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Let's play 21 Questions, Cowboy Version!

860 sats \ 132 comments \ @OneOneSeven 29 Oct movies

I had an idea for a version of 20 Questions that I thought we could play on Stacker News. Let's try it out, maybe it will suck but I want to see how it goes!

I've tried to design this "multiplayer" version of the game to incentivize teamwork and critical thinking as best I could think of. Please leave feedback as well. ¹

Rules

You must have a Cowboy Hat to participate.
Each stacker may ask one Yes-or-No question. Discussion is welcome, but precede your official question with [?]
- Guesses count as questions and invalid questions will be ignored.
If the movie I'm thinking of is guessed correctly within 21 questions, all participants that had their questions answered by me will get some sats!
I will update what questions have been asked in the pinned comment.

Reward

The reward is based on the total amount of questions asked. This is to incentivize thinking carefully about your question and trying to solve early.
Reward per stacker scales down as follows:
- 10th Question: 400 sats each
- 11th Question: 353 sats each
- 12th Question: 311 sats each
- 13th Question: 274 sats each
- 14th Question: 242 sats each
- 15th Question: 214 sats each
- 16th Question: 190 sats each
- 17th Question: 169 sats each
- 18th Question: 150 sats each
- 19th Question: 134 sats each
- 20th Question: 120 sats each
- 21st Question: 100 sats each
- 22nd and beyond:

Read the questions on the pinned comment before you ask!

Ask good questions to help the stackers after you so you can win more sats!

I'm thinking of a movie...

I may change the "One question per stacker" rule if the post doesn't receive enough attention but the idea is for this to be a community game. ↩

view all related items

1 reply \ @OneOneSeven OP 3 Nov

Questions so far:

Is it newer than the year 2000? - YES
Is it newer than the year 2012? - NO
Did it win any academy awards (Oscars)? - NO
Is it newer than 2006? - NO
Does the movie start with one of the letters A-M? - NO
Does the movie you have in mind have its own Wikipedia entry? - YES
Is it a comedy? - NO
Does the movie's title contain a person's name? - NO
Is the movie based on actual events? - NO
Is the movie animated? - NO
Is the number of words in the movie title an even number? - YES
Is the movie newer than 2003? - YES
Is it ones of these movies #750586 ? - NO
Does the movie title have 4 words? - YES

To help move this along, I'll give you each a free guess to use whenever!

@DesertDave - @Jon_Hodl - @SimpleStacker - @Undisciplined - @User21000000 - @cryotosensei guessed - The Hills Have Eyes - X @Roll - @zapsammy -

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 4 Nov

Is it Shaun of the Dead? - NO
Does the movie title start with "The" ? - NO

41 sats \ 1 reply \ @OneOneSeven OP 4 Nov

@SimpleStacker has guessed the movie:

War of the Worlds!

This was fun and I'll be sending out the rewards now, for 16 questions that's 380 sats for each of y'all.

Good teamwork and thanks for playing this round everyone!

@DesertDave @Jon_Hodl @SimpleStacker @Undisciplined @User21000000 @cryotosensei @Roll @zapsammy

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @SimpleStacker 4 Nov

141 sats \ 1 reply \ @SimpleStacker 4 Nov

Here's my free guess... War of the Worlds (2005)

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 4 Nov

Yes!

45 sats \ 2 replies \ @Undisciplined 29 Oct

[?]

Is it newer than 2006?

40 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 29 Oct

No!

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 31 Oct

Your turn again! #748278

42 sats \ 2 replies \ @User21000000 30 Oct

Does the movie start with one of the following letters A-m?

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @OneOneSeven OP 30 Oct

No!

21 sats \ 0 replies \ @User21000000 30 Oct

Thanks. Can some ask how many words 3 or more or something like that

42 sats \ 9 replies \ @DesertDave 29 Oct

[?]

Is it newer than the year 2000?

11 sats \ 1 reply \ @Jon_Hodl 29 Oct

Great starting point. I just asked if it's newer than 2012.

That gives us a 12-year window either way he answers.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @DesertDave 29 Oct

Seems like a good way to narrow it down.

11 sats \ 6 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 29 Oct

Yes!

11 sats \ 5 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 29 Oct

Good opener!

