Bloch Invaders
A Space Invaders-inspired game where the Bloch sphere is the game space. Players navigate quantum states using Y and Z gates, and defeat invaders by choosing the right measurement basis.
Overview
Each invader has a quantum state on the Bloch sphere. The player's "weapon" is measurement, but choosing the right basis (X, Y, or Z) maximizes damage. Invaders whose state aligns with the measurement basis take full damage; misaligned invaders take partial or no damage. The player uses Y gate (polar angle) and clock/Z gate (azimuthal angle) to manipulate their targeting reticle.
Key Mechanics
| Mechanism | Gate | Game Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Theta rotation | y(prop, fraction) | Navigate polar angle on Bloch sphere |
| Phi rotation | clock(prop, fraction) | Navigate azimuthal angle on Bloch sphere |
| Basis measurement | hadamard + measure_properties() | Measure in X, Y, or Z basis |
| Entangled twins | cycle + hadamard + i_swap(0.5) | Boss pair, damage shared |
| Decoherence | reduced_density_matrix() | Coherence fading visualization |
The three measurement bases decompose into gate sequences: Z-basis is a direct measurement, X-basis applies Hadamard first, Y-basis applies S†-H first. Damage depends on overlap between the measurement basis and the invader's state.