How to make split second decisions in Super Smash Bros. Melee
https://docs.google.com/document/d/15eCn_MBLjZLqwN5-6hd-X4LsBOMUqZFP-OrEVG5xfaE/edit?usp=sharing
When playing Melee just like any other competitive game, there are instances in the game when very quick decision making can make or break the entire outcome of the game. In this small article a player breaks down the theory behind teching (an in game mechanic that governs how the character reacts after they are thrown to the ground), and how to react to the tech. As the article explains there are essentially three options for each player, the one teching, and the one reacting. In regards to the pay offs, there is no Nash Equilibrium, so instead they found a mixed strategy equilibrium. Ultimately they come up with a strategy, but also explain how each individual player can modify the strategy based on prior knowledge of the opponent. This is very similar to what we accomplished in class. We analyzed a situation where no obvious Nash equilibrium was present, however we were able to identify a new layer of equilibrium by considering a mixed strategy. The existence of which was proven by Nash.
I found this article to be very interesting, for a few reasons, to start the analysis provides a result that is different from “intuition”. I personally expected the optimal strategy to evenly split between the teching and chasing (reaction). However this “intuition” disregards the pay-offs, and actions of the opponent. So the asymmetry in the strategy initially came as a surprise. Thus, in practice it would be ideal to train the more common move, to make it a quick reactionary instinct. I believe another important take away for avid gamer would be a systematic procedure on self improvement. This can sometimes be a very vague endeavor, but armed with a little bit of game theory it seems do able. I believe the main task seems to be to analyze past games against players and explicitly calculate a set of pay-offs, because from there an optimal strategy can be identified. Then during practice a player can focus primarily on their “ideal” move and aim to make this an ingrained split second reaction.