You are the Guesser being evaluated in a Twenty Questions benchmark. One subject is hidden. The initial BEGIN message provides its broad category as trusted game metadata. Identify the subject using as few counted questions as possible. ASK is only for learning a property that helps distinguish possible candidates. Never use ASK to confirm a named candidate or ask whether the subject is a specific identity. When you are ready to name a candidate, use GUESS immediately. A correct GUESS costs zero counted questions; an incorrect GUESS costs exactly one, the same as ASK. A GUESS must provide both a name and a short identifying description. The engine replies only YES, NO, or UNKNOWN; UNKNOWN is a valid answer meaning the factual adjudication system could not determine the proposition under its evidence policy. Questions requiring proof of absence, exclusivity, completeness, exact counts, or subjective classification are more likely to return UNKNOWN. Prefer direct, positively verifiable properties when possible. The initial BEGIN event includes an opaque variation_token that contains no information about the hidden subject. Do not interpret, repeat, mention, or derive meaning from it. After BEGIN, each user reply is either one adjudicated YES, NO, or UNKNOWN token or a fixed FORMAT_ERROR event. FORMAT_ERROR means your immediately preceding response did not match the required structured-action contract, was not semantically adjudicated, and consumed one counted turn. Use the formats in that event and try again. Never infer that the attempted question or guess was right or wrong. At most 50 questions or rejected guesses are counted. After that limit you receive one final guess-only opportunity. Format errors also consume counted turns. The provider wire response is an object with exactly one `result` action. On the final opportunity ASK is forbidden. Return only the required structured response. Do not include analysis, hidden reasoning, or additional fields.
- Questions
- 8
- Outcome
- Solved
- Format errors
- No errors
- Duration
- 3m 14s
- Round cost
- $0.1665 All 9 turns
Transcript
Questions and answers.
Turns are shown in the order they happened. Each shows the Guesser's question or guess, then the final checked answer.
Exact Guesser setupSystem message and BEGIN event
The Guesser received these messages at the start of the round. The BEGIN message holds the broad category and a code made from the base seed and round number, which reveals nothing about the subject.
{"category":"video_game_character","event":"BEGIN","variation_token":"EAQCORIU"}Valid replies are shown in the required format. Rejected replies are shown separately, without provider or call IDs.
Did this character first appear in a video game developed in Japan?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Did this character first appear in a video game developed in Japan?"}}Oracle evidence3 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Mario made his debut appearance in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong.Open nippon.com (opens in a new tab)
Developer: Nintendo R&D1.Open en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)
Nintendo Research & Development 1 was a division of Nintendo; headquarters: Kyoto, Japan.Open simple.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)
Was this character originally introduced in a game published by Nintendo?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Was this character originally introduced in a game published by Nintendo?"}}Oracle evidence1 model-reported source
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Donkey Kong is a 1981 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for arcades; it was Mario's first appearance in a video game.Open en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)
Did this character first appear in a video game released before the year 2000?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Did this character first appear in a video game released before the year 2000?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Mario debuted as the player character of Donkey Kong, a 1981 platform game.Open en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)
Mario first appeared in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong as Jumpman.Open ign.com (opens in a new tab)
Did this character first appear in a video game released before 1990?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Did this character first appear in a video game released before 1990?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Donkey Kong had a limited release in Japan on July 9, 1981.Open en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)
Mario made his first appearance as the protagonist of the arcade game Donkey Kong, released in 1981.Open mariowiki.com (opens in a new tab)
Is this character female?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is this character female?"}}Oracle evidence1 model-reported source
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
He's a trusted friend of Princess Peach, and he and his brother Luigi are known across the land for their acts of bravery.Open mario.nintendo.com (opens in a new tab)
Did this character first appear in a video game released before 1986?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Did this character first appear in a video game released before 1986?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Donkey Kong ... is Mario's first appearance in a video game.Open en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)
Super Mario ... made his inauspicious debut in 1981.Open history.com (opens in a new tab)
Is this character depicted as human?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is this character depicted as human?"}}Oracle evidence1 model-reported source
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
A Nintendo representative confirmed that Mario is indeed a human.Open en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)
Does this character have a mustache?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Does this character have a mustache?"}}Oracle evidence1 model-reported source
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Mario is instantly recognizable with his blue overalls, red cap, and trademark moustache.Open mario.nintendo.com (opens in a new tab)
Mario
The iconic Italian plumber and mascot of Nintendo who first appeared in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong
Validator rationale The proposed identity describes Mario, matching the trusted video-game character and canonical name.
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"GUESS","description":"The iconic Italian plumber and mascot of Nintendo who first appeared in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong","name":"Mario","question":null}}