The Generations algorithm supports rules similar to Life but with an extra history component that allows cells to have up to 256 states. The rule notation is "0..8/1..8/n" where the 1st set of digits specify the live neighbor counts necessary for a cell to survive to the next generation. The 2nd set of digits specify the live neighbor counts necessary for a cell to be born in the next generation. The final number n specifies the maximum number of cell states (from 2 to 256).
Here are some example rules:
2367/3457/5 | [Banners] | - an exploding rule by Mirek Wojtowicz. | ||
234/34678/24 | [Bloomerang] | - an expanding rule by John Elliott. | ||
/2/3 | [Brian's Brain] | - a chaotic rule by Brian Silverman. | ||
124567/378/4 | [Caterpillars] | - a chaotic rule by Mirek Wojtowicz. | ||
23/2/8 | [Cooties] | - an exploding rule by Rudy Rucker. | ||
2/13/21 | [Fireworks] | - an exploding rule by John Elliott. | ||
12/34/3 | [Frogs] | - a chaotic rule by Scott Robert Ladd. | ||
12345/45678/8 | [Lava] | - an expanding rule by Mirek Wojtowicz. | ||
012345/458/3 | [Lines] | - a stable rule by Anders Starmark. | ||
345/2/4 | [Star Wars] | - an exploding rule by Mirek Wojtowicz. | ||
3456/2/6 | [Sticks] | - an exploding rule by Rudy Rucker. | ||
345/26/5 | [Transers] | - an exploding rule by John Elliott. | ||
1456/2356/16 | [Xtasy] | - an exploding rule by John Elliott. |
Other rules in this family, along with more detailed descriptions, can be found at Mirek Wojtowicz's MCell website. See also the Patterns/Generations folder which contains a number of interesting patterns extracted from the MCell pattern collection.