Game Problem Research Articles

An online interactive physics-informed adversarial network for solving mean field games

We propose an online interactive physics-informed adversarial network (IPIAN) to address mean field games (MFGs) from the perspective of physics-informed interaction. In this study, we model the interaction between agents as a physics-informed exchange process, quantifying the evolution and distribution of individual strategy choices. We utilize the variational dyadic structure of MFGs to transform the dynamic game problem into a static optimization problem, subsequently employing the adversarial network to solve the mean field games. Based on the generative adversarial framework, two online physics-informed networks solve the value and density functions. These networks are trained to approximate the solution of MFGs through adversarial means. Additionally, a self-attention mechanism is introduced to enhance the focus on strategic physics-informed, thereby improving the expressiveness of IPIAN. Numerical experiments validate the effectiveness of IPIAN in solving high-dimensional mean field game models, as demonstrated by obstacle avoidance experiments with a quadrotor in various scenarios.

Stochastic representation for solutions of a system of coupled HJB-Isaacs equations with integral–differential operators

In this paper, we focus on the stochastic representation of a system of coupled Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman–Isaacs (HJB–Isaacs (HJBI), for short) equations which is in fact a system of coupled Isaacs’ type integral-partial differential equation. For this, we introduce an associated zero-sum stochastic differential game, where the state process is described by a classical stochastic differential equation (SDE, for short) with jumps, and the cost functional of recursive type is defined by a new type of backward stochastic differential equation (BSDE, for short) with two Poisson random measures, whose wellposedness and a prior estimate as well as the comparison theorem are investigated for the first time. One of the Poisson random measures μ appearing in the SDE and the BSDE stems from the integral term of the HJBI equations; the other random measure in BSDE is introduced to link the coupling factor of the HJBI equations. We show through an extension of the dynamic programming principle that the lower value function of this game problem is the viscosity solution of the system of our coupled HJBI equations. The uniqueness of the viscosity solution is also obtained in a space of continuous functions satisfying certain growth condition. In addition, also the upper value function of the game is shown to be the solution of the associated system of coupled Isaacs’ type of integral-partial differential equations. As a byproduct, we obtain the existence of the value for the game problem under the well-known Isaacs’ condition.

Role models in gaming: Wishful identification and maladaptive daydreaming mediate the association between desire for fame and game engagement

BackgroundThe popularity of video games has considerably increased in recent years, with approximately 3.24 billion players worldwide in 2021. Empirical evidence suggests that the quality of engagement in video games can determine whether a gaming activity is associated with psychological distress (i.e., problematic gaming) or self-enhancing outcomes (i.e., esports career pursuits). This study investigates the role of influential gaming role models and other external factors relating to fame appeal in gamers' different ways of engagement. MethodsA total of 803 adolescent and adult gamers (89.29 % male, Mage = 24.90 years, SD = 6.13) were recruited through an online questionnaire. ResultsA path analysis was constructed demonstrating that wishful identification partially mediated the relationship between desire for fame and esports career planning. Moreover, maladaptive daydreaming fully mediated the association between desire for fame and gaming disorder symptoms. Wishful identification with gaming role models predicted both esports career planning and gaming disorder symptoms. ConclusionsThe findings shed light on the importance of considering the role of gaming role models in predicting healthy and problematic gaming patterns.

Family-Centered Treatment Program for Problematic Gaming and Excessive Screen Use in a Clinical Child and Youth Population (FAME): Protocol for a Feasibility Pilot Mixed Method Study.

