CONNECT4

A small old-school terminal-style Connect 4 game built for the 2026 GDTV Jam.

This is a lightweight submission because I’m currently balancing school obligations, but I still wanted to submit something playable and complete rather than sit the jam out.

The main hook is AI transparency. Instead of hiding the computer opponent behind a black box, the game includes an inspection panel that lets players peek at how the baseline AI evaluates the board.

The jam theme, Connections, is reflected in several ways:

• The literal gameplay objective is creating connected lines of pieces.
• The AI connects future possibilities together through move evaluation and search.
• The inspection system creates a connection between the player and the AI’s reasoning process by exposing how decisions are made instead of concealing them behind hidden logic.
• The long-term goal of the project is exploring how humans can better connect with machine intelligence through transparency and understanding.

Features

• Classic Connect 4 gameplay
• Local human vs. human mode
• Human vs. AI mode
• Multiple AI difficulty levels
• Retro terminal-inspired visual style
• Keyboard controls
• AI inspection mode for transparency

Controls

• 1-7 - Drop a piece in a column
• R - Reset
• M - Change mode
• D - Change difficulty
• I - Inspect AI

Development Note

This version is intentionally simple, but it is also the foundation for a larger AI experiment. The long-term idea is to compare baseline gameplay AI against future learning-based agents and make the decision-making process visible to the player.

music:

Documentary Classical Piano - Only you (Long Version)

by Alex-Productions

Classical Landscapes

by Ketsa