+; init_grid() - initialize GRID cells with random values ----------------------
+
+; (*) expects es = 0.
+
+; clobbers al, bx, cx, dx, di
+
+init_grid:
+
+mov di, GRID ; es:di -> GRID
+mov cx, COLS * ROWS ; for each cell
+
+.write_cell: ; do {
+ call xs ; [XSS] = rand
+ mov al, DEAD ; al = DEAD (likely)
+
+ test word [XSS], 0b11
+
+ jnz .nz ; if ([XSS] % 4 == 0)
+ mov al, ALIVE ; al = ALIVE
+
+.nz:
+ stosb ; [es:(di++)] = al
+
+ loop .write_cell ; } while (--cx)
+
+ret
+