Optimizing Play
An unexpected take on how games work, what the stakes are for them, and how game designers can avoid the traps of optimization.The process of optimization in games seems like a good thing—who wouldn't want to find the most efficient way to play and win? As Christopher Paul argues in Optimizing Play,...
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| Format: | Online |
| Sprog: | engelsk |
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The MIT Press
2024
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| Online adgang: | ONIX_20241025_9780262378338_124 |
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| _version_ | 1869525468926967808 |
|---|---|
| author | Paul, Christopher A. |
| author_browse | Paul, Christopher A. |
| author_facet | Paul, Christopher A. |
| author_sort | Paul, Christopher A. |
| collection | Directory of Open Access Books |
| description | An unexpected take on how games work, what the stakes are for them, and how game designers can avoid the traps of optimization.The process of optimization in games seems like a good thing—who wouldn't want to find the most efficient way to play and win? As Christopher Paul argues in Optimizing Play, however, optimization can sometimes risk a tragedy of the commons, where actions that are good for individuals jeopardize the overall state of the game for everyone else. As he explains, players inadvertently limit play as they theorycraft, seeking optimal choices. The process of developing a meta, or the most effective tactic available, structures decision making, causing play to stagnate. A “stale” meta then creates a perception that a game is solved and may lead players to turn away from the game.Drawing on insights from game studies, rhetoric, the history of science, ecology, and game theory literature, Paul explores the problem of optimization in a range of video games, including Overwatch, FIFA/EA Sports FC, NBA 2K, Clash Royale, World of Warcraft, and League of Legends. He also pulls extensively from data analytics in sports, where the problem has progressed further and is even more intractable than it is in video games, given the money sports teams invest to find an edge. Finally, Paul offers concrete and specific suggestions for how games can be developed to avoid the trap set by optimization run amok. |
| format | Online |
| id | doab-20.500.12854ir-146746 |
| institution | Directory of Open Access Books |
| language | eng |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publishDateRange | 2024 |
| publishDateSort | 2024 |
| publisher | The MIT Press |
| publisherStr | The MIT Press |
| record_format | ojs |
| spelling | doab-20.500.12854ir-1467462024-10-25T13:19:23Z Optimizing Play Paul, Christopher A. theorycraft common pool resource problem tragedy of the commons Overwatch World of Warcraft EA Sports FC NBA 2K Clash Royale moneyball meta metagaming basketball analytics soccer football three true outcomes sabermetrics FIFA thema EDItEUR::U Computing and Information Technology::UD Digital Lifestyle and online world: consumer and user guides::UDX Computer games / online games: strategy guides thema EDItEUR::P Mathematics and Science::PB Mathematics::PBU Optimization thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JB Society and culture: general::JBG Popular beliefs and controversial knowledge An unexpected take on how games work, what the stakes are for them, and how game designers can avoid the traps of optimization.The process of optimization in games seems like a good thing—who wouldn't want to find the most efficient way to play and win? As Christopher Paul argues in Optimizing Play, however, optimization can sometimes risk a tragedy of the commons, where actions that are good for individuals jeopardize the overall state of the game for everyone else. As he explains, players inadvertently limit play as they theorycraft, seeking optimal choices. The process of developing a meta, or the most effective tactic available, structures decision making, causing play to stagnate. A “stale” meta then creates a perception that a game is solved and may lead players to turn away from the game.Drawing on insights from game studies, rhetoric, the history of science, ecology, and game theory literature, Paul explores the problem of optimization in a range of video games, including Overwatch, FIFA/EA Sports FC, NBA 2K, Clash Royale, World of Warcraft, and League of Legends. He also pulls extensively from data analytics in sports, where the problem has progressed further and is even more intractable than it is in video games, given the money sports teams invest to find an edge. Finally, Paul offers concrete and specific suggestions for how games can be developed to avoid the trap set by optimization run amok. 2024-10-25T13:19:22Z 2024-10-25T13:19:22Z 2024 book ONIX_20241025_9780262378338_124 9780262378338 9780262547789 https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/146746 eng The MIT Press image/jpeg n/a https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/15293.001.0001 The MIT Press The MIT Press 10.7551/mitpress/15293.001.0001 10.7551/mitpress/15293.001.0001 ae0cf962-f685-4933-93d1-916defa5123d 9780262378338 9780262547789 The MIT Press 200 Cambridge open access |
| spellingShingle | theorycraft common pool resource problem tragedy of the commons Overwatch World of Warcraft EA Sports FC NBA 2K Clash Royale moneyball meta metagaming basketball analytics soccer football three true outcomes sabermetrics FIFA thema EDItEUR::U Computing and Information Technology::UD Digital Lifestyle and online world: consumer and user guides::UDX Computer games / online games: strategy guides thema EDItEUR::P Mathematics and Science::PB Mathematics::PBU Optimization thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JB Society and culture: general::JBG Popular beliefs and controversial knowledge Paul, Christopher A. Optimizing Play |
| title | Optimizing Play |
| title_full | Optimizing Play |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing Play |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing Play |
| title_short | Optimizing Play |
| title_sort | optimizing play |
| topic | theorycraft common pool resource problem tragedy of the commons Overwatch World of Warcraft EA Sports FC NBA 2K Clash Royale moneyball meta metagaming basketball analytics soccer football three true outcomes sabermetrics FIFA thema EDItEUR::U Computing and Information Technology::UD Digital Lifestyle and online world: consumer and user guides::UDX Computer games / online games: strategy guides thema EDItEUR::P Mathematics and Science::PB Mathematics::PBU Optimization thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JB Society and culture: general::JBG Popular beliefs and controversial knowledge |
| topic_facet | theorycraft common pool resource problem tragedy of the commons Overwatch World of Warcraft EA Sports FC NBA 2K Clash Royale moneyball meta metagaming basketball analytics soccer football three true outcomes sabermetrics FIFA thema EDItEUR::U Computing and Information Technology::UD Digital Lifestyle and online world: consumer and user guides::UDX Computer games / online games: strategy guides thema EDItEUR::P Mathematics and Science::PB Mathematics::PBU Optimization thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JB Society and culture: general::JBG Popular beliefs and controversial knowledge |
| url | ONIX_20241025_9780262378338_124 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT paulchristophera optimizingplay |