- s — Start the game
- f — Toggle fullscreen
- Arrow keys — Move the snake
- m — Mute/Unmute sound
Description
“Climate Snake” is a generative video/game installation inspired by the classic arcade video game “Snake”. Based on genetic algorithms and neural networks (AI) the system creates a generation of snakes that learn to eat apples and survive. As the snakes die and new generations are created, the snakes evolve through genetic algorithms (natural selection, crossover, and mutation) and they develop intelligence and experience based on neural networks (an AI method based on the neurons in a biological brain).
The installation creates four independent worlds where snakes are born and learn to survive. The first world is the control world where there are no threats from climate change. In the second world, the snakes experience the rise of the sea level. As generations pass, their world is flooded with water and the snakes try to survive in a limited space. In the third world, the temperature is rising as a result of global warming. This creates a hotter environment that affects and reduces the life span of the snakes. In the fourth and last world, there is an increasing food shortage (as a result of climate change). Some snakes are born without apples to eat and die.
The visitor observes all four systems as they try to survive in different conditions. Eventually, all the snakes in the three worlds affected by climate change die, and only the snakes of the control world continue to survive. Then the system restarts.
Climate Snake: Guardians
The Interactive Experience
For the CALORIE exhibition at Science Gallery Bengaluru, “Climate Snake” evolved into “Climate Snake Guardians,” transforming the observational installation into a hands-on interactive experience. Adding a twist to the classic arcade game Snake, this now-playable version invites visitors to actively explore how species adapt to changing environments.
Players can now step into the role of environmental stewards, choosing one of the four climate-impacted worlds: rising sea levels, global warming, food shortage, or the control environment. As they guide their snake to collect increasingly scarce food resources, the game employs the same neural networks and genetic algorithms that power the original installation.
This playable version intensifies the climate narrative through direct engagement. As visitors progress through their chosen world, escalating environmental challenges mirror the growing threats of the climate crisis, creating an immediate and personal connection to the survival pressures faced by species worldwide. The game highlights the critical relationship between climate change and food consumption practices, making abstract environmental concepts tangible through gameplay.
A Hall of Fame feature displays players’ high scores, fostering friendly competition while deepening the personal connection to themes of survival, adaptation, and environmental change. This gamified approach transforms passive observation into active participation, allowing visitors to experience firsthand the difficult choices and adaptations required in a climate-changed world.
The Four Worlds
CONTROL
This is the world before the crisis—a balanced ecosystem where food is abundant and temperatures remain stable. Snakes thrive here, enjoying a full lifespan with minimal threats. It serves as the ideal baseline for comparison, but this equilibrium is fragile and temporary.
SEA RISING
Melting ice caps have triggered a global rise in sea levels, causing land to disappear as water floods the map. Players must adapt quickly, avoiding submerged zones and strategizing their movements as the safe space shrinks. Survival depends on navigating an ever-changing, encroaching environment.
GLOBAL WARMING
Extreme heatwaves dominate this world, cracking the ground and sparking random fires. Safe paths become scarce, and rising temperatures drastically shorten the snakes’ life expectancy. To survive, players must grow rapidly or face extinction in this hostile climate.
FOOD SHORTAGE
Crop failures and collapsing ecosystems have led to widespread food scarcity. Apples are rare, forcing snakes to travel farther with dwindling energy reserves. Every bite becomes critical—starvation looms as a constant threat, demanding careful planning and efficient movement.
The Joystick
This unique controller was specifically designed and created for the exhibition to give visitors a more engaging way to play the game. The custom-designed joystick looks like a pixelated snake head, featuring a green camouflage pattern that matches the game’s aesthetic, with a red joystick ball for movement and a red action button.
Exhibitions:
• Patchlab 2022, Małopolska Garden of Art – Kraków, Poland (October 06, 2022)
• 18th Athens Digital Arts Festival 2022, Athens City Center – Athens, Greece (May 25, 2022)