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Do we know whether or not there is an equivalent set of 3d rules that behave anything like 2d GoL? The same sort of algorithm (count neighbours, update state) c
by oneeyedpigeon 9y ago
Do we know whether or not there is an equivalent set of 3d rules that behave anything like 2d GoL? The same sort of algorithm (count neighbours, update state) can be applied, but it doesn't necessarily mean an extra dimension will result in similar behaviour, does it?
- dvgrn 9y agoThere are in fact various 3D rules that can be made to behave exactly like Conway's Life -- starting with some discoveries by Carter Bays involving a two-cell-thick "sandwich" of Life cells that emulated standard Conway's Life. Without the sandwich trick it can do other interesting things: http://www.complex-systems.com/pdf/04-6-2.pdf http://www.complex-systems.com/pdf/04-6-2.pdf The two problems with 3D life have always been 1) 3D is computationally very expensive compared to 2D, so you tend to get stuck working with much smaller grids; and 2) you need a really good visualization system, otherwise interesting patterns and uninteresting patterns both look like ugly random blobs of cells and you can't tell what's going on. That said -- not promising anything, and especially not on any definite timeline, but the next version of Golly might have a Lua-based system for experimenting with 3D CAs.