961 - Gamifying Social Status by Combining Game Design and AI w/ Harvey Pratt (Simcluster)
Feb 7, 2025
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Harvey Pratt, founder and CEO of Simcluster, introduces his groundbreaking AI-driven game that blends social networking with gameplay. He discusses innovative features, like a fragment system that eliminates typing, making content creation more accessible. Harvey also shares his journey through the gaming industry's challenges, including fundraising hurdles and setbacks during the pandemic. He explores how social dynamics influence gameplay, envisioning a future where gaming and social media intertwine, empowering creators and reshaping interactions.
Simcluster utilizes a unique fragment system for content creation, enabling players to engage without typing, enhancing accessibility and creativity.
The game's integration of a clout-based incentive system mirrors social media dynamics, fostering competition and increasing user engagement in gameplay.
Deep dives
Overview of SimCluster
SimCluster is a unique social network simulation video game built on the foundations of AI technology. The game aims to push the boundaries of traditional video gaming by allowing players to engage in social simulation without the need for typing. Instead of conventional gameplay, players utilize a system of 'fragments'—a collection of nouns, verbs, and adjectives—to create content across various mediums such as text, images, and music. This innovative approach facilitates non-typing interaction while reshaping the player experience to make it engaging and accessible.
Gameplay Mechanics and Clout System
In SimCluster, players earn a virtual currency called 'clout' through user interaction and content engagement. Every time content generated by a player receives likes or interactions, clout is accumulated, which can then be spent to enhance in-game capabilities or purchase fragments. The game differentiates itself from existing social media platforms by focusing on content creation without typing, fostering a unique environment for self-expression. This gamified clout system incentivizes players to engage creatively, thereby generating a new form of social competition.
Reimagining Social Media through Gameplay
The developers of SimCluster aim to challenge the conventional understanding of social media by basing their game on principles inherent in gaming design. By analyzing popular social media like Twitter, they identified that a key motivation for users is the acquisition of 'clout'—an invisible score that reflects one’s popularity or influence. The game mirrors this concept by allowing players to track their clout and aim for higher engagement through various interactions. This reimagining creates a parallel between social media dynamics and gaming, aligning player interests with enjoyable gameplay.
Future Aspirations and Game Evolution
Looking ahead, the vision for SimCluster involves evolving it into a multifaceted platform where social networking and gaming converge seamlessly. The developers see a trend where successful games behave as social networks, thus incorporating social functionalities directly into gameplay. Additionally, they aim to explore the implications of a multiverse approach in content sharing and interaction, allowing users from different gaming backgrounds to coexist and interact through shared experiences. Ultimately, the goal is to establish SimCluster as a holistic gaming experience that disrupts both video games and social media landscapes.
In this conversation, Mat Sherman interviews Harvey Pratt, the founder and CEO of Simcluster, an AI video game that combines social networking with innovative gameplay mechanics. Harvey discusses the unique aspects of Simcluster, including its fragment system that allows users to create content without typing, and the challenges he faced in the gaming industry, particularly in fundraising. He shares insights on the evolution of AI content, the importance of user engagement, and his vision for the future of gaming, where SimCluster could redefine how games and social networks interact.