@therocketeer (View Post)

GOL is not just a 2d thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYgbnI_R1E0&feature=relmfu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNypW-aSCmE&feature=related

There are already rules which emulate 2d rules like Conway's GOL and Brian's Brain in 3d. According to Wolfram's philosophy on the matter and like-thinkers, our whole universe is a 3DCA, in which case cellular automomata would be very much a 3d thing! We don't see much of these, and little research can be done on the behavior of 3d rules, because, unlike 2d CA which any old fool could write up some code for, they are memory hungry, and are usually run in very small enviornments, like the one above.

3D is however the future of the powdertoy, if the creators of the software are looking ahead at all. Some augmented reality platform (something on the eye perhaps, whether shades or otherwise) should be the main mode of display. Trying to interact with 3d elements with a keyboard and a mouse will not work. The simulation may work of course, but it would not provide the same ease of interaction and fun which one gets from the 2d powdertoy. Using augmented reality, the cursor would be your hand, while some gesture could cause the selected element to come forth from it (a bit like the stickmen can already do in the 2d powdertoy).

Now that would be a great way of doing powder in 3d. Its a ways off, but not too long, and when someone does it (and they will, and if they don't then I will), I believe powder will emerge from the corners of niche entertainment and may even acquire a more widespread popularity. With technology doubling every two years, image recognition will improve to allow live particle simulations in an AR powdertoy not only to be laid over the real world but to interact with its surroundings. Imagine flooding your house with simulated water, opening the front door and watching it poor out onto the lawn. Oh, there is so much that can be imagined! This is a cool post and a cool prospect for the future of the powdertoy.