Doom can be described as a “national” game title; it has appeared on a multitude of devices you might not even think of, such as cash registers, the touch bar of MacBooks, printers, calculators, and more. It seems that playing Doom on unusual devices has become commonplace, and it is time to seek a new challenge for this legendary game—not where to play Doom, but who will take on the role of the “player.” Naturally, when it comes to experiments, mice are the first candidates.
Neuroscientist Viktor Tóth has spent the past year seeking the answer to the question: can you train a mouse to play Doom? After creating an experimental environment, developing a control method for the mice, and even designing a training program and reward system for them to participate in the game, Tóth has somewhat succeeded in getting the mice to play Doom.
The goal is to teach the mice how to navigate a short corridor in Doom II.
Tóth explains that after using a large screen to create a VR-like experience for the mice, he began training three mice using an automated method with minimal human intervention. The objective was to teach the mice how to move through a short corridor in Doom II and reach the end of the small level.
In the level, there is a monster, and Tóth’s system provides a way for the mouse to shoot it down using a shotgun in the game.
So how do the mice play Doom? A single mouse is placed in a small fixed frame, which is then set on top of a polystyrene ball connected to motion sensors. The ball sits on some ball bearings, allowing the mouse to move the ball to navigate the game.
In front of the mouse is a large, curved screen that surrounds them, creating a VR-like environment. The action of shooting is performed by the mouse lifting its body and extending its two front legs. Tóth admits that training the mice to shoot monsters is quite challenging, and he “lacked the time to reinforce this behavior.”
The purpose of this experiment is not merely for the mice to play Doom. Instead, Tóth hopes to reduce the costs for future VR experiments using rodents, making them more accessible and, importantly, less stressful for the animals.
An interesting detail is that the three mice in the experiment are named Carmack, Romero, and Tom, after some of the developers behind the original Doom game. Each has a different personality: Carmack likes to hoard items, Romero is very brave, while Tom is shy, but all three play the game quite well.