21 sats \ 4 replies \ @DesertDave 29 Oct

Thanks. Seems like a fun game. I like how it is cooperative. Not much incentive to ask the first few I guess.

0 sats \ 3 replies \ @DesertDave 29 Oct

Maybe the first few get a default small amount for being trailblazers

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 29 Oct

Yeah I could do that manually, or maybe something like the first few people get a free guess of the movie whenever they want, without using up a question.

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @DesertDave 29 Oct

Good idea anyways. I am sure it will evolve.

32 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 29 Oct

reply on another page

30 sats \ 2 replies \ @zapsammy 4 Nov

does the movie title start with "The?"

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 4 Nov

No!

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Jon_Hodl 4 Nov

Good question.

40 sats \ 13 replies \ @Undisciplined 1 Nov

[?] Is the movie newer than 2003?

22 sats \ 11 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 1 Nov

Yes!

0 sats \ 10 replies \ @Jon_Hodl 1 Nov

Point of clarification.

Does this mean that it was released in 2004 or later and does NOT include the year 2003?

8 sats \ 8 replies \ @User21000000 2 Nov

Hey so we are dealing with 04-06 even number of words so I’d say most likely 2 word title. No awards not a comedy Possibly one of these

1.	Hotel Rwanda (2004)
2.	Sin City (2005)
3.	Red Eye (2005)
4.	Brick (2005)
5.	Inside Man (2006)
6.	Silent Hill (2006)

Should we go for a catogory question this time

0 sats \ 7 replies \ @Undisciplined 2 Nov

You could also just ask if it's one of those on your list.

8 sats \ 6 replies \ @User21000000 2 Nov

True would that be a waste you think?

10 sats \ 2 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 2 Nov

Brick is one word

8 sats \ 0 replies \ @User21000000 2 Nov

lol whoops 😬 I was using my not so trusty ai to help narrow a list

reply on another page

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined 2 Nov

Hopefully, we would have caught that on our own at some point.

reply on another page

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @Undisciplined 2 Nov

It depends how comprehensive your list is. I don't know how you made it.

10 sats \ 1 reply \ @User21000000 2 Nov

Apologies for the oversight. Here’s a corrected list with exactly ten popular films from 2004 to 2006 with exactly two words in the title, that aren’t comedies and didn’t win major awards:

1.	Ocean’s Twelve (2004)
2.	Resident Evil (2004)
3.	Red Eye (2005)
4.	Green Street (2005)
5.	Silent Hill (2006)
6.	Miami Vice (2006)
7.	Blood Diamond (2006)
8.	Lady Vengeance (2005)
9.	Dark Water (2005)
10.	Little Fish (2005)

Thoughts

view replies

21 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 1 Nov

Correct

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Jon_Hodl 1 Nov

deleted by author

29 sats \ 11 replies \ @Roll 30 Oct

Is it a comedy ?

0 sats \ 10 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 30 Oct

No!

0 sats \ 9 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 3 Nov

Back to you @Roll

Last question: #751567

0 sats \ 8 replies \ @Roll 3 Nov

is it District 9 movie ?

0 sats \ 7 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 3 Nov

I'll give you a re-try, it's a movie released between 2004-2006 with 4 words in the title

0 sats \ 6 replies \ @Roll 3 Nov

Troy

0 sats \ 5 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 3 Nov

4 words not 4 letters! 😂

The Hills Have Eyes was a good guess.

0 sats \ 4 replies \ @Roll 3 Nov

😂😂😂

view replies

28 sats \ 1 reply \ @Jon_Hodl 31 Oct

[?] Is the movie animated?

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 31 Oct

No!

26 sats \ 1 reply \ @cryotosensei 3 Nov

Thanks for keeping track. Let’s get this!

[?]

Does the movie title have 4 words?

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 3 Nov

Yes!

26 sats \ 1 reply \ @DesertDave 31 Oct

[?] Is the movie a based on actual events?

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 31 Oct

No!

26 sats \ 1 reply \ @zapsammy 30 Oct

does the movie's title contain a person's name?

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 30 Oct

No!

26 sats \ 9 replies \ @Undisciplined 29 Oct

This seems fun.

15 sats \ 8 replies \ @Jon_Hodl 29 Oct

I already asked my question.

The movie is newer than 2000 but NOT newer than 2012.