Screen time among children and adolescents has increased dramatically, raising concerns about its impact on development and mental health. While research highlights both potential benefits and risks, excessive use has been linked to issues like anxiety, depression, and gaming addiction. Despite growing concern, effective interventions are scarce. Recognizing the importance of family dynamics in child development, we propose a family-centered program to address problematic gaming and excessive screen use in a clinical population. By involving both children and parents, we aim to create a more comprehensive approach to prevention and treatment. This study aims to determine the possibility of distributing and evaluating a family-centered group program for problematic gaming and excessive screen use (FAME) in a clinical child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) population. We will monitor the recruitment rate; track the retention and attendance rates of both parents and children; and assess whether each session's objectives are met, the content is delivered within the allotted time, and the necessary resources (eg, facilitators and materials) are available. Additionally, we will gather qualitative and quantitative feedback from participants through postprogram surveys and individual interviews with both children and parents. A total of 10 families with ongoing contact with CAP in Skåne, Sweden, will be recruited and offered participation in a family-centered group program targeting children aged 10-18 years with reported difficulties regarding screen gaming or screen use. The intervention to be tested is a newly developed, family-centered, psychoeducational, cognitive behavioral therapy-based intervention addressing both positive and negative aspects of screen use; setting boundaries; the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; conflict triggers; and sleep hygiene. The primary goal of the pilot study is to test the feasibility of the program, as well as recruitment and the analysis of participants' experiences with the program. A total of 11 children and their parents were enrolled during first quarter of 2024. A 4-session pilot was delivered in first quarter of 2024, and the first results are expected in the third quarter of 2024. The overarching goal of this pilot study is to determine the possibility of distributing and evaluating a family-centered group program for problematic gaming and excessive screen use (FAME) in a clinical CAP population. The insights gained from this study will guide our future research, which will focus on conducting a larger-scale evaluation of the intervention's impact on family screen time conflicts and inform future strategies for the implementation of family-centered interventions in child and youth clinics. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06098807; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06098807. DERR1-10.2196/56387.

Multiplayer hierarchical decision‐making for discrete‐time nonlinear networks of service via value iteration adaptive dynamic programming

AbstractIn this article, the multiplayer hierarchical decision‐making problem for discrete‐time nonlinear networks of service is studied from the perspective of Nash–Stackelberg–Nash games. A novel two‐level value iteration adaptive dynamic programming algorithm is developed to solve the coupled nonlinear Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equations associated with the game problem, which neither requires the system drift dynamics to be known as a priori nor requests the initial strategies to be admissible. Moreover, both the value function sequences and the strategy sequences generated by the algorithm converge to their theoretical optimality. An implementation framework for the algorithm is constructed by leveraging the regularized least‐squares method, and a convergence criterion that guarantees the admissibility of the approximated strategies is also proposed. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and implementation framework are finally demonstrated through two numerical simulation examples.

A Meta-Analysis of Self-Regulation and Digital Recreation from Birth to Adolescence

There is good reason to implicate self-regulation in our digital recreation duration, choices, and behaviours. However, the direction, degree, and diversity of their association is unclear. To offer more robust and nuanced evidence to this issue of acute public concern, the current study presents a comprehensive meta-analysis of the associations between self-regulation and digital recreation from birth to adolescence – consolidating 183 studies reporting 232 associations from 234,476 children and adolescents. Across these studies, digital recreation clustered into investigations of screen time, features of problematic digital engagement, exposure to violent content, communicating with strangers online, sexting, and media multitasking. Although a pattern of negative bivariate associations was observed between self-regulation and aspects of digital recreation, the strength of association for screen time was weak (r = -.04 for computer use to r = -.15 for social media use). Once control variables were considered, relationships with exposure to violent digital content were rendered similarly trivial, suggesting other variables likely account for these correlations. This reduces our confidence in these associations. In contrast, lower self-regulation was more highly associated with problematic engagement (r = -.28 for problematic gaming to r = -.41 for problematic mobile phone use), communicating with strangers online (r = -.18), and sexting (r = -.20). This pattern of results points to a relationship that is variable by type of digital activity, which in our meta-analyses ranged from null to strong and negative. Where a relationship exists, it may be bi-directional given associations remained for longitudinal studies that positioned either self-regulation or digital recreation as predictor. Few moderators of these associations were significant, including that the negative association of self-regulation with time spent gaming was increasingly strong with increasing participant age. This study instigates a disentangling of the nature of the relationship between self-regulation and digital choices and behaviours across the early stages of life.

