What academic background correlates with a stronger performance in strategy games?

Preparing the invite list for a Diplomacy game next weekend, I was torn over whether to invite a few game-theory pros for fear that they might whip my proverbial ass. Who better to consult than a neuroeconomist? Kevin McCabe told me he had not seen any formal studies of how game theorists perform in strategic settings, though some game theorists do quite well at bridge.

Kevin also mentioned a famous example in which a number of game theorists were invited to submit strategies for Robert Axelrod's prisoners' dilemma context. Apparently, the game theorists did not do very well, though they could argue the economic incentives for presenting good strategies were absent (i.e. presumably, game theorists in profitable consulting do better game theory).

My intuitions tell me the game theorists will do well at Diplomacy, but perhaps better at Risk. For Diplomacy, the most successful background would be psychology or policy work. Hopefully, next week's game will test these theories. Playing the new version of Risk this week rekindled my interest in the history and evolution of the game.

According to Dave Shapiro's article on the game's history, Risk originated in France in 1957 as La Conqueste du Monde, Conquest of the World. Parker Brothers brought it here in 1959. Legend has it that the R.I.S.K. are the initials of a Parker Brothers sales exec's grandchildren. Some time later the game was re-titled Risk: the Game of Global Domination.

The evolution of Risk to include the Lord of the Rings version is testament to its flexibility. Shapiro calls it "the finest presentation of a Risk game to date". It even includes a very realistic Ring of Power for your staging benefit. On the other hand, setting up the new Lord of the Rings version of Risk is fairly challenging to those who never played Risk 2210 A.D. Shapiro describes the new game and speculates about a possible extension:

In several areas it is a combination and extension of 2210 A.D. and Edition Napoleon. The map of Middle Earth has only 42 territories (as does classic Risk) and the five commanders have been reduced to one leader unit. Event, mission and power cards have replaced the five packs of commander cards. As the fellowship progresses through Middle Earth (and they move quickly), the game ticks down the turns. It is possible that with a full complement of four players and no one slowing the movement of the fellowship, the game would last little more than three rounds. Winning is dependant on territories controlled and the cards collected during the game though it is still possible to win by the total domination of Middle Earth.

The mechs of Risk 2210 A.D. have been replaced with orcs, elves and other generic representatives of Middle Earth. Missions have returned as well as strongholds. The game is intended for two to four players (ala Risk: Edition Napoleon) and, unlike most other Risk games, Risk: Lord of the Rings plays very well with just two players. Some have noted that the map of Middle Earth missing two significant areas found in the books. [Speculation: As with Risk: Edition Napoleon, an expansion was offered later that completed the map of Europe and included the pieces for two additional players. The map of Middle Earth extends to the very edge of the board, i.e. there is no border and there is a sea route that leaves the present board; I suspect that there is an extension planned that might appear if sales of this game justify it. The game as it stands, concerns itself with the areas found in the first two books/movies. It is possible that Hasbro is considering an expansion, to be timed with the release of the third movie, that would include the balance of Middle Earth and units for two additional players.]

This game is Risk in Middle Earth; it is not Lord of the Rings with a Risk twist. It is an aggressive game (the players must play either the good or evil faction); it is definitely not cooperative.

Game theory fans can play interactive online strategy games, including Clobber, which was actually invented at a game theory conference. For strategy game fans, you can download diplomacy freeware or access a wide variety of online strategy and cooperation games here, including:

• Medieval Warlords, a war game
• War of Conquest, a multilayer strategy game where you compete for cash prizes
• Utopia, which comes closest to a real-time kingdom game
• For Risk fans, Troop Wars come close.
• Simcountry, for those who think CEO's are the modern equivalents of nobility