The Unpredictability of Gameplay explores the many forms of unpredictability in games and proposes a comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding and categorizing non-deterministic game mechanics. Rather than viewing all game mechanics with unpredictable outcomes as a single concept, Mark R. Johnson develops a three-part typology for such mechanics, distinguishing between randomness, chance, and luck in gameplay, assessing games that range from grand strategy and MMORPGs to slot machines and card games. He also explores forms of unanticipated unpredictability, where elements of games fail to function as intended and create new forms of gameplay in the process. Covering a range of game concepts using these frameworks, The Unpredictability of Gameplay then explores three illustrative case studies: 1) procedural generation, 2) replay value and grinding, and 3) player-made practices designed to reduce the level of luck in non-deterministic games. Throughout, Johnson demonstrates the importance of looking more deeply at unpredictability in games and game design and the various ways in which unpredictability manifests while offering an invaluable tool for game scholars and game designers seeking to integrate unpredictability into their work.

It is impossible to understand modern economics without knowledge of the basic tools of gametheory and mechanism design. This book provides a graduate-level introduction to the economic modeling of strategic behavior. The goal is to teach Economics doctoral students the tools of game theory and mechanism design that all economists should know.

Dieses Buch bietet eine anwendungsorientierte Darstellung mathematischer Methoden der Risikomodellierung und -analyse. Ein besonderes Anliegen ist ein ubergreifender Ansatz, in dem finanz- und versicherungsmathematische Aspekte gemeinsam behandelt werden, etwa hinsichtlich Simulationsmethoden, Risikokennzahlen und Risikoaggregation. So bildet das Buch eine fundierte Grundlage fur quantitativ orientiertes Risikomanagement in verschiedensten Bereichen und weckt das Verstandnis fur Zusammenhange, die in spartenspezifischer Literatur oft nicht angesprochen werden. Zahlreiche Beispiele stellen immer wieder den konkreten Bezug zur Praxis her. In der 2. Auflage wurden Abschnitte uber Extremwerttheorie und strukturierte Finanzprodukte (Zertifikate) erganzt und neue Beispiele z.B. zum Asset-Liability-Management aufgenommen."

A mathematical tool for scientists and researchers who work with computer and communication networks, Game Theory in Communication Networks: Cooperative Resolution of Interactive Networking Scenarios addresses the question of how to promote cooperative behavior in interactive situations between heterogeneous entities in communication networking scenarios. It explores network design and management from a theoretical perspective, using game theory and graph theory to analyze strategic situations and demonstrate profitable behaviors of the cooperative entities.

The book promotes the use of Game Theory to address important resource management and security issues found in next generation communications networks, particularly heterogeneous networks, for cases where cooperative interactive networking scenarios can be formulated. It provides solutions for representative mechanisms that need improvement by presenting a theoretical step-by-step approach. The text begins with a presentation of theory that can be used to promote cooperation for the entities in a particular interactive situation. Next, it examines two-player interaction as well as interactions between multiple players. The final chapter presents and examines a performance evaluation framework based on MATLAB(r).

Each chapter begins by introducing basic theory for dealing with a particular interactive situation and illustrating how particular aspects of game theory can be used to formulate and solve interactive situations that appear in communication networks regularly. The second part of each chapter presents example scenarios that demonstrate the applicability and power of the theory illustrating a number of cooperative interactions and discussing how they could be addressed within the theoretical framework presented in the first part of the chapter.

The book also includes simulation code that can be downloaded so you can use some or all of the proposed models to improve your own network designs. Specific topics covered include network selection, user-network interaction, network synthesis, and context-aware security provisioning.

This book is taken from the lectures given at the ENSAE in March 1998 and at the Scuola Normale Superiore in May 1998. At the beginning of the 70's, the set of mathematical methods of finance were reduced to actuarial calculus. The modern approach uses the stochastic calculus theory and evidences the duality between problems of arbitrage and valorisation and a set of martingale probabilities.