Monday, August 04, 2003

Too much time on their hands. As it were.

There is a "World Rock Paper Scissors Society", complete with web page and an "Official Rock Paper Scissors Strategy Guide". Yes, official rules and all. A discussion of the philosophy of opening moves. ("Rock ... is seen ... to be a sign of aggression.") Gambits. Historical archives, with such tidbits as a photograph from the Potsdam conference, showing the differences in personality types of the three leaders: Churchill (scissors), Stalin (rock), and Truman (paper). Not surprisingly, you can buy T-shirts and stickers, if you're so inclined. More surprisingly, they're having what an International World Championship" at a bar that actually exists in Toronto (instead of someone's basement, as I'd have suspected).

More interesting, I think, is the report a couple of links away to a Rock-Paper-Scissors programming competition held in 1999 (and a second in 2001). The winning program was a lot more complex than the Tit-for-Tat programs that always win Prisoners' Dilemma competitions - this one was called "Iocaine Powder" (which should mean something to film buffs), and includes built-in second- and third-guessing of your opponent.

No comments: