Randomness and Strategy in Video Games

Colloquially, randomness is the lack of predictability and pattern. In statistics, randomness describes events whose outcomes are unknown but whose behavior is characterized by probability distributions. In this course, we will explore a variety of implementations of both input and output randomness in modern video games and assess how they inform strategy and affect the user experience. Do random events yield a variety of strategies, a dominant one, or no strategy at all? How does randomness relate to user experience? We will explore the answers to these questions and more in an exploration of the intersection of statistics and video game design. (MATH/STAT 0310)