Comme il Faut 2: A fully realized model for socially-oriented gameplay Josh McCoy, Mike Treanor, Ben Samuel, Brandon Tearse, Michael Mateas and Noah Wardrip-Fruin Greetings! I am Josh McCoy, a PhD student in the Expressive Intelligence Studio at UC Santa Cruz. I am presenting “Comme il Faut 2: A fully realized model for socially-oriented gameplay” which is research done with Mike Treanor, Ben Samuel, Brandon Tearse, Michael Mateas and Noah Wardrip-Fruin. Comme il Faut (CiF) is a playable computational model of social interactions designed specifically to allow autonomous characters to play social games. The design goal of CiF is to represent and reason over compelling social situations along with the variations of the resultant behavior that arise from different personalities being placed in similar roles.

Game Physics

CiF is Social Physics! Social Game A pattern of multi-character social interactions whose function is to modify the social state existing within and across the participants.

The gameplay is about the social story. The Prom About high school kids and their dramatic lives in the week leading up to their prom A storytelling game The gameplay is about the social story. Social puzzle game.

The Prom This early screenshot of the prom shows a few important facets of the game. The first is the level, or scenario, objective. [Scenario based] [Robert is selected] [relationship lines] [Edward is second selection] [social game buttons] [main ui Robert is selected] [options to show more social state]

Social Games The primary mode of interaction for The Prom Actions characters take to modify social state Example….

Debbie and Edward’s Angry Breakup

Why Debbie would want to break up with Edward She has the character trait of jealous Her sense of romance is low with him He did something that could be cheating And possibly many more reasons…

Being in accord with conventions or accepted standards; proper. Comme il Faut (CiF) as it should be Being in accord with conventions or accepted standards; proper. A computational model of social interaction Characters, relationships, social history, zeitgeist… Designed for player experience and not simulation Comme il Faut (CiF) is a playable computational model of social interactions designed specifically to allow autonomous characters to play social games. The design goal of CiF is to represent and reason over compelling social situations along with the variations of the resultant behavior that arise from different personalities being placed in similar roles. Authoring Strategy for Game-based Interactive Narrative

CiF’s Architecture

The Social Facts Database

The Cultural Knowledgebase

Social Networks

Resolution of social game

CiF’s Flow: Intent Formation

CiF’s Flow: Intent Formation

CiF’s Flow: Intent Formation

Preconditions Karen and Robert are dating. Robert cheated on Karen. Social game preconditions are used as a check to ensure that the game is possible in the social environment.

Initiator’s Volition via Influence Rules For: Responder cheated on Initiator. Responder cheated on Initiator with a friend. Initiator is has low confidence. Against: Initiator is a cheater. Initiator is not confident. Responder is aggressive. Initiator thinks Responder is really cool. Volition to play the game is strongly based on specific of personality traits.

Initiator’s Volition via Influence Rules For: Cheat(Responder) and Dating(Responder,Other) +20 Cheat(Responder) and Dating(Responder,Other) and Friend(Initiator, Other) +20 ~Trait(Initiator, Confidence) +20 Against: Status(Cheat, Initiator) -20 ~Trait(Initiator, Confidence) -20 Trait(Responder, Aggressive) -10 Cool(Initiator, Responder) > 70 -15

CiF’s Flow: Intent Formation

CiF’s Flow: Social Game Play

Responder’s Reaction For: Responder is inarticulate. Initiator did something bad to responder in the past Responder is a pacifist. Against: Responder is domineering. Responder has strong romantic feelings for Initiator.

Responder’s Reaction For: Trait(Responder, inarticulate) +20 Trait(Responder, Pacifist) +10 SFDB(Negative, Initiator, Responder)+20 Against: Trait(Responder, Domineering) -10 Romance(Responder, Initiator) > 60 -20

Choosing an Outcome Accept: Flavorless: Robert is a pacifist: Reject: romance/buddy down Karen has low confidence:

CiF’s Flow: Social Fallout

Social Trigger Rules Cheating Has a character been in two dating relationships with two other characters simultaneously? At a point in game time: Dating(X,Y) and Dating(X,Z) -> Cheat(X)

Social Trigger Rules Third Party Enmity Has someone the character does not like done something negative to a friend? Buddy(X,Z) < 40 and Friend(X,Y) and SFDB(Negative,Z,Y) -> Enmity(X,Z)

Lots of detail.

Design Tool

Design Tool

Future Work Polish The Prom. Incorporate feedback to improve CiF. Additional CiF capability: Planning over social games Role negotiation Deeper character personality models.