War Games Research Articles

War Video Games

War video games recreate war situations with great realism, favoring the immersion of users and making them participants of the sufferings derived from war. While some of them help the players to understand the war, appealing to the hyper-realistic simulation, others are entertainment artifacts that banalize it. This research seeks to determine the edu-communicative potential of war video games, understood as the ability to drive critical thinking towards war. To do this, we adopt a qualitative methodology based on the study of 10 cases, using the WarVG-A (War video game evaluation) instrument to perform the content analysis, based on six dimensions (cognitive, personal-attitudinal, ethical, logical, argumentative, and expressive-communicative) with different indicators and categories. The results of the analysis indicate that these primary games terrorist tactics and historical adaptation, addressing war from a critical approach. Most evidence ethical dilemmas such as child soldiers, the economics of war (arms sales and conflict perpetuation). Economic and geo-political interests are the engines that drive wars, considered inevitable to defend themselves. The stereotypes that abound are gender and ethnic warmongers represented by photorealistic and cinematographic aesthetics. Only four of the selected playful artifacts can identify tools capable of driving critical thinking, inviting players to reflect on war from a more realistic position and emotionally involving them. However, the explicit representation of violence limits its use in school contexts.

Supplemental Material for War Games: Intergroup Coalitional Play Fighting as a Means of Comparative Coalition Formidability Assessment

Supplemental Material for War Games: Intergroup Coalitional Play Fighting as a Means of Comparative Coalition Formidability Assessment

A multiresolution simulation system and simulation development processes

Defense modeling and simulation often should run multiple simulation models together to share information on their combat entity states and battlefields and to interact with each other. However, most simulation models were developed by various parties with different purposes, modeling views, and model resolutions. Therefore, it has been challenging to identify differences between the models, transform one’s information for the other models, and manage interoperation between the models. There have been numerous works on multiresolution modeling (MRM) and simulation. However, we yet should have more systematic and integrated methods for designing, managing, and executing the interoperation processes of different simulation models. In this paper, we propose an integrated multiresolution simulation system for designing, developing, simulating, and managing multiple simulation models with different modeling views and resolutions. We propose an architecture, component functions, and processes, including model resolution conversion and management processes, and their Unified Modeling Language models. We also extend the Distributed Simulation Engineering and Execution Processes standard to incorporate MRM design and development processes. Finally, we present a case of MRM design and development of war game models by using the proposed system.

A Human Memory Process Modeling

Background: The cognitive models based agents proposed in the existing patents are not able to create knowledge by themselves. They also did not have the inference mechanism to take decisions and perform planning in novel situations. Objective: This patent proposes a method to mimic the human memory process for decision making. Methods: The proposed model simulates the functionality of episodic, semantic and procedural memory along with their interaction system. The sensory information activates the activity nodes which is a binding of concept and the sensory values. These activated activity nodes are captured by the episodic memory in the form of an event node. Each activity node has some participation strength in each event depending upon its involvement among other events. Recalling of events and frequent usage of some coactive activity nodes constitute the semantic knowledge in the form of associations between the activity nodes. The model also learns the actions in context to the activity nodes by using reinforcement learning. The proposed model uses an energy-based inference mechanism for planning and decision making. Results: The proposed model is validated by deploying it in a virtual war game agent and analysing the results. The obtained results show that the proposed model is significantly associated with all the biological findings and theories related to memories. Conclusion: The implementation of this model allows humanoid and game agents to take decisions and perform planning in novel situations.

The Suwalki GAP dilemma: A strategic and operational analysis

This article reports on a theoretical analysis about a series of events that will hopefully never take place. Should Russia ever decide to invade the Baltic republics, the obvious invasion route would be from Russian territory into Estonia and Latvia, and perhaps also from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad into Lithuania. Authoritative war games have found that Russian forces could reach the three Baltic capitals within 36–60 hours. NATO has decided on a counterstrategy, stationing 5 000 troops in the three republics and Poland, as well as establishing a rapid reaction force of 13 000 troops, capable of being at the front in a week. Nevertheless, this article argues that this is probably insufficient. These troops will have to move through the so-called Suwalki Gap (80 kilometres wide) between Kaliningrad and Belarus, a close Russian ally, which could be closed by a determined Russian push. The article ends with a war scenario, which shows that any clash could rapidly escalate into a general war.

