I did a low-tech version of that game with community college students almost ten years ago now. It was more like Spore in that they designed the creatures instead of evolving them, but it was a fun way to end the semester. http://evostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Hayes_Vol5Iss1.pdf
RE: Life.AI : Sci-Fi Graphic Novel: Released exclusive on Steemit, Chapter 1: The Funding