U.S. Department of Defense defines a wargame as:
War Game: A simulation, by whatever means, of a military operation involving two or more opposing forces, using rules, data, and procedures designed to depict and actual or assumed real life situation.
While Webster’s defines a wargame as:
War Game
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1.a simulated battle or campaign to test military concepts or use. Conducted in conference by officers acting as opposing staffs.
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2.a two-sided umpired training maneuver with actual elements of armed forces participating.
The definition given by this web site:
Wargame: a simulation game depicting armed conflict.
While both more robust and succinct becomes more clear with the definition of of the concepts which build toward a wargame. Doing so also clarifies just what a wargame is and is not.
Model: A model is a proportional representation of reality. Models may be two dimensional, such as maps and blue prints, or three dimensional such as an architect’s model or a sailing ship in a bottle , or they may be mathematical, such as F=MA. All models are “wrong” as they are simplifications of reality. However for some applications they may be more useful, more practical than reality. A globe in your library is a handy reference that adds a touch of class, but Earth would not fit.
Simulation: When the forth dimension – time – is added to a model it becomes a simulation. A simulation may be physical, such as a wind tunnel or mathematical such as a flight simulation program. Simulations are also always “wrong” in that they never exactly recreate reality. However, they tend to be faster, cheaper, easier than reality and for certain applications work better. For example, the Wright Brothers were making very slow progress developing the aircraft as it took them a year to make and test changes. They feared it would take them 50 years to succeed. Then they started testing possible modifications in a wind tunnel. Their first flight followed two years later.
Simulation Game: When competition is added to a simulation it becomes a simulation game. A simulation game may be physical, such as Monopoly or mathematical such as a computerized version of Monopoly. Obviously simulation games are not reality, but some are used for very serious uses such as instruction in MBA programs and deciding on price points for fast food outlets.
Wargame: When a simulation game involves not buggers but bullets it becomes a wargame. Wargames may be physical such as laser tag and Red Flag or computerized such as a home computer first person shooter or a major Department of Defense theater wargame. All wargames are “wrong” in that they are simplifications of reality, but as the history of wargaming shows they are often very useful, suggesting probable outcomes of options while they can still be changed.
