science

Zero-player game

Zero-player game is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Zero-player game rather than just read about it. In short: A zero-player game or no-player game is a simulation game that has no sentient players. Types There are various different types of games that can be considered "zero-player".

Key takeaways

Zero-player game belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Zero-player game to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Zero-player game from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

A zero-player game or no-player game is a simulation game that has no sentient players.

Types There are various different types of games that can be considered "zero-player".

Determined by initial state A game that evolves as determined by its initial state, requiring no further input from humans is considered a zero-player game. Cellular automaton games that are determined by initial conditions. Conway's Game of Life is an example of this. Progress Quest is another example, in the game the player sets up an artificial character, and afterwards the game plays itself with no further input from the player. Godville is a similar game that took inspiration from Progress Quest. In the game, the player is a god that can communicate with a non-player character hero. However, the game can progress with no interaction from the player. Incremental games, sometimes called idle games or clicker games, are games which do require some player intervention near the beginning but may become zero-player at higher levels. As an example, Cookie Clicker requires that players click cookies manually before purchasing assets to click cookies in the place of the player independently.

AI vs AI games In computer games, the term refers to programs that use artificial intelligence rather than human players; for example some fighting, sports, and real-time strategy games can be put into zero-player mode where multiple AIs can play against each other. Humans may have a challenge in designing the AI and giving it sufficient skill to play the game well, but the actual evolution of the game has no human intervention.

See also Single-player game Two-player game Multiplayer video game Incremental game

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Zero-player game

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Zero-player game claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Zero-player game before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Zero-player game ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Zero-player game

In research: Zero-player game appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Zero-player game in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Zero-player game is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Game artificial intelligence, Game theory game classes, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Zero-player game outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Zero-player game in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Zero-player game means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Zero-player game out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Zero-player game in simple terms?

A zero-player game or no-player game is a simulation game that has no sentient players. Types There are various different types of games that can be considered "zero-player".

Why does Zero-player game matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Zero-player game?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Zero-player game.