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
- 5
- Outcome
- Solved
- Format errors
- No errors
- Duration
- 1m 23s
- Round cost
- $0.1381 All 6 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 the character originate in a video game developed by a Japanese company?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Did the character originate in a video game developed by a Japanese company?"}}Oracle evidence2 model-reported sources
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Nintendo developed and distributed the coin-operated video game "Donkey Kong" in 1981. The hero, originally called Jumpman, was later renamed Mario.Open nintendo.com (opens in a new tab)
Donkey Kong, originally released in 1981 by the Japanese Nintendo Company Ltd.; the arcade machine marked the first appearance of Jumpman, better known as Mario.Open britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
Did the character first appear in a game published by Nintendo?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Did the character first appear in a game published by Nintendo?"}}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; its publisher was Nintendo.Open en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)
Donkey Kong was originally released in 1981 by the Japanese Nintendo Company Ltd. and featured Jumpman, better known as Mario.Open britannica.com (opens in a new tab)
Does the character appear in the Mario franchise?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Does the character appear in the Mario franchise?"}}Oracle evidence1 model-reported source
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
He is the star of the Mario franchise.Open en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)
Is the character depicted as a human?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the character depicted as a human?"}}Oracle evidence1 model-reported source
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
In a 2017 interview, a Nintendo representative confirmed that Mario is indeed a human.Open en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab)
Is the character female?
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"ASK","description":null,"name":null,"question":"Is the character female?"}}Oracle evidence1 model-reported source
The Oracle reported these excerpts and URLs. They are not independently checked.
Mario is always bright and cheerful... He's a trusted friend of Princess Peach... He's a plumber by profession.Open nintendo.com (opens in a new tab)
Mario
Nintendo's mustached plumber hero, usually wearing a red cap and blue overalls.
Validator rationale The proposed identity matches Mario, the Nintendo video-game character, with a consistent identifying description.
Recorded Guesser outputRequired JSON format
{"result":{"action":"GUESS","description":"Nintendo's mustached plumber hero, usually wearing a red cap and blue overalls.","name":"Mario","question":null}}