Parametric Creature: Lab Reviews

Fun little game to wait for something. Would make for a killer wallpaper.

Well worth the $1, I've amassed an army of many organisms.

Great base construct to fiddle around with. I just wish there were more options / sliders.

Honestly, I’m more intrigued by the technology behind this interesting project, particularly its use of GPU parallel computing, than viewing it as a game.

Super cool, but very basic at the moment. Hopefully the devs update regularly and add more content. It would be nice to have the simulation contained on screen (screen wrap) so the particles don't keep going off screen and losing focus on the parts of the sim that I'm actively observing. Also, the ability to slow down the individual particles would be nice. They move too fast and an option to slow those down a bit would be super welcome, especially when just trying to relax and zen. Changing pace isn't enough. Almost need a way to slow time altogether so everything slows down, allowing for more detailed observation of patterns. Speaking of which, a save feature for the patterns I randomly generate would be amazing! I'd love to be able to pull up some old patterns at a later date. Anyways...If you want something to just chill out in front of, or a neat simulation to watch the flow of particles and the way they interact creating almost microcosmic forms, this is a pretty darned cool little toy./

A fantastically hypnotic interactive screensaver-like app, using simple player-adjustable physics and behavioral rules to generate complex moving structures. This results in surprisingly proto/cytoplasm-like forms (among other shapes,) which can be interacted with or disrupted via a cursor. A series of knobs adjusts these rules to generate a mesmerizing variety of configurations. While it isn't quite that (and doesn't have the same self-consistent or infinite nature) think along the lines of Conway's Game of Life (complexity from simple interaction rules) and you'll be in the right ballpark. It's a very simple app, but one you can stare at and tweak for ages. While there isn't much here in terms of what most would consider gameplay mechanics, there will always be a place in video games - at least in my view - for these sorts of simple interactive toys that allow us to experiment and let our minds wander.

make bug, watch bug, make new bug

I love this thing. If you're fascinated by the science of the small, from particle physics to organic chemistry, you owe it to yourself to give it a look. Definitely not a game, but rather a toy that can offers insight into how complex behaviors can emerge from extremely simple properties. Three particle types with six simulated properties each (+two purely visual ones) manage to give rise to shapes, structures, and even full-on behaviors that we see in nature - and for precisely the same reasons. The laws of attraction and repulsion alone can cause incredibly intricate and structured reactions, and this little program helped me to understand it much more intrinsically than ever before. It's also beautiful and hypnotic, if you're not interested in the headier aspects. Just hit "G" until you find a random setup you like, and watch it go.

This isn't much of a lab, definitely isn't a game but is an oddly compelling desktop toy that lets you manipulate a few of its parameters and watch the results emerge on screen. For a few quid, it's a pleasant distraction and makes enough of an interesting backdrop to be worth a look.

It's a $3 screensaver. But it's a "good" $3 screensaver.