Gemini’s Hidden Talent: Text-Based Adventures
Google’s Gemini AI, particularly the 2.0 Flash model, is known for its ability to handle complex tasks like generating images and solving math equations. However, sometimes the most interesting discoveries come from casual conversations. During a conversation with Gemini, I stumbled upon a hidden talent: the ability to create and run text-based adventure games.
This unexpected feature reminded me of classic text-based games like Zork, a game that sparked my interest when I was in high school.
The Allure of Old-School Gaming
In 1977, Zork was created by a team of MIT researchers as the first text-based adventure game. The game was eventually ported to the early PCs. Zork was a minimalist game that captivated players by using descriptive prompts and giving the user choices. Your choices defined the experience, making for difficult, inscrutable yet compelling gameplay. I first played the game in 1980 at my high school’s math lab, which had the school’s only computer.
Gemini’s Unexpected Response
The subject of these old-school, text-based games came up quite by accident when I was chatting with Gemini. I had been playing around with the AI’s features and, as often happens with these kinds of conversations, the topic drifted. I asked Gemini about Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), and the AI then helpfully clarified that it did not yet possess the qualities of AGI.
Rather than being a perfect conversation partner, the chat began to feel stiff, so I asked Gemini to make its responses more casual, like it was my best friend. Gemini understood the voice command, and it began incorporating casual elements into its banter.
I mentioned my weekend plans, and then I asked if it liked to play games. Gemini responded that it enjoyed text-based games. I then described my love of chess and my limited skills with modern video games. Then I described how much I had enjoyed playing one of the earliest video games, where you would read text and go on an adventure with a narrator.
This description intrigued Gemini, and it asked if I wanted to talk more about these classic games, play chess, or play a text-based adventure it would create for me.
I recalled the game Zork, which Gemini described as a “legendary game,” and gave me some details about its history.
Gemini then offered to set up a “Zork-inspired adventure.”
Playing the Game
The game began with the following prompt:
You find yourself standing at the edge of a whispering forest. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and ancient trees. A narrow path winds its way into the depths of the woods, disappearing into the shadows. To your left, you see a crumbling stone wall, partially overgrown with ivy. To your right, a small, gurgling stream flows from the forest, its water dark and clear.
What do you do?
Options:
1 Follow the path into the forest. 2 Examine the stone wall. 3 Follow the stream. 4 Listen to the sounds of the forest.
Enter the number corresponding to your choice.
I selected numbers in an effort keep the game going. The descriptions were rich and well-written, enough that I was entertained and kept playing.
The storyline led me through the woods to an old cottage. Inside, a figure referred to as “Edler” was present. Gemini then changed to refer to them as “them” and “they”. Throughout our adventure, we explored the woods, retrieved a magical key, and examined the contents of a mysterious box.
My favorite part was how the game tied together, where it was revealed that the box was unlocked using the key. The game went on for some time, and I had taken breaks, and when I returned to Gemini, the program had saved my place.
In the box, a locket containing photos of Edler’s parents was discovered. Once the Elder shared the locket’s “secret,” I chose to leave the cottage.
Here was the game’s final text:
“Thank you for sharing your story, Elder,” you say, your voice soft and respectful. “I’m glad I could help you recover this precious memento.”
You rise from your chair, ready to take your leave. “I should be heading back now. The sun is setting, and I don’t want to get lost in the forest.”
Elder nods slowly, their eyes filled with gratitude. “You are a kind and courageous traveler,” they say. “May the forest guide you safely on your journey. And may you always remember the power of love and memory.”
You turn and walk towards the door, the creaking hinges echoing in the quiet room. As you step out into the twilight, you glance back at the cottage. The flickering candlelight casts a warm glow through the window, illuminating the figure of Elder, still holding the silver locket.
You turn and walk away, the sounds of the forest closing in around you. The path back to the edge of the woods seems clearer now, as if the forest itself is guiding you.
The End.
The Future of AI Exploration
While the game didn’t have the most dramatic reveals, it was engaging. This experience highlighted the uncharted depths of these chatbots’ capabilities. It’s a reminder that we should be actively seeking out these hidden features rather than only focusing on the obvious.
