For them, this process of modifying and testing constitute explanation. They treat modeling as theory and practice, discourse and experiment. The Sugarscape's geography is a 50x50 toroidal grid of 2500 cells. Its first resource, sugar, ranges initially from 0 to 4 units per cell distributed in two heaps in opposite corners. Its first random population of 400 agents is heterogeneous, having metabolisms requiring daily rations of from 1 to 4 food units, and visions penetrating from 1 to 6 cells in orthogonal directions.
Agents look around for the greatest nearest food, eat their ration and appropriate the rest.
The replenishment of food may be immediate or delayed over four time steps. Visualizations show the population reach its carrying capacity of 224 agents. At birth, agents are given random life spans. Upon their death they are replaced by newborns with random metabolisms and visions. A Lorenz curve tracks wealth and a Gini coefficient measures economic inequality.