Cellular automaton simulation of the quantum war of attrition game

The quantum war of attrition game is studied in this work via spatial numerical simulation. It is found that the implemented simulation converges to the Pareto optimal solution, i.e. no fighting at all, when the resign times of the players are entangled with higher factor, whereas larger resign times would be got with weak entanglement. This finding is shown to apply also in a fiercer war game, the war of extermination, in which game the non-entangled (or classical) simulation leads to very high resign times and consequently to very high negative payoffs.

Gaming behaviors among young people with visual impairment

Abstract It has been reported that 60% of young people with visual impairment (VI) enjoy playing digital games (DGS) on the computer. However, little is still known about the new media patterns among young people with special needs. Hence, the aim of this study was to identify gaming behaviors among students with VI. A self-administered questionnaire assessing variables regarding gaming behaviors adapted for students with special needs was prepared. Finally, 490 Polish respondents with VI from 9 special schools aged 13-24 (17.9 ± 2.48) were included. Purposive sampling was chosen during selection of the members of the population. Almost 84% of students with VI had experience in playing DGs. Poor-sighted students were significantly more likely to be players than those who were blind (89% vs 11%; χ2 =22.471; P< .001). More male (57.1%) than female students (42.9%) reported playing DGs (χ2=17.913; P <.001). Students with siblings were more likely to play DGs than those without and they were more likely to play computer games if they lived with a parent whose education was at primary/secondary level (χ 2=7.340; P= .025) The most commonly chosen game genre was strategic (57.1%), whereas war games (37.7%) were less popular. Over 12% of the students took part in gaming sessions lasting 5 or more hours per day and the male students were 5.5 times more likely to report an excessive gaming than the female students (P=.000). The survey indicated a tendency towards excessive gaming in a significant proportion of young persons with VI. Sociodemographic variables are important in predicting gaming behaviors in this group and they should be taken into consideration in the future preventive actions to reduce the risk of behavioral addiction. Key messages Young people with VI are the regular users of games and they also tend to have a high tendency to an excessive gaming. Sociodemographic variables are important factor to be taken in account when predicting gaming behaviors among people with VI.

Battling on Boards: The Ancient Greek War Games of Ship-Battle (Naumachia) and City-State (Polis)

Only two distinct board games (and their variants) are firmly attested among Greeks in the Classical period (fifth to fourth centuries bc). The first, eventually known as “Ship-Battle” (ναυμαχία), is first attested in the seventh century bc and was played (ordinarily) with ten counters and a die on a board with five parallel lines or a circle of ten spots. The second, known usually as “City-State” (πόλις), is first attested in the fifth century bc and was played with sixty counters (and possibly a die) on a board with a grid of lines. These two games were the first war games in the West (if not the world), preceding Chess by a millennium.

Trends of developing training in advanced countries and direction of the Army

This study examines the history of LVCG training, which is attracting attention as the army’s education and training method in the era of the 4th industrial revolution, and the recent trends in advanced countries, and the direction of the army’s LVCG training development. LVCG training is an effective means for soldiers to improve their survival rate and combat skills by experiencing realistic virtual battles iteratively prior to actual deployment, thereby ultimately improving their readiness. The LVCG training system is classified into four categories: live, virtual training, war game training, and game, collectively referred to as LVCG. In the 1980s, advanced countries began to use the LVCG training system in various areas of education and training, and after the 1990s, they promoted a synthetic environment incorporating the LVCG training system. Recently, the synthetic training environment (STE) that integrates LVCG into a three-dimensional virtual environment. This is attracting attention and developed countries are rapidly transitioning to STE. The Army is also promoting education and training innovation based on big data and artificial intelligence by establishing a low-cost, highly efficient LVCG training environment with LVCG integrated around the synthetic training environment platform and securing education and training data using STE.

