Asymmetric Information in Games
Games are a well-known form of diversion, normally undertaken for fun or entertainment, and sometimes utilised as an educational tool as well. Games are different from work, which typically are performed for profit, and from literature, which are often more of an expression of personal or aesthetic impressions. The work is built on a solid theoretical foundation, whereas literature normally derives its content from personal experience or from observation. Games have been widely accepted as an activity that can promote mental stimulation, coordination, and even strategic thinking. The reason for this is that most people find games highly enjoyable, with some people calling them the “treats of the mind”.
Business games are very popular with consumers, who can be found in a variety of platforms and types. Online and downloadable games are the two most popular business games, with online ones often being free and downloadable versions coming at a fee. The main article refers to online and downloadable games, since they represent a diverse niche and include a range of genres as well as different game play patterns. These include adventure, simulation, management, sports, vehicle, role playing and strategy games. There is also a sub-genre of commercial simulation games, whose content is provided commercially by the game publishers themselves.
Business and card games are the two most popular sub-genres within the realm of business games, representing a sub-category of what would otherwise be called Strategy games. In a strategy game, players must think over complex scenarios, use critical thinking skills, problem solving techniques, etc. Although there is no requirement to be an expert on a specific topic, the need to gather and evaluate information and make effective analysis is inherent.
A good example of this sub-genre would be the game theory associated with Monopoly, an icon of intellectual property licensing and one of the most successful board games ever. In this main article we’ll discuss the basic game theory as well as the various sub-genres and the rules which apply to each. We’ll also look at the main theme of the sub-genre, which in this case is the issue of asymmetric information, where the outcome of a transaction is determined by the actions of all players up to that point.
Asymmetric information is also a key concept behind all collectible board games, including Chess, Clue, and Ticket to Fortune. In these games the interaction between the players is not solely based on logic and strategy but also has to do with obtaining the right set of dice or cards. It’s in this sub-genre that tokens are used, though sometimes coins are used instead. The main article discusses the different types of tokens used, as well as the reasoning behind their usage.
A main aspect of many lawn games is the resource system, whereby tiles are collected by players, used to construct buildings and/or settlements, and finally used to resources such as wood, coal and gas to power the various systems of the game. Resource systems in lawn games often involve having to build roads, airports and other structures before being able to extract resources from these tiles. Asymmetric information is a key concept in this sub-genre, and in many other titles such as those of Chess, Clue and Ticket to Fortune the asymmetry is expressed by the fact that one player is always better equipped than the other. As with the case of resources, the asymmetry is often dependent on the cards dealt by each player, but can also be determined by the nature of the ‘board’ itself. This article covers the main article on asymmetric information in games, but for more detailed information see the main article on this topic.