Consensus methods with Nash and Kalai-Smorodinsky bargaining game for large-scale group decision-making

With the significant advancements in communication technology, group decision-making (GDM) can now be implemented online, allowing a large number of decision-makers (DMs) to participate concurrently. However, current methods for large-scale group decision-making (LSGDM) are primarily suitable for 20 to 50 DMs, and their effectiveness in scenarios involving thousands or even tens of thousands of participants has yet to be fully validated. Furthermore, as the number of participants increases, the evaluation information becomes increasingly diverse and complex. At the same time, the social networks associated with the DMs typically become sparse, making information sharing and consensus building more challenging. In light of these challenges, we develop two new methods based on cooperative games to effectively address the challenges in super LSGDM. First, we propose a two-stage semi-supervised fuzzy C-means (FCM) clustering method with trust constraints, which aims to address the issue of sparsity in relationships within large-scale social networks. This method utilizes trust relationships as reliable resources and prior knowledge to guide and supervise the clustering process. On this basis, we discuss three scenarios from the perspective of cooperative games: (i) subgroup optimal consensus adjustments in non-cooperative situations, (ii) group optimal consensus adjustments in cooperative situations, and (iii) subgroup optimal consensus adjustments in cooperative situations. Subsequently, we view the consensus adjustment allocation as a cost cooperative game problem and propose two new LSGDM consensus methods based on Nash Bargaining (NB) and Kalai-Smorodinsky Bargaining (KSB). Finally, experiments on real datasets demonstrate the superiority and reliability of our proposed LSGDM methods.

Mixed-Zero-Sum-Game-Based Memory Event-Triggered Cooperative Control of Heterogeneous MASs Against DoS Attacks.

This article studies the problem of memory event-triggered cooperative adaptive control of heterogeneous nonlinear multiagent systems (MASs) under denial-of-service (DoS) attacks based on the multiplayer mixed zero-sum (ZS) game strategy. First, a neural-network-based reinforcement learning scheme is structured to obtain the Nash equilibrium solution of the proposed multiplayer mixed ZS game scheme. Then, a memory-based event-triggered mechanism considering the historical data is proposed. This effectively avoids incorrect triggering information caused by unknown external factors. Moreover, thanks to the idea of switching topology, the mixed ZS game problem under the influence of node-based DoS attacks is solved efficiently. In accordance with the Lyapunov stability theory, it is proved that all signals of heterogeneous MASs are bounded, all heterogeneous followers can track the trajectory of the leader during the no-attack period, the attacked follower can achieve stabilization control during the attack period, and the remaining nonattacked followers can achieve cooperative control during the attack period. Finally, the effectiveness of the designed memory-event-triggered-based mixed ZS game cooperative control strategy is tested by the given simulation results.

High immersion/escapism motivation makes gaming disorder risk less dependent of playtime among highly engaged male gamers.

In the realm of gaming-related concerns, the relationship between gaming time (GT) and gaming disorder (GD) remains an intriguing and complex subject. Although increased GT is not a reliable predictor of GD risk, the circumstances under which this relationship strengthens or weakens remain relatively unknown. This study explores the roles of immersion/escapism motive (IEM) and GT in the context of GD among highly engaged gamers (N = 294), each dedicating a minimum of 20 hours weekly to gaming. The findings confirm that IEM significantly moderates the relationship between GT and GD in the male sample. Specifically, low and moderate levels of IEM result in a stronger relationship between GT and GD. In the case of women, the effect was not significant. These findings suggest the importance of comprehensive assessments of gaming motivations when addressing gaming-related issues, particularly in GD research. Moreover, they emphasize the value of adopting a complex approach to comprehending the development of problematic gaming behaviors.

What are escapists made of, and what does it have to do with excessive gambling and gaming?

AbstractResearch shows that escapism and frustration of basic psychological needs are linked with gambling and gaming problems, but an effect of escapism combined with restricted autonomy, competence, and relatedness on excessive gambling and gaming remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to identify shared characteristics of people who engage in escapist behavior and analyze to what extent the interaction of escapism and basic psychological need frustration predicts excessive gambling and gaming. We conducted a five-wave longitudinal survey with Finnish residents aged 18–75 years (n = 1530, 50.33% male) from April 2021 (T1) to April–May 2023 (T5). Measures included the Problem Gambling Severity Index, the ten-item Internet Gaming Disorder Test, and three escapism-specific questions. We analyzed the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale, sociodemographic controls, and personality traits using multilevel regression models. We found that escapism was related to autonomy frustration, competence frustration, male gender, impulsivity, openness, and having a significant other who has experienced gambling problems. Escapism predicted excessive gambling, and competence frustration moderated this association. Escapism also predicted excessive gaming, and autonomy frustration and competence frustration moderated this association. Research on and treatment of excessive gambling and gaming should consider these underlying factors driving escapism.

