This document discusses the differences and potential connections between social computer simulation and serious gaming. It explores how simulation can benefit from elements of gaming like interaction and real-time elements, while gaming can learn from the realism of simulation models. Two case studies are presented: an agent-based simulation of Beijing's population and a simulation of barge transportation strategies. While simulations provide realism, gaming adds elements of play and interaction that can engage participants. The key is finding the right balance of realism, meaning, and play.

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Social Computer Simulation and Serious
Gaming: What Can we Learn from Each Other?
Alexander Verbraeck, Systems Engineering & Simulation Group, TU Delft
SSC'2014 conference, SS4SG Workshop, Barcelona, Spain, 3-9-2014
Delft
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• See how we can build interactive simulations that can be
used in gaming settings
2
Challenge addressed in this talk
• Understanding the fundamental differences between
(social) computer simulation and serious gaming
3-9-2014
• See how serious gaming can benefit from (interactive)
simulation
• See how interactive simulation can benefit from gaming
Delft
University of
Technology
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Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming

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3
(Computer) Simulation and Gaming
• Simulation (Shannon, 1975): The process of designing a model of a
real system and conducting experiments with this model for the
purpose of understanding the behavior of the system and/or
evaluating various strategies for the operation of the system
Source: R.E. Shannon. Systems Simulation - The Art and Science. Prentice-Hall, 1975
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• Gaming (Duke & Geurts, 2004): A special type of model that uses
gaming techniques to model and simulate a system. A gaming
simulation is an operating model of a real life system in which
actors in roles partially recreate the behaviour of the system
Source: Duke, R.D. and J.L.A. Geurts, 2004. Policy games for strategic management. Dutch University Press, Amsterdam
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Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
Behavioral Science. San Francisco, CA: Chandler. See also: http://www.igs.net/~pballan/Models&Modelling.htm
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Roots of simulation and/or gaming
• Roots: Modeling, Systems Theory, Cybernetics, Mathematics,
Computer Science, Social Science
• "Any system A is a model of a system B if the study of A is
useful for the understanding of B without regard to any direct
or indirect causal connection between A and B.
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• A must be like B in some respects. The resemblance is in terms
of the pattern or order exhibited in each system".
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Abraham Kaplan (experimental psychologist, cybernetic)
Kaplan, A. (1964). "Chapter VII: Models" (pp. 258-291). In The Conduct of Inquiry: Methodology for
Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming

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Development of business games:
heavy influence from simulation
Paper-based
games, decisions
are made in
rounds
1960 - 1980 1980 - 1994 1994 - 2005 2005 -
•Simple business
processes
•Small number of
players
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•Lack of realism
•Round-based
decision making
•Many board games
Increasing importance of simulation in business games
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Computer-supported
games,
round-based
Internet-mediated
games,
round-based
•Gaming around the
globe
•Mimic today's global
complexity
•Computer
simulation plays
more important
role
•Still round-based
•Increase in
complexity of
business processes
•Increase in number
of players
•Computer
simulation used as
a calculator
•Still round-based
Internet-mediated,
simulation-based,
live games
•24/7 gaming around
the globe
•Usage of
simulation to
simulate parts of
the system in
detail
•Live gaming, i.e.
continuous-based
decision making
•Increased
engagement due to
a high degree of
realism
Picture courtesy Stijn-Pieter van Houten, TU Delft
Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
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Many types of computer simulation-based
3-9-2014
Project IDVV for Rijkswaterstaat Project SALOMO for DINALOG
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game serious sessions
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YCS Game
Play at the
University of
Maryland, USA
The YCS
(Yard Crane
Scheduling)
Game
Interactive
sessions with
experts from
barge sector,
playing multi-user
game
Interactive
discussion
sessions with
90+ experts
from the barge
sector, based
on simulation
model study
Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming

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3-9-2014
CASE STUDY 1: AGENT-BASED SOCIAL
SIMULATION OF BEIJING POPULATION
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Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
8
Contents of the simulation model
• Detailed daily activities of 19 million people and 8 mln. locations
• Use of transportation
• cars (4 million)
• public transport (1000 bus-lines, metro, train)
• Individual activities at locations
• leisure, shopping, restaurants
• work, school, university
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• Social activities at locations
• family activities
• activities with friends
• Primary usage: disease spread modeling
• Secondary usage: many!
Research: Mingxin Zhang, MSc, TU Delft and NUDT (Changsha China)
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Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming

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Observations
• "Just" an agent-based simulation model
• Good decision making tool for interactive sessions
• But how would we turn this into a game?
• No 'game' elements, no roles, no 'play' elements...
3-9-2014
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Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
CASE STUDY 2: STRATEGY DESIGN
FOR INLAND BARGE TRANSPORT
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3-9-2014
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Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming

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Example project: barge transportation
extrapolation for the next 20 years
• Project commissioned by Ministry of Transport
• Aim: research scenario-based future of barge transportation
• Trigger: expansion of the Port of Rotterdam
• Strategic project, modal split from Maasvlakte II
• Avoid more road transportation and hinterland congestion
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Photos:
Alexander
Verbraeck
2007, 2012
Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
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Complex multi-actor network
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Picture courtesy Ab Ovo, The Netherlands
Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming

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Abundant data availability...
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http://www.marinetraffic.com
Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
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Developed simulation model
Model developed with the market, based on lots of detailed data
3-9-2014
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Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
Business
Growth
Resources
Negotiation
Competition
Roles
Interdependency
Performance

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Developed simulation model
Model developed with the market, based on lots of detailed data
3-9-2014
Delft
University of
Technology
Challenge the future
Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
Business
Growth
Resources
Negotiation
Competition
Roles
Interdependency
Performance
16
Game impressions
3-9-2014
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Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming

9. 9
17
Different types of (game) sessions
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Interactive sessions with experts from
barge sector, playing multi-user game
Interactive discussion sessions with
90+ experts from the barge sector,
based on simulation model study
Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
18
Observations
• Hard to play this as a competitive game
• Operational simulation, strategic decision
• 20 year timeframe hard to grasp
• Interactive workshops with game elements did work
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Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming

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Distributed simulation
Interactive simulation
Management gaming
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QUESTION: COMPUTER SIMULATION
PLUS WORKSHOP = SERIOUS GAME?
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Policy Analysis
Interactive workshops
Gaming simulations
Serious gaming
Computer Science
Graphics & Visualization
Entertainment gaming
Mathematics
Optimization
Game Theory
Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
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From Simulation to Gaming
• Simulation: closed, experiment
• Game: open, interaction
DEVS[sim] =
(X, S, Y, δint,
δext, δcon, ta, λ) X Y
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Rest of the
Simulation
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DEVS[game] =
(X, S, Y, δint,
δext, δcon, ta, λ) X' Y'
Rest of the
Gaming
Simulation
UI
X'' Y''
Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming

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Duke's (1974) positioning of gaming
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Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
22
Simulation versus Gaming
Realism, Meaning and Play (Harteveld, 2009)
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Realism Meaning Play 0%
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Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
100%

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Observation
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Interaction

Play
Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
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Simulation versus Gaming
Realism, Meaning and Play (Harteveld, 2009)
3-9-2014
Gaming
Interactive
Simulation
Realism Meaning Play 0%
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Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
100%
Simulation
? ?

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Observation
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Physical Realism

Social / Behavioral Realism
Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
26
Social versus Physical realism
Computer
Simulation
high
3-9-2014
Delft
University of
Technology
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Interactive
Simulation
Serious
Game
Interactive
Workshop
Social Realism
Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
Physical
Realism
?
low
low
high

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Simulation versus Gaming
Realism, Meaning and Play (Harteveld, 2009)
3-9-2014
Gaming
Interactive
Simulation
Gaming
Interactive
Gaming Simulation
Simulation
Physical
Realism Meaning Play 0%
Delft
University of
Technology
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Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
100%
Simulation
?
Social
Realism
Simulation
Interactive
Simulation
28
Observation
3-9-2014
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Realism
X
Play
Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming

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Observation
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Realism
X
Play
without
• challenge
• effort
• competition
• surprise
• skills
Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
30
Observation
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Simulation
Artificial time
X
Game
Real time
Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming

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Observation
Time jump?
Rounds? Speed clock?
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Simulation
Artificial time
X
Game
Real time
Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
32
Observation
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Simulation
Difficult to assess causality
X
Game
Discussion about causality
Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming

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Simulation versus Gaming
Realism, Meaning and Play (Harteveld, 2009)
3-9-2014
Gaming
Interactive
Simulation
Gaming
Interactive
Gaming Simulation
Simulation
Physical
Realism Meaning Play 0%
Delft
University of
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Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming
100%
Simulation
It
Depends
...
Social
Realism
Simulation
Interactive
Simulation
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Conclusions
• A (computer) simulation is not a game
• Simulation can contribute to (serious) gaming
• physical realism
3-9-2014
• Gaming can contribute to (interactive) simulation
• social realism
• What are your experiences?
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Social Computer Simulation and Serious Gaming