AI for Game Developers

David M. Bourg, Glenn Seemann

"O'Reilly Media, Inc.", 2004 - Computers - 371 pages

Advances in 3D visualization and physics-based simulation technology make it possible for game developers to create compelling, visually immersive gaming environments that were only dreamed of years ago. But today's game players have grown in sophistication along with the games they play. It's no longer enough to wow your players with dazzling graphics; the next step in creating even more immersive games is improved artificial intelligence, or AI.Fortunately, advanced AI game techniques are within the grasp of every game developer--not just those who dedicate their careers to AI. If you're new to game programming or if you're an experienced game programmer who needs to get up to speed quickly on AI techniques, you'll find AI for Game Developers to be the perfect starting point for understanding and applying AI techniques to your games.Written for the novice AI programmer, AI for Game Developers introduces you to techniques such as finite state machines, fuzzy logic, neural networks, and many others, in straightforward, easy-to-understand language, supported with code samples throughout the entire book (written in C/C++). From basic techniques such as chasing and evading, pattern movement, and flocking to genetic algorithms, the book presents a mix of deterministic (traditional) and non-deterministic (newer) AI techniques aimed squarely at beginners AI developers. Other topics covered in the book include:

• Potential function based movements: a technique that handles chasing, evading swarming, and collision avoidance simultaneously
• Basic pathfinding and waypoints, including an entire chapter devoted to the A* pathfinding algorithm
• AI scripting
• Rule-based AI: learn about variants other than fuzzy logic and finite state machines
• Basic probability
• Bayesian techniques

Unlike other books on the subject, AI for Game Developers doesn't attempt to cover every aspect of game AI, but to provide you with usable, advanced techniques you can apply to your games right now. If you've wanted to use AI to extend the play-life of your games, make them more challenging, and most importantly, make them more fun, then this book is for you.

Contents

• 1 Introduction to Game AI: 1
• Deterministic Versus Nondeterministic AI: 2
• Established Game AI: 3
• The Future of Game AI: 4
• 2 Chasing and Evading: 6
• Basic Chasing and Evading: 7
• LineofSight Chasing: 9
• LineofSight Chasing in Tiled Environments: 10
• Intercepting: 20
• 3 Pattern Movement: 27
• Standard Algorithm: 28
• Pattern Movement in Tiled Environments: 30
• Pattern Movement in Physically Simulated Environments: 38
• 4 Flocking: 52
• Classic Flocking: 53
• Flocking Example: 55
• Obstacle Avoidance: 73
• Follow the Leader: 76
• 5 Potential FunctionBased Movement: 80
• ChasingEvading: 82
• Obstacle Avoidance: 87
• Swarming: 89
• Optimization Suggestions: 94
• 6 Basic Pathfinding and Waypoints: 96
• Breadcrumb Pathfinding: 101
• Path Following: 109
• Wall Tracing: 115
• Waypoint Navigation: 120
• 7 A Pathfinding: 126
• Starting the Search: 128
• Scoring: 132
• Finding a Dead End: 141
• Influence Mapping: 146
• Further Information: 148
• 8 Scripted AI and Scripting Engines: 149
• Scripting Opponent Attributes: 150
• Basic Script Parsing: 151
• Scripting Opponent Behavior: 154
• Scripting Verbal Interaction: 157
• Scripting Events: 162
• Further Information: 164
• 9 Finite State Machines: 165
• Finite State Machine Design: 168
• Ant Example: 170
• Further Information: 187
• 10 Fuzzy Logic: 188
• How Can You Use Fuzzy Logic in Games?: 190
• Fuzzy Logic Basics: 192
• Control Example: 205
• Threat Assessment Example: 207
• 11 RuleBased AI: 212
• RuleBased System Basics: 214
• Fighting Game Strike Prediction: 218
• Further Information: 226
• 12 Basic Probability: 228
• What is Probability?: 232
• Probability Rules: 238
• Conditional Probability: 242
• 13 Decisions Under UncertaintyBayesian Techniques: 244
• What is a Bayesian Network?: 245
• Trapped?: 249
• Treasure?: 254
• By Air or Land: 258
• Kung Fu Fighting: 262
• Further Information: 267
• 14 Neural Networks: 269
• Dissecting Neural Networks: 274
• Training: 285
• Neural Network Source Code: 289
• Chasing and Evading with Brains: 305
• Further Information: 315
• 15 Genetic Algorithms: 316
• Evolutionary Process: 317
• Evolving Plant Life: 321
• Genetics in Game Development: 327
• Further Information: 347
• Vector Operations: 349
• Index: 359

About the author

As a naval architect and marine engineer, David M. Bourg performs computer simulations and develops analysis tools that measure such things as hovercraft performance and the effect of waves on the motion of ships and boats. He teaches at the college level in the areas of ship design, construction and analysis. On occasion, David also lectures at high schools on topics such as naval architecture and software development. In addition to David's practical engineering background, he's professionally involved in computer game development and consulting through his company, Crescent Vision Interactive. Current projects include a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, several Java-based multiplayer games, and the porting of Hasbro's "Breakout" to the Macintosh.

Bibliographic information

• Title: AI for Game Developers; O'Reilly Series; Safari Books Online; Safari electronic books
• Authors: David M. Bourg, Glenn Seemann
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: "O'Reilly Media, Inc.", 2004
• ISBN: 0596005555, 9780596005559
• Length: 371 pages
• Subjects: Computers / Artificial Intelligence / General; Computers / Computer Science; Computers / Design, Graphics & Media / Video & Animation; Computers / General; Computers / Interactive & Multimedia; Computers / Languages / C; Computers / Languages / General; Computers / Programming / Games; Computers / Programming / General; Computers / Software Development & Engineering / Computer Graphics; Computers / Software Development & Engineering / General; Computers / Virtual & Augmented Reality; Games & Activities / Video & Mobile