The inhibitory control deficit of internet gaming disorder: An Event-Related Potentials(ERPs) study

IntroductionThe primary difficulty and challenge encountered by individuals with Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is inhibitory control deficit. Given that different types of inhibitory control have different effects on IGD patients, it is critical to investigate the neurological cognitive processes underlying various inhibitory control problems. MethodsThe IGD-20 questionnaire was used to identify Internet game disorder and healthy control group, and finally Internet game disorder in (n=25) and healthy control group (n=28) in Flanker task, Internet game disorder (n=29) and health control group (n=24) in GO/NOGO task. The Flanker task was employed to investigate distractor interference inhibition control in those with IGD, while the Go/NoGo task was used to measure their prepotent response inhibitory control. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were used to evaluate the brain mechanisms difference of both IGD and healthy participants during these different inhibitory control tasks. ResultsFindings indicate that compared to healthy control subjects, individuals with Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) have deficits in inhibitory control tasks during both distraction inhibition and prepotent response inhibition tasks, and distraction inhibition occurs earlier than prepotent response inhibition. In distraction inhibition tasks, the IGD group's N2 amplitude is significantly lower than the healthy control groups. In prepotent response inhibition, the N2 amplitude provoked in the IGD group is not only significantly lower than in the healthy control group, but the P3 amplitude is also significantly larger in the IGD group. The main brain activity areas of interference inhibitory control are the frontal lobe and prefrontal lobe, while the main brain activity areas of prepotent response inhibitory control are the frontal lobe and occipital lobe. ConclusionThe present study concentrates on the differential neurophysiological characteristics observed in individuals with Internet gaming problems, notably the ability to avoid distractions and prepotent reactions. The current research provides foundations for the assessment and development of tailored therapy and treatment methods to address the wide variety of cognitive problems reported in individuals with Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD).

Understanding the Emergence of Comorbidity between Problematic Online Gaming and Gambling: A Network Analysis Approach.

Problematic online gaming and gambling tend to co-occur. The exact mechanisms underlying this phenomenon and the potential effects of gender differences remain unknown. This study aimed to identify the early clustering patterns of problematic online gaming and gambling in a community sample of young adults without a lifetime history of psychiatric treatment. Data were collected through an online survey and analyzed using partial correlations and Bayesian networks. Altogether, 1441 individuals (aged 18-40 years, 51.4% females) participated in the survey. Both problematic online behaviors were weakly interrelated, suggesting that they serve as distinct constructs. Men's networks appeared to be more complex and had significantly higher global connectivity. Moreover, men and women differed with respect to the specific nodes that bridged both constructs. In men, the bridge nodes were "being criticized because of betting or being told about gambling problems", "loss of previous interests due to gaming", "deceiving other people because of gaming", and "health consequences of gambling". Among women, the bridge nodes were "feeling guilty because of gambling", "loss of previous interests because of gaming", "social consequences of gaming", and "continued gaming problems with other people". In men, the strongest edge was found between "borrowing money/selling anything to gamble" and "financial problems because of gambling", while in women, the strongest edge appeared between "betting more than afforded to be lost" and "tolerance symptoms of gambling". The findings indicate that problematic online gaming and gambling tend to emerge in different ways among men and women. Therapeutic interventions should be planned considering gender differences.

Pricing and collection decisions of a closed-loop supply chain with remanufacturing under reciprocal preferences

This paper examines the effects of reciprocal preferences on the performances of a closed-loop supply chains (CLSC) with remanufacturing. Specifically, we incorporate reciprocal preferences into a two-echelon CLSC in which the manufacturer collects used products and then remanufactures the other parts except for key components as well as producing new products, and must purchase such key components from the supplier. Using a supplier-led Stackelberg game framework, the models are constructed with and without reciprocity, and then the effects of reciprocity on channel efficiency, consumers, environment and society are examined. We show that, (i) if the supplier reciprocates, the collection rate, the CLSC’s total profit, the channel efficiency and the consumer surplus enhance. Additionally, if only the manufacturer reciprocates, the CLSC’s profit remains constant; (ii) under certain conditions, the reciprocal preferences of both channel members aggravate environmental impact, while benefit social welfare; (iii) Pareto improvement can be achieved if the reciprocity parameters of both channel members are relatively high, and a simple procurement price contract can conditionally coordinate the CLSC. Finally, two extensions are studied by considering consumer heterogeneity and solving a two-period game problem, and the results characterize how reciprocal behaviors drive the performances of channel members.

