Demo of The Playground

This is an unedited trace of an interaction with The Playground.

Summary:
The player, in an effort to get a Willie Mays card from Sluggo, makes him an offer. Unfortunately, Sluggo isn't too bright and gets upset when he can't understand the offer. He tells the player to get lost. The player then talks to Melvin, who is generally pretty friendly, but also wants to make friends with the player. When the player asks Melvin for help getting the Willie Mays card, he obliges -- but not before a bit of haggling. By this time Sluggo has had enough time to cool down and the player is able to make the trade for Willie Mays.

Notes:
The two characters have different levels of competence when it comes to negotiating. The level is based on their desired personality, so more competence isn't always better. This is a new idea for AI research.

The way the characters negotiate is mediated by their personality quirks, their emotions, their relationships with others, and their other goals (such as making friends).

Maintained by:

wsr+@cs.cmu.edu

  The recess bell has just rung and it's time to really
  start working.  Math, English, and Social Studies are
  nothing compared to the harsh competition out on the
  playground.

  Try to collect baseball cards of players you like by
  trading with the other kids on the playground.  Who
  knows, this may even be your big chance to get that
  Willie Mays card you've been trying to get for so long!

                    Have fun!


[Please hit CR.]


You are in the playground.


   The sand box, the jungle gym and the tree house are in the playground.
   Sluggo is in the tree house.
   Sluggo is holding a Willie Mays trading card, a 
   Jose Canseco trading card and a Catfish Hunter trading card.
   Melvin is in the sand box.
   Melvin is holding a Tom Seaver trading card, a 
   Mickey Mantle trading card and a Reggie Jackson trading card.
   Melvin is wearing his eye glasses.

   You are holding a Babe Ruth trading card, a Ted Williams trading card 
   and a Henry Aaron trading card.
PLAYER> Get in the tree house

   You go into the tree house.
   Melvin is now smiling.
   Melvin whistles.
   Sluggo swears.
PLAYER> Sluggo: Hi!

   You are speaking to Sluggo.
   Player's voice says ``Hi!''.
   Melvin plays.
   Sluggo is speaking to you.
   Sluggo's voice says ``Yo.''.
PLAYER> Sluggo: Wanna trade with me?

   You are speaking to Sluggo.
   Player's voice says ``Wanna trade with me?''.
   Melvin whistles.
   Sluggo is speaking to you.
   Sluggo's voice says ``Make me an offer, but it better be good!''.
PLAYER> Sluggo: How about Ted Williams and Hank Aaron for Willie Mays?

   You are speaking to Sluggo.
   Player's voice says ``
   How about Ted Williams and Hank Aaron for Willie Mays?''.
   Melvin whistles.
   Sluggo is now red.
   Sluggo is now scowling.
   Sluggo is now tense.
   Sluggo is speaking to you.
   Sluggo's voice says ``
   You think you're cool with your fancy trades?  No deal, dweeb!''.
PLAYER> Sluggo: Well, how about just Williams for Mays then?

   You are speaking to Sluggo.
   Player's voice says ``Well, how about just Williams for Mays then?''.
   Melvin whistles.
   Sluggo is now frowning.
   Sluggo is speaking angrily to you.
   Sluggo's voice says ``Get out of here before I pound you, twerp!''.
PLAYER> Get in the sandbox

   You go into the sand box.
   Melvin is speaking to you.
   Melvin's voice says ``Greetings, earthling.''.
   Sluggo looks angrily at you.
PLAYER> Melvin: Greetings!

   You are speaking to Melvin.
   Player's voice says ``Greetings!''.
   Melvin is speaking to you.
   Melvin's voice says ``
   The Klingon Emporer wants to know if you would be willing to part with Babe Ruth for Reggie Jackson?''.
   Sluggo spits.
PLAYER> Melvin: What I really want is to get Willie Mays from Sluggo.

   You are speaking to Melvin.
   Player's voice says ``
   What I really want is to get Willie Mays from Sluggo.''.
   Melvin is speaking to you.
   Melvin's voice says ``
   So the Vulcan ambassador wishes to get Willie Mays from Darth Sluggo.  He really likes Mickey Mantle you know and I'd trade you.''.
   Sluggo spits.
PLAYER> Melvin: Great.  What do you want for Mantle?

