Dialogue Between the Game Industry and Mathematics: The Potential of Entertainment Development through Mathematical Thinking

Reference No.	2026a036
Type/Category	Grant for General Research-Workshop（Ⅱ）
Title of Research Project	Dialogue Between the Game Industry and Mathematics: The Potential of Entertainment Development through Mathematical Thinking
Principal Investigator	Koki Maeda（Graduate School of Mathematics, Kyushu University・First-Year Doctoral Student）
Research Period	September 1,2026. - October 31,2026.
Keyword(s) of Research Fields	Game Development, Mathematical Modeling, Optimization, Procedural Content Generation, Probabilistic Modeling
Abstract for Research Report	The purpose of this workshop is to foster connections between practical challenges in the game industry and theoretical insights in mathematical academia, and to explore the potential for sustained collaboration between the two. In recent years, game development has rapidly grown in scale and complexity. Technologies grounded in the mathematical sciences—such as physical simulation, artificial intelligence, optimization, stochastic processes, and geometric modeling—have become critical factors influencing both product quality and development efficiency. However, these mathematical methods are not always systematically organized or shared, and often remain as localized knowledge within individual development environments. At the same time, for researchers in mathematics, the field of game development presents a rich source of new mathematical problems and applications that may not readily emerge within traditional theoretical research. This workshop will feature approximately three talks each from industry and academia. By sharing concrete case studies alongside theoretical perspectives, we aim to stimulate emerging discussions on industry–academia collaboration. In particular, ample coffee breaks will be incorporated between sessions to design the event as a “space for dialogue,” where participants can freely exchange ideas and engage in discussion across disciplinary and professional boundaries. The expected outcomes of this workshop are as follows. First, to clarify the points of contact between concrete challenges faced by the game industry and mathematical theory, thereby identifying feasible topics for collaborative research. Second, to articulate how the expertise of mathematical scientists can contribute to various stages of game development, presenting these contributions in a manner accessible to industry practitioners. Furthermore, through these discussions, we hope to provide students and early-career researchers with concrete perspectives on career paths beyond academia, thereby contributing to future talent circulation and interdisciplinary development.
Organizing Committee Members (Workshop) Participants (Short-term Joint Usage)	Hiroyuki Ochiai（Institute of Mathematics for Industry (IMI), Kyushu University・Professor） Shizuo Kaji（Institute of Mathematics for Industry (IMI), Kyushu University・Professor） Isamu Hasegawa（Square Enix Co., Ltd.・General Manager） Yoshihiro Mizoguchi（Institute of Mathematics for Industry (IMI), Kyushu University・Professor）