AI Game Engine Programming, Second Edition

A fully revised update to the first edition, "AI Game Engine Programming, Second Edition" provides game developers with the tools and information they need to create modern game AI engines. Covering the four principle elements of game artificial intelligence, the book takes you from theory to actual game development, going beyond merely discussing how a technique might be used. Beginning with a clear definition of game AI, you'll learn common terminology, the underlying concepts of AI, and you'll explore the different parts of the game AI engine. You'll then take a look at AI design considerations, solutions, and even common pitfalls genre-by-genre, covering the majority of modern game genres and examining concrete examples of AI used in actual commercial games. Finally, you'll study actual code implementations for each AI technique presented, both in skeletal form and as part of a real-world example, to learn how it works in an actual game engine and how it can be optimized in the future. Written for experienced game developers with a working knowledge of C++, data structures, and object oriented programming, "AI Game Engine Programming, Second Edition" will expand your AI knowledge and skills from start to finish. Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 28 Introduction......Page 30 1 Basic Definitions and Concepts......Page 32 What Is "Game AI"?......Page 33 What Game AI Is Not......Page 37 How This Definition Differs from That of Academic AI......Page 39 Brain Organization......Page 41 Knowledge Base and Learning......Page 42 Cognition......Page 46 Theory of Mind......Page 48 Bounded Optimality......Page 55 Theory of Mind......Page 57 Multiple Layered Decision Architectures......Page 58 Summary......Page 59 Decision Making and Inference......Page 62 Types of Solutions......Page 63 System Realism......Page 64 Genre......Page 65 Platform......Page 66 Development Limitations......Page 68 Entertainment Limitations......Page 70 Perception Type......Page 71 Load Balancing......Page 72 Computation Cost and Preconditions......Page 73 Grid-Based......Page 74 Simple Avoidance and Potential Fields......Page 75 Map Node Networks......Page 76 Navigation Mesh......Page 78 Obstacle Avoidance......Page 79 Bringing It All Together......Page 80 Summary......Page 82 3 AIsteroids: Our AI Test Bed......Page 84 The GameObj Class......Page 85 The Ship Object......Page 88 The Other Game Objects......Page 90 The GameSession Class......Page 91 Primary Logic and Collision Checking......Page 93 Object Cleanup......Page 94 Spawning Main Ship and Powerups......Page 95 End of Level and Game......Page 96 The AI System Hooks......Page 97 Summary......Page 99 4 Role-Playing Games (RPGs)......Page 100 Enemies......Page 105 Bosses......Page 106 Nonplayer Characters (NPCs)......Page 107 Shopkeepers......Page 108 Party Members......Page 109 Scripting......Page 111 Finite-State Machines (FSMs)......Page 112 Examples......Page 113 Exceptions......Page 114 Role Playing Does Not Equal Combat......Page 115 Quest Generators......Page 117 Better Party Member AI......Page 118 Better Enemies......Page 119 Fully-Realized Towns......Page 120 Summary......Page 121 5 Adventure Games......Page 124 Enemy AI......Page 126 Perception Systems......Page 127 Finite-State Machines (FSMs)......Page 128 Fuzzy Logic......Page 129 Better NPC Communication......Page 132 Summary......Page 133 Common AI Elements......Page 136 Economic Individual Units......Page 137 High-Level Strategic AI......Page 138 Town Building......Page 139 Pathfinding......Page 140 Tactical and Strategic Support Systems......Page 141 Messaging......Page 143 Hierarchical AI......Page 144 Scripting......Page 145 Data-Driven AI......Page 146 Examples......Page 147 Areas That Need Improvement......Page 148 Determining When an AI Element Is Stuck......Page 149 Opponent Personality......Page 150 More Strategy, Less Tactics......Page 151 Summary......Page 152 7 First-Person Shooters/Third-Person Shooters (FTPS)......Page 154 Enemies......Page 157 Deathmatch Opponents......Page 158 Squad Members......Page 159 Pathfinding......Page 160 Finite-State Machines (FSMs)......Page 161 Messaging Systems......Page 165 Examples......Page 166 Areas That Need Improvement......Page 167 Learning and Opponent Modeling......Page 168 Creativity......Page 169 Motivations......Page 170 Summary......Page 171 8 Platform Games......Page 174 Enemies......Page 180 Camera......Page 181 Scripted Systems......Page 183 Examples......Page 184 Help Systems......Page 185 Summary......Page 186 9 Shooter