Re: PBM design and formulae - a fresh start

From: desj@ccr-p.ida.org (David desJardins)

Date: Tue, 06 Jul 1993 14:33:07 +0000

Graham Matthews <gym@dcs.ed.ac.uk> writes:
> In other words any game that claimed it was modelling tennis to any
> sensible extent should include imprecision as one of the key factors in
> the model. Thats what I have been saying all along. Now knowing the
> exact formulas precludes imprecision.

Knowing the exact formulas does _not_ mean that you know what is going
to happen in a particular situation.  It means that you know what the
_rules_ are which determine what will happen in a hypothetical
situation.

In general, you will not know what the exact situation _is_.  There is
no reason that information should not be reported to you only
approximately, and further you will normally not be able to observe
everything in the game.  This is precisely what "imprecision" means.

Further, even if you _did_ know the exact situation, you would still
very likely not be able to predict exactly what will happen from the
rules or formulas.  The large majority of games of the types we have
been discussing include random factors in their formulas, precisely
because games without such factors tend to be poor simulations.

The idea that exact knowledge of formulas leads to development of
perfect strategies, or an absolute ability to predict everything that
will happen in a game, is just not correct.

David desJardins

References

Re: PBM design and formulae - a fresh start
gym@dcs.ed.ac.uk (Graham Matthews)
Sat, 03 Jul 1993 16:11:25 +0000
Re: PBM design and formulae - a fresh start
markiel@callisto.pas.rochester.edu (Andrew Markiel)
Mon, 05 Jul 1993 09:28:53 +0000
Re: PBM design and formulae - a fresh start
gym@dcs.ed.ac.uk (Graham Matthews)
Tue, 06 Jul 1993 11:48:17 +0000

Referenced By

Re: PBM design and formulae - a fresh start
gym@dcs.ed.ac.uk (Graham Matthews)
Sat, 03 Jul 1993 16:11:25 +0000
Re: PBM design and formulae - a fresh start
markiel@callisto.pas.rochester.edu (Andrew Markiel)
Mon, 05 Jul 1993 09:28:53 +0000
Re: PBM design and formulae - a fresh start
gym@dcs.ed.ac.uk (Graham Matthews)
Tue, 06 Jul 1993 11:48:17 +0000