What is Alter Ego?
Alter Ego is a life simulation game that came out way back in '86, where you create an alter ego of your very own and re-live life. The game starts shortly before you are born, and ends with your death. Between those times, you play through a series of experiences, choose-your-own-adventure style. There are big things like getting married or becoming seriously ill. There are also little things like making something for dinner or petting your neighbor's dog.
The game is all about making decisions. I love playing the game by myself, and now I'm interested to see how the decision process changes when a group is running things.
So you can do anything?
Well, not anything. The game is pretty focused on 'normal' American life. That is to say, there's no option to join the mafia and shoot up a bank. You can't sell all your possessions and go parasailing around the world. I also don't believe that you can die suddenly, though I could be wrong.
There are also a few things that seem pretty mainstream today that didn't make it into this 80s-era game, like being a single parent or being homosexual. There's a wishlist of things that aren't in the game that would be added if the developer had time, though the wishlist hasn't changed at all since I first played the game when I was in high school, so I doubt the game is going to get much of a rewrite.
How's this Let's Play going to work?
I'm modeling the thread after anowack's excellent Let's Play Lone Wolf series. When I come to a choice in the game (and there are a lot of those) I'll wait for a few forumites to weigh in, and go with the most popular choice. I'm going to skip over most of the 'Are you sure?' choices, just to speed things along.
This game sounds interesting! Where can I get it?
You can play it for free in your browser right here! If you play the game and like it, please do consider donating some to keep the game online. Every little bit helps keep this excellent game alive.
Without further ado, Alter Ego!
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 collection 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.
Rules
Alter Ego - Walkthrough. This guide will help you walking through this fantastic adventure. At the moment it is not complete, I will extend it every time I.
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.
Alter Ego Game Guide
Alter Ego Life Simulation Game
The Controls
Choose a pattern from the lexicon or make one yourself by clicking on the cells. The 'Start' button advances the game by several generations (each new generation corresponding to one iteration of the rules).
More information
In the first video, from Stephen Hawkings’ documentary The Meaning of Life, the rules are explained, in the second, John Conway himself talks about the Game of Life.
Alter Ego Game Wiki
The Guardian published a nice article about John Conway.
Alter Ego Life Simulation Game Walkthrough
Implemented by Edwin Martin <edwin@bitstorm.org>