Can Game Theory Be Used when Playing Online?

Many players will have no idea that every action and decision they make while gaming affects the outcome of the game. So where do you draw the line? Many players do not want to carefully consider and plan every move, but instead play on instinct. Is there a middle ground, where instinct and strategy come together to make the optimal gaming experience?

If a player is using strategies in whatever game they are involved with, then using game theory has been suggested as a way of getting the player nearer to what they want.

Game theory applies to instances concerning two or more people where there is a defined set of rules to be followed. The thinking is that if you follow the theory, you will end up with the best experience – or payoff – by taking into consideration how your opponent will play.

As game theory uses the idea of a payoff coming from strategic decisions it would seem that this could apply to many different games played online. If it is understood that by ‘payoff’’ this does not necessarily mean a financial payoff, but simply an advantageous outcome, then the use of game theory becomes more possible.

In a game like Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 with a capture the flag mode, players need to work as a team to reach their ‘payoff’. By working out how to make the best strategic decisions and understand how your opponent will make their own decisions, game theory could create the best outcome. That is where the use of the theory becomes problematic. Will online gamers want to define their strategy so tightly?

Using game theory for gambling at an online casino would seem to be a good way of making a lot of money. But there needs to be a set of instances for the theory to be applied, and you could attempt to work out a list of probabilities to help you beat the casino.

Poker would seem to lend itself to the use of the theory. It is a game of two or more players making strategic decisions for the desired payoff (actually financial in this case). Online poker players may well take the time to use game theory, as it will give them more chances of winning money. By knowing an opponent’s best strategy, a player should be able to maximise their winnings. Again, this does not always happen as it is presuming that your opponent is playing a perfect strategy.

Although the idea of game theory being used with online games seems plausible and advantageous for those involved, the number of complex strategic decisions made in any one game means it is not practical in most cases. But for anyone willing to put the time into planning their gaming, introducing the theory as an element of their experience could be beneficial – and that includes financially.