Our team is developing a series of “Mathematical Optimization Games,” in which players encounter fundamental optimization problems presented in engaging educational game formats. These games are designed to help players learn and develop an intuitive understanding of key optimization concepts while participating in cooperative or competitive gameplay.
You can explore the games we have developed so far here. Below is more information about these games:
Step into the Prisoner’s Dilemma, a classic game of strategy where every decision comes down to one question: cooperate or compete? In this interactive game, students explore how individual choices can lead to surprising outcomes when rewards depend on what someone else decides. The instructional mode introduces key ideas behind game theory, strategic decision-making, cooperation, and competition before students put those ideas to the test against a computer opponent. Once they have developed a strategy, they can enter multiplayer mode, challenge their classmates, adapt to different opponents, and compete for the top spot on the leaderboard. Can you figure out when to trust, when to compete, and how to stay one step ahead?
How much should you order when you don’t know exactly what customers will demand? The Inventory Control Game turns one of the most important problems in business and operations into an interactive strategy challenge. Students learn the fundamentals of inventory management—including the tradeoffs between ordering too much, running out of stock, and responding to uncertain demand—and then experiment with different approaches against a computer opponent. In multiplayer mode, students put their decision-making skills to the test against one another, balancing cost, inventory, and customer demand as they compete for the highest score on the leaderboard. Every round brings new uncertainty, making the game a hands-on way to discover how smart decisions—and a little calculated risk—can make the difference between profit and loss.