   You are speaking to Melvin.
   Player's voice says ``Great.  What do you want for Mantle?''.
   Melvin is speaking to you.
   Melvin's voice says ``
   The aliens told me to offer you Mickey Mantle in return for Babe Ruth.''.
   Sluggo spits.
PLAYER> Melvin: How about Mantle and Seaver for Ruth?

   You are speaking to Melvin.
   Player's voice says ``How about Mantle and Seaver for Ruth?''.
   Melvin is speaking mechanically to you.
   Melvin's voice says ``
   We are borg.  We will assimilate Babe Ruth and Ted Williams.  You may assimilate Mickey Mantle and Tom Seaver.''.
   Sluggo swears.
PLAYER> Melvin: Hmm.  How about Ruth and Williams for Mantle, Seaver, and Jackson?

   You are speaking to Melvin.
   Player's voice says ``
   Hmm.  How about Ruth and Williams for Mantle, Seaver, and Jackson?''.
   Melvin is speaking to you.
   Melvin's voice says ``
   The Klingon high command accepts Vulcan's generous offer.''.
   Sluggo spits.
PLAYER> Melvin: Great!

   You are speaking to Melvin.
   Player's voice says ``Great!''.
   Melvin offers a Tom Seaver trading card to you.
   Sluggo swears.
PLAYER> Take card

   You take a Tom Seaver trading card.
   Melvin offers a Mickey Mantle trading card to you.
   Sluggo smokes.
PLAYER> Take card

   You take a Mickey Mantle trading card.
   Melvin offers a Reggie Jackson trading card to you.
   Sluggo smokes.
PLAYER> Offer Ruth card to Melvin

   You offer a Babe Ruth trading card to Melvin.
   Melvin takes a Babe Ruth trading card.
   Sluggo spits.
PLAYER> Offer Aaron card to Melvin

   You offer a Henry Aaron trading card to Melvin.
   Melvin is speaking to you.
   Melvin's voice says ``
   Would the noble ambassador from Vulcan please finish the other trade first?  Thank you.''.
   Sluggo smokes.
PLAYER> Melvin: Oops.  Wrong card.  Sorry.

   You are speaking to Melvin.
   Player's voice says ``Oops.  Wrong card.  Sorry.''.
   Melvin is speaking to you.
   Melvin's voice says ``Don't you want the card?''.
   Sluggo smokes.
PLAYER> Take Jackson card

   You take a Reggie Jackson trading card.
   Melvin waits.
   Sluggo spits.
PLAYER> Offer Williams card to Melvin

   You offer a Ted Williams trading card to Melvin.
   Melvin takes a Ted Williams trading card.
   Sluggo spits.
PLAYER> Melvin: It's been a pleasure doing business with you.

   You are speaking to Melvin.
   Player's voice says ``It's been a pleasure doing business with you.''.
   Melvin is speaking.
   Melvin's voice says ``
   Beam me up, Scotty.  There's no intelligent life on this planet.''.
   Sluggo smokes.
PLAYER> Get in the tree house

   You go into the tree house.
   Melvin adjusts his eye glasses.
   Sluggo smokes.
PLAYER> Sluggo: Would you be interested in trading Willie Mays now?

   You are speaking to Sluggo.
   Player's voice says ``
   Would you be interested in trading Willie Mays now?''.
   Melvin plays.
   Sluggo is speaking to you.
   Sluggo's voice says ``I'll give you Willie Mays for Mickey Mantle.''.
PLAYER> Sluggo: Hmm.  I'm not sure I want to do that.

   You are speaking to Sluggo.
   Player's voice says ``Hmm.  I'm not sure I want to do that.''.
   Melvin whistles.
   Sluggo is speaking to you.
   Sluggo's voice says ``
   Have you seen Willie Mays's stats?  Man, he's awesome.''.
PLAYER> Sluggo: Oh, okay.  I'll make the trade.

   You are speaking to Sluggo.
   Player's voice says ``Oh, okay.  I'll make the trade.''.
   Melvin fidgits.
   Sluggo offers a Willie Mays trading card to you.
PLAYER> Take the card

Congratulations.  You got Willie Mays.
THANK-YOU-FOR-PLAYING-OZ