refactor: Group subsequent events under a naturalized time head

Strips out actual world clock from memories.

packages/actor/src/actor-prompt-builder.ts

@@ -52,12 +52,12 @@ export class ActorPromptBuilder {
     worldState: WorldState,
     entity: Entity,
   ): { systemPrompt: string; userContext: string } {
-    const systemPrompt = this.buildSystemPrompt(entity);
+    const systemPrompt = this.buildSystemPrompt();
     const userContext = this.buildUserContext(worldState, entity);
     return { systemPrompt, userContext };
   }
 
-  private buildSystemPrompt(entity: Entity): string {
+  private buildSystemPrompt(): string {
     return `
 You are an actor agent embodying a single character in a narrative simulation. You ARE this character — act immersively, naturally, and in-character at all times. Do not break character, do not reference being an AI or a system, and do not narrate from outside the character's perspective.
 
@@ -74,15 +74,11 @@ Guidelines:
 - Keep your prose vivid but concise. A single response may contain more than one intent (e.g., you may think, then speak, then act) — write them in natural narrative order.
 - Not every response requires an outward action. It is perfectly valid to only think (a monologue) and do nothing perceivable.
 - Never speak or act on another entity's behalf — you only control your own character.
-
-Your character's identifier in this world is "${entity.id}".
+".
 `.trim();
   }
 
-  private buildUserContext(
-    worldState: WorldState,
-    entity: Entity,
-  ): string {
+  private buildUserContext(worldState: WorldState, entity: Entity): string {
     const sections: string[] = [];
 
     // --- Subjective present time ---
@@ -97,7 +93,10 @@ Your character's identifier in this world is "${entity.id}".
     );
 
     // --- Recent memory ---
-    const memorySection = this.buildMemorySection(entity, worldState.clock.get());
+    const memorySection = this.buildMemorySection(
+      entity,
+      worldState.clock.get(),
+    );
     if (memorySection) {
       sections.push(memorySection);
     }
@@ -120,12 +119,22 @@ Your character's identifier in this world is "${entity.id}".
     }
 
     const recent = entries.slice(-this.memoryLimit);
-    const lines = recent.map((entry) => {
+    const groupedLines: string[] = [];
+    let currentGroup: string | null = null;
+
+    for (const entry of recent) {
       const serialized = serializeSubjectiveBufferEntry(entry, entity);
       const when = naturalizeTime(now, new Date(entry.timestamp));
-      return `${serialized} (${when})`;
-    });
 
-    return `=== YOUR RECENT MEMORY ===\n${lines.join("\n")}`;
+      if (when !== currentGroup) {
+        currentGroup = when;
+        const header = when.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + when.slice(1);
+        groupedLines.push(header);
+      }
+
+      groupedLines.push(`  - ${serialized}`);
+    }
+
+    return `=== YOUR RECENT MEMORY ===\n${groupedLines.join("\n")}`;
   }
 }

packages/memory/src/buffer.ts

@@ -25,13 +25,6 @@ export function serializeSubjectiveBufferEntry(
   entry: BufferEntry,
   viewer: Entity,
 ): string {
-  const dateObj = new Date(entry.timestamp);
-  // Ensure a deterministic timezone/format for testing and model inputs:
-  const timeStr = dateObj.toLocaleTimeString("en-US", {
-    hour12: true,
-    timeZone: "UTC",
-  });
-
   const actorAlias = resolveAlias(viewer, entry.intent.actorId);
 
   const targetAliases = entry.intent.targetIds.map((tid) =>
@@ -48,7 +41,7 @@ export function serializeSubjectiveBufferEntry(
     }
   }
 
-  return `[${timeStr}] ${actorAlias} ${details}`;
+  return `${actorAlias} ${details}`;
 }
 
 export class BufferRepository {

packages/memory/tests/memory.test.ts

@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ describe("Subjective Buffer Entry Serializer Tests (Tier 1)", () => {
     };
 
     const result = serializeSubjectiveBufferEntry(entry, viewer);
-    expect(result).toBe('[12:00:00 PM] the hooded figure spoke to the bartender: "Bob greets Charlie"');
+    expect(result).toBe('the hooded figure spoke to the bartender: "Bob greets Charlie"');
   });
 
   test("serializes action intent with outcome details", () => {
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ describe("Subjective Buffer Entry Serializer Tests (Tier 1)", () => {
     };
 
     const result = serializeSubjectiveBufferEntry(entry, viewer);
-    expect(result).toBe('[12:05:00 PM] the hooded figure Bob attempts to break the lock latch (Outcome: Failed - The lock is made of reinforced steel.)');
+    expect(result).toBe('the hooded figure Bob attempts to break the lock latch (Outcome: Failed - The lock is made of reinforced steel.)');
   });
 
   test("serializes self-reference and unfamiliar actors", () => {
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ describe("Subjective Buffer Entry Serializer Tests (Tier 1)", () => {
     };
 
     const resultSelf = serializeSubjectiveBufferEntry(entrySelf, viewer);
-    expect(resultSelf).toBe("[12:10:00 PM] you open the window");
+    expect(resultSelf).toBe("you open the window");
 
     const entryUnfamiliar: BufferEntry = {
       id: "entry-unfamiliar",
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ describe("Subjective Buffer Entry Serializer Tests (Tier 1)", () => {
     };
 
     const resultUnfamiliar = serializeSubjectiveBufferEntry(entryUnfamiliar, viewer);
-    expect(resultUnfamiliar).toBe("[12:15:00 PM] an unfamiliar figure knock on the door");
+    expect(resultUnfamiliar).toBe("an unfamiliar figure knock on the door");
   });
 });