Buzz
Upon first glance, the interface might resemble a mathematical version of tic-tac-toe.
The act of playing games has been intertwined with human existence since the advent of boredom. Classic games like Go, Chess, or Sudoku have coexisted alongside humanity for ages, reaching new heights in global tournaments.
However, creating a new game is far from simple. It requires clear rules, easy-to-understand mechanics, and broad appeal. Meeting these criteria single-handedly can be a daunting task.
Things become a bit easier when ChatGPT enters the picture. The chatbot developed by OpenAI comes equipped with a wealth of puzzle data. While not yet a master of optimal logic, ChatGPT is capable of performing basic operations and even coding.
This is why a user named Puzzled Penguin (operating on the Substack platform) enlisted ChatGPT to develop a completely new puzzle. After some experimentation, Puzzled Penguin directed ChatGPT to create an engaging game, inspired by the famous rules of Sudoku.
Named Sumplete (pronounced 'sum-pleet') by ChatGPT, this game challenges players to remove numbers from rows/columns to make the sum of the remaining numbers equal the target number outlined on the board's edge.
Readers can try playing Sumplete on their favorite web browsers.
The Development Process of Sumplete
Initially, Puzzled Penguin (PP) asked ChatGPT to recommend some puzzles for a Sudoku enthusiast. ChatGPT provided several lesser-known options like Kakuro, KenKen, or Hitori.
Similar to many of us, PP was uncertain about the rules or graphics of the mentioned games. PP came up with the idea of having ChatGPT create a puzzle game according to their preferences, requesting ChatGPT to 'invent a logic puzzle similar to Sudoku but not currently in existence.'
In the first round of results, ChatGPT invented a puzzle game called Labyrinth Sudoku.
Not content with the initial outcome, PP requested ChatGPT to continue developing a new game. By the fourth trial, PP was finally satisfied with the game ChatGPT created: a puzzle named Sum Delete.
ChatGPT even managed to program a version of Sum Delete running on HTML and JavaScript. Every time the page is reloaded, players receive a new randomly generated number grid to solve.
To encapsulate the newly created programming language, PP continued to request CSS implementation to further enhance Sum Delete.
After numerous adjustments, feature additions, and design optimizations, PP was able to use ChatGPT to create version 0.9 of the new game. ChatGPT asserts that this game has not been seen anywhere else, though this assertion may be incorrect as its training data has not been updated since 2021. If readers find this assertion inaccurate, they can directly email Puzzled Penguin.
To complete Sum Delete, PP asked ChatGPT to give the new game a name. Below is the dialogue between PP and ChatGPT, finding a suitable name for the new puzzle game.
Currently, Sumplete only runs on the web platform. However, since smartphones also have web browsers, readers can directly try Sumplete on mobile devices.
The game remains straightforward for now, with the new level of difficulty only pausing at addition with negative numbers. Players have a reason to look forward to future updates introducing multiplication, aiming to demonstrate their mathematical abilities against other gamers.
