How Will AI-Native Games Work? Well, Now We Know.
A Deep Dive Into Simcluster
I recently interviewed Harvey Pratt, creator of Simcluster, on Forward Thinking Founders. That’s my podcast I’ve been running since 2019, where I interview pre-series A founders and track them over time. Past guests include the founders of Deel, Mercury, Eight Sleep, Praxis, Runway, Jam, Pacaso, Acquire.com, Beehiiv, Rainmaker, Wander, Cognition (Devin), AI Grant, Circle, and many more.
I was compelled by the interview with Harvey and believe he will be successful in the future, so I decided to write up this overview so you could all learn more about Simcluster. You can find the original interview on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Youtube.
Imagine if X/Twitter and Cookie Clicker merged, infused with AI, intricate social dynamics, and a sophisticated clout economy. That fusion is Simcluster, the brainchild of Harvey Pratt. However, to label Simcluster merely as a game would be an oversimplification—it is an unique platform that blurs the lines between social networking and interactive entertainment.
Harvey's journey is as unconventional as his startup. Identifying as an artist with an engineering background, he left college during the COVID-19 pandemic, ventured into decentralized finance, experienced burnout, and serendipitously found his way into the tech spotlight through a single viral tweet. That pivotal moment came when Balaji Srinivasan tweeted about integrating name density recognition into Roam Research. Harvey quickly built the feature, shared the GitHub repo, and went to bed. By morning, Balaji had retweeted it, and Harvey's inbox was flooded with messages from VCs and tech founders. That unexpected burst of exposure marked the beginning of his path toward creating Simcluster.
What distinguishes Simcluster? Fundamentally, it operates as an anti-traditional social network. Visually reminiscent of Twitter, its mechanics are rooted in gameplay. Instead of composing text-based posts, users generate content using "fragments"—predefined nouns, verbs, styles, and notable figures. This system functions as a form of gamified prompt engineering, where each selection incurs a cost in "clout," the platform’s native currency. Users accumulate clout through engagement, which they can then reinvest to craft more compelling content, creating a dynamic cycle of interaction and strategy.
Understanding Fragments: The Core of Simcluster's Innovation
Fragments are the foundational elements of content creation within Simcluster. They resemble digital building blocks, each representing distinct concepts, themes, or styles—ranging from broad ideas like "happiness" to specific entities such as "Sam Altman." Users combine these fragments to produce content seamlessly, without the need for traditional typing. The underlying AI synthesizes the selected fragments to generate coherent, engaging posts.
The significance of fragments lies in their ability to democratize content creation. Users no longer need to possess advanced writing skills or design expertise; the intuitive fragment system enables anyone to participate creatively. Furthermore, fragments introduce a strategic dimension to the platform. Each carries an associated clout cost—basic topics like "weather" are inexpensive, while more controversial subjects demand a higher clout investment. This structure compels users to thoughtfully consider their content choices, balancing creativity with strategic resource management.
The Currency of Clout: From Twitter to Simcluster
Harvey Pratt views clout as an invisible yet powerful currency that drives user behavior on platforms like Twitter. According to him, every post, like, retweet, and comment is part of an unspoken game where individuals expend social capital in hopes of gaining more in return. "Clout on Twitter operates like an economy without a ledger—everyone intuitively knows their balance but it's never explicitly tracked," Harvey explains.
Simcluster takes this concept and formalizes it. In Simcluster, clout isn't just a metaphor; it's an actual in-game currency. Users spend clout to create content using fragments, and they earn it back through engagement from others. This system not only mirrors the social dynamics of platforms like Twitter but also adds layers of strategy. Players must consider the 'cost' of their posts in terms of clout, making each interaction a calculated move rather than a casual gesture. This transformation of clout from an abstract social measure to a tangible resource is one of Simcluster's most compelling innovations.
Simcluster is not attempting to supplant existing social media platforms. Instead, it operates as a meta-layer—a game that critically examines the mechanics of social networks. It taps into the underlying motivations behind social media engagement, particularly the pursuit of clout. Harvey aptly describes Twitter as "the most successful video game on the planet," highlighting the implicit competitive dynamics that Simcluster makes explicit, measurable, and engaging.
A Comparative Glance: Where Simcluster Succeeds Where Others Falter
While Simcluster is forging a new path, it's not the first to explore AI in gaming. Platforms like AI Dungeon initially dazzled users with the novelty of AI-driven storytelling but struggled with retention due to limited gameplay mechanics and a reliance on user-generated text. Similarly, many AI social platforms have faced the "slop problem"—feeds cluttered with content from fictional entities that quickly lose their charm. Harvey acknowledges this, saying, "AI isn't the feature; it's the medium. The game has to be fun even without the AI novelty."
Simcluster's innovation lies in integrating AI not as an add-on but as the backbone of its mechanics. Unlike games that merely slap AI onto existing genres, Simcluster leverages AI to create a game that couldn’t exist without it. Its strategic use of fragments, clout economy, and real-time social dynamics offers a depth that transcends initial novelty.
Backing the Vision
Simcluster's potential has attracted significant attention from notable investors. The company is backed by Cyan Banister (formerly Founders Fund and angel investor in Uber) + a16z Speedrun, signaling strong confidence from top-tier venture capital firms in Simcluster's ambitious vision. This level of endorsement underscores the platform's promise not just as a game, but as an at scale digital ecosystem.
The broader implications are profound. Simcluster challenges conventional approaches to AI integration in gaming. Unlike many AI-driven games that feel like technological showcases wrapped in superficial gameplay, Simcluster is inherently reliant on AI. Its core mechanics and user experiences are fundamentally shaped by AI capabilities, setting it apart as a genuinely novel gaming experience.
Looking ahead, Harvey envisions Simcluster evolving into an ecosystem akin to "Steam as an MMO," where the game itself functions as both platform and economy. In this model, virality is not merely a metric of popularity but a mechanism for tangible value creation. In an era where content creators often struggle against platform constraints, Simcluster proposes an alternative where clout translates into real-world significance.
Harvey's perspective on Silicon Valley further underscores Simcluster's distinctiveness. He critiques the prevalent venture capital approach that prioritizes technical innovation over thoughtful game design. According to Harvey, this oversight contributes to the high failure rate of AI-driven games, which often neglect the artistic and experiential aspects crucial to gaming success. Simcluster, by contrast, is a fusion of art, business acumen, and interactive design, presented through the lens of a social network.
In conclusion, Simcluster represents a bold reimagining of both gaming and social media. It is innovative, ambitious, and poised to disrupt traditional gaming paradigms. This is a platform worth watching—not just for its novelty, but for its potential to shape the future of digital interaction.
I hope you enjoyed this format. If you have any feedback, please reply. You can find the original interview on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or right below this text.