Designing Playable Thought Experiments
Each thought experiment called for a different kind of interaction. Luo developed short scenarios that let players do more than read about a dilemma: they could make a choice, try something unexpected, and see how the game responded.
Iterating from Player Feedback
The first demo focused on recreating thought experiments, but its reception was poor. Watching a streamer react to an unexpected moment in the trolley problem helped Luo see what was working. He revised the game to give players more surprising ways to interact and clearer responses to their choices.
Case Study: The Trolley Problem
In the early demo, the trolley problem was largely a choice between two tracks. Players made a decision, but the game gave them little feedback afterward, and the demo was poorly received. Luo revised the scene to make choices carry over into later rounds and to give players more unexpected ways to intervene.
If players choose to hit an alien, for example, a UFO may later carry the trolley away. Choosing between two pizzas can prompt a reaction from the Italians watching nearby. These callbacks made experimenting with different choices more rewarding and helped establish the game’s absurd sense of humor.
The accompanying video shows the complete Trolley Problem level from the finished game. It has received over 700,000 views on Bilibili.
Production and Release
Luo coordinated the game’s development with artists and other collaborators while handling its design, programming, and production. The game reached 20,000 Steam wishlists before launch and sold over 10,000 copies in its first two weeks.