Do you think we should narrow it down by studio? Actor? Genre?

43 sats \ 6 replies \ @SimpleStacker 29 Oct

I just asked the academy awards question.

I guess next might be to go by (broad swaths of) genre. Actor seems too specific.

53 sats \ 4 replies \ @Jon_Hodl 29 Oct

I think figuring out how many words and then what letter it starts with are going to be the next best options.

"Does the title of your movie contain 3 or more words?" If yes, then it's a longer title. If no, then it's 1 or 2 words.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 29 Oct

This is what the AI focused a lot of questions on

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @Undisciplined 29 Oct

That's good.

Another approach would be to lock in the release date. A binary search will get there with a few more questions.

46 sats \ 1 reply \ @Jon_Hodl 29 Oct

Even and odd numbers?

High/low: 2007-2012 or 2000-2006?

21 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined 29 Oct

I'll take high.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined 29 Oct

Actor might work if it's framed the right way: i.e. "Has the lead actor/actress ever won an Academy Award?"

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined 29 Oct

Whatever we do, we want to cut the set of remaining options in half. If Universal didn't produce half of the movies from 2001-2012, then we should ask if it was made by the top two or three studios.

25 sats \ 6 replies \ @SimpleStacker 31 Oct

[?] Is the number of words in the movie title an even number?

0 sats \ 4 replies \ @Jon_Hodl 31 Oct

Good one.

21 sats \ 3 replies \ @SimpleStacker 31 Oct

This is informal discussion only, but ChatGPT thinks it's "The Prestige"

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @Jon_Hodl 31 Oct

Yeah. That's on my list but my list is limited to movies that I like.

30 sats \ 1 reply \ @SimpleStacker 31 Oct

I also generally think that it's likely to be a well known movie and not something too obscure. (Which is why I initially thought to ask if it had won any oscars)

But that's an assumption; for all we know @OneOneSeven may have chosen a movie we've never heard of

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 31 Oct

@Undisciplined you’re up.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 31 Oct

Yes!

24 sats \ 3 replies \ @User21000000 2 Nov

Is it one of these movies? Ocean’s Twelve (2004) Resident Evil (2004) Red Eye (2005) Green Street (2005) Silent Hill (2006) Miami Vice (2006) Blood Diamond (2006) Lady Vengeance (2005) Dark Water (2005) Little Fish (2005) The Prestige Super 8 Slumdog Millionaire The Departed Sin City

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 2 Nov

No!

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @User21000000 2 Nov

Maybe it’s not a two word title

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 2 Nov

One way to find out!

23 sats \ 2 replies \ @cryotosensei 30 Oct

[?]

Does the movie you have in mind have its own Wikipedia entry?

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 2 Nov

We've looped back to sensei, your turn again!

Last Question: #750586

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 30 Oct

Yes! Haha, making sure I'm not choosing some indie film no one knows!

23 sats \ 1 reply \ @SimpleStacker 29 Oct

[?] Did it win any academy awards (Oscars)?

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 29 Oct

No!

22 sats \ 8 replies \ @Jon_Hodl 29 Oct

My proposals for new questions. I have already asked my official question so someone else will have to officially ask with their one guess.

We are looking for a movie released 2000-2006 (inclusive) with no oscars.

"Does your movie start with a letter A-M?". If yes, then we have letters to start with. If now, we have the other half letters to start with.
"Does the title of your movie contain 3 or more words?" If yes, then it's a longer title. If no, then it's only 1 or 2 words.
Does your movie have a sub-title? Here's an example of a movie with a sub title "Indiana Jones Raiders Of the Lost Ark" vs a movie without a subtitle "Black Hawk Down". This might be better to ask before the above question.
Still thinking of other ways to narrow it down.

21 sats \ 4 replies \ @User21000000 30 Oct

Can someone ask around how many words three or more words

0 sats \ 3 replies \ @Jon_Hodl 30 Oct

Yes.

Please.

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @User21000000 30 Oct

I think it will be a two word title myself so many at that time two worders

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @OneOneSeven OP 30 Oct

Next game of this, whoever does it, maybe some rule to let people ask more questions if no one else is.