Two decades of pandemic war games failed to account for Donald Trump.

The scenarios foresaw leaky travel bans, a scramble for vaccines and disputes between state and federal leaders, but none could anticipate the current levels of dysfunction in the United States. The scenarios foresaw leaky travel bans, a scramble for vaccines and disputes between state and federal leaders, but none could anticipate the current levels of dysfunction in the United States.

STUDY OF CYBERSICKNESS ON NON-IMMERSIVE VIRTUAL REALITY USING SMARTPHONE

Cybersickness is one of the psycho-physiological responses affecting human performances when it is interacting with Virtual Environment. Virtual Environment (VE) is an advanced technological model generated by computer which allows users feel the real-life presence like that in the real environment. However the repetitive exposure to VE causes sickness, especially the eyestrain when the eyes are forced to make an accommodation and focus on the virtual object. This symptom can be identified on the eye’s movement and the eyes muscle contraction. Thus, it is considered significant to evaluate the contraction of eye’s muscle. The objective of this study is to analyse the eyestrain in the constant use of smartphone for playing the war game. Empirical study was conducted to gather the relevant data. Ten subjects, who were familiar with the war game, were involved in this study. Electromyography (EMG) was used to record the signal of muscle contraction on lateral eyes muscle. Statistical analysis was conducted to test the hypothesis. The result of this study showed that there was a significant difference in visual acuity between normal brightness and 0% brightness and 100% brightness of smartphone while sitting in operating. There was also significant difference in visual acuity between the normal brightness 0%, 50%, and 100% of brightness depending on the lying down position. As for the higher contraction on lateral rectus muscle of the eyes occurred in lying down position than in sitting position at any level of brightness.

Israel will hold a national exercise tomorrow on the possibility of a deadly corona outbreak

An exercise to be held in the format of a “war game” named “Omega Exercise” Government ministries, the defense establishment, the Home Front Command, the National Security Council, and other bodies will participate in an exercise to be held in the format of a “war game” and named “Omega Exercise” [1,2] Prime Minister Bennett: “We are always looking to the future and preparing for the battle for the first time in the world - Israel will qualify for the outbreak of a new Corona strain. The OMEGA variant has not yet been detected In the country.

Scenario Planning - Russia The New Amendment 2020 – Putin the Iron Man Reforms Constitution

• Putin - an indispensable King to Power or the worthy choice until a fitting successor is found? • Who knows if Putin (Ex-KGB) has a hidden prodigy? • Putin has unrivalled power, charisma, wit, a sporty image, military and defence intelligence, diplomatic tactics and attracts the world. • World leaders can benefit from these qualities for peace and steadiness. • Putin is a man of iron; with all political pressures and sanctions, yet Putin delivered better politics and environment to attract foreign business and drive FDI in Russia. • Five top trade partners increased their import purchases from Russia from 2018 to 2019: United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, United States, Netherlands and China. • Vladimir Putin could continue to use energy as a “new nuclear weapon”, along with further innovations. Markets felt the pressure of Russia and Saudi Arabia oil price war influence game. • The clarity in Putin's 2020 constitutional amendments may bring stability to Russia and clarity to would in terms of near and future term strategies.

Exploring Predictability in Armed Conflict

This article proposes a direct relationship between complexity and predictability in a two-agent noncooperative zero-sum game (2XZSG). The author explores this proposition by modeling armed conflict as a 2XZSG and using case studies in armed conflict as the dataset for the systematic literature review. This article uses a multiple case study approach, systematically reviewing 13 case studies in armed conflict that yielded 156 references identifying four themes—environmental, human resource, operational, and supply chain constraints—that demonstrate a direct relationship between complexity and predictability. The data focuses on decisions made in particular battles and campaigns as well as the constraints that impacted decision making. By identifying those decisions and constraints, four themes emerged. These four themes are an innovation as a potential addendum to the war gaming methodology in the military decision making process (MDMP).

