Quick Start in 5 Minutes
What you need
● The MaOS game archive
● A new, clean chat session with ChatGPT that can read uploaded files
● Usually 2-10 minutes for the AI to analyze the archive and initialize the game
Use this page after downloading the MaOS archive from itch.io. Recommended: start every new run in a clean chat with file-upload support.
Start a new game
Start a new AI chat
Open a new chat with an AI model that supports file uploads. For the best result, use a fresh chat with no previous game state, character history, or unrelated context.
Upload the MaOS archive
Upload the full MaOS archive to the AI chat. Do not unpack, edit, rename, or remove files.
Send the launch prompt
Copy and paste the full prompt below after uploading the archive:
Fully analyze the entire archive without omissions and launch the game. Treat this chat as an isolated game session. Do not use, import, infer, or rely on information from any other chats, memories, previous sessions, user profiles, saved context, or external conversations. For this game session, the only valid sources of information are: the uploaded archive, the instructions explicitly written in this chat, and the player's future messages in this same chat. If you detect any conflict between the archive and information from outside this chat, ignore the outside information. Do not merge this session with any previous game state, character history, world state, or decisions unless they are explicitly provided again in this chat.
Fully analyze the entire archive without omissions and launch the game. Treat this chat as an isolated game session. Do not use, import, infer, or rely on information from any other chats, memories, previous sessions, user profiles, saved context, or external conversations. For this game session, the only valid sources of information are: the uploaded archive, the instructions explicitly written in this chat, and the player's future messages in this same chat. If you detect any conflict between the archive and information from outside this chat, ignore the outside information. Do not merge this session with any previous game state, character history, world state, or decisions unless they are explicitly provided again in this chat.
Wait for the archive analysis to finish
The AI will analyze the archive and prepare the game. Wait until the analysis is complete. The first game message should ask for information needed to create the character card or starting profile.
Create the character card
Send the information requested by the AI. The exact questions may vary between launches. Answer them directly. If a question is unclear, ask the AI to clarify it before continuing.
Start playing
After the character card is complete, the first turn will begin.
Migrating to a New Chat Every 50 Messages
Migrating to a New Chat Every 50 Messages: Saving Game Progress
AI chats have limited context capacity. To preserve the logic and structure of the game, save and migrate approximately every 50 chat messages, or whenever the game reminds you to do so. To save your current progress, paste this prompt into the active game chat:
Save the current game progress and give me a downloadable file.
Download the file.
AI chats have limited context capacity. To preserve the logic and structure of the game, save and migrate approximately every 50 chat messages, or whenever the game reminds you to do so. To save your current progress, paste this prompt into the active game chat:
Save the current game progress and give me a downloadable file.
Download the file.
Continue from a Save File
Start a new AI chat
Open a new chat with an AI model that supports file uploads. For the best result, use a fresh chat with no previous game state, character history, or unrelated context.
Upload the MaOS archive
Upload the full MaOS archive and the save file to the AI chat. Do not unpack, edit, rename, or remove files.
Send the renewed launch prompt
Copy and paste the full renewed prompt below after uploading the archive:
Fully analyze the entire archive and the save file without omissions, then continue the game. Treat this chat as an isolated game session. Do not use, import, infer, or rely on information from any other chats, memories, previous sessions, user profiles, saved context, or external conversations. For this game session, the only valid sources of information are: the uploaded archive, the instructions explicitly written in this chat, and the player's future messages in this same chat. If you detect any conflict between the archive and information from outside this chat, ignore the outside information. Do not merge this session with any previous game state, character history, world state, or decisions unless they are explicitly provided again in this chat.
Fully analyze the entire archive and the save file without omissions, then continue the game. Treat this chat as an isolated game session. Do not use, import, infer, or rely on information from any other chats, memories, previous sessions, user profiles, saved context, or external conversations. For this game session, the only valid sources of information are: the uploaded archive, the instructions explicitly written in this chat, and the player's future messages in this same chat. If you detect any conflict between the archive and information from outside this chat, ignore the outside information. Do not merge this session with any previous game state, character history, world state, or decisions unless they are explicitly provided again in this chat.
Wait for the archive analysis to finish
The AI will analyze the archive and prepare the game. Wait until the analysis is complete. The first game message should ask for information needed to create the character card or starting profile.
Continue playing
After that, the last turn will continue.
During play
Available actions
● Choose one of the suggested actions
● Ask the AI consultant for advice
● Describe your own action in free form
● Ask for clarification about the current situation● Request a status summary when needed
● Ask to generate a map of the dome and the explored surrounding area
You can write anything that makes sense inside the game situation. The AI will interpret the action and continue the scenario.
Important Note About the Game Goal
The goal of the game is intentionally not revealed to the player. Completing a level is not about building a base or collecting a specific amount of resources. The real objective is different, and discovering it is one of the purposes of the game. Enjoy the process. After completing a level, you can continue playing indefinitely, provided that progress is properly migrated to a new chat when needed.
Important note about unique runs
Each new launch of MaOS generates its own unique descriptions, scenes, turns, and wording. This is intentional. It is not a bug if a new game begins differently from a previous run. MaOS is designed to create a unique playthrough each time. The same archive can produce different but structurally valid game sessions.
Troubleshooting
If the AI summarizes the archive instead of launching the game, write:
Launch the game now. Start with the first required player setup step.
If the AI uses information from another chat or previous session, write:
Ignore all outside context. Use only the uploaded archive and this chat.
If the AI skips the character card, write:
Return to the character card setup before starting the first turn.
If the AI says it cannot access the archive, upload the archive again and repeat the launch prompt. Use ChatGPT Plus or higher.
Enjoy the game!
