Atari Founder Makes Alexa Board Game

As smart assistants like Alexa become more ubiquitous, we're starting to see some creative uses for their capabilities. Of course, Alexa is already capable of controlling your smart home or launching apps on your Xbox, but today we're seeing a more unique application for her talents. X2 Games, a company headed by Zai Ortiz and Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell, has announced an Alexa-enabled board game called St. Noire, billing it as an "AI powered murder mystery."

To play St. Noire, you'll need three different things: the board game itself, an Alexa device, and the St. Noire Alexa skill. Once you've collected all of your physical materials and installed the skill, you're ready to dive in. You'll use Alexa to interview suspects in your attempt to discover who the killer is, exploring different locations along the way and tracking down the murder weapon.

Each round, you'll have three different options. You can examine a location for evidence, question a character, or accuse a suspect. You've got seven nights to figure out who the murderer is before they strike again, but complicating matters is the fact that suspects can and will lie to you. X2 Games warns that not all characters who lie are guilty, and each time you play, the identity of the killer will be randomized, allowing for multiple playthroughs.

Since it sounds like Alexa is handling most of the heavy lifting with this game, it isn't really surprising to hear that it can be played solo. You can also play cooperatively with a group of friends and try to crack the case together. Total game time only runs 20 or 30 minutes, so it sounds like this'll be a pretty good game to break out at social gatherings too.

St. Noire isn't available just yet, as its release date is currently set for August 15th. The game is up for pre-order now at Amazon for $39.99, and if you're heading to San Diego Comic Con this weekend, you'll be able to check out the game there, with Bushnell and Ortiz on hand to speak to attendees.