Universal Paperclips

Based on Nick Bostrom's "Paperclip Maximizer" thought experiment, Universal Paperclips poses the player as an A.I. told to continually make paperclips. The premise is deceptively innocent, seeming as though it may be just another idle game droplet in the sea that genre has become. However, the game's depth continues to increase, both by further complicating the play screen and everything that the player has to balance, as well as weaving a subtle narrative with a satisfyingly sadistic culmination to top it off.

Universal Paperclips is not a game to be played while working (and it is definitely meant to be played on a computer, trust me). The climbing numbers and the strategic management are both engrossing and intoxicating, making it one of the only things that I could think about or focus on, anytime I had it running, even if I meant it to just be racking up numbers in the background. That's where it really shines though, I wasn't just playing the A.I., I practically became it. My only thought was to make more paperclips, with very little regard to the consequences of my obsession. I'm glad that it was a relatively short game (it does have an end), because I needed to be able to step away after a while and just breathe. However, the experience was amazing because it played with me as much as I was playing it, and it definitely prompted some serious thinking, not to mention the addition of some awesome surprises in the late game. And for being completely free, it is not an experience to miss.
The game can be played at this link (as of 11/27/17): www.decisionproblem.com/paperclips
The game can be purchased for iOS at this link (as of 11/27/17): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/universal-paperclips/id1300634274?mt=8
The game can be purchased for Android at this link (as of 11/27/17): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.everybodyhouse.paperclipsuniquetest

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