Presenter Information

David Bright, Niagara College

Submission Type

Paper

Keywords

civilization, game theory, strategy, pay-off, non-zero-sum, zombies

Abstract

In the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse, there will be two categories of survivors: those who scavenge off the collapsed civilization, and those who commit to rebuilding civilization anew. If the latter are to succeed, small groups of survivors will inevitably encounter and engage with other like-minded groups. Drawing on the television series The Walking Dead, this paper applies the principles of game theory to explore how the pre-conditions for re-building civilization might be established.

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Game Theory, the Walking Dead, and Rebuilding Civilization in the Zombie Apocalypse

In the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse, there will be two categories of survivors: those who scavenge off the collapsed civilization, and those who commit to rebuilding civilization anew. If the latter are to succeed, small groups of survivors will inevitably encounter and engage with other like-minded groups. Drawing on the television series The Walking Dead, this paper applies the principles of game theory to explore how the pre-conditions for re-building civilization might be established.