Game of Life Self Construction 0.1.6

The Game of Life, an example of a cellular automaton, is played on an infinite two-dimensional rectangular grid of cells. Each cell can be either alive or dead. The status of each cell changes each turn of the game, known as a generation, depending on the statuses of its 8 neighbors. Neighbors are cells that touch the target cell either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

The starting pattern is considered the first generation. Successive generations evolve from applying the rules simultaneously to all cells on the game board—births and deaths occur concurrently. These rules are iteratively applied to create future generations based on specific conditions.

For each game generation, a cell's fate in the subsequent generation is determined by straightforward rules:

1. If a cell is alive, it remains alive with 2 or 3 live neighbors.
2. If a cell is dead, it comes to life only with 3 live neighbors.

There exist numerous variations to these rules, each utilizing different combinations of numbers for deciding when cells live or die. Conway experimented with several variants before adopting these particular rules. Some variations lead populations to rapidly extinguish, while others expand infinitely to occupy the entire universe or substantial portions thereof.

The rules outlined are proximate to the boundary between these contrasting outcomes. Similar to other chaotic systems, the most intricate and captivating patterns are expected at this boundary. Here, the conflicting forces of unchecked expansion and demise delicately balance, generating complex and compelling patterns within The Game of Life.