Second-order game problem: Decision dynamics in gaming phenomena

The paradigm of decision dynamics (Ref. 1) is used to describe the decision dynamics involving more than one decision-maker. The framework supplied in this paper is different from traditional game theory or differential games. Traditional simplicity assumptions are replaced by a more complicated, but more realistic, setting. Although many mathematically beautiful results in traditional game theory or differential games have disappeared in second-order games, the more realistic setting of the latter does make it easier for the decision-makers to find agood decision. Concepts of time optimality and time stability, and their necessary and/or sufficient conditions are described. Unconventional concepts of strategies and uncertainty involved in gaming phenomena are discussed. A highlight of the paper is a systematic discussion on reframing tactics of gaming situations, which do not exist in the context of traditional game theory or differential games. Various research topics are discussed at the end of the paper.