Mathematicians discover impossible problem in Super Mario games
Researchers concluded that it's mathematically impossible to determine if certain Super Mario Bros levels can be completed without playing them, highlighting challenges in predicting game outcomes and the nature of gameplay experiences.
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Researchers have determined that it is mathematically impossible to ascertain whether certain levels in the Super Mario Bros video game series can be completed without actually playing them. This conclusion was reached using principles from computational complexity theory. Even with the most advanced supercomputers and extensive time, the problem remains unsolvable. Erik Demaine from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology highlighted that while the concept of "fun" in games is difficult to quantify mathematically, the complexity of these problems may provide insights into the enjoyment derived from gaming. The findings underscore the inherent challenges in predicting game outcomes, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of gameplay experiences.
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6 commentsSo they discovered what they intentionally introduced via breakage? It seems they couldn't find what they set out to for, and rather than writing that they just shoe horned the result they wanted into the game.
Sometimes the jokes write themselves :) But seriously, thank goodness for that. I don't want to see the products that come out of the corporations that would be extracting maximum mathematically-proven fun for their widget subscription services.
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