There's a bit in Ender's Game where he plays this computer game that has a dreamlike quality to it. It seemed it could simulate a response to any player action,

There's a bit in Ender's Game where he plays this computer game that has a dreamlike quality to it. It seemed it could simulate a response to any player action, and continue the story along that path. I think in the book it was a tool for introspection, like dreams can be? I can't really remember. Anyway, as a kid I thought, silly author, that's not how computer games work. But it turns out Orson Scott Card is smarter than me. Give this kind of thing a few years and we'll have it.