A puzzle box where the world restarts every 5 Minutes. Can you solve it with the help of an AI companion?

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COMPUTALA 2026

Now exhibiting at COMPUTALA 2026 in Leicester UK at LCB Gallery from 09 Jan onwards! Learn more - https://lcbdepot.co.uk/event/computala2026/

Exhibition is open weekdays 11am-5pm from Monday January 12th to Friday January 30th 

Dev Recommendations - Headphones for the audio! Only the mouse is needed for play (no keyboard controls). 

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COMPUTALA 2026 context

The theme of COMPUTALA 2026 (hosted by New Media Art Club) is Robots for a Safer World. The theme usually evokes machines taking on dangerous physical labour. This piece shifts that idea into the domain of judgement and rules. The “robot” here is the system itself: a loop that observes what you try, resets the world, and quietly teaches you what kinds of moves are allowed. The aim is not to simulate industrial robotics, but to question how “safer” experiences are built when systems can standardise behaviour through constraints, feedback, and repetition. COMPUTALA 2026 frames AI as a space for critical discourse in creative practice. 

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How to play

Controls

• Mouse only (no keyboard). 

• Click and drag to rotate the cube.

• Click panels and corners to interact.

The loop

• Every “day” is 5 minutes seconds. The world and cube puzzle reset. 

• The music loop and the day/night changes to the time as well. Headphones recommended. 

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What this game expects from you

There is no written tutorial. That is intentional. The work is about the pleasure and friction of learning a system by touch, and about how rules become felt through repetition. 

If you enjoy puzzle boxes: treat this like learning a new physical object. If you are new to puzzle games: give it three loops before deciding whether it is for you.

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About the GenAI Helper

This GenAI Helper version is in early development (based on my PhD Research). The GenAI helper uses a mix of models but prefers to use ChatGPT 4o or 5.1 depending on the request. The COMPUTALA edition is the debut of the GenAI “facilitator” or helper that can:

• offer short onboarding prompts (without giving the solution),

• highlight interactive areas when players seem lost,

• provide adaptive hints after repeated resets,

This GenAI helper presented as an art feature, not convenience / quality of life feature. It makes visible the idea that “safety” can mean being guided, nudged, and classified by a system. Do you trust the GenAI helper?

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Accessibility and comfort (PENDING)

• [PENDING] Optional mode to extend or disable the 60-second reset (less time pressure).

• Clear full-screen option and improved canvas scaling in browser. [Available via itch.io full screen]

• Visible countdown timer [Available in-game!]

• Volume control and mute - use local computer sound or browser tab mute for now

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Credits and notes

Made in Unity 6. Originally created for LGN September Jam 2025 (theme: “And then it was over…”).  (Ref: https://itch.io/jam/lgn-september-jam-2025)

Thank you to New Media Art Club for including this experience in COMPUTALA 2026.

Influences and Inspirations include Outer Wilds, regression themes in GameLit, and liminal “ending” moods.

All in all, I expect you'll be able to solve the puzzle. For fun here are some "tiers" or "ranks" to compete against:

Quantum Box Savant — ≤ 3:00
"You bent space and time to achieve the impossible.”

 Grandmaster of Boxes — ≤ 5:00
“Every click was a checkmate.”

 Master Box Maker — ≤ 8:00
“All your boxes are mine!.”

Expert Solver — ≤ 10:00
“The box is not the enemy, the mind is.”

Skilled Explorer — ≤ 12:00
“You mapped the cube.”

Curious Novice — ≤ 15:00
 “Great start, keep going.”

Bright Beginner — ≤ 20:00
 “First tries always count.”

If you'd like to compete against my best timing, it's 1 min 33secs. 

Good luck,

Tim