A Massively Multi-user Online Game Framework for Agent-Based Spatial Simulation

Agent-based models (ABMs) (also referred to as multi-agent systems, or MAS, in literature) are widely used to model complex adaptive systems (CAS) through representing dynamic non-linear interactions amongst a large number of heterogeneous agents and their environments. However, these models often over-simplify real-life decisions and lack the cognitive authenticity present in real-world interactions. In this paper we argue that although role-playing games (RPGs) and massive multi-player online games were developed separately from ABMs, both exhibit high levels of spatially situated participation or collaboration, social interaction, and knowledge construction. We describe an online map-based gaming platform which simulates spatial scenarios as MAS using human participants as the decision agents. We use our prototype to demonstrate and discuss challenges that cyberGIS faces towards the facilitation of massively multi-user computational resources and methods along with the opportunities for a cyberGIS framework to provide improved understanding of complex systems.