GoL(ish)

import time

board_size = 6
game_board = []
carryOn = True


# create board for given board size
for x in range(board_size):
    game_board.append(['-'] * board_size)

#sub_game_board = game_board  # Creating substitute board, for mainly debugging

# setting board state
game_board[2][2] = 'O'
game_board[2][3] = 'O'
game_board[2][1] = 'O'


def print_board(board):  # prints board
    for crow in board:
        print(" ".join(crow))


def check_tile(tile_row, tile_col, neighbors):  # Checks the tiles surrounding the given tile


    if tile_row > 0 and game_board[tile_row - 1][tile_col] == 'O':
        neighbors += 1
    if tile_row > 0 and tile_col > 0 and game_board[tile_row - 1][tile_col - 1] == 'O':
        neighbors += 1
    if tile_row > 0 and tile_col < board_size - 1 and game_board[tile_row - 1][tile_col + 1] == 'O':
        neighbors += 1
    if tile_col > 0 and game_board[tile_row][tile_col - 1] == 'O':
        neighbors += 1
    if tile_col < board_size-1 and game_board[tile_row][tile_col + 1] == 'O':
        neighbors += 1
    if tile_row < board_size - 1 and game_board[tile_row + 1][tile_col] == 'O':
        neighbors += 1
    if tile_row < board_size - 1 and tile_col > 0 and game_board[tile_row + 1][tile_col - 1] == 'O':
        neighbors += 1
    if tile_row < board_size - 1 and tile_col < board_size - 1 and game_board[tile_row + 1][tile_col + 1] == 'O':
        neighbors += 1
    return neighbors


def update_tile(tile_row, tile_col):  # updates the list of tiles to be flipped
    neighbors = check_tile(tile_row, tile_col, 0)

    if game_board[tile_row][tile_col] == 'O':
        if neighbors < 2 or neighbors > 3:
            #game_board[tile_row][tile_col] = '-'
            to_be_update.append([tile_row, tile_col])
    else:
        if neighbors == 3:
            to_be_update.append([tile_row, tile_col])


def flip_tile(flip_tile):  # Flips the tiles listed as needing to be flipped
    for x in flip_tile:
        if game_board[x[0]][x[1]] == '-':
            game_board[x[0]][x[1]] = 'O'
        else:
            game_board[x[0]][x[1]] = '-'



print_board(game_board)

while carryOn:  # main game loop
    #game_board = sub_game_board  # Setting main board equal to substitute board
    to_be_update = []
    tile_row = 0
    for row in game_board:
        tile_col = 0

        for col in row:
            update_tile(tile_row, tile_col)
            tile_col += 1
        tile_row += 1
    print("")  # Spacing
    print("")  # Spacing
    flip_tile(to_be_update)
    print_board(game_board)
    time.sleep(1)  # Delay for debugging purposes