This book presents software tools, environments and realities dealing with creation, imitation and analysis of artefactual, virtual, and living forms, written by those who personally design and produce software, hardware, and art installations in artificial life, simulated complex systems, and virtual worlds.

This timely volume offers a nearly exhaustive overview and original analysis of major non-profit artificial life software packages. Topics include:

* simulation of real and imaginary life forms and their evolution
* self-organization
* emergent behaviours
* swarm intelligence
* evolutionary robotics
* agent-based simulations
* adaptive, complex and biologically inspired ecosystems
* creative computer art

There has long been a need within the academic and research community for an informal introduction and guidance to modern software tools for modeling and simulation of life-like phenomena this book fills this gap and offers detailed reviews of contemporary software for artificial life for both professionals and amateurs.