Talks to Watch

That scene from War Games

2.3M views · Feb 17, 2007 · 4:06 · 1 HN recommender · 7 mentions · discussed 2010–2025

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 points people here: Mostly used as a joking or nostalgic reference in threads about nuclear war, AI and security exploits.

What Hacker News said 7

Strongly recommendscarapaceJun 2018

“I'm bawling my eyes out right now.”

Emotional climax scene of War Games

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I found the scene on youtube: this video I'm bawling my eyes out right now. "The only winning move is not to play."

Cites itantmanJun 2020

“it’s on the monitor at 3:40”

Source scene for the quote about not playing

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“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
Jokez8000Feb 2010

“Broderick enters "ZERO" instead of "0" for the number of players, which made me chuckle.”

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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

JokejgrahamcSep 2012

“Would have been fun if they called this the CPE1704TKS attack instead of CRIME”

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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
JokemlvljrMay 2016

“Cheers from the place, and an obligatory link”

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"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
Jokeskynet-9000Mar 2021

“it almost started global thermonuclear war! Here's a clip”

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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
JokeLinuxBenderApr 2025

“Obscure reference to "Wargames" from 1983.”

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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