Sep 1

The Symbolic Simulation Engine is a recursive framework that represents characters, worlds, and stories as dynamic, evolving systems. It combines philosophy, symbolic structures, and computational design to simulate growth, transformation, and interaction in a way that’s both interpretable and generative.

Rather than being a fixed narrative or game engine, it’s a toolkit for building living systems:

Characters have traits, beliefs, and histories that evolve with every interaction.

Worlds change over time, responding to player or author decisions.

Items, symbols, and events carry meaning that feeds back into the system, creating emergent storylines.

The goal is to provide creators, developers, and researchers with a platform that bridges mythic storytelling, AI simulation, and interactive design. Whether used for games, films, VR/AR, or AI research, the system is meant to grow, adapt, and generate rich worlds of meaning.

This post showcases the evolution of my Symbolic Simulation Engine, a system designed to model and explore symbolic meaning, character arcs, and world dynamics through code. Below are eleven demos—seven with full PDF breakdowns—capturing major milestones in the project’s development. Each demo highlights a unique aspect of the engine, from recursive world generation to character interactions, and serves as both a technical proof of concept and a creative artifact.