War Gaming: In Need of Context

Abstract

Because of the accelerated pace of change in the world 's political environment since 1985, war game scenarios quickly became obsolete. Rather than rewrite computer programs to accommodate another conflict somewhere else that eventually will become obsolete by the changing nature of world events, it is recommended that computer programmers write software establishing world environments (known as "contexts") in which player-derived scenarios are installed just prior to game execution. Advantages include greater credibility of the war game to its participants, thereby enhancing the quality of participation, and a new source of inputs regarding future paths to war for military intelligence analysis and exploitation. Suggested war game contexts include the Korean Peninsula, the Middle East, the Balkan Peninsula, and border or ethnic wars between republics of the former Soviet Union.