Sharks v. Fish (Wa-Tor version de luxe)
A downloadable Art Project for Windows and Linux
From fabulous Vancouver, Canada...
Sharks v. Fish is an Art Project by Thzom Wilson.
SvF.exe is a computerized art generator. The theme is Movement and Colours.
Ostensibly, this program is a kind of life simulation. In reality, it is an Art Project. The simulation is merely the vector that delivers the theme by procedurally generating the required elements.
Sharks v. Fish is an interactive graphical simulation that demonstrates the natural population relationship between predator and prey. While demonstrating a natural science theory, the real purpose of this simulation is to entertain. The design goal was a product that could continuously generate visually mesmerizing, intellectually stimulating output with or without user input.
Based on the Wa-Tor computer program described in the December 1984 issue of Scientific American, the battle is played out on a planet covered with water, populated with only fish and sharks. This version, however, is like no other! It is unique in that the amount of passion and programming effort put into it will never be equalled by any coder. Sharks v. Fish is a polished and complete interpretation of its famous ancestor. My artistic goal is a unique design angle on this programming classic.
Sharks hunt. Fish flee.
Set individual life parameters manually or generate them randomly. Experiment to design successful simulations. Suffer any extinctions. Inter-species teamwork is required to keep the colour factory moving. It's over when they die.
Scientific theory and program operation, including command-line usage, are detailed in the Documents folder included in the package download. There are also some articles I've written linked below.
Runs in full-screen or windowed mode. Watch the colours. If you started counting the number of colours today, you wouldn't finish in a year! The psychedelics never stop.
Recommended usage: Default automatic mode. View on a big-screen TV or computer monitor in a darkened room. The default full-screen mode will deliver the maximum viewing experience.
Watch. Relax. Contemplate. By design, this program is a time-waster.
Sharks v. Fish runs forever. That's a lot of time to waste.
Download/Unzip/Run. That's it. SvF.exe knows what to do. No input is required.
Run the batch files at the folder root to launch SvF.exe using various configurations.
This just in: Have a look at the new Oceana feature. It's just the psychedelic sea.
Note: the video is dated and LAME. The current release looks WAY BETTER!
The attached images are well and good, but unless animated, they are lifeless.
You must watch it running on a PC to realize its true talents.
Good tidings from Canada and please - enjoy this piece!
- Thzom @ GPO Amusements
| Updated | 4 days ago |
| Status | Released |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux |
| Release date | Jun 20, 2022 |
| Author | GPO Amusements |
| Made with | MonoGame, XNA, GIMP |
| Tags | Abstract, Colorful, Endless, Life Simulation, mind-bending, Procedural Generation, psychedelic, Relaxing, screensaver, Visualization |
| Average session | A few minutes |
| Languages | English |
| Inputs | Keyboard |
| Links | YouTube |
Install instructions
Open/unzip the .zip file and run SvF/SvF.exe or one of the included specialized batch file launchers. Linux works the same way with slight file name changes.
The executable is self-contained and requires no external dependencies.
See readme.txt for command line options.
Detailed program information can be found in the Documents/ folder.
Development log
- Version 2.3.0 Release - Linux Version AddedOct 07, 2023
- Version 2.1.1 Release - Oceana Feature AddedSep 29, 2022
- Version 2.1.0 Release - Big ImprovementsAug 17, 2022
- Sharks v. Fish Classic (Wa-tor) ModeDec 17, 2021
- A Novel Application of Sharks v. Fish - Selling AlcoholDec 16, 2021
- Version 2.0.0 Release - Major UpdateNov 15, 2021
- Version 1.0.3 Release - Minor UpdateSep 06, 2019
- How the AI works in Sharks v. FishDec 31, 2018











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