Echochambers

Echo Chamber is a web-based game where you enter fake online communities, each centered on a single belief. Persuade as many users as possible without getting banned by moderators.

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Inspiration

Echo Chamber was inspired by the rise of online polarization and the often absurd nature of internet forums. We were drawn to games like Neal’s Infinite Craft, Survive The Internet, and Hypnospace Outlaw, and wanted to create a playful, narrative-driven game that simulates the challenge of changing minds online.

What it does

Echo Chamber is a web-based video game where players navigate fake online communities, each obsessed with a single bizarre belief. Your goal is to persuade forum members to rethink their views, while managing your reputation and avoiding bans. The game features AI-generated forum interactions, a leveling system, and humorous beliefs to challenge like "Pizza is better without cheese."

How we built it

We built Echo Chamber using React and TypeScript on the frontend, styled with a Windows 95-inspired UI. The backend is a Rust-based REST API that manages user progress and game logic. We used Postgres for data storage and mocked AI interactions using structured JSON and prompt-response logic inspired by Gemini. The game logic includes dynamic reputation changes, member difficulty, ban appeals, and pixel art emoji reactions.

Challenges we ran into

  • Structuring AI prompts to reflect believable internet interactions with varied tone and difficulty
  • Emulating Windows 95 UI with bolt and React

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Designed a fully interactive retro-style forum interface
  • Implemented a reputation and persuasion system with multiple difficulty levels
  • Created an entertaining loop of conversations with AI-simulated forum replies
  • Built a ban appeal mechanic and tracking system for user stats across communities

What we learned

  • How to fine-tune AI prompts for dynamic in-game dialogue
  • Rust API design and integration with a frontend game loop
  • How to model social systems like persuasion, moderation, and online discourse in gameplay

What's next for Echochambers

  • Expanding the number of communities and conspiracy topics
  • Adding visual flair: animated emoji reactions, user badges, and mod intervention popups
  • Full user account system to track long-term stats and unlocks across sessions
  • Multiplayer debates or community vs. community challenges
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