Darwin Pond

FREE Software Download

Darwin Pond is an imaginary gene pool, a primordial puddle of genetic surprises. More technically, Darwin Pond is an Artificial Life Simulation: a virtual world exhibiting the emergence of life-like behaviors. But it's more than just a PHUN thing to watch, you can participate in this artificial life simulation by building little scenarios and setting up experiments.

Darwin Pond is inhabited by hundreds of wiggly things called "swimmers". In a way, you could say these swimmers perform tiny histories of the evolution of swimming in the earth's waters by genetically "discovering" ways to get around. They do this by evolving their anatomies and motions over many generations. This is why this imaginary body of water is named "Darwin Pond", after Charles Darwin, the creator of the theory of evolution.

About Darwin Pond Darwin Pond was created at Rocket Science Games, Inc., as an artificial life research project. It was subsequently developed into a product in '97. After long legal battles between the producers and the publishers, and SegaSoft's inability to know what to do with anything that doesn't involve spurting blood, Darwin Pond is now finally free from the binds of legal concerns. It is free software for all Windows and NT users with an interest in evolution and artificial life, both novice and advanced.

Who Darwin Pond was designed and initially engineered by Jeffrey Ventrella. The lead programmer was Brian Dodd. Many thanks goes to the many talented people involved. Special thanks goes to RSG Creative Director Bill Davis for his vision and persistence in helping to make Darwin Pond a reality.


NOTE:
The following versions 
of Darwin Pond available on this web site are offered to you free of charge. By downloading this software, you agree that you will use it for research and 
educational purposes only, and that it is not for commercial use

Download the quick and simple version here

Download the "win-zipped" version
with sound effects, help text, DNA files, and manual

The complete commercial product on CD, with screen saver, installation software, and a whole lot of original ambient music by composer Jonah Sharp, will be available soon. Please email Info@Ventrella.com for an update on the CD, or to purchase a pre-release version.

Produced by...

Rocket Science Games