The uncanny valley effect (too many previous posts to list) has been blamed for poor acceptance of human-analogue robots (YT) and computer simulations (not to mention the box office results for The Polar Express, Beowulf, and other computer-animated movies). But did you know that humans are not the only primate species to experience this "too close for comfort" effect? A recent behavioral study in macaque monkeys suggests (pdf) that the uncanny valley may be hardwired into our brains at a deeper level (i.e., earlier-evolved) than previously thought.
posted by supercres on Nov 2, 2009 - 39 comments

Galaxy Dynamics GRAVITAS is an ongoing project to visualize and animate the dynamics of galaxies using supercomputer simulations.
posted by ZippityBuddha on Feb 2, 2006 - 21 comments

CoasterSims.com. Just because nature is full of icy death outside doesn't mean you can't sit in your computer chair and scream like a damn fool on a roller coaster.
posted by qDot on Jan 11, 2005 - 3 comments

Cosmic ray air shower simulations (do not miss the movies)
posted by MzB on Nov 3, 2004 - 1 comment

The good-looking textured light-sourced bouncy fun smart and stretchy page
By one of the guys who did this, so you can do this while you spend the day away here.
posted by magullo on Oct 29, 2003 - 6 comments

National Budget Simulation Think Washington is doing a poor job of allocating funds? See if you can eliminate the deficit with this little game.
posted by synecdoche on Feb 28, 2003 - 25 comments

The Ultimate Game. Game theory was applied extensively by US foreign policy-makers during the Cold War, and many would credit those "moves" with the triumph of the West. But can it work now? Are rogue states and terrorists "rational actors?" Are we seeing a classic two-player game playing out with the US and Iraq? What does it even mean to "win" in the post-Soviet era? If these theories interest you, try these online simulations.
posted by _sirmissalot_ on Feb 28, 2003 - 20 comments

Not really a game, but is scary/funny: This is a projection of the most likely outcome of a new war in the Gulf. I used sophisticated temporal algorithms and historical semiotic analysis to achieve an accuracy rating of 99.999%. It's the mother of all Flash games.
posted by samelborp on Jan 27, 2003 - 31 comments

NationStates.net allows you to create your own country, decide how it starts out by answering a short questionary, and then it gives you issues to solve (one per day, though you can set it to two per day). How you answer those issues determines how your country fares, the type of country it is, and many other things. You can join the UN and elect a regional representative, create your own region that you and your friends can migrate to (all new nations start out in The Pacific, which is consequentially the largest region in NationStates, but you can move wherever you want).
posted by sailoreagle on Jan 3, 2003 - 51 comments

Alter Ego What if you could live your life over again? This straightforward virtual life simulator is fun and involving, and I almost wonder if I didn't learn a thing or two in the process. Wonderful implementation of the concept.
posted by oissubke on Nov 25, 2002 - 19 comments

After an extensive search of my personal archives (box of stuff stored at my parent's), I stumbled upon the true inspiration for the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Seven years prior, video game manufactuer Koei Games released Aerobiz, an airline management simulator. Its boxart features this chilling image of the New York City skyline. I am not a New Yorker so please, correct me if I am wrong, but the positioning of the Empire State building and the Chrysler building would seem to place the office inside one of the World Trade Center towers.
posted by nathan_teske on Mar 28, 2002 - 22 comments

MyPhysicsLab – Physics Simulations could have saved my bacon in high school. I'm hypnotized by colliding blocks.
posted by heather on Jul 30, 2001 - 11 comments

I'm a little flabbergasted that this never made it onto mefi. although graphics intensive, it is some brilliant work(delicate sensibilities beware: sexual situations and profanity abound). unfortunately, it has not been updated for quite some time. i only bring it up because it is another neglected web depot that i regularly enjoyed(like my boot).
posted by donkeysuck on Apr 23, 2001 - 15 comments