Computer Program Learns How To Play NES Games

[ZooNamedGames]

I recently discovered a guy on YouTube who is creating a program called "PlayFun" which plays NES games and through trial and error learns how to play and master various video games. He's had it play games like Super Mario Bros., Tetris, Bubble Bobble, Legend of Zelda (unsuccessfully), Punch-Out, and more.

There are multiple videos on his program playing other games. So make sure to check out his channel here-

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3azLjQuz9s5qk76KEXaTvA

 

I just found the entire concept amazing and I would love to see his program eventually evolve to play SNES games! Not to mention the way he does his videos is ingenious, especially how he ends all 3 of the PlayFun videos. He also has a video on how to make a program to automatically make NES games 3D (albeit the status of the program as of the video was buggy but applicable). He also has ordered the entire 4th Star Wars film (or first depending on your circle) by the line. I believe he had a program do this as well, but still it's amazing (and kind of funny) to watch the entire process.

 

Just felt this guy deserves a bit more attention for this cool concept and so I decided to share it with the nerdiest group I know  .

[Nibb31]

That's pretty amazing.

And when it realizes that it's going to lose at Tetris, it pauses the game, so that it never loses. That's creepy.

[ZooNamedGames]

18 minutes ago, Nibb31 said:

That's pretty amazing.

And when it realizes that it's going to lose at Tetris, it pauses the game, so that it never loses. That's creepy.

[cubinator]

Man, artificial learning is scary in the deepest places...How long until something like this comes up with a quantum theory of gravity, I wonder...

--Edit-- Just watched a bit of ARST ARSW, it was totally worth it.

Edited November 3, 2016 by cubinator

[wumpus]

How long does it take to learn to play KSP?  The scary thing is that any game that relies on an understanding of physics that is more or less instinctive to humans (3d Mario, perhaps) would probably require just as much learning as KSP.  The difference between "baby steps" in Mario (that a preschooler would be capable of) and inhuman KSP ability is likely pretty small (although I have no idea if they can get to "baby steps" on Mario).

[ZooNamedGames]

47 minutes ago, wumpus said:

How long does it take to learn to play KSP?  The scary thing is that any game that relies on an understanding of physics that is more or less instinctive to humans (3d Mario, perhaps) would probably require just as much learning as KSP.  The difference between "baby steps" in Mario (that a preschooler would be capable of) and inhuman KSP ability is likely pretty small (although I have no idea if they can get to "baby steps" on Mario).

It would likely take much longer considering it learns from the response of button presses, not what happens within the game. 

So for it to learn KSP may take MANY years before it does anything at all.