Looking for more information on Color Eater.

[SpicyChronos]

Hi all!

 

I was browsing through BYTE magazines that ThumpNugget has been scanning in, and saw an article about a simulation called Color Eater on the Apple programmed by Steve Wozniak and Carl Helmers. The article is found in BYTE Vol 02-04 1977-04 Baudot Machines

 

I've done some searches for this algorithm, but come up empty.

 

I think this would be a neat simulation to try on the Atari.

 

I am trying to find the full description of how the rules of the simulation works, etc. So it can be written either in a BASIC, then go further and write it in Assembly as they did in the article.

 

Any takers? Any suggestions to where I can find out more information?

 

Thanks!

[+bob1200xl]

Could it be Life? That's on the Atari.

 

Bob

 

 

 

Hi all!

 

I was browsing through BYTE magazines that ThumpNugget has been scanning in, and saw an article about a simulation called Color Eater on the Apple programmed by Steve Wozniak and Carl Helmers. The article is found in BYTE Vol 02-04 1977-04 Baudot Machines

 

I've done some searches for this algorithm, but come up empty.

 

I think this would be a neat simulation to try on the Atari.

 

I am trying to find the full description of how the rules of the simulation works, etc. So it can be written either in a BASIC, then go further and write it in Assembly as they did in the article.

 

Any takers? Any suggestions to where I can find out more information?

 

Thanks!

[SpicyChronos]

Here is a snip of the article of what the algorithm is suppose to do.

 

"The Color Eater is a very simple animal. It looks at its nearest neighbors in the color matrix, searching in a clockwise direction for its current "digestible" color. If it finds this color, it moves its location to the matrix position of that color, digests it into a new color, and reiterates its search. Occasionally, the Color Eater becomes a very frustrated little animal. It eats itself into a corner and no longer is able to find any digestible colors . . When this catastrophe happens, it throws a fit and turns itself into another variety of Color Eater which can eat itself out of the frustration point. The result is a constantly changing random color pattern on the screen."

 

Hope this helps.

Edited September 14, 2011 by SpicyChronos

[SpicyChronos]

Bump.

 

I'm trying to experiment with drawing the screen right now.

 

Using Basic, I've tried a graphics 10 screen and generating random numbers on a graphics 0 screen.

 

I'm sure there is a better way to fill the screen with random numbers and or dots on a screen. Right now I'm just trying for...next loops, plot and position.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Thanks.

[Rybags]

In Basic, it'd be quicker to just Poke direct to the screen.

 

Generate random number 0-959 for position and 0-9 for number. Adjust each by adding screen base address and screen code for number "0".

[+Larry]

It does sound interesting. What are you using to get your random numbers? RND(X) or ?

-Larry

 

 

Bump.

 

I'm trying to experiment with drawing the screen right now.

 

Using Basic, I've tried a graphics 10 screen and generating random numbers on a graphics 0 screen.

 

I'm sure there is a better way to fill the screen with random numbers and or dots on a screen. Right now I'm just trying for...next loops, plot and position.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Thanks.

[SpicyChronos]

@Rybags: Okay, I'll look into something like that, see if I can figure it out.

 

@Larry: Yes, I'm just using A=INT(RND(0)*10) right now.

 

Yard work calls first, then I'll sit down and tinker with it a bit more later.

[+therealbountybob]

That sounds familiar, wonder if it was re-published in Page 6 or Atari User mag