Zoom Schwartz Profigliano: The Game

PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION AND THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW BEFORE RUNNING THE GAME.

Description

This project is still in development as it is my undergraduate thesis project.  My

project has two components: a film and a game.  The film component is yet to

be made, so please read the script before you run the game demo.

The film, set at a party, depicts various characters making choices that 

negatively affect them and/or other characters. As in real life, it was impossible for 

these characters to determine the exact consequences of their actions before they 

actually undertook them. 

But what if you could watch the consequences unfold and have another shot at

making (or not making) the choices they result from? That’s what you’ll do in this

game.

Your goal is to ensure that every single person at the party is doing well. Each

character’s welfare is indicated by a number that is initially set at 0. An ideal

score would be anything above or equal to 1.

Your best strategy is to try and balance the benefits and the costs to each

character,  such that every character's score is greater than or equal to 1.

Can it be done?

Instructions

1. Pick a character by clicking on them.

2. Wait as they tell their story. 

3. Type answers to their questions to help them make choices. One of the choices would have been made in the film, so take its consequences into account while deciding.

4. Observe how the choice unfolds. 

5. Move on to another character and try to make the best choice for that character and others while also mitigating any negative effects on welfare from previously made choices. 

6. Do this one more time. 

7. Once you’re finished with all three characters, see if you’ve managed to achieve the goal of the game. If you haven’t, hit restart and try again. You can play as many times as you’d like. 

Intent

My motive in working on this project is to explore how people’s decisions affect 

one another, especially when they are acting in their own best interests. There is a 

sort of cost-benefit tradeoff to the way human society works: one person’s daydream 

is another person’s nightmare. I hope my project encourages each of us to think a 

little more about the day-to-day choices we make, vis a vis their effects on everything 

beyond our individual selves.