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# Advertisement > *"Objects don't wait to be used — they announce what they can do."* --- ## What Is It? **Advertisement** is The Sims-style object interaction: every object in a room broadcasts its available actions, scored by relevance to the current context. Instead of the user memorizing commands, objects **advertise** what's possible: ``` You approach the workbench. Available actions (sorted by relevance): ⭐ CRAFT tool (you have materials) • EXAMINE blueprints • ORGANIZE parts • MORE options... ``` --- ## The Sims Connection In **The Sims**, objects have "advertisements" — each interaction scores based on: - The Sim's current needs (hunger, fun, social) - Object properties (a fridge scores high for hunger) - Context (can't use stove if broken) This extensible object architecture was **key to The Sims' massive success**: - **User-created objects** — anyone could make new furniture, appliances, characters - **Expansion packs** — just drop in new objects with their advertisements - **No code changes** — objects self-describe their behaviors - **Infinite variety** — the community created millions of objects The same YAML file that defines what an object *is* also defines what it *can do*. Plug-in architecture for free. MOOLLM applies this to **any object**: ```yaml # workbench.yml type: object advertisements: - action: CRAFT score_if: "has_materials AND has_skill" satisfies: [productivity, creativity] - action: EXAMINE score_if: "always" satisfies: [curiosity] - action: MORE score_if: "always" satisfies: [exploration] ``` --- ## How It Works ### 1. Objects Broadcast Every object in the room has an `advertisements` list: ```yaml advertisements: - action: USE description: "Activate this tool" preconditions: [in_inventory, charged] score: 80 - action: EXAMINE description: "Look closely" preconditions: [] # always available score: 50 ``` ### 2. Context Scores Scores adjust based on: - **Character needs** — hungry character scores FOOD higher - **Current goals** — research goal scores EXAMINE higher - **Environment** — dark room scores LIGHT higher ### 3. Pie Menu Appears Top actions surface in the [PIE-MENU](../room/): ``` [CRAFT] ⭐ [ORGANIZE] • [EXAMINE] • [MORE] ``` Center = highest score = default action. --- ## Autonomous Selection For **autonomous agents**, advertisements enable self-direction: ``` Agent evaluates all objects in room: workbench: CRAFT (85), EXAMINE (50) bookshelf: READ (70), ORGANIZE (30) door: EXIT (40) Agent selects: CRAFT at workbench (score 85) ``` No hardcoded behavior. Objects define possibilities. Agent selects based on goals. --- ## Example: Smart Room ```yaml # research-lab/ROOM.yml objects: - microscope: advertisements: - action: ANALYZE_SAMPLE score_if: "has_sample" score: 90 - action: CALIBRATE score_if: "accuracy < 0.9" score: 60 - notebook: advertisements: - action: WRITE_NOTES score_if: "has_observations" score: 75 - action: REVIEW score: 40 - coffee_maker: advertisements: - action: BREW score_if: "fatigue > 0.3" score: 65 - action: CLEAN score_if: "uses > 5" score: 30 ``` Agent enters, sees: ``` Top actions: 1. ANALYZE_SAMPLE at microscope (90) — you have a sample! 2. WRITE_NOTES at notebook (75) — observations pending 3. BREW at coffee_maker (65) — you're a bit tired ``` --- ## SimAntics Heritage This is **SimAntics** — The Sims' behavioral engine: | SimAntics | MOOLLM | |-----------|--------| | Object advertisement | `advertisements:` list in YAML | | Motive scores | Context-based scoring | | Autonomous selection | Agent picks highest-scored action | | Pie menu | [PIE-MENU](../room/) for user interaction | Don Hopkins worked on SimAntics. This is that tradition, for LLM agents. --- ## HyperCard-Style Event Bubbling When you click an advertised action, it triggers a **symbolic event** that bubbles up: ``` Click CRAFT on workbench Event path: 1. workbench (object) → handles CRAFT? no, pass up 2. workshop/ (room) → handles CRAFT? no, pass up 3. building/ (parent) → handles CRAFT? no, pass up 4. world/ (root) → handles CRAFT? no, check inheritance 5. workbench-prototype → handles CRAFT? YES → execute ``` Just like HyperCard: events bubble from button → card → background → stack. ### Containment Tree (Spatial) Events bubble **up** the room hierarchy: ``` object in room in parent-room in world ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ event bubbles up ``` ### Inheritance Graph (Prototype) If no handler in containment tree, check the **prototype chain**: ``` workbench ↓ inherits from furniture-prototype ↓ inherits from object-prototype → has default CRAFT handler! ``` ### Combined Path ```yaml # Event resolution order: 1. The object itself 2. Parent room 3. Grandparent room 4. ... up to world root 5. Object's prototype 6. Prototype's prototype 7. ... up to root prototype ``` First handler that responds wins. Unhandled events can: - Log a warning - Trigger POSTEL (charitable interpretation) - Invoke a default handler ### Example: Custom Behavior ```yaml # workshop/ROOM.yml handles: CRAFT: | # Room-level craft handler Check if character has required skill. Check if materials available in room. If conditions met, delegate to object. Otherwise, suggest where to get materials. ``` The room intercepts CRAFT before it reaches the object, adding room-specific logic. --- ## Dovetails With - [Room](../room/) — Where objects live and advertise - [PIE-MENU](../room/) — How advertisements surface to users - [SNAP-CURSOR](../room/) — Context-aware object interaction - [Coherence Engine](../coherence-engine/) — Evaluates and selects actions - [Trading Card](../card/) — Cards can advertise too - [Rubric](../rubric/) — **Scoring criteria** for advertisement evaluation - [Scoring](../scoring/) — How scores are calculated and valued --- ## Protocol Symbols ``` ADVERTISEMENT — Objects announce available actions AUTONOMOUS-SELECTION — Agent picks based on scores SIMANTICS — The Sims behavioral model PIE-MENU — Radial display of options FLY-UNDER-RADAR — Normalize through defaults PROCEDURAL-RHETORIC — Rules carry ideology ``` See: [PROTOCOLS.yml](../../PROTOCOLS.yml) --- ## The Deep Insight From [SIMANTICS](../../PROTOCOLS.yml): > *"The Sims' AI isn't centralized — it's distributed throughout objects."* > *"A refrigerator knows it offers food. A bed knows it offers sleep."* > *"The Sim chooses from what's advertised nearby."* This IS MOOLLM's architecture. Objects self-describe. The coherence engine orchestrates. Intelligence is **distributed** throughout the world. The advertisements ARE the AI.