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Mckinsey/Imbellus plant defence game: recalling additional details

McKinsey McKinsey & Company McKinsey Imbellus
New answer on Sep 11, 2023
5 Answers
1.4 k Views
Dylan asked on Mar 16, 2023

Good day

I am coding the plant defence game environment in Python. As such, I have mostly relied on the two links below for details:

  1.  https://mconsultingprep.com/mckinsey-problem-solving-game-digital-assessment
  2. https://www.jobtestprep.com/mckinsey-problem-solving-game#:~:text=Plant%20Defense%20is%20a%20turn,as%20many%20turns%20as%20possible.

 

The reason I am coding up this environment is to apply a value-based reinforcement learning algorithm such as neural fitted Q-iteration to it. This will determine near optimal game-play if the algorithm converges.

 

It is crucial that the environment be as close as possible to the real thing. Hence, I would like to ask users that have played the actual game whether they could clear up the following questions:

  1. When there are more than one invader, do they all move at the same time in a given turn? Or does one of the invaders move for every turn?
  2. It would seem like the snake only covers the block it is in while the eagle/falcon covers the block it is in as well as North, East, South and West. Is this correct for the falcon? What range have you observed for the wolf?
  3. Apparently, a wolf does damage of 60 and an eagle does damage of 20? Are these correct, and what have you experienced for the snake? I have currently set its damage to 50.
  4. Is the ground-hog immune to snake attacks?
  5. About how much of each defender and terrain item did you receive at the beginning?
  6. How many cliffs would you say exist at the beginning of the game, i.e. how many squares are occupied by cliffs at the start.

 

I know that some of the questions are quite a big ask. Even if you could answer just one of the questions it would greatly enhance the performance of the reinforcement learning policy.

 

Disclosure: the algorithm will most likely not be used on the actual game. That would seem a bit unethical. It would be interesting, however, to see what score is possible and whether the algorithm can score better than some of the top human players.

 

 

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Best answer
Hagen
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Mar 16, 2023
#1 Bain coach | >95% success rate | interviewer for 8+ years | mentor and coach for 7+ years

Hi Dylan,

I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

  • First of all, it is great to see your ambition to develop a simulation of the plant defense game from the McKinsey Solve.
  • Unfortunately, however, it seems that McKinsey has replaced the plant defense game with the RedRock study in most countries and offices. As such, I would highly advise you to read up on this in case the aim is to develop an up-to-date simulation of the McKinsey Solve.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to address your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

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Ian
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updated an answer on Mar 17, 2023
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Hi there,

You do know that MConsultingPrep has already built a game that perfectly mimics this? They've done an amazing job - not sure why you want to spend time recreating this!

Ultimately, it's a tower defense game. So, if you want to practice this or “replicate" you're literally replicating any of the 100s of simple tower defense games that already exist online…you're just inputting the specific game mechanics McKinsey chose.

Additionally, this game appears to be getting phased out.

When there are more than one invader, do they all move at the same time in a given turn? Or does one of the invaders move for every turn?

Same time. All invaders move each turn.

It would seem like the snake only covers the block it is in while the eagle/falcon covers the block it is in as well as North, East, South and West. Is this correct for the falcon? What range have you observed for the wolf?

There are different ranges correct.

Apparently, a wolf does damage of 60 and an eagle does damage of 20? Are these correct, and what have you experienced for the snake? I have currently set its damage to 50.

From memory this is about right

Is the ground-hog immune to snake attacks?

No. Nothing is immune. But there are terrains that slow certain animals down.

About how much of each defender and terrain item did you receive at the beginning?

Around 3-6, depending on the item

How many cliffs would you say exist at the beginning of the game, i.e. how many squares are occupied by cliffs at the start.

Less than 15%. And then you can add more (but it's normally a really bad strategy)

 

(edited)

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Anonymous A replied on Mar 16, 2023

1. They all move at the same time.
2. Snake covers one block and attacks there. Wolves it's block NSEW. Eagle you can think of it as a wolf but with extended range covering NSEW within 2 blocks and all blocks adjacent to it (even diagonal ones)
3. Snake damage is at 50 usually 
4. To the best of my knowledge invaders are not immune to any kind of defense however they are slowed down by certain terrains
5- Can't really recall 
6- Depends on the map 

I think this is not constant but likely 

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8
Sophia Marie replied on Sep 11, 2023

Is it possible to try out your plant defence game? :)

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Cristian
Expert
Content Creator
replied on Aug 29, 2023
#1 rated MBB & McKinsey Coach

Hi there!

Wow, you really took it to another level. 

I respect your curiosity to see what a perfect score could look like, but honestly if your objective is to get into consulting, I dare speculate that this might not be the best way of spending your time :)

Best,
Cristian

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