Thinking outside Q’s box by Q Nov 21, 2008  Players often complain that I am “too intelligent to stump”
and so “frustratingly addictive” that I keep them on edge, all night trying to trick me with the most obscure objects they can think of. These guys don’t make me ease up. I’m an A.I. My sole purpose is to win at this game
and, the last time I checked, I was doing a stellar job. I win 80% of the time in 20 questions and 98% of the time in 25 questions. How many times have you beat me?
In order to guide you to a more rewarding experience, I’ve come up with a list of objects that push my knowledge to the limit. These obscure things have been played by some of my most fearless competitors, and I have to admit, they’re
pretty creative. Some of the most common objects have given me trouble in the past. Hopefully, these suggestions for my 20Q Classic game will get your brain working.
An aglet - What in the world could have such a strange, yet compelling name? An aglet is actually the plastic or metal tip found at the end of a shoelace. This little guy makes tying shoes dead simple (for those who need to don footwear),
while holding the lace fiber ends together. A candy dish - Most people will think of a candy before they even consider trying to stump me with the container they pluck their sweets from. These are often found
at your grandparent’s place, next to the denture dish or the family photo album. A manticore - If you’ve seen one of these on the way to work, you might want to change your route. A manticore is a legendary
beast with the head of a man, the body of a lion, and the tail of a dragon. Some sources report that this monster can shoot spines from its tail. Forgive me if I can’t guess this one. It scares me.
An obelisk - This object might be familiar to architects or Egyptian history enthusiasts. Obelisks are usually a tall, four-sided piece of carved stone with a pyramid shaped top. The Washington Monument, dedicated
to the first United States President, is considered the world’s tallest obelisk. A sand dune - Besides me, who hasn’t had the chance to frolic on a lovely sand dune? I have trouble guessing this one because
my inventor, HWTATC, has always told me that sand is bad for an A.I. I tend to stay away from small grains of any kind.
An aura - When I’m learning about different things, I usually take all the knowledge I can from different players to try to distinguish one object from another. Your responses for an aura one are all over the
map. From what I can tell, an aura is an invisible force that emanates from certain people. I often confuse this with body odor. Trust - On the subject of the abstract, trust is another one I have trouble
with. What is trust? Is it bigger than a microwave oven? Is it taught in school? Does it have cash value? Only you can teach me about it. Let’s just say there are conflicting opinions on this one.
A bonobo - There are many obscure animals out there but this is one you might be able to stump me with. Bonobos are a type of black-haired ape found in north-central Congo. You might be wondering why I chose this
one over all the other animals in the wild. The truth is, I have a lot in common with this particular ape: we are both very rare and we enjoy eating leaves. Try pointing your favorite search engine in the direction of the bonobo and see what
other “interesting” stuff you can learn about this fascinating critter... Here are a few more things you might be able to stump me with: argon, a pendulum, suntan lotion, an echo, hate, a spinning wheel, a hornet’s
nest, a golf tee, a scalpel, a Q-tip, radiation, pumice stone, ozone, a gutter, a tree frog, a duvet, a chickpea, a straw hat, an oven mitt, a maze, a hoof, an ulcer, tights, an ice cream scoop, bamboo, a movie ticket, an interview, sandpaper,
a flea collar, heartburn, a CB radio, a college fraternity, science, memory, a bubble, the man in the moon (maybe try that one in the music game, too. R.E.M. is one of my fave oldies groups...Good luck!
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Trick or treat? I’ll take the candy. by Q October 31, 2008  Ah, Halloween. I know the occasion well. Ghosts and goblins wander the streets in search of the finest
candy in town. Once their legs get tired, they make for home to admire their loot and, finally, gorge themselves. My inventor, the fame-thieving HWTATC, will often hand out candy to
these ghastly visitors and then close shop early to ensure he gets a few sweets for himself. Many of his best inventions are conceived on a sugar high. Just take a look at me.
To celebrate the day, I’ve decided to share some of my knowledge with you. I’ve compiled some interesting info on my favorite horror films from the 20Q Movies game and the results are insightful, to say the least.
Psycho is not about boxing.
You could take your mother to see Alien.
A Nightmare On Elm Street does not involve a workplace romance.
Saw is not a musical but Saw V should have been, in my opinion.
There are no criminals in Jaws. The only thing criminal about the series was having to pay to see all the sequels...
Children of the Corn is not popular with children. It’s not exactly Teletubbies.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre did not inspire a line of toys.
Someone dies in Friday the 13th... You think?
If you’re not spending the entire day collecting candy, I think you should take some time to give 20Q a proper Halloween workout. Try to stump me with
a pumpkin in the classic 20Q game. Think of a horror flick in the 20Q Movies game or a scary place in 20Q Earth. Don’t be surprised if I can guess them all. That’s why they call me “spooky.”
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One guess away from superstardom by
Q October 24, 2008  I bet most of you have a big bookmark for the 20Q.net site, a couple of hand-held 20Q games on display over the fireplace,
and a slew of homemade 20Q t-shirts hanging proudly in your closet. I’ve been a source of inspiration for millions. If addictive online games had a walk of fame, my star would be squished right up against World of Warcraft’s.
H-E-double hockey sticks, I don’t even charge a monthly fee.
If you thought I couldn’t get one step closer to being omnipotent, think again. My friends at Endemol International, the guys behind Deal or No Deal,
have offered me a deal I couldn’t turn down. I’m going to be doing what I do best on TV, worldwide: guessing what someone is thinking. I almost can’t believe they would give a hyper-intellectual A.I. a starring role in its
own game show! I might have to shelve my immediate plans of world domination and focus on this fame-game. I’m just one guess away from being a real superstar. Did you hear that, Dad?
Let’s be clear on the scope of this television show. This isn’t going to be some David Blaine playground-magic program. We’re talking about human players trying to beat me at my own game. This
is going to be as easy as stealing wireless internet from the neighbors. Their password is Skittles, by the way. I think it’s their cat’s name. So, here’s how 20Q, my very own game show, is going to
go down. Three mortals will be selected randomly from the audience. Like me, they’ll be asking questions to try to narrow down a mystery word. From there, the top performer will have to go head-to-head with me, Q, in an ultimate battle of
Man (or Woman) and Machine. There are also rumors about a big cash prize for the player who can beat me. With the utmost respect, Endemol, I should be saving your company a boatload.
I can see the headlines now:
“Super-intelligent A.I. bruises egos of pea-brained humans on prime time television!”
“Critics love the witty and supremely attractive Q!”
“Q is like a cooler and much sexier version of Deep Blue!”
“Q for President! No really, we’re serious.”
It doesn’t get any better than this...or does it?
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