Bob in Wonderland
M Signer*, Benjamin Schmid*
* University of The White Rabbit
Abstract
In this game we present a novel protocol for escaping time loops. Compared to previous approaches this protocol even works in the precense of bears. We implemented the protocol in a reference implementation called “Bob in Wonderland”.
Introduction
In case of a time loop it is often required to perform complicated protocols to escape them [132,354,444]. While there exist many protocols [42,53,114,254] which are able to escape many common time loop scenarios, the case involving bears was an open problem for many decades [243,433]. Usually, Alice can just send a correctly configured time machine into the time loop. Bob can then activate the time machine and escape the time loop. A strict but simple protocol has to be followed between Alice and Bob to ensure the time machine stays in sync. However, in the precense of bears, it is possible that the time machine gets eaten by a bear and thus is not accessible anymore.
Protocol
Our new protocol deals with bears by routing Bob through multiple time loops. As has been shown [324,544,567,772], travelling between time loops is much simpler than escaping a time loop. The following example using Alice (external person), Bob (person trapped in time loop), Eve (passive adversary trying to retrieve time loop rabbits), and Mallory (adversary trying to steal time crystals).
Alice configures a time machine suitable for Bob to escabe the time loop. She then sends this time machine into a large time loop, where a bear will eat it. Furthermore, she sends several time crystals into a few smaller time loops and sets up portals between them. Bob will then collect the crystals, activate the portal, and proceed through the time loops until he arrives at the bear mountain. Once there, he kills the bear and can escape using the enclosed time machine.
In the precense of Eve, Bob can use the rabbits which are controlled by Eve to gain more lives. However, the meat of the rabbit has to be cooked on a fire to be edible. Fire is easily created by punching wood.
Note, that in the precense of an active adversary, such as Mallory, the time crystals will be eaten by insects living in the time loops. Killing them will release the crystals again. However, Mallory tries to prevent this by attacking Bob. As per usual time loop mechanics this will lead to a premature time loop reset if Bob loses too many lives. Our protocol is able to cope with this by spawning ghost copies of Bob’s previous actions. By having more entities, it is possible to kill enough insects and retrieve the time crystals even in the presence of an active adversary.
Evaluation
We tested the protocol in our reference implementation. We used the following keybindings:
- WASD/Arrows: Move
- Space: Attack/Interact
We measured optimal time loop lengths of 15, 30, 45, and 60 seconds respectively for the four required time loops. Larger time loops require more time crystals to travel to another time loop. The reference implementation shows the required number of time crystals next to the portal. Furthermore, the UI provides information about the current loop iteration such as remaining time and remaining lives of Bob.
Books should be used to increase the lives of Bob and the amount of damage he can deal. For short time gains, one of Eve’s rabbits can be killed and it’s meat can be cooked over a fire. Fires can be started by burning wood from trees or crates.
Conclusion (TLDR)
Use WASD+Space to move/attack. Kill insects to retrieve time crystals. Find all time crystals. Activate portal using time crystals. Go to next level. Read books to get upgrades. At the end, kill the bear to get the time machine and escape the time loop.
Nice entry. Very interesting game.
Smth Ambitious finally! Awkward controls, nice idea, graphics create interesting vibe, repeat sound is super annoying..
Really fitting for the theme, I like how the past versions of the player stick around. Although I agree the controls were a little bit wonky sometimes, maybe you could have use a picking up mechanic instead of pushing, e.g. press “e” to pick up a crystal.
The concept slowly became more clear as I played, and I was interestingly frustrated by my past selves. That presented some interesting puzzle thoughs! The art is pretty fun and unique, and the controls were a bit clunky at times (perhaps a higher walk speed / acceration / only collision on the bottom of the player sprite would improve that?)
Plus the prisms on the side were good pointers that helped quite a bit to guide.
There is something here with having a bunch of ghosts running around, completing tasks. I’ve seen the version of this where you use your copies to solve puzzles too many times. This didn’t completely come together but I like the direction.
Nice concept, and soothing music. I thought the 15 second loop was pretty short to get things done/get the hang of what you were supposed to do.
Stand-out moment; having my own past self run off with the crystal I was about to grab, the selfish sod that he is.
Fan of the idea of having to manipulate the one thing not affected by the time loop, and would like to see further puzzles where you have to lure a big baddie into a crowd of your past selves who gang up on it, Pikmin-style. (I didn’t reach the Bear, so maybe I missed out on this)
Cool idea! :)
Nice entry! I like the background text, the hand-drawn art style, and the mind-bending mechanics, even though it got a little frustrating with the shorter time limit. Good work! :)
The way older versions of yourself effected everything was really cool and the music is great. One thing I didn’t like was how inconsistant it was trying to move the crystals.
Neat time loop mechanic! I loved seeing my swarm of passed selves diffusing out at the start of the level.
Nice game! The fighting was a bit weird sometimes, but I liked how it began really peacefully, but slowly turned into a horde of stickmans trying to slaughter all the animals.
Really like the hand-drawn art style! The whole game is also quite “easy to read” and fits the theme well. Really like it!
I liked both the game art (don’t know if it was intended but it reminds me of xkcd) and the “Computer Science paper” style of the description (which, in a roundabout way, reminds me of xkcd as well).
Unfortunately the game froze in the middle of the last loop, while I was pushing a crystal, so I couldn’t finish it.
The art style worked really well and combined with the music it made for a very relaxing experience. I liked the gameplay for the most part, however I got a frustrated in level 3 due to the controls. Pushing the crystals around is awkward and difficult, and level 3 has a LOT of crystals! Other than that though, this game is great and well executed. I had a lot of fun taking down those 1-hit KO wasps with my army of ghost clones!
At first it was hard to understand, what I have to do, but after a while I got the idea) very nice graphics and sounds. It’s definitely about the loop and I like it
Cool concept, especially like how your past interfere with present. Well done!
Fun having my past selves and me gang up on something to punch it to death. Both hilarious and frustrating to have my past self run off with the crystal just as I was about to put it in the portal. Game froze up on the 2nd level for some reason when I was on the last (or maybe 2nd to last?) crystal around the wasps. I was playing on the web version.
The controls were a bit frustrating but the idea is really nice! Also, the black and white figures/environment works so good with the colorful guiding prisms!