Cybernetic combatants support the importance of duels in the evolution of extreme weapons.

A current evolutionary hypothesis predicts that the most extreme forms of animal weaponry arise in systems where combatants fight each other one-to-one, in duels. It has also been suggested that arms races in human interstate conflicts are more likely to escalate in cases where there are only two opponents. However, directly testing whether duels matter for weapon investment is difficult in animals and impossible in interstate conflicts. Here, we test whether superior combatants experience a disproportionate advantage in duels, as compared with multi-combatant skirmishes, in a system analogous to both animal and military contests: the battles fought by artificial intelligence agents in a computer war game. We found that combatants with experimentally improved fighting power had a large advantage in duels, but that this advantage deteriorated as the complexity of the battlefield was increased by the addition of further combatants. This pattern remained under the two different forms of the advantage granted to our focal artificial intelligence (AI) combatants, and became reversed when we switched the roles to feature a weak focal AI among strong opponents. Our results suggest that one-on-one combat may trigger arms races in diverse systems. These results corroborate the outcomes of studies of both animal and interstate contests, and suggest that elements of animal contest theory may be widely applicable to arms races generally.

PENGGUNAAN METODE “PERANG MENTAL MATEMATIKA” DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN MEDIA KARTU PECAHAN PADA MATERI PENJUMLAHAN BILANGAN PECAHAN

Fractions are a subset of a set of real numbers. Although the form is simple and often used in everyday, but the material about fractions especially in the addition of fraction numbers is still complicated for students. To overcome this problem, a solution is given in the form of the method of " Mathematical Mental Wars ". Mathematical Mental Wars is the presentation of a fast, interesting, and interactive way for students to practice problems with variables, equations, and answers. The steps of the method of " Mental Wars Mathematics ", namely: (1) reviewing game cards, (2) reviewing traditional war card games and explaining the rules and procedures, (3) grouping students in pairs, (4) providing each pair with The set of fractional cards to be shared equally, (5) reminds students not to open cards until the game starts and (6) starts the game.

Introducing the law games: Predicting legal liability and fault in satellite operations

Over recent times there has been a rise in the number of objects placed into Earth orbit. With various countries licensing a number of large constellations, the orbital population is set to increase dramatically. A significant number of technical advances have facilitated this and, in the UK and elsewhere, this has been matched by the updating of legislation and an increased policy focus on the need for increased space surveillance and tracking. The rise of large constellations coupled with an increasing number of experimental techniques such as active debris removal or on-orbit servicing procedures means that establishing fault will be crucial if litigation is to be successful. In doing this, any legal proceedings will look at both norms of behaviour, deviation from which will point towards fault and the types and standard of evidence that will be required.This paper will outline these problems in detail. It will be proposed that what is required to map out the contours of liability are both codification of the norms for satellite operations and clarity on protocols for evidence gathering in cases where fault may be contested in orbital operations. This discussion will identify that a way in which this could be achieved is by the use of “space law games”. These are simulations, similar to military war games, in which fictional scenarios could highlight some of the key legal issues that might need to be dealt with. The paper will outline some of the ways in which the law games might work and pose questions as to what data and other considerations will be needed to make such simulations meaningful.

