(First published in Urban Times on 19th Mar 2011)
The New York Times have created an online version of Rock-Paper-Scissors. Players compete against a computer, which, depending on the level, analyzes its rivals’ past choices to learn more about their thought patterns i.e. to beat them.
In other words, it’s a smart game.
There are two levels: Novice, where the computer plays against you from scratch; and Veteran, where the computer has already amassed experience from games with other humans. Both levels offer insight on the computer’s thought pattern and what it did with the data. In other words, players have the option to see what the computer does in its efforts to outwit them.
Play the game here.