The Game of Life doesn't produce complex behavior from simple rules.
The complex behavior comes from a large enough random starting state combined with a very low minimal required complexity to see something interesting. Also, even for a short interesting run of local behavior, the game never produces a stable behavior that grows in complexity beyond the initial information encoded in the random state. (i.e. if there is a bubble of cool stuff happening somewhere on the 2d plane, something usually interferes with it and destroys that pattern - like waves in the ocean, even when the energy curves combine to form a wave once in a while, they are limited and temporary).
So the Game of Life is actually an example that the system is limited to the information encoded in the initial starting state.
In the starting state there is either:
- a large enough random search space (i.e. a million random attempts with a 100x100 board might get something cool looking)
- intentionality (a person can design a starting state that can produce any possible stable system)
The complex behavior comes from a large enough random starting state combined with a very low minimal required complexity to see something interesting. Also, even for a short interesting run of local behavior, the game never produces a stable behavior that grows in complexity beyond the initial information encoded in the random state. (i.e. if there is a bubble of cool stuff happening somewhere on the 2d plane, something usually interferes with it and destroys that pattern - like waves in the ocean, even when the energy curves combine to form a wave once in a while, they are limited and temporary).
So the Game of Life is actually an example that the system is limited to the information encoded in the initial starting state.
In the starting state there is either:
- a large enough random search space (i.e. a million random attempts with a 100x100 board might get something cool looking)
- intentionality (a person can design a starting state that can produce any possible stable system)