This is brilliant! I think a game with LLM NPCs would be crazy cool. Agree with the other commenter I would probably need a playable demo to pull the trigger though.
Also, I didn’t realize from the website that it actually uses voice? That should probably be highlighted, unless I just missed it.
One other thought, your title says it’s a game about social persuasion. In the examples on the site it seemed like many of the challenges just involved coming up with lies. If there are no consequences to just making up lies it seems to kind of flatten the strategy. Though I’m just speculating. Thanks for sharing!
Super great observation about the objectives! It started out with lies (er, let’s say “excuses”) but it’s broadened into more conversational goals. I need to highlight this more.
Specifically, re: flattening the strategy, spot on and I’m excited to introduce more long term repercussions for lying. There are some long-range dialog repercussions now, but not many. Having to craft a consistent narrative across the whole game (“Overboard” comes to mind if you’ve played that) would be wildly interesting.
My wife and I tried the game out over the weekend. Overall the game does a lot really well. I'd say it's a well-done game, in the same vein as one of those games where you select dialogue choice options. My wife quite enjoyed it (gave it 8/10) but I expected something a bit different (5/10). In particular, I was hoping there would be a lot more freedom to guide the game, or at least guide conversations, through language. In reality, most of the dialogue was about accomplishing a pretty specific and simple objective. Ie. compliment this person, agree with their viewpoint, etc. The game was just about figuring out the objective of each challenge and then completing it. There was no balance (ie compliment him but also seem genuine. Don't offend him, but also don't be a pushover) or opportunity for creativity (ie. you can lie your way out, or appeal to their pity, or distract them, any of these could work). If someone likes games where you select dialogue choices this might be a good game for them. But I was hoping for something that felt more natural and self-driven. At the very least, I think making the conversations longer and more open ended would be nice, even if the outcome doesn't affect the story. One of my favorite challenges was booking the dinner reservation, just because I ended up having a short conversation with the man about the pasta bolognese that didn't feel like it was part of any script.
Everything else (graphics, voices, dialogue, interface, story, transcription) worked great and I don't think need to be improved. But the main mechanics of the game feels like a thin layer of LLM on top of a rigid skeleton of scripted scenarios with fixed outcomes. I'd love to see the language model on a longer leash.
Thanks for sharing and huge kudos for creating a playable game that was legitimately enjoyable! I look forward to the next parts of the story.
This would be a fascinating evolution of the old point and click detective games. A mystery solving game driven by dialogue? And maybe a narrator (a different voice)? And you might be able to play it with friends? a playable Scooby-Doo episode?!
I run a few small SaaSes, and, back when I was receiving emails on every purchase, I found this to be true, though the context was a bit different.
I don't think I remember a single person, out of hundreds, who didn't subscribe within an hour of trying the software out. I don't think anyone waited for the end of their 30-day trial. I did have a trial, though, not just a video.
I would pay for something with proven results that is geared towards making me better at work at building soft power / managing stakeholders, etc. I’m a PM that’s great with written word but not great with words talking and it’s the number one skill I need to improve
Came here to say this. I could see people with mild social anxiety (mild enough that it doesn't require professional help) using this to improve themselves.
Replying to you and parent - thanks both for these comments, and it's a really great idea. I could see a product today (maybe even this) being helpful for practice. But I think to make genuine claims about assessment and improvement, off-the-shelf AI isn't there yet, because there's such an incredible amount of information in the way something is said. Basically the entire study of prosody. Then, there's all the body language---which, if you believe anecdotes, conveys a high % of the received information. Long term, it's a great goal.
I early tested this and it’s quite original and great! The technical aspects (how smooth the experience is) are fantastic, but it’s really the bit bonkers interactions and funny ways of “winning” that stand out.
Recommended for the novelty and very well produced content
I love that this and AI Dungeon (perhaps the OG) exist. I think my key insight in the formula for this game is that the gameplay really sings when you introduce more constraints - it feels more challenging and less cheeseable, which makes it more rewarding.
I had a lot of fun playing this! It's definitely the quirkiness that sets it apart from the typical "GenAI" content. Highly recommend other hackernews readers check it out.
