A Presentation of REGATE

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A Presentation of REGATE
Romain ZeiligerCNRS-GATE 93 Chemin des
Mouilles, 69130Ecully, France.zeiliger_at_gate.cnrs
.fr
Downloading REGATE http//www.gate.cnrs.fr/zeili
ger/regate/regate.htm This presentation
http//www.gate.cnrs.fr/zeiliger/regate/RegateInt
ro.ppt
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Technical Aspects

• Windows 95, 98 and NT platforms
• Internet protocols (TCP/IP)
• One software only used as client or server

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Architecture
server
Liaison Internet (TCP/IP)
Players (clients)
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Server screen sample
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Player screen sample
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REGATE highlights

• Simple
• one software works as server or client !
• standard player interface no interface design !
• Flexible
• script programming
• 12 statements only.
• multi-lingual
• one script encompasses several languages
• each player can interact in his own language
• Efficient
• easy debug using artificial players

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Preparing an Experiment

• A three stages process
• 1-Scripting
• 2-Debugging
• one computer - simulating players
• n computers - using artificial players
• 3-Testing
• n computers - using human players

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1- Scripting with REGATE

• Every experiment has to be programmed as a script
• Scripts are object-Event based
• 4 predefined objects SERVER, J1, J2, J3
• 3 players roles
• 12 statements only.
• No predefined message (except START)
• Ex
• Script can be enhanced by specific programming.

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Script structure
Statements section
Data section
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Messaging
START
Regate server
objects
SG
SG
END
END
message
Regate player J1
Regate player J2
statements
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Players and groups
Regate server
Regate player J1
Regate player J2
roles
Regate player J1
Regate player J2
Regate player J2
Regate player J1
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Roles
Regate server
Send to every J1
J2
J1
J1
J1
roles
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Variables

• Each object (SERVER, J1, J2, J3) has its own
  variables
• Messages can transport variables from the
  SERVER to any player and vv.

Regate server
Regate server
definition
transport
OFFRE1OK,offre1
SG,d
Regate player
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Advanced statement example
Send to every J1 message RESJEU1
If session parameter is 1
Variable s and variable gj (with jplayer number)
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Player interface
Script
Player screen
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Multi-lingual features
All texts in english for all players
Multi-lingual experiments
Each player select his own language
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2- Debugging the scripts in simulation mode
Script window
Simulated players screens
Goal check the programs syntax and logic
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3- Debugging the scripts with artificial players
Running the server with artificial players option
Regate server
Artificial J1
Artificial J2
Defining input variables range for artificial
values
Artificial J1
Artificial J1
Goal check the experiment implementation in
context
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Before running the experiment
Defining the data to be recorded
Defining the experiment session plan
Defining the data to be displayed on the server
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Running the experiment
Regate.exe SERVER
IP N 156.18.56.107
Experiment progress
Regate.exe CLIENT 156.18.56.107
Regate.exe CLIENT 156.18.56.107
Regate.exe CLIENT 156.18.56.107
Feedback
Regate.exe CLIENT 156.18.56.107
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Limitations future work

• Limitations
• integers only
• 16 players
• limited statement set
• one group restriction in some cases
• Future work
• overcome limitations
• improve recovery on errors
• improve script language (extended to Microsoft VB
  ?)
• improve server and player interface
• going HTTP ?

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REGATE use

• 31 scripts in library
• Ultimatum bargaining games
• Public goods
• Principal agents
• Others (ex bank panic ...)
• Experiments in
• GATE, Université Lumière, Lyon.
• GRESE, Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon.
• BETA, Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg.
• Humbolt Universitat, Berlin.
• University of Karlsruhe.
• Pittsburg University.
• Purdue University, West Lafayette.
• CIRANO, Université de Montreal.

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REGATE statement set
Advanced

• timer(Tend,Twarning,TextEnd,TextWarning)
• pause(delay_in_milliseconds)
• even(avar)
• gains(AVERAGE,avar,gainrow,validrounds,taux)
• random(avar,max)
• gains(AVERAGE,inVar,gainRow,LastRounds,Taux)
• publicdisplay(ttt var ttt)
• table(nrow,ncol,labelrow1,labelrow2,...)
• tableupdate(a11,a12,a13,...)
• traces(thetext var and etc )
• feedback(label1,label2,label3,...)
• feedbackupdate(var1,var2,var3...)

Basics

• tell(thetext)
• tell(Txx,thetext)
• tell(-)
• tell()
• ask(OK)
• ask(NUM,invar,max)
• ask(NSB,invar,max,min,echoexpression)
• ask(TEX,invar)
• ask(ALT,invar,label1,label2,value1,value2)
• ask(TRI,inVar,Label1,Label2,Label3,value1,value2,v
  alue3)
• send(SERVER,message,var1,var2,...)
• send(Jx,message,var1,var2,...)
• set(avarvalue)
• (avarvalue)any_statement