I still have the two Artificial Life volumes from the Santa Fe Institiute proceedings from 1989. Alien Life looks like you could easily get lost in another world with this simulation. I remember awaiting the game Spore with music by Brian Eno was being created with lots of pre-release press in 2007 / 2008. A lot of cross- disciplined talents were hovering around this field back then and emergent behavior was diffusing into all topics of conversation. Good times.