Alexander Verbraeck: Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming: What Can we Learn from Each...

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Challenge the future

DelftUniversity ofTechnology







Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming: What Can we Learn from Each Other?

Alexander Verbraeck, Systems Engineering & Simulation Group, TU DelftSSC'2014 conference, SS4SG Workshop, Barcelona, Spain, 3-9-2014

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Challenge addressed in this talk

• Understanding the fundamental differences between (social) computer simulation and serious gaming

• See how we can build interactive simulations that can be used in gaming settings

• See how serious gaming can benefit from (interactive) simulation

• See how interactive simulation can benefit from gaming

Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming

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(Computer) Simulation and Gaming

• Simulation (Shannon, 1975): The process of designing a model of a real system and conducting experiments with this model for the purpose of understanding the behavior of the system and/or evaluating various strategies for the operation of the system

• Gaming (Duke & Geurts, 2004): A special type of model that uses gaming techniques to model and simulate a system. A gaming simulation is an operating model of a real life system in which actors in roles partially recreate the behaviour of the system


Source: R.E. Shannon. Systems Simulation - The Art and Science. Prentice-Hall, 1975

Source: Duke, R.D. and J.L.A. Geurts, 2004. Policy games for strategic management. Dutch University Press, Amsterdam

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Roots of simulation and/or gaming

• Roots: Modeling, Systems Theory, Cybernetics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Social Science

• "Any system A is a model of a system B if the study of A is useful for the understanding of B without regard to any direct or indirect causal connection between A and B.

• A must be like B in some respects. The resemblance is in terms of the pattern or order exhibited in each system".

Abraham Kaplan (experimental psychologist, cybernetic)


Kaplan, A. (1964). "Chapter VII: Models" (pp. 258-291). In The Conduct of Inquiry: Methodology for Behavioral Science. San Francisco, CA: Chandler. See also: http://www.igs.net/~pballan/Models&Modelling.htm

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•Simple business processes

•Small number of players

•Lack of realism•Round-based decision making

•Many board games

Paper-based games, decisions are made in rounds

Computer-supported games, round-based

Internet-mediated games, round-based

•Gaming around the globe

•Mimic today's global complexity

•Computer simulation plays more important role

•Still round-based

•Increase in complexity of business processes

•Increase in number of players

•Computer simulation used as a calculator

•Still round-based

Internet-mediated, simulation-based, live games

•24/7 gaming around the globe

•Usage of simulation to simulate parts of the system in detail

•Live gaming, i.e. continuous-based decision making

•Increased engagement due to a high degree of realism

1960 - 1980 1980 - 1994 1994 - 2005 2005 -

Development of business games: heavy influence from simulation


Picture courtesy Stijn-Pieter van Houten, TU Delft

Increasing importance of simulation in business games

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Many types of computer simulation-based game serious sessions

Project IDVV for Rijkswaterstaat Project SALOMO for DINALOG

YCS Game Play at theUniversity ofMaryland, USA

The YCS(Yard CraneScheduling)Game

Interactivesessions withexperts from

barge sector, playing multi-

user game

Interactivediscussion

sessions with90+ experts

from the bargesector, based on simulation model study


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CASE STUDY 1: AGENT-BASED SOCIAL SIMULATION OF BEIJING POPULATION


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Contents of the simulation model

• Detailed daily activities of 19 million people and 8 mln. locations• Use of transportation

• cars (4 million)• public transport (1000 bus-lines, metro, train)

• Individual activities at locations• leisure, shopping, restaurants• work, school, university

• Social activities at locations• family activities• activities with friends

• Primary usage: disease spread modeling• Secondary usage: many!Research: Mingxin Zhang, MSc, TU Delft and NUDT (Changsha China)


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Observations

• "Just" an agent-based simulation model• Good decision making tool for interactive sessions• But how would we turn this into a game?• No 'game' elements, no roles, no 'play' elements...


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CASE STUDY 2: STRATEGY DESIGN FOR INLAND BARGE TRANSPORT


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Example project: barge transportation extrapolation for the next 20 years

• Project commissioned by Ministry of Transport• Aim: research scenario-based future of barge transportation

• Trigger: expansion of the Port of Rotterdam• Strategic project, modal split from Maasvlakte II• Avoid more road transportation and hinterland congestion

Photos:AlexanderVerbraeck2007, 2012


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Complex multi-actor network


Picture courtesy Ab Ovo, The Netherlands

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Abundant data availability...


http://www.marinetraffic.com

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Developed simulation model

Model developed with the market, based on lots of detailed data


Business

Growth

Resources

Negotiation

Competition

Roles

Interdependency

Performance

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Developed simulation model

Model developed with the market, based on lots of detailed data


Business

Growth

Resources

Negotiation

Competition

Roles

Interdependency

Performance

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Game impressions


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Different types of (game) sessionsInteractive sessions with experts from barge sector, playing multi-user game

Interactive discussion sessions with 90+ experts from the barge sector,

based on simulation model study


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Observations

• Hard to play this as a competitive game• Operational simulation, strategic decision• 20 year timeframe hard to grasp• Interactive workshops with game elements did work


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QUESTION: COMPUTER SIMULATION PLUS WORKSHOP = SERIOUS GAME?

Distributed simulationInteractive simulationManagement gaming

Policy AnalysisInteractive workshopsGaming simulations

Serious gaming

Computer ScienceGraphics & VisualizationEntertainment gaming

MathematicsOptimizationGame Theory


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From Simulation to Gaming

• Simulation: closed, experiment• Game: open, interaction

DEVS[sim] = (X, S, Y, δint, δext, δcon, ta, λ)

X Y

Rest of the Simulation

DEVS[game] = (X, S, Y, δint, δext, δcon, ta, λ)

X' Y'

Rest of the Gaming

Simulation

UI

X'' Y''


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Duke's (1974) positioning of gaming


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Simulation versus GamingRealism, Meaning and Play (Harteveld, 2009)


Realism Meaning Play0%

100%

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Observation

Interaction

Play


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Realism Meaning Play0%

100%

Simulation

InteractiveSimulation

Gaming

??

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Observation

Physical Realism

Social / Behavioral Realism


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Social versus Physical realism


ComputerSimulation


SeriousGame

InteractiveWorkshop

Social Realism

PhysicalRealism

?

low

low

high

high

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PhysicalRealism Meaning Play

0%

100%

Simulation


Gaming

?

SocialRealism

Gaming

Simulation


Gaming

Simulation


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Observation

Realism

XPlay


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Observation

Realism

XPlay


without• challenge• effort• competition• surprise• skills

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Observation

SimulationArtificial time

XGame

Real time


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Observation

SimulationArtificial time

XGame

Real time


Time jump?Rounds?

Speed clock?

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Observation

SimulationDifficult to assess causality

XGame

Discussion about causality


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PhysicalRealism Meaning Play

0%

100%

Simulation


Gaming

ItDepends

...

SocialRealism

Gaming

Simulation


Gaming

Simulation


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Conclusions

• A (computer) simulation is not a game

• Simulation can contribute to (serious) gaming• physical realism

• Gaming can contribute to (interactive) simulation• social realism

• What are your experiences?


Alexander Verbraeck: Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming: What Can we Learn from Each...

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Transcript of Alexander Verbraeck: Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming: What Can we Learn from Each...