1. Complexity and Emergence in Games (Ch. 14)

2. Deterministic Games
Every player’s action has a single pre-determined outcome?
Yes: Deterministic game
Action
One and only one outcome

3. Chance Games
Every player’s action has a single pre-determined outcome?
No: Chance game A B
Action: A cast a damage spell on B
Outcome:
B blocks spell with 20% chances
If B does not block spell, then damage dealt to B is randomly choose between 25%-40% of player’s B health points
Action
outcome1
outcome2 …
(We don’t know apriori which until action is performed)

4. Perfect Information Games
Does the player knows all information about the current state of the game?
Yes: perfect information game

5. Imperfect Information Games
Does the player knows all information about the current state of the game?
No: imperfect information game

6. Categories of Digital Games (from “Artificial Intelligence” perspective)
Chance
Deterministic
Perfect
information
Chess
Chutes and Ladders
Imperfect information
Civilization
FPS
Borderline games that could be classified either way?
It is going to happen unless we use math
As usual just provide a clear explanation

7. Seven Schemas
Schema: Conceptual framework concentrating on one aspect of game design
Schemas:
Games as Emergent Systems
Games as Systems of Uncertainty
Games as Information Theory Systems
Games as Systems of Information
Games as Cybernetic Systems
Games as Game Theory Systems
Games as Systems of Conflict

8. Have You Ever Been Surprised in a Game?
Was it scripted?
Was it a result of Game Design?
Could a game developer be surprised from emerging behavior?

9. Systems and Complexity
(this is not quite computational complexity, but its related)
Reminder:
What is a system?
Why can game be viewed as systems?
System’s Complexity: ways in which parts interact within a system:
Elevator example
Four categories of system’s complexity:
Fixed
Periodic
Complex
Chaotic

10. Complexity and Meaningful Play
Ways parts interact within a system
Discernable and integrated actions
Are these two related?
What happens if there is no interaction between play elements?
Example : Grid game
Lets add complexity: relations between play elements
Does it achieves meaningful play?

11. Emergence Behavior of the overall system is greater than its parts
Example: simple operational rules yet unpredictable results are attained
Obvious example: complex operational rules and operational rules
However: complex rules doesn’t make game harder. Example?
Chess: last century versus current century
Warcraft
Chess Go

12. Classes of Object Interactions
Coupled: objects are linked or affect with one another
Non-gaming Example: ant colony
Game example?
Context-dependent: changes are not the same over time
Non-gaming example: behaviors of the colony under attack versus harvesting
Emergence in a system occurs when interactions are coupled and context-dependent
To achieve emergent behavior in a game: Tuning (or iterative design) is needed

13. Example of Emergence: Game of Life
Note: It is coupled and context-dependant
But is it a game?