For now, there’s gotta be some cowboys in the saloon you can round up.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @User21000000 30 Oct

Think so

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @User21000000 30 Oct

Title length will help

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @Jon_Hodl 30 Oct

Agreed. If we can narrow it down to the number of words in the title, we can reduce it down to a reasonably small number of mainstream titles.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @User21000000 30 Oct

Yes someone help us! Ask the question!

22 sats \ 7 replies \ @Jon_Hodl 29 Oct

Ok. So the movie is newer than 2000 but NOT newer than 2012.

Let's see if we can find the studio that produced your movie.

Is the movie produced by Universal Studios?

21 sats \ 0 replies \ @DesertDave 29 Oct

With no Oscars.

21 sats \ 5 replies \ @DesertDave 29 Oct

It's one question per stacker right?

11 sats \ 0 replies \ @Jon_Hodl 29 Oct

The movie is newer than 2000 but NOT newer than 2012.

Do you think we should narrow it down by studio? Is your movie produced by Universal?

Actor? "Is Nicholas Cage or Michael Cain starring in your movie?"

Maybe alphabetically? "Does your movie start with a letter A-M?

11 sats \ 1 reply \ @Jon_Hodl 29 Oct

You're totally right. My bad.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @DesertDave 29 Oct

But you have good suggestions. Discussion is allowed.

11 sats \ 1 reply \ @OneOneSeven OP 29 Oct

Yessss hehe, maybe someone will ask that!

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 29 Oct

This could be tweaked going forward, like after a certain amount of time, people can ask another etc.

22 sats \ 2 replies \ @Jon_Hodl 29 Oct

Is it newer than 2012?

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @OneOneSeven OP 29 Oct

No! is that your final answer [?]

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Jon_Hodl 29 Oct

That's the second question.

I just asked the third.

11 sats \ 2 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 31 Oct

The 8 of you can continue playing but you must ask the questions in the same order, starting with @DesertDave, spread the word.

I'll divide the total sats evenly between you cowboys:

win on 16th question = (16 * 190 sats) / 8 = 380 sats each

24 sats \ 1 reply \ @User21000000 2 Nov

Where are we at? Who’s question?

5 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 2 Nov

My bad for not keeping up with this, actually you’re up next.

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 30 Oct

Questions so far:

Is it newer than the year 2000? - YES
Is it newer than the year 2012? - NO
Did it win any academy awards (Oscars)? - NO
Is it newer than 2006? - NO
Does the movie start with one of the letters A-M? - NO
Does the movie you have in mind have its own Wikipedia entry? - YES
Is it a comedy? - NO
Does the movie's title contain a person's name? - NO

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Jon_Hodl 31 Oct

You're up @SimpleStacker.

Ask away.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 31 Oct

deleted by author

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @OneOneSeven OP 30 Oct

I will continue answering about 10 hours from this comment!

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @User21000000 30 Oct

Look forward to more answers

0 sats \ 5 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 1 Nov

deleted by author

0 sats \ 4 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 2 Nov

Is it ones of these movies #750586 ? - NO

24 sats \ 3 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 3 Nov

Does the movie title have 4 words? - YES

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @cryotosensei 3 Nov

The Hills Have Eyes

24 sats \ 1 reply \ @OneOneSeven OP 3 Nov

Nope, but everyone should get a free guess, why not!

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @cryotosensei 3 Nov

Thanks for obliging me!

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @OneOneSeven OP 31 Oct

deleted by author

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 31 Oct

Is the number of words in the movie title an even number? - YES

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @VictorVonVodka 30 Oct

deleted by author

0 sats \ 3 replies \ @OneOneSeven OP 30 Oct

deleted by author

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @Jon_Hodl 30 Oct

@VictorVonVodka What question can you think to ask that would further refine what we know so far?

We are looking for a movie from 2000 to 2006 (inclusive) that starts with a letter A-M and it has never won an Oscar award.

I have suggested that we ask "Does your movie have a sub-title?"

Here's an example of a movie with a sub title "Indiana Jones Raiders Of the Lost Ark" vs. a movie without a subtitle "Black Hawk Down".
I have suggested "Does the title of your movie contain 3 or more words?" If yes, then it's a longer title. If no, then it's only 1 or 2 words. We can hone in on the actual movie name of we know how long it is.
"Does the title of your movie contain 2 or more words?" If yes, then we only eliminate one word films. If no, then we are 100% sure that it is a one word title.

Thoughts?