Study of Gaming Disorder and Its Association with Depressive Disorder and Anxiety among Medical Students in India

Abstract Context: Internet gaming disorder (IGD) was included in the 5th edition of The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Addiction to Internet gaming is prevalent among Indian medical students. This study aims to measure the severity and pattern of gaming behavior along with the impact and association of IGD on different psychological conditions such as depression and anxiety. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey among 845 medical students at a tertiary care teaching hospital in India. The Internet GD Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF) was used to assess the intensity of gaming disorders, while patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and generalized anxiety disorder assessment (GAD-7) were used to assess the severity of depression and anxiety, respectively. Results: A total of 194 students were identified as current gamers, out of which 36 had gaming disorders based on DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for IGD from the current study sample. Multiple regression was calculated for the following age (B = 0.85, P = 0.002), weight (B = 0.07, P = 0.02), average time spent on gaming/day in hours (B = 1.01, P < 0.0001), PHQ-9 scores (B = 0.35, P ≤ 0.0001), GAD-7 scores (B = −0.24, P = 0.01) - Model R 2 = 0.35, F = 19.41, P < 0.0001. Conclusions: Potentially problematic gaming was found to be associated with psychological symptoms, negative affectivity, and a preference for solitude. There is a need for other studies that can help in creating awareness about the prevalence of gaming disorders in medical students.

Evasion problem in a differential game with geometric constraints

Evasion problem in a differential game with geometric constraints

Pareto optimality in cooperative differential game of nonlinear mean-field backward stochastic system

This paper is concerned with a necessary condition and a sufficient condition for the existence of Pareto optimal strategy in a cooperative game driven by a nonlinear mean-field backward stochastic system. First, the game problem is equivalently converted into a set of constrained single objective optimal control problems. Next, we utilise Ekeland's variational principle to dispose constraints, and propose a necessary condition in the form of stochastic maximum principle. Meanwhile, we point out that under certain convex assumptions, the necessary condition we proposed is also sufficient. Finally, we give an example to explain the above theoretical results.

Towards an automated approach for understanding problematic gaming.

Video games have become increasingly popular worldwide, attracting billions of gamers across diverse demographics. While studies have highlighted their potential benefits, concerns about problematic gaming behaviors have also emerged. Conditions such as Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) have been recognized by major health organizations, necessitating accurate diagnostic tools. However, existing methods, primarily reliant on self-report questionnaires, face challenges in accuracy and consistency. This paper proposes a novel technological approach to provide gaming behavior indicators, aiming to offer precise insights into gamer behavior and emotion regulation. To attain this objective, we investigate quantifiable gaming behavior metrics using automated, unobtrusive, and easily accessible methods. Our approach encompasses the analysis of behavioral telemetry data collected from online gaming platforms and incorporates automated extraction of gamer emotional states from face video recordings during gameplay. To illustrate the metrics and visualizations and demonstrate our method's application we collected data from two amateur and two professional gamers, all of whom played Counter-Strike2 on PC. Our approach offers objective insights into in-game gamer behavior, helping health professionals in the identification of patterns that may be difficult to discern through traditional assessment methods. Preliminary assessments of the proposed methodology demonstrate its potential usefulness in providing valuable insights about gaming behavior and emotion regulation. By leveraging automated data collection and visualization analysis techniques, our approach offers a more comprehensive understanding of gamer behavior, which could enhance diagnostic accuracy and inform interventions for individuals at risk of problematic gaming behaviors. Our findings demonstrate the valuable insights obtainable from a tool that collects telemetry data, emotion regulation metrics, and gaming patterns. This tool, utilizing specific indicators, can support healthcare professionals in diagnosing IGD and tracking therapeutic progress, potentially addressing challenges linked to conventional IGD assessment methods. Furthermore, this initial data can provide therapists with detailed information on each player's problematic behaviors and gaming habits, enabling the development of personalized treatments tailored to individual needs. Future research endeavors will focus on refining the methodology and extending its application in clinical settings to facilitate more comprehensive diagnostic practices and tailored interventions for individuals at risk of problematic gaming behaviors.

