Zero-player game
Template:Short description A zero-player game or no-player game is a simulation game that has no sentient players.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
TypesEdit
There are various different types of games that can be considered "zero-player".<ref name="cat">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Determined by initial stateEdit
A game that evolves as determined by its initial state, requiring no further input from humans is considered a zero-player game.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
Cellular automaton games that are determined by initial conditions including Conway's Game of Life are examples of this.<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref>
Progress Quest is another example, in the game the player sets up an artificial character, and afterwards the game plays itself with no further input from the player.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Godville is a similar game that took inspiration from Progress Quest.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In the game, the player is a god that can communicate with a non-player character hero.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> However, the game can progress with no interaction from the player.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Incremental games, sometimes called idle games or clicker games, are games which do require some player intervention near the beginning however may be zero-player at higher levels.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> As an example, Cookie Clicker requires that players click cookies manually before purchasing assets to click cookies in the place of the player independently.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
AI vs AI gamesEdit
In computer games, the term refers to programs that use artificial intelligence rather than human players,<ref>"Encyclopedia of Play in Today's Society", Rodney P. Carlisle, SAGE Publications.</ref> for example some fighting and real-time strategy games can be put into zero-player mode where multiple AIs can play against each other. Humans may have a challenge in designing the AI and giving it sufficient skill to play the game well, but the actual evolution of the game has no human intervention.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>