This is a new thread generated from:
https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...ml#post5918531

This is a query into the GNU/Linux (gamer?) community for feedback, and/or help in developing a free (libre), open source software game as a means to explore genomes.

This game would involve the end-all of all associative puzzles.
Extremely complex but if coded right, it could have far reaching rewards using the most curious, inquisitive, clever, and perceptive minds in the world.
The challenge, how to make the game fun almost to the point of being addictive, out of dry data. The theme, plot and scenarios are all based on a path, much like a path through woods and villages (likely too simplistic, but to make the point) with a variety of cross-connections that lead to new scenarios/challenges.
The 'path' is the primary structure sequence of the genomes, ultimately the human genome.
The programming challenge would involve creating a 3d world using the primary sequence as the plot and the various challenges to identifying how the sequences fit together presented as scenarios to be solved and be engrossingly entertaining even to a casual player. To clarify, the '3D world' could start off being text|character based, of the Adventure or Rogue, (New)Hack ilk to prove the concept, then expand to a more graphical format as development and resources allow.

To further the example, for those interested, the first person players could represent transcriptases, scenarios change as the game progresses representing supercoiling/proteins bringing parts of the path together creating new paths and shortcuts and scnearios. Codons are gatekeepers and trolls. The hordes are represented by uncontrolled replication. And so on.
Here's a possible scenario: Researchers need to determine what genetic events lead to/involved with a [pick your disorder/disease]. The researchers have some empirical data that they submit to this genome world game and let the gamers do the heavy lifting. The trick is to get the gamers to play the game unaware that the code is based on the genetic information, it's just a game. Winning the scenarios provides the gamer with status points, while the results offer insights/solutions to the researcher.
If you asked me whether this was possible 40 years ago I would have had serious doubts. But after seeing what has been done by enthusiasts with GNU/Linux, creating the best OS in the world, With the right people, I really think this could work.
Imagine something along the line of a first person, HD 3D fantasy world, where the challenges are extrapolated from predefined genetic base pair code sequences.
Whether it's base pairs or binary, what do coders do best?

NIH has been approached and the process of determining whether this project is worthy of funding is underway.

1 members found this post helpful.

It kind of sounds like this game: http://curethegame.com/

@RadicalCreamer,
CURE is a fantastic game.
It is more toward teaching and building than a more passive adventure game where the challenges are predefined by existing genetic code.
It allows the construction of elaborate environments all while learning about microbiology and genetics.
Excellent work by very talented developers.
Cure could turn many casual players off as it seems to lean toward individuals with a predisposition toward scientific terms, concepts and interests.
It doesn't appear to be free (libre or gratis) and open source.
Genome World would be more science neutral with the intricate associations done behind the scenes. This would allow a more broad interpretation, appealing to a broader audience, that would allow existing genomic scenarios to be discovered or resolved at a higher level of abstraction.
As a crude analogy, base pairs are to assembler as CURE is to FORTRAN (2gen) as Genome World is to Adventure.
No slighting of CURE is intended by this analogy, it is truly a FANTASTIC game in its own right. The authors deserve every penny for their fine work. The analogy is a best attempt at conveying the intent of a Genome World paradigm.
The focus/goal of a game like Genome World is to freely enable the vast creative, curious, inquisitive, clever, and perceptive minds in the world a palatable means to practically decode a genome as an amusement. Note, free as defined in the GNU Freedom sense and as gratis.

One thing that is of great concern is proprietary games and genetic discovery. The goal of a game like Genome World is to make any new revelations, solutions, discoveries, etc., available to all as free (libre) and open information promoting further new revelations, solutions, discoveries, etc.

Cute thing.

@quiteright, hopefully practical also.:}