materialism, muhahhaha.So this is only shit

[kjlg74]

They're hardly unimportant things. Evolutionary computing has repeatedly exhibited performances that match or exceed the design abilities of humans. It's interesting and useful stuff. I once evolved a type of circuit with an efficiency that, had I done so two years earlier, would have been a world record, and people had been working on these circuits for 30 years. Google the "hummies" awards for examples of evolutionary algorithms producing or infringing on patents, etc. This is not time wasted.

[kjlg74]

I'd like to reiterate: at least 80% of people who accept evolution are also religious, so this talk about "materialism" and so on is simply wrong. Just factually false.

Take my creatures for example. They were evolved, and yet they're not purposeless or valueless. They have purpose and value to me, my users, and some viewers. I suspect what bothers you about evolution is not that it's "atheistic". So is plumbing after all. Sorry, but the theory of evolution is as solid as gravity.

[Fromzon]

it's your kind of guys that changed me into a racist

[Izzetpasadangelme]

No, its your ill brain that makes you a racist. And your illnesses is feeded by this evil ideologies and dangerous ideas which where reasons for last great wars and for imperialism and still in our time ppl think they are better than other because of their own race more value than race of others. This are things come from Darwinism and Materialism. So Darwinism, Materialism and Capitalism must be destroyed.

[kjlg74]

Before Darwin no races ever thought they were superior to others, and never tried to kill others. Right. They needed evolution for that.

What exactly is so evil about evolution anyway? Do tell. The random variation? The fact that the variations are heritable? The fact that variations lead to differential survival? What exactly?

There's that "materialism" again. Are you even listening - the vast majority of people who accept the science of evolution are RELIGIOUS. Sorry if you don't like that.

[Izzetpasadangelme]

I know that you say right because the people you call religious and who are on side of D. do not even know one letter of their religion but those ppl who are really religious do see what a dangerous matter D. is because it can always be used as Socialdarwinism like the Nazis did for example. So you cant manipulate me with your so called "religious" ppl, they are more ridicolous ppl. So be serious! Why you wasting your time with such things like genetic programming? I am interested in ya answer.

[kjlg74]

So those 80% are not truly religious? Are the 80% out there listening to this? I've met Muslims who accept evolution. They are religious, I assure you. No amount of stating otherwise will make that untrue. The no-true-Scotsman fallacy is just that - a fallacy.

D is dangerous because of social D-ism? Oh please. And fire can be used to burn libraries. That's not use, it's "abuse" and "misuse". People do the same sorts of things with Islam - I'm sure you'll agree.

[kjlg74]

Social Darwinism is a bit like saying "in nature things like X occur, so we should make things like X occur in society as well". It doesn't follow. It's like passing laws that say people should fall down the stairs because that's what objects in nature do under the theory of gravity. When you see things like that, the rational conclusion isn't that gravity is evil - it's that people are irrational. People abuse science like this all the time, and it's not limited to biology.

[Izzetpasadangelme]

No, you didn´t understand the concept of Darwinism and the depth of this theory and his concequences for humans´ thinkings and ideaworlds. No one of you guys here who answered did understand the real philosophical sphere behind the theory of Darwin or the new model of Socialdarwinism. You are so blind that you even think that this are ideas coming from religion. You cannot see the man or the human who thinks, sees and knows that Darwinism was only a moitve for Imperialism/ Marxism/ Racism.

[kjlg74]

You'll have to explain it to us, then. The way I (and probably the other commenters) see it, evolution is a testable theory describing the behavior of certain aspects of nature. Deriving morals or rules for society from it is as silly as doing the same with gravity.

We haven't answered the "real philosophical sphere" but you haven't presented it either. And second, even if these consequences were true, one doesn't determine truth based on consequences. That's a logical fallacy.

[dmiller185]

A theory of Darwin? Next thing you know igno-maniacal Christians are going to start talking about a "theory of Einstein".

[Paulginz]

Airplanes are evil!

Newton and einstein's theories prove it. Gravity WANTS us to be pushed down to the ground. God created the laws of nature, hence flight is an abberation in the eyes of God.

Since the 9/11 highjackers destroyed a bunch of planes, we must deduce that they were angels restoring order to the universe.

However, this conclusion troubles us morally, so let's just throw the theory of gravitation out of the window and teach flat earth and FSM intelligent falling in schools.

[Paulginz]

PS: Yes, I like reductio ad absurdum, and I hope that someone with a sense of humour might chuckle at my exploit.

On a more serious tone, maybe you should explain to us humble sheep how acceptance of evlution logically leads to social darwinism.

I thought marxism was based on equality and "to each according to their needs", that sounds like helping the needy, not eliminating them nazi/SD-style.

Why can't one deduce that natural selection allows us to replace eugenics with patience?

[kjlg74]

Well, I "waste" my time with this stuff because a) it's interesting, and b) it's proven itself to be very useful, as I've already explained (google NASA's X-band antenna for the ST5 satellite mission for another great example of the power of evolutionary algorithms).