@mbforbes: perhaps be more careful with your acronyms. NLP to me could be
Non-Linear-Programming (operations research) or Neuro-linguistic Programming (psychology) instead of Natural Language Processing (from later context).
Writing speech recognition instead of ASR would be clearer to anyone without a similar background.
Your audience is HN so my guess is that you assume we all know the industry/academic terms here. I’m unsure how correct that assumption is - I’m just suggesting take care when using your acronyms in other places.
I would love to see a VR "game" where it's possible to level up social skills via LLM backend. There are some prompt engineers on reddit that have come up with great prompts, but there is definitely a niche for making a seamless product for people to practice being in uncomfortable situations.
If anyone is interested in working together, reply. I started working with TTS, ASR, and LLM API's because this piqued my curiosity after attending a few meetups and going in "cold" without much social interaction before the meeting. I imagine a proper app could give people superpowers.
From watching playtests, I think it can induce some real social stress. But I think the controlled environment and ability to take breaks helps mitigate it. It may actually be decent practice. Please let me know how it goes if you try it!
My NLP background left me on a hilariously level playing field with everyone else to basically become a prompt engineer for a while ;)
Love the idea, had somewhat similar one and even have a demo, hope I will find time to complete it:).
Please share some video demonstration of how it works, it will help to fully grasp the idea.
Thank you! I hope you find time to work on it as well. I'd love to try out your demo and happy to give feedback if you'd like - contact into on my website linked in bio. I also think you're totally right on the video demo needed. On it soon!
I think you're right, there's actually a genuinely useful angle here (at least for the situations that aren't too absurd). I was surprised how much actual social stress talking to a voiced NPC can induce!
Now I'm trying to check out with Paypal, but while the form opens up the Paypal button is grayed out and doesn't work, with no clear error or feedback.
Influence Is Your Superpower by Zoe Chance. She's an award-winning Yale professor and the chapters are pleasant to read and insightful (and may be read fairly independently from one another.)
Also, I didn’t realize from the website that it actually uses voice? That should probably be highlighted, unless I just missed it.
One other thought, your title says it’s a game about social persuasion. In the examples on the site it seemed like many of the challenges just involved coming up with lies. If there are no consequences to just making up lies it seems to kind of flatten the strategy. Though I’m just speculating. Thanks for sharing!
Specifically, re: flattening the strategy, spot on and I’m excited to introduce more long term repercussions for lying. There are some long-range dialog repercussions now, but not many. Having to craft a consistent narrative across the whole game (“Overboard” comes to mind if you’ve played that) would be wildly interesting.
Loud and clear re: demo and highlighting voice!
Everything else (graphics, voices, dialogue, interface, story, transcription) worked great and I don't think need to be improved. But the main mechanics of the game feels like a thin layer of LLM on top of a rigid skeleton of scripted scenarios with fixed outcomes. I'd love to see the language model on a longer leash.
Thanks for sharing and huge kudos for creating a playable game that was legitimately enjoyable! I look forward to the next parts of the story.
A playable demo will max engagement but you won't see more paying conversions from it. Maybe less.
I don't think I remember a single person, out of hundreds, who didn't subscribe within an hour of trying the software out. I don't think anyone waited for the end of their 30-day trial. I did have a trial, though, not just a video.
But how does it impact your average user rating?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Façade_(video_game)
https://youtu.be/nFDsHXSAzs8?si=iN_x-yR5FC9gCuIf
Recommended for the novelty and very well produced content
This reminds me of "Death by AI"[1], although that one uses text-based input instead of speech.
[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38318889
Writing speech recognition instead of ASR would be clearer to anyone without a similar background.
Your audience is HN so my guess is that you assume we all know the industry/academic terms here. I’m unsure how correct that assumption is - I’m just suggesting take care when using your acronyms in other places.
If anyone is interested in working together, reply. I started working with TTS, ASR, and LLM API's because this piqued my curiosity after attending a few meetups and going in "cold" without much social interaction before the meeting. I imagine a proper app could give people superpowers.
My NLP background left me on a hilariously level playing field with everyone else to basically become a prompt engineer for a while ;)