Discover the Essential Mathematics Behind Gaming

When people look at video games for the first time or they dive deep into a game they are enjoying, they are probably not thinking about mathematical equations. Numbers are not what pops into most of our heads when we are analyzing games.

 

In reality, math for online gaming is critical, as most games are based on probabilities and statistics. When you look at any style of online game, whether it is a first-person shooter or a casino game, there are various possibilities when you take a particular action.

 

Say you are playing an FPS game and are about to take out an enemy. The game may calculate whether the angle of your shot, plus the weapon you are using, will result in a successful hit on the other person. Or the game may calculate that the other person has pressed a button quickly enough to get out of the way of your shot.

 

Below is a deeper analysis of the relationship between mathematics and video games.

 

Random Number Generation

 

The term RNG gets a lot of discussion among gamers, as it can be somewhat controversial. The concept of random number generation is that game developers use an algorithm that will generate numbers in any given situation to determine the outcome.

 

For instance, when you are playing a sports game, and you make a pass to a teammate and then shoot on goal, the RNG algorithm will decide whether that shot goes into the net or is saved by the goalkeeper. The same may be true if you are playing an adventure game and make a combination of moves to finally destroy the major enemy. Will you be successful, or will your actions fail? The answer depends on RNG.

 

Some games do not have RNG, such as Rocket League, Mortal Kombat, and Dance Dance Revolution. These games have physics engines that are entirely free of any predetermined outcomes. What you see is what you get. But within gaming, that is very rarely the case.

 

The goal of RNG is to keep games exciting and to ensure the most likely outcome happens most of the time. What gamers dislike about RNG is that it can introduce too much randomness, which can limit the skill gap between players.

 

Games and Data Analysis

 

Aside from using RNG within video games to determine outcomes, games are also using math for analysis. Many gaming companies want to increase the number of users who are buying and playing their titles while they also want to boost gamer retention.

 

That is why many of the employees at these companies will be gathering data from game usage. This allows them to understand when gamers are playing, what game modes they are enjoying the most, and if specific in-game events have led players to engage with the game at a higher or lower level.

 

 

Game Developers and Math

 

Becoming a game developer is only possible if you have a deep background in mathematics. Almost every aspect of developing and honing a video game involves math, as you are constantly looking at numbers or adjusting elements of the game.

 

For instance, script gameplay, animating scenes or characters, programming how the AI interacts with real players, and simulating realistic elements of the world within a game all involve math. Developers work hard to create and adjust programs and gaming engines to code how a game must behave in various scenarios.

 

If players ever notice a bug in a game, and the problem is quickly resolved, it usually means that developers have adjusted the numbers in their code to eliminate or tone down the problem.

 

 

How to Feel About Games and Mathematics

 

When most people play video games, they are hoping to recreate an aspect of life that appeals to them. Perhaps you enjoy playing sports games, or you are a fan of flight simulator titles. In these instances, you want to replicate the real-life activities you enjoy, but through your gaming console or computer.

 

Learning that most of the content you see during a video game, even when you are playing, is based on numbers can feel a little disconcerting. Players wonder if they are even in control of what takes place in a game if everything is decided by math.

 

What you must realize is that almost every activity has a math element. When you are playing sports, the angle that you pass a soccer ball or hit a baseball with your bat will determine whether your move is successful or not. The same is true for video games, which makes them more like real life – not less!