Games......Page 188 Boss Enemies......Page 194 Finite-State Machines (FSMs)......Page 195 Exceptions......Page 196 Examples......Page 197 Innovative Gameplay Mechanics......Page 199 Summary......Page 200 10 Sports Games......Page 202 Common AI Elements......Page 203 Player-Level AI......Page 204 Camera......Page 206 Miscellaneous Elements......Page 207 Finite-State Machines (FSMs) and Fuzzy-State Machines (FuSMs)......Page 208 Messaging Systems......Page 216 Examples......Page 217 Game Balance......Page 218 Gameplay Innovation......Page 219 Summary......Page 220 11 Racing Games......Page 222 Track AI......Page 224 Pedestrians......Page 226 Other Competitive Behavior......Page 227 Messaging Systems......Page 228 Areas That Need Improvement......Page 229 Persistent Worlds......Page 230 Summary......Page 231 12 Classic Strategy Games......Page 234 Helper AI......Page 246 Alpha-Beta Search......Page 247 Genetic Algorithms (GAs)......Page 248 Speed......Page 249 Summary......Page 250 13 Fighting Games......Page 252 Common AI Elements......Page 254 Boss Enemies......Page 255 Finite-State Machines (FSMs)......Page 256 Scripting Systems......Page 257 Areas That Need Improvement......Page 258 Summary......Page 259 Civilization Games......Page 262 God Games......Page 271 War Games......Page 274 Flight Simulators (SIMS)......Page 280 Rhythm Games......Page 285 Puzzle Games......Page 286 Artificial Life (Alife) Games......Page 287 Summary......Page 290 FSM Overview......Page 292 FSM Skeletal Code......Page 297 The FSMState Class......Page 298 The FSMMachine Class......Page 299 The FSMAIControl Class......Page 301 Implementing an FSM-Controlled Ship into Our Test Bed......Page 302 Example Implementation......Page 303 Coding the Control Class......Page 304 Coding the States......Page 306 Performance of the AI with This System......Page 316 Pros of FSM-Based Systems......Page 318 Cons of FSM-Based Systems......Page 319 Hierarchical FSMs......Page 320 FSMs with Fuzzy Transitions......Page 321 Multiple-Concurrent FSMs......Page 322 Data-Driven FSMs......Page 323 Inertial FSMs......Page 324 Load Balancing Both FSMs and Perceptions......Page 326 Level-of-Detail (LOD) AI Systems......Page 327 Types of Solutions......Page 328 Genre......Page 329 Development Limitations......Page 330 Summary......Page 331 FuSM Overview......Page 334 The FuSMState Class......Page 339 The FuSMMachine Class......Page 341 The FuSMAIControl Class......Page 343 A New Addition, the Saucer......Page 344 The FuSM System......Page 345 Coding the Control Class......Page 347 Coding the Fuzzy States......Page 349 Performance of the AI with This System......Page 354 Pros of FuSM-Based Systems......Page 356 Cons of FuSM-Based Systems......Page 357 FuSMS with a Limited Number of Concurrent States......Page 358 Hierarchical FuSMs......Page 359 Types of Solutions......Page 360 Genre......Page 361 Entertainment Limitations......Page 362 Summary......Page 363 Messaging Overview......Page 366 Messaging Skeletal Code......Page 368 The Message Object......Page 369 The MessagePump......Page 370 Client Handlers......Page 374 The MessState Class......Page 375 The MessMachine Class......Page 376 The MessAIControl Class......Page 377 Coding the States......Page 383 Pros of Messaging Systems......Page 386 Cons of Messaging Systems......Page 387 Message Arbitration......Page 388 Automatic and Extended Message Types......Page 389 Types of Solutions......Page 390 Development Limitations......Page 391 Summary......Page 392 Scripting Overview......Page 394 A Configuration Script System......Page 396 Embedding Lua......Page 403 Lua Language Fundamentals......Page 404 Integration......Page 408 Example Implementation in the AIsteroids Test Bed......Page 412 A Description of a Better System......Page 416 Performance of the AI with This System......Page 417 Pros of Scripting Systems......Page 418 Cons of Scripted Systems......Page 420 Built-In Debugging Tools......Page 423 Automatic Integration with the Game......Page 424 Optimizations......Page 425 Types of Solutions......Page 426 System Realism......Page 427 Summary......Page 428 Location-Based Information Systems Overview......Page 430 Influence Maps (IMs)......Page 431 Terrain Analysis (TA)......Page 432 Occupance Data......Page 433 Pathfinding System Helper Data......Page 434 Simple Terrain Analysis......Page 435 Advanced Terrain Analysis......Page 436 Influence Mapping Skeletal Code and Test-Bed Implementation......Page 437 The OccupanceInfluenceMap......Page 444 Uses Within the Test Bed for an Occupance IM......Page 449 The ControlInfluenceMap......Page 