[Fromzon]

well, if you don't think that my people are better than yours, why is it then that you have moved to Germany and didn't stay in Iran or Irak or wherever you came from? leave, go back to your own civilization that is oh-so-smarter than ours, there is a REASON why it's so fucking good in Europe, it's because it has been build by smarter people than you will ever be, so get some brains and start to become a serious human instead of the little retarted pig you are today

[Izzetpasadangelme]

Lol. Okey, if you think so. But the other question is than: Who will teach you people than the sense of life and good behaviour? When I look to the ppl here I see soul burned people. People who have no more sense and no feelings, lost their spiritual and common life because of their so much liked individualistic fun life. History repeats, and so we are here, to bring religion forwards to you. I think in 100 years Islam will dominate Europe because ppl dont want more egoistic individualism.

[Izzetpasadangelme]

Actually ppl came to here not because of loving british or german ppl but because of economical and lifestyle reasons.They came here because you assholes bombed and destroyed their civilizations by imperialism and wars for ressources.So you have to look after us now! Each of you britains have to pay this bill and to wipe out the disgrace of his own history;that comes from your public bad conscience, now we must heal you and teach you our senseful view on earth so that there will be no repeating.

[Fromzon]

do you really think i care about what you say? you are nothing to me, except an annoying thing that cries for attention because it doesnt get any

[Johannes9126]

No. Their civilization has been destroyed by religious dogma in the 12th century. No islamic achievement, may it be scientific or social, ever came out of the desert since then. So crawl back into the desert if you like the society and the religion there so much, you intolerant racist prick.

[Johannes9126]

Halt die Klappe, Du dummer Wichser. Du weißt ja nüscht.

[shraleina]

It's funny how the people who claim that Darwin was racist and lead to all the evil in the world like slavery, etc, appear to have absolutely NO idea what they're talking about. It seems the whole "my pastor said he's evil so I'm going to believe it whatever the evidence shows" mentality is still alive and well among the uneducated. And once again it's the "loving" christians who are advocating genocide. You might want to read up your facts-Hitler was a Catholic as were his most evil followers

[mdk31]

@Akillituerk

Good sir, you fail on many levels. I beg you to get an education. For your own sake, and for the sake of those of us unfortunate enough to stumble upon your moronic, misinformed ravings.

[Tzelemel]

I think you mean Stalin, not Lenin, and Stalin rejected Darwinism because it contradicted Marxism.

Hitler, also was inspired by Martin Luther, one of the most important men in Christian history. Martin Luther was also a virulent anti-Semite, whose views helped inspire Hitler so much that Mr. Luther got a mention in Hitler's Mein Kampf.

Besides it was Darwin's cousin, Galton, that thought about applying Darwin's ideas to society. Darwin rejected Galton's ideals.

[joctee]

This is inspiring!

[kjlg74]

Thanks :)

[TomatoBreadOrgasm]

The poor things never did figure out flight, did they? :(

Nice video!

[TheReasonWhyGuy]

You caught peoples attention with the "Darwin Day". Nice video.

[kjlg74]

Thanks :)

[theinquisitor]

I find this all so fascinating. After centuries of taking things apart to see how they work, we can now, with the aid of the computer and the programmer, put things back together to see how they work. Such diversity from such relative simplicity. Darwin would surely have gone apeshit if he could have seen this. Lovely editing and choice of music too, I especially like the intro with the quick slides of the process, and of course the uncannily lifelike creatures.

[kjlg74]

:) Thanks, Inquisitor!

I'm glad you liked it. Your use of the term "apeshit" is humorously appropriate in this context ;)

[kwkcardinal]

many kudos. very well done.

[PoisonedV]

Reminds me of breve

[kjlg74]

It's very similar, for sure. Both breve and this program were based on the original work by Karl Sims in 1994. A youtube search for his name should turn up the original videos. I also have a link to them on my project web page. They're quite good. There have been a number of very similar projects since, with more or less the same look and feel.

[PoisonedV]

Yeah now I'm so happy I found this channel, because I love a-life and virtual evolution...

[kjlg74]

Indeed. It's great stuff, and lots of fun to program, and experiment/play with! =)

[mpeniak]

Wow..great movie, music and results

[kjlg74]

:) Thanks!

[heenix]

Awesome song.. Can't wait to see what comes out of Experiment 3.. I have it running now, nothing too interesting yet.

What's the name of song?

[kjlg74]

Based on results I've seen so far, they get almost nowhere with experiments 3 and 4 roughly half the time (fitness doesn't get higher than around 1.0 or 2.0). The other half of the time they'll manage to get up to about 6 by the end of a run, and in those cases you can see they've actually come up with some kind of discernible strategy. The 1.0 and 2.0 fitness results seem to be dead ends that they have a hard time getting out of.

[kjlg74]

The critter at 3:56 in the video, for example, is from experiment 3 and didn't get fitness higher than 2.0 by the end of the run.

Doing longer runs is one way to see better results, but I have them limited in length so I can collect more data.

The most interesting creatures by far come from evolutions people have set up themselves, and especially those with tiny populations, around 20 or so. They produce results much faster than my experiments.

[kjlg74]

Oh, somehow I overlook the second part of your post.

The first song is "Dies Irae", the second is "Video Game Trailer". Both are by Hamilton Cleverdon, a young musician whose music I found on a podsafe music site. He seriously blows the other artists out of the water. He's phenomenal! There are links in the credits at the end.

[kjlg74]

"overlookED"

Past tense. Typo (I'm not still overlooking it, clearly :P)

[Fromzon]

nice video :-p

[kjlg74]

:D thanks!

Four of those creatures are yours, I think. Did I count right?