Code snippets

The following sections of code are designed to perform various functions within the Doops ecosystem. If you have downloaded Gamemaker, you can open up the source files and make your modifications. These bits of code can be input as scripts, or code segments. Notice that if you have a newer version of doops (the file name will begin with either 2sp or 3sp), then these files are pre-included.

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Plant respiration           Plant parthenogenesis            Predator movement

{

global.plantwaste += 1 * self.health;

if (global.plantwaste / 230400 > 0.2) {self.health -= 0.02};

global.consuwaste -= 1 * health;

if (global.consuwaste / 230400 > 0.03 and global.consuwaste > 0.0)  {self.reptime -= 25 * (global.consuwaste / 230400)};

if (global.consuwaste <= 0.0) {self.reptime += 25 / health};

if (global.consuwaste < 0.0) {global.consuwaste = 0.0};

}

This is what a respiration sequence for a plant could look like (it’s also what I’m currently using). One drawback is that it assumes that plantwaste is spread out equally through the entire ecosystem.

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{

//this creates a new descendent plant, passing on the parent's characteristics

//first, decide if there's going to be a mutation.

i = random(global.mutations);

if (i <= 10.0){will_mute = true};

//p_type = self.type;

p_genome = self.genome;

p_reptime = self.reptime;

p_health = self.health;

p_nutval = self.nutval;

p_midage = self.midage;

p_maxage = self.maxage;

if (will_mute = false) //if mutations are not to occur, child is identical to parent

      {

      //d_type = p_type;

      d_genome = p_genome;

      d_reptime = p_reptime;

      d_health = 1.0;

      d_nutval = p_nutval * (p_health * 2); //except for the nutval, which depends on the parent's health

      d_midage = p_midage;

      d_maxage = p_maxage;

      } //end if false

if (will_mute = true and random(global.mutations * 5) <= 10.0)

      {    

      p = round(random(3) + 1);

            if (p = 1) {d_genome = 'plantA'};

            if (p = 2) {d_genome = 'plantB'};

            if (p = 3) {d_genome = 'plantC'};

            if (p = 4) {d_genome = 'plantD'};

      file_open_read(d_genome+'.gen');

      file_readln();

      d_reptime = file_read_real();

      file_readln();

      d_nutval = file_read_real();

      file_readln();

      d_midage = file_read_real();

      file_readln();

      d_maxage = file_read_real();

      file_close();

      d_health = 1.0;

      } //end if true and highly unlikely occurrance takes place

if (will_mute = true) //if mutations are to occur, mutate just one attribute

      {

      i = random(5);

      if (i < 1) {d_reptime = p_reptime + (random(50) - 25)};

      if (i > 1 and i < 2) {d_nutval = p_nutval + (random(50) - 25)};

      if (i > 2 and i < 3) {d_midage = p_midage + (random(50) - 25)};

      if (i > 3 and i < 4) {d_maxage = p_maxage + (random(50) - 25)};

      if (i > 4 and i < 5) {d_reptime = p_reptime + (random(50) - 25)};

      d_health = 1.0; //the child's health is a constant--no crack babies

      d_genome = string(d_midage + d_maxage + d_reptime);

            //the genome is just a numeric identifier. descendents of one genome will

            //have the same identifier, unless they mutate (notice that the midage, maxage,

            //and reptime variables will be the same for every creature of the same genome

            //at start, since the only thing that can affect them is health, which is the same

            //for each newborn.

      } //end if true

//then create the instance

//ALL EVENTS AFTER instance_create TAKE PLACE AFTER THE CREATION EVENT FOR

//THE CHILD. YOU !!!CANNOT!!! PLACE SUBS IN THE CREATE EVENT FOR THE CHILD.

des1 = instance_create(random(20) - 9 + x, random(20) - 9 + y, grass_evo);

des1.genome = d_genome;

des1.reptime = d_reptime;

des1.health = d_health;

des1.nutval = d_nutval;

des1.midage = d_midage;

des1.maxage = d_maxage;

//there is a small inherent chance that the plant will create two offspring

i = ceil(random(5))

if (i < 2)

      {

      des2 = instance_create(random(40) - 18 + x, random(40) - 18 + y, grass_evo);

      des2.genome = d_genome;

      des2.reptime = d_reptime;

      des2.health = d_health;

      des2.nutval = d_nutval;

      des2.midage = d_midage;

      des2.maxage = d_maxage;

      }

//if the plant is near the equator (within 45 pixels +/- of Y=240)

//then it produces an extra descendent

if (y < 285 and y > 195)

      {

      des3 = instance_create(random(40) - 18 + x, random(40) - 18 + y, grass_evo);

      des3.genome = d_genome;

      des3.reptime = d_reptime;

      des3.health = d_health;

      des3.nutval = d_nutval;

      des3.midage = d_midage;

      des3.maxage = d_maxage;

      }

}//end script

This next one is much more complicated (and I’ve left it commented for your benefit).

This controls the sequence in which a new plant is created. First it reads the phenotypical information from the parent plant into temporary variables.

Then it “rolls dice” to see if there will be a random genetic mutation.

If the “dice” come to a certain value, then it performs one modification, if not, another, and so on.

Later, when creating the new plant, it writes the temporary variables into the descendent, and then “rolls dice” again to see if a second child will be born simultaneously (strictly speaking, this is closer to budding than simple unicellular mitosis).

In this version, if the parent is located within the equatorial region, it is assumed to have a reproductive advantage, and thus creates a second or third child automatically.

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{

//Depending on what TYPE the predator is, it will go after

//a certain prey.

if (type >= 3.75)

      {

      mX = predator_evo.x;

      mY = predator_evo.y;

      move_towards_point(mX, mY, 6 * health);

      } //end if

if (type < 3.75)

{

      mininsname = instance_nearest(x, y, consumer_evo_seed);

      mX = mininsname.x;

      mY = mininsname.y;

      move_towards_point(mX, mY, 5.2 * health);

} // end if

//the next segment accounts for when there is nothing to eat

if (type < 3.75 and global.consupop <= 0)

      {

      mX = random(472) + 4;

      mY = random(472) + 4;

      move_towards_point(mX, mY, 4 * health);

      } //end if

//check to make sure coordinates aren't 0,0 (to eliminate crowding syndrome)

if (mX = 0 and mY = 0)

      {

      mX = random(472) + 4;

      mY = random(472) + 4;

      move_towards_point(mX, mY, 4 * health);

      } //end if

} //end code segment

Again, this is a complicated script that I’ve left commented.

This section of code determines where a predatory creature will move, and how quickly.

It first determines if the predator is cannibalistic or not, then determines which prey creature is closest.

Notice that there are also extensive checks to make sure that even if there are no other instances onscreen, it will still have a place to move to. These bits of foresight are easily overlooked, and could easily, easily cause you problems with your own code. Remember that no matter what you intend, the code will do exactly as it’s told, and only what it’s told. If you want to make sure your program accounts for all possibilities, you have to make sure you think them all through, and prepare for them.

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