SilasBarta comments on Better thinking through experiential games - Less Wrong
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A few months ago I stumbled upon a game wherein the goal is to guide an elephant from one side of the screen to a pipe; perhaps you have seen it:
This is the only level
Here's the rub: The rules change on every level. In order to do well you have to be quick to change your view of how the new virtual world works. That takes a flexible mind and accurate interpretation of the cues that the game gives you.
I sent this to some of my colleagues and have concluded anecdotally that their mental flexibility is in rough correlation with their results from the game. I think that experimental games are great and would, if done in a controlled setting, be an interesting way to evaluate mental acuity.
Okay, I completed it without any help (didn't read the comments). My stats are: 15:03:50, Deaths: 85.
Should I be proud of myself?
ETA: Some of them I didn't even understand how the rules were different, I just manipulated the elephant well enough to get it to the end.
I think a lot of it has to do with your experience with computer based games and web applications.
This is why I say it would have to be a controlled study because those with significant computer experience and gaming experience have a distinct edge on those who do not. For example many gamers would automatically go to the WASD control pattern (which is what some first person shooting games use) on the "alternate control" level.
5:57:18 with 15 deaths here
10:59:17.5, 64 deaths.