Public school teachers' perceptions of internet gaming problems among students：current status and challenges

Objectives This study aimed to identify and understand the challenges faced by public school teachers regarding issues related to Internet gaming.Methods An electronic questionnaire was administered to 400 public school teachers in the Saitama Prefecture from September to November 2021. A total of 352 valid responses were obtained. The survey content included teachers' knowledge of gaming disorders, whether their students experienced gaming-related problems, difficulties perceived by teachers, how they discovered the problems, how they dealt with them, the challenges they faced in dealing with the problems, and desired support. Data were analyzed based on the teachers' roles, responsibilities, type of school, and knowledge of gaming difficulties. Fisher's exact probability tests were used to determine significance, and adjusted standardized residuals were used to assess the differences between groups.Results Nearly 63.1% of the teachers already had knowledge of gaming disorders, and 49.4% acknowledged the existence of students with gaming problems. The most common reasons for discovering problems were disrupted daily rhythm (51.7%) and increased tardiness and early dismissal (34.7%). The main actions taken to address gaming problems were "consultation and information sharing with families" (48.6%) and "individual guidance by teachers" (34.1%). Approximately half of the teachers indicated that they regularly experienced difficulties in activities related to prevention, early detection, student support, and interaction with parents. Specific challenges included limited guidance and involvement with families (61.4%) and the inability to intervene and provide effective support (62.5%). Teachers' support included programs for addiction recovery (56.8%), awareness programs for parents (56.0%), and staff training to increase the understanding of gaming disorders (50.5%). The responses varied according to teacher role and school type, indicating that implementation rates and difficulties were higher in middle schools.Conclusion We found that teachers tended to view internet gaming problems as family problems and provide complementary support for home education. Teachers also found it difficult to deal with students with gaming problems. Depending on the teacher's role in the school and the type of school, requests for support varied. Elementary and special-needs schools needed teaching materials that could be used for classroom and school-wide instruction and guidance for concerned students and their parents; junior high schools needed a consultation system with school counselors and other professionals and cooperation with healthcare; and high schools needed measures and support, including social support.

A model predictive Stackelberg solution to orbital pursuit-evasion game

In this paper, we investigate analytical numerical iterative strategies for the pursuit-evasion game involving spacecraft with leader–follower information. In the proposed problem, the interplay between two spacecraft gives rise to a dynamic and real-time game, complicated further by the presence of J2 perturbation. The primary challenge lies in crafting control strategies that are both efficient and applicable to real-time game problems within a nonlinear system. To overcome this challenge, we introduce the model prediction and iterative correction technique proposed in model predictive static programming, enabling the generation of strategies in analytical iterative form for nonlinear systems. Subsequently, we proceed by integrating this model predictive framework into a simplified Stackelberg equilibrium formulation, tailored to address the practical complexities of leader–follower pursuit-evasion scenarios. Simulation results validate the effectiveness and exceptional efficiency of the proposed solution within a receding horizon framework.

Research on interregional oil cooperation-sanctions with evolutionary game

PurposeThe game strategies differ when different regions participate in the oil game. Under what circumstances will different participants choose cooperation or sanction strategies? This is the core issue of this paper.Design/methodology/approachRegarding the current and future game behavior between different regions in the oil trade, this paper constructs an evolutionary game model between two regions to explore the possibility of sanctions strategies between the two sides in different situations.FindingsThe research finds: (1) When the benefits of in-depth cooperation between the two regions are greater, both sides tend to adopt cooperative strategies. (2) When the trade conflict losses between the two regions are smaller, both sides adopt sanctions strategies. (3) When a strong region trades with a weak region, if the former adopts a sanctions strategy, the net profits are greater than the benefits of in-depth cooperation between the two regions. If the latter adopts a sanctions strategy, the net profits are less than the trade conflict losses between the two regions. There will be the strong region adopting a sanctions strategy and the weak region adopting a non-sanctions strategy. At this time, the latter should reasonably balance the immediate and future interests and give up some current interests in exchange for in-depth cooperation between the two regions. Otherwise, it will fall into the situation of unilateral sanctions by the strong against the weak.Originality/valueThere is no paper in the existing literature that uses the evolutionary game method to analyze the oil game problem between the two regions. This paper constructs a two-party evolutionary game model composed of crude oil importers and crude oil exporters and, based on this, analyzes the evolutionary stability between the two regions under sanctions and cooperation strategies, which enriches the energy research field.