Win à la Mode

Scenario after scenario played on the screen as Joshua simulated the strikes and counter-strikes of each variation. In each case, the computer projected no winner. The scenarios ran faster and faster as the W.O.P.R. ran down the list of possibilities. Finally, all the screens went dark.

"Greetings Professor Falken" the synthesized voice spoke over the mostly dark operations room. The words echoed on the main screen.

Surprised, Falken reached over and typed 'Hello' on the keyboard in response while adding the name 'Joshua' verbally. It wasn't his son, but in a way it was his child.

"A strange game" Joshua went on. "The only winning move is not to play."

The lights came on and the assembled people celebrated; Joshua had learned through the tic-tac-toe games the futility of trying to win a game that produced no winners. Handshakes and back slaps were shared as the relieved staff enjoyed the released tension of possible global extinction.

As David leaned back in a chair, a sudden thought came into his head. Strictly in terms of simulation, there had to be a way to win. If he had gotten into the system through a backdoor password, there might be other options as well. Excited, he leaned forward and started typing on the keyboard.

"What are you doing?" asked Jennifer.

"Cheat codes. They let you have extra stuff in a game." He continued typing as he entered the system looking for an options menu.

"Wait David," said Falken "I put those into the game for use during the testing phase. I wouldn't…"

"Here it is" said David. He accessed the options menu and selected "God Mode'. "That's what game players use to make the player invulnerable" he explained to Jennifer.

Suddenly the room darkened again. From the overhead speaker came a "Bwa-ha-ha-ha".

"I…don't like the sound of that" said McKittrick.

The End.


A/N: Yeah, it's an older movie with an acoustic dialup modem. But in today's connected age who knows? I was just thinking of old computer graphics one day and remembered the end of the movie with the world maps and how much different it is now with 3D/color/surround sound etc. Which got me to thinking about games and codes…