Simulating a simple two-species Ecosystem in Unity

Pucoski, Kristijan (author), Lebar Bajec, Iztok (mentor)

Many video games include virtual ecosystems populated by a variety of animals with realistic behaviour. This diploma thesis aims to use the Unity game engine to simulate various configurations of these ecosystems, enabling users to analyze outcomes both in real-time and through visualizations of compiled simulation data. The virtual animals in the simulation are based on genomes with genes that can mutate, influencing traits and behaviors like speed and vision. We examine how the quantity of resources and the traits of individuals influence the natural selection of prey and predators and implement the system in video games for more immersive experience.

• Language: English
• Keywords: simulation, visualisation, ecosystem, natural-selection, evolution, real-time, Unity
• Work type: Bachelor thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.11 - Undergraduate Thesis
• Organization: FRI - Faculty of Computer and Information Science
• Year: 2026
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-179944
• COBISS.SI-ID: 270952707
• Publication date in RUL: 27.02.2026

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Simulacija preprostega ekosistema z dvema vrstama v ogrodju Unity

Abstract

Veliko videoigre vključujejo virtualne ekosisteme, naseljene z različnimi živalmi z realističnim vedenjem. Namen te diplomske naloge je uporabiti igralni mehanizem Unity za simulacijo različnih konfiguracij teh ekosistemov, kar uporabnikom omogoča analizo rezultatov tako v realnem času kot tudi z vizualizacijami zbranih simulacijskih podatkov. Virtualne živali v simulaciji temeljijo na genomih z geni, ki lahko mutirajo in vplivajo na lastnosti in vedenje, kot sta hitrost in vid. Preučujemo, kako količina virov in lastnosti posameznikov vplivajo na naravno izbiro plena in plenilcev, ter sistem implementiramo v videoigre za bolj poglobljeno izkušnjo.

• Keywords: simulacija, vizualizacija, ekosistem, naravna selekcija, evolucija, realni čas, Unity