Simultaneous action selection

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Rock–paper–scissors
is an example of a game which employs simultaneous action selection.

Simultaneous action selection, or SAS, is a

rock–paper–scissors and Diplomacy. Typically, a "secret yet binding" method of committing to one's move is necessary, so that as players' moves are revealed and implemented, others do not change their moves in light of the new information. Thus, in Diplomacy, players write down their moves and then reveal them simultaneously. Because no player gets the first move, this potentially arbitrary source of advantage is not present. It is also possible for simultaneous movement games to proceed relatively quickly, because players are acting at the same time, rather than waiting for their turn. Simultaneous action selection is easily implemented in card games such as Apples to Apples
in which players simply select cards and throw them face-down into the center.

Limitations

Some games do not lend themselves to simultaneous movement, because one player's move may be prevented by the other player's. For instance, in chess, a move of a bishop takes queen would be incompatible with a simultaneous opposing move of queen takes bishop. By contrast, the simultaneous movement is possible in Junta because each coup phase has a movement stage and a separate combat stage; no units are removed until all have had a chance to move. It has been noted that "a certain amount of reverse psychology and reverse-reverse psychology ensues" as players attempt to calculate the implications of others' potential actions.[1] Junta also has simultaneous action selection in that players secretly choose their locations at the same time.[2] This is important in that, for instance, a player plotting an assassination may choose the bank for his or her own location (hoping to quickly deposit the ill-gotten gains) before finding out whether the location of his or her assassination was on the mark.

Real world applications

Simultaneous action selection is used in many real-world applications such as

rock-paper-scissors
is used to decide a matter.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Simultaneous Action Selection = Randomness". Gamer's Mind. February 16, 2006.
  2. ^ Junta at BoardGameGeek

External links