
7-09-2013, 16:21

United States
30 Years Old
5,197 Posts
vR*
Administrator
I find game theory really interesting.
One thing they don't properly cover in their discussion of game analysis and strategy is varied nature in games of information. Consider say their examples of poker and chess. One has perfect information and thus the potential for perfect decisions, while the other is wholly dependent on hidden information and your ability to gather any hints towards said information (reading tells, information betting) is key to the game's depth. Regardless, whether the information is trivial to gather but difficult to understand, or vice versa - you will never make good in game decisions with out sufficient information, even as the smartest player with hinesight. In single player games this often amounts to looking at the minimap, and in team games this often falls down in communication. As a caster It is always refreshing that you can look so much smarter than players better than you, not because your analytical ability is necessarily better, but because you have the luxury of constant perfect information. For what other reason then 'they didnt know' could the team with 40% uber advantage sit at badlands corner and wait defensively.
Another aside area that is really interesting in games is the use of random chance / luck. Again to look at both poker and chess, they sit at opposite sides of the spectrum without failing as viable professional games. The designer of M:TG gave a speech about luck in game design at one pint ill see if i can find a link later; and how it is often consdered critical for a games inception, but honers as a game matures will often enjoy seeing its gradual reduction. TF2 had this done quite intentionally over its release (crits, spread, etc).