MKULTRA (Demo)

Abstract

MKULTRA is an experimental game that explores novel AI-based game mechanics. Similar in some ways to text-based interactive fiction, the player controls a character who interacts with other characters through dialog.  Unlike traditional IF, MKULTRA characters have simple natural language understanding and generation capabilities, sufficient to answer questions and carry out simple tasks.  The game explores a novel game mechanic, belief injection, in which players can manipulate the behavior of NPCs by injecting false beliefs into their knowledge bases.  This allows for an unusual form of puzzle-based gameplay, in which the player must understand the beliefs and motivational structure of the characters well enough to understand what beliefs to inject.