"NetPuppets" by Richard A. Lovett & Mark Niemann-Ross

An impressive tale that starts off with a bored computer service guy who happens to stumble on a website known as "Netpuppets". On it appears to be a simulation of some personalities which the guy and his friends set up, with some background being provided by the simulator. As time goes on and the group tweak the personalities to give them goals and motivation, you start to get the feeling that there is something more to the simulation than meets the eye and you would be right.

• Read from Analog SF, June 2005