Introduction

The point of computing is to process data. Even when building something like an interactive game, both the game state and the player's actions are the data; the processing computes the next game state and the display update.

Some games can have a relatively complex internal state. When we think of console games with multiple players and sophisticated graphics, there are complex, real-time state changes.

On the other hand, when we think of a casino game, such as Craps, the game state is very simple. There may be no point established, or one of the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 may be the established point. The transitions are relatively simple, and are often denoted by moving markers and chips around on the casino table. The data includes the current state, player actions, and rolls of the dice. The processing is the rules of the game.

A game such as Blackjack has a somewhat more complex internal state change as each card is accepted. In games where the hands can be split, the state...