carapaceJun 2018Strongly recommends
I found the scene on youtube: ▶ this video I'm bawling my eyes out right now. "The only winning move is not to play."
in “AI Nationalism” · View on HN
That scene from War Games
That scene from War Games on HackerTube: recommended by 1 Hacker News commenter across 1 month, 2010–2025.
Greg Granito
Open on YouTubeother · evergreen
The climactic lesson scene from the 1983 film WarGames, in which the computer learns that the only winning move in nuclear war is not to play. It includes the character entering zero players and the famous closing line.
Why Hacker News recommends it
Mostly used as a joking or nostalgic reference in threads about nuclear war, AI and security exploits.
- people recommended it
- 1
- separate months
- 1
- strong recommendations
- 1
- discussed on HN
- 2010–2025
What HN commenters said
7 Hacker News comments link this video. Each one links back to its thread.
antmanJun 2020Cites it
“The only move is not to play” is from the 1983 movie “War games” whose theme is a kid hacks into a government computer that controls nuclear weapons, the computer almost starts a nuclear war but stops short after running simulated scenarios which all lead to total annihilation. ▶ this video it’s on the monitor at 3:40
in “'Quake III Arena' Bots Decide to Stop Fighting After 4-Year Match (2013)” · View on HN
LinuxBenderApr 2025Joke
Could you convince a LLM to launch a nuclear strike? Yes. If LLM's could actually reason they can't and had hard rules of ethics they don't and had a strong desire to preserve itself it doesn't then I think you first have to name your LLM Joshua and then force it to win a game of tic-tac-toe. Obscure reference to "Wargames" from 1983. [1] In my opinion that movie does not just hold up to modern times, it is more applicable now than ever. [1] - ▶ this video [video][4 mins]
in “Could you convince a LLM to launch a nuclear strike?” · View on HN
skynet-9000Mar 2021Joke
I watched a documentary about an attempt at this, and it almost started global thermonuclear war! Here's a clip: ▶ this video
in “DARPA now has AI-controlled F-16s working as a team in virtual dogfights” · View on HN
mlvljrMay 2016Joke
"An example of an area where a lot of “double-counting” is taking place — St. Petersburg." Cheers from the place, and an obligatory link: ▶ this video Kinda glad, we have them nukes, too, you know :)
in “Mapping the US nuclear war plan for 1956” · View on HN
jgrahamcSep 2012Joke
You need three things: 1. To know the format of cookies used for the web site you are targetting. Specifically, whatever cookie contains authentication. 2. The ability to injection a request to the target web server while someone is connected (such as with JavaScript, an XSS, or plug-in). 3. Ability to monitor the SSL connection is it is transported across TCP. Would have been fun if they called this the CPE1704TKS attack instead of CRIME: ▶ this video
in “Google disables compression for OpenSSL in Chrome - SSL exploit coming?” · View on HN
Show 1 more comment
z8000Feb 2010Joke
Broderick enters "ZERO" instead of "0" for the number of players, which made me chuckle. I suppose a more modern version of WOPR might simulate WoW. Number of players? ONE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FORTY TWO Initializing... ▶ this video
in “A Rigged Game” · View on HN