Pixel Evolution - Map 1

In nature, living creatures compete for resources, and only the fittest, most adapted beings survive. When creatures migrate, their generations must slowly evolve and adapt to their new environment or die off.

In Pixel Evolution, each pixel has only one DNA trait--colour. Their environment is a canvas of pixels in a mystery image. We begin with a single pixel of a random colour. This pixel divides and spawns one offspring, slightly mutated in colour and migrated one cell over in a random direction. Those closest to the colour of the pixel in the mystery image are considered to be best adapted for survival in that cell and they destroy their competitors in tiny little battles of Darwinian proportions. Will the mutated child be nearer or farther from the colour of the pixel in the mystery image? Will it survive long enough to produce an offspring? Will its offspring survive?

As hundreds of generations pass, the population increases exponentially. We see an entire ecosystem of artificial life competing with each other for resources. As they spread across the land, each new generation moves closer to the "correct" colour it needs to survive. The colours of the generations slowly evolve until the mystery image is eventually revealed. What we see in the end, when every cell has been filled, is art that's alive.

The Pixel Evolution program was designed and created by Kevin Ranville. The video was rendered with VirtualDub. The music is "Anakin's Dark Deeds" by John Williams. Comments and suggestions are welcome. Trolls will be sent to Pixel hell to be consumed as a lesser evolved form of life.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Evolution
• Computer science
• Artificial life
• Art
• Darwin
• painting
• science