Balancing turn-based games with chained strategy generation

Kavanagh, W. , Miller, A. , Norman, G. and Andrei, O. (2021) Balancing turn-based games with chained strategy generation. IEEE Transactions on Games, 13(2), pp. 113-122. (doi: 10.1109/TG.2019.2943227)

Abstract

Probabilistic model checking can overcome much of the complexity inherent in balancing games. Game balancing is the careful maintenance of relationships between the ways in which a game can be played, to ensure no single way is strictly better than all others and that players are offered a wide variety of ways to play successfully. We introduce a novel approach towards automating game balancing using probabilistic model checking called chained strategy generation (CSG). This involves generating chains of adversarial strategies which mimic the way players adapt their approach during repeated plays of a game. We use CSG to map out the evolving metagame. The trends identified can allow game developers to identify strategies which will be too strong and ways of playing the game which a player may want to use, but are never viable for successful competitive play. We introduce a case study, a game called RPGLite, and use CSG to compare five candidate configurations for the game. We show how to determine which configurations of RPGLite lead to a more fair and interesting experience for players. We also identify unexpected trends in how the strategies evolve. Our approach introduces a new technique for improving game development and player experience.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Norman, Dr Gethin and Miller, Professor Alice and Andrei, Dr Oana and Kavanagh, William
• Authors: Kavanagh, W., Miller, A., Norman, G., and Andrei, O.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Computing Science
• Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Games
• Publisher: IEEE
• ISSN: 2475-1502
• ISSN (Online): 2475-1502
• Published Online: 23 September 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 IEEE
• First Published: First published in IEEE Transactions on Games 13(2): 113-122
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
190906		EPSRC 2015 DTP	Mary Beth Kneafsey	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	EP/M508056/1	Research and Innovation Services
172422		Science of Sensor System Software (SSSS)	Muffy Calder	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	EP/N007565/1	Computing Science