Polymorphic Games

At the
University of Idaho

Better Games Through

Evolutionary Biology

Polymorphic Games

About Us
Many evolution based video games allow
the player to pick and choose what would
be evolved, and others change the enemies
based on set criteria that do not reflect the
actions of the player. Imagine a videogame
that instead uses real evolutionary
modeling, for example, to truly evolve the

Dr. Barrie Robison

Specializes in Genomics,
Evolutionary Biology, and
Fisheries Biology

enemies to survive based on the players

strategies.

That is the dream of University of Idaho professors Barrie

Robison and Terry Soule, the creators of Polymorphic
games. Robison, a professor of biology who specializes in
evolutionary principles, was the first to come up with this
idea after looking at various evolution based video games.
He went to his friend and fellow gamer, Terry Soule, who is
a professor of computer science and evolutionary
programming, to see if they could create a video game using
real evolution.

Dr. Terence Soule

Evolutionary Computation,
Genetic Algorithms and
Programming

After two years of work, Robison and Soule have created an extensive network of
partners across many departments at the University of Idaho. These partners include
the theater department, which provides voice acting, and the college of architecture,
which designs backgrounds, as well as many others. They teach a class dedicated to
exploring and working with these design ideas. The class teaches undergraduate
students valuable skills while also bringing them closer to their goal of producing an
evolution based video game that can be available as a learning tool to K-12 students.

Over 190 million people in

America play videogames!

Gamers

The Need for Polymorphic Games

Polymorphic games wants to spark an interest for the origins of life in younger
generations, as well as a broader demographic. We aim to promote the understanding
of organisms and their origins for future generations in a simple structure. Creating
games that are interactive and rewarding broadens this audience because it promotes

48%
52%

a positive and interesting experience. Educational video games have the potential to
recruit and retain women in STEM careers, and Polymorphic games has the goal of
making this possible by creating fun and immersive games that educate the public
about evolution.

Male

Female

Join the Evolution Revolution

We feel the need to bring a permanent, interactive game studio to the University of Idaho. This will not only
broaden the audience of individuals that learn about evolutionary applications, but will serve to increase
the education and job opportunities of students attending the University of Idaho. Undergraduates from
different colleges within the university will be designing with each other in a very interdisciplinary
approach. Such a unique program will allow the U of I to offer students exceptional opportunities for a
variety of related internships, and give them experience needed to take off in the game industry. Students
will be researching and creating games that ultimately can be used to progress society. For potential college
students, the University of Idaho will be put on the map for yet another exceptional research opportunity,
strengthening its identity as an undergraduate-focused land grand university.

Once the resources have been provided to help promote the creation of
Polymorphic Games, the University of Idaho can produce games that can
be sold, licensed, or hosted on websites, as well as publications related to
educational assessments of game-based learning. This program will
continue to seek grant proposals to promote their cause, and hopes to form
an outreach to K-12 students, increasing recruitment to the University of
Idaho.

. . . Creating better video games through

evolutionary biology. . .

Support!
The goal of this program is to create year round opportunities for students to learn about
the project. Each semester brings with it a fresh opportunity for students at the University
of Idaho to build games out of science principles and inspire the minds of students of all
ages. Through taking the Polymorphic Games class, UI students have a chance to expand
their knowledge far beyond simple programing and biology. By supporting this project,
you can help inspire the next generation of great scientists and help teach real science to
the general public. With your support, we can build our summer design studio and create
the foundation to continue to expand this program.

Terrence Soule
tsoule@cs.uidaho.edu
(208) 885-7789

Students!
Think you have what it takes to join
these forward thinking students?
Look for Bio/CS 404 in next
semesters catalog and come help us
design video games.

Barrie Robinson
brobinson@uidaho.edu
(208) 885-7137