This Life lexicon is compiled by Stephen A. Silver from various sources
and
may be copied, modified and distributed
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See the original credit page for all
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The complete name for this converter is "NW31T120", where 31 is the output glider lane number. In the above orientation, lane numbers get bigger toward the upper right and smaller toward the lower left (and may easily be negative).
The T120 timing measurement means that a canonical NW glider placed on lane 31 at time T=120, at (+31, +0) relative to the input Herschel, would in theory reach the exact same spacetime locations as the converter's output glider does.
Most converters are not edge shooters and their output lanes are not transparent, so they usually have catalysts that would interfere with this theoretically equivalent glider. This is the case for the optional third glider output created by the lower eater1 catalyst: the upper eater1 overlaps its lane. For the alternate block catalyst suppressing this glider output, see transparent lane.
The Game of Life is not your typical computer game. It is a cellular automaton, and was invented by Cambridge mathematician John Conway.
This game became widely known when it was mentioned in an article published by Scientific American in 1970. It consists of a grid of cells which, based on a few mathematical rules, can live, die or multiply. Depending on the initial conditions, the cells form various patterns throughout the course of the game.
Each cell with one or no neighbors dies, as if by solitude.
Each cell with four or more neighbors dies, as if by overpopulation.
Each cell with two or three neighbors survives.
Each cell with three neighbors becomes populated.
Videos about the Game of Life
Interesting articles about John Conway
This site is made and maintained by Edwin Martin <edwin@playgameoflife.com> since 1996.