The EA University Groups' Prisoner’s Dilemma! [RESULTS]

By Alicia Pollard @ 2025-04-02T18:57 (+17)

The EA University Groups' Prisoner’s Dilemma has concluded, and the results are in!

Jemima from the CEA University Groups Team couldn’t resist some strategic April Fools' Day meddling and ended up casting "cooperate" votes on behalf of 18 inactive university groups, saying:

"The University Groups Team takes personal responsibility for all dead groups - this sometimes has upsides."

But as it turned out, her meddling wasn’t needed - because of the 25 other groups that voted, only 3 chose to defect.

Since fewer than 50% of groups defected, all of the prizes (except the Golden Spoon Trophy) will be awarded to a cooperating group. Based on the distribution of votes, I've decided to award all of the bonus prizes to EA Manchester! Not only did they have the highest number of cooperators overall, but not a single member defected - they are the undisputed champions of this year’s Prisoner’s Dilemma!

The only university group to attempt a coordinated defection was EA St Andrews - but their plan was foiled by a single cooperator in their ranks, meaning no coordination prize for them. However, in recognition of this noble act of betrayal, the lone cooperator will also receive a small prize.

Thanks to everyone who participated! See you next year, when the Golden Spoon Trophy will once again be up for grabs. (For now, it will remain safely at the London EA Hub, waiting for its rightful owner.)