Patriot Games, War Games, and Political Football: A Constructivist Analysis of Militarization in an American Sport

AbstractI argue that constructivism can help us understand the political dimension of sports generally and specifically the norms, meaning, and social identity of American football. More specifically, I contend that football’s development in the United States built it into a cultural force associated with militarist and patriotic norms that politicians could leverage for political support when deep domestic divisions existed concerning national security. This phenomenon resulted from the game’s social transformation from a primarily civilian, leisure-time form of recreation and entertainment into a socially constructed symbol for military recruitment by a reinforcing “gridiron triangle” comprised of actors from the military bureaucracy, football teams and leagues, and the sports media. Because of this social phenomenon, American presidents such as Richard Nixon and Donald Trump have attempted to use football as a cultural asset for bolstering support when their national security credentials were seriously questioned. In the case of Nixon, it happened when the United States was divided over the Vietnam War. As for the Trump administration, a similar situation emerged amid investigations of collusion between the Russian government and the Trump campaign and the subsequent manipulation of military aid designed to contain Russian expansion in Ukraine for partisan, electoral gains.

Playing Soldiers: The War Game in Late Qing and Republican China

Abstract In the early twentieth century, Chinese military reformers introduced the war game to improve the training of officers and professionalize their education according to foreign role models. The war game or Kriegsspiel was a tabletop device used to simulate tactical and strategic problems, which originated from the Prussian army and was very popular among German officers. It was adopted in other European countries and the United States as well as Japan, and was eventually played in the late Qing New Armies and the Guomindang’s National Revolutionary Army. From its inception at the turn of the century until the end of the Republican era, it was supposed to increase tactical abilities, leadership skills, discipline, and knowledge of specific procedures and regulations. Besides improving their skills as military commanders, wargaming enabled Chinese officers to incorporate transnational military cultural codes of conduct, and thus emulate and perform “modern” military professionalism.

ОКРЕМІ АСПЕКТИ ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ ІМІТАЦІЙНОГО МОДЕЛЮВАННЯ У ПІДГОТОВЦІ СКЛАДОВИХ СЕКТОРУ БЕЗПЕКИ І ОБОРОНИ УКРАЇНИ

До арсеналу усіх ланок управління збройних сил провідних країн світу увійшов досвід застосування різноманітних систем моделювання дій військ (сил), сфера використання яких є одним з пріоритетів, пов’язаних із підвищенням ефективності їх застосування. В умовах оптимізації витрат на військову сферу та активізації діяльності суспільства щодо зменшення негативного впливу підготовки військ (сил) на довкілля експерти бачать, що подальше підвищення її інтенсивності та ефективності полягає передусім в комп’ютеризації процесів підготовки особового складу та органів управління. З цією метою застосовують різноманітні тренажери, імітатори та моделювальні навчальні системи. Застосування тактичних військових ігор є важливим видом індивідуальної підготовки солдатів та офіцерів. Крім створення реалістичного образу імовірного противника, за їх допомогою можливі відтворення реалістичної багатовимірної картини сучасного бою, вдосконалення тактики ведення бойових дій, підготовка до дій у будь-яких природно-географічних умовах, відновлення морально-психологічного стану військовослужбовців, які беруть участь у бойових діях. Тактичні військові ігри є одним із простих способів використання засобів імітаційного моделювання, що дозволяє зменшити витрати на організацію та проведення навчань (тренувань) і створення нових тренажерних комплексів (симуляторів). Основною перевагою тактичних військових ігор є відсутність реальної загрози для життя і здоров’я навчальної аудиторії, наближеність психологічних умов віртуальної реальності до бойових, що дає можливість набути досвіду ведення військових операцій завчасно, без істотних матеріальних витрат і ризику для життя. Автор розкриває перспективи поєднання за допомогою ресурсів розподіленого моделювання тренажерів тактичного й оперативно-тактичного рівня. Такий підхід сприятиме впровадженню комплексних програм підготовки з використанням ресурсів імітаційного моделювання в органах управління різного рівня та можливості вдосконалення індивідуальних навичок особового складу. Імітаційне моделювання нині стало потужним інструментом: в усьому світі його використовують для підготовки командирів та штабів до дій під час планування та ведення сучасних операцій. Використання систем імітаційного моделювання дає змогу посадовим особам органів військового управління у реальному масштабі часу набути практичних навичок із виконання процедур управління частинами і підрозділами у реальній бойовій обстановці, а в разі потреби – із корегування прийнятого рішення.