450 The BitwiseInfluenceMap......Page 453 Other Implementations......Page 460 Extensions to the Paradigm......Page 463 Design Considerations......Page 464 Genre and Platform......Page 465 Summary......Page 466 Steering Behavior Overview......Page 468 The SteeringBehavior Class......Page 471 The SteeringBehaviorManager Class......Page 473 Implementing a Steering-Controlled Ship into Our Test Bed......Page 479 Coding the Control Class......Page 493 Performance of the AI with This System......Page 496 Pros of Steering-Based Systems......Page 497 Cons of FSM-Based Systems......Page 498 Layered Steering......Page 499 Learning Behaviors......Page 500 Other Common Behaviors......Page 501 Data-Driven Steering Behaviors......Page 502 Load Balancing......Page 503 Design Considerations......Page 504 System Realism......Page 505 Platform......Page 506 Summary......Page 507 The Demo......Page 510 FSM Changes......Page 515 Steering Changes......Page 529 Performance of the AI with This System......Page 533 FSMS......Page 538 Influence Mapping......Page 539 Scripting......Page 540 Messaging......Page 541 Summary......Page 542 Overview......Page 544 Evolution in Nature......Page 545 Evolution in Games......Page 546 Generate New Individuals Using Reproduction......Page 548 The Gene and Genome......Page 549 The Fitness Function......Page 552 Reproduction......Page 553 Implementing a Genetic Algorithm System into the AIsteroids Test Bed......Page 558 Performance Within the Test Bed......Page 575 Pros of Genetic Algorithm-Based Systems......Page 576 Cons of Genetic Algorithm-Based Systems......Page 578 Extensions to the Paradigm......Page 580 Coevolution......Page 581 Types of Solutions......Page 582 Platform......Page 583 Summary......Page 584 Neural Nets in Nature......Page 586 Artificial Neural Nets Overview......Page 588 Structure......Page 591 Creating Training Data......Page 593 An Aside on Neural Network Activity......Page 594 Implementing a Neural Net Within the AIsteroids Test Bed......Page 597 The NeuralNet Class......Page 598 The NLayer Class......Page 603 The NNAIControl Class......Page 607 Performance Within the Test Bed......Page 614 Optimization......Page 615 Cons of Neural Net-Based Systems......Page 616 Other Types of NNs......Page 618 Other Types of NN Learning......Page 620 System Realism......Page 621 Summary......Page 622 Artificial Life......Page 624 Artificial Life Disciplines......Page 625 Pros......Page 627 Areas for Exploitation Within Games......Page 628 Planning Algorithms......Page 629 Current Usage in Games......Page 630 Pros......Page 632 Areas for Exploitation Within Games......Page 633 Production Systems......Page 634 Pros......Page 635 Decision Trees......Page 637 Pros......Page 639 Areas for Exploitation Within Games......Page 640 Fuzzy Logic......Page 641 Areas for Exploitation Within Games......Page 643 Summary......Page 644 Basic Overview......Page 646 A Real-Life Example......Page 647 The Real-Life Example Revisited......Page 648 The Behavior Layer......Page 650 The Animation Layer......Page 652 The Motion Layer......Page 655 Long-Term Decision Making (LT)......Page 656 Location-Based Information Layer (LBI)......Page 657 Brooks Subsumption Architectures......Page 658 Distributed Super Mario Bros.......Page 659 AI Enemies Implementation......Page 660 AI Player Implementation......Page 666 Summary......Page 670 Design Considerations......Page 672 Concerns with Data-Driven AI Systems......Page 673 The One-Track-Mind Syndrome......Page 675 Level-of-Detail (LOD) AI......Page 676 Support AI......Page 679 General AI Design Thinking......Page 681 Entertainment Considerations......Page 682 The All-Important Fun Factor......Page 683 Perceived Randomness......Page 684 Some Things That Make an AI System Look Stupid......Page 686 Coherent AI Behavior......Page 688 Thinking About Tuning Ahead of Time......Page 689 Consider Designer-Used Tools Differently......Page 690 Summary......Page 691 General Debugging of AI Systems......Page 692 Debugging and Tuning......Page 693 Double-Duty Influence Mapping......Page 694 Implementation......Page 695 BasicButton......Page 699 RadioButton......Page 700 OnOffButton......Page 701 ScrubberWidget......Page 702 Integration Within a Program......Page 703 Summary......Page 708 28 Conclusions, and the Future......Page 710 What Game AI Will Be in the Future......Page 711 Appendix A: About the CD......Page 714 Appendix B: References......Page 716 A......Page 718 C......Page 720 D......Page 723 E......Page 724 F......Page 725 G......Page 726 H......Page 728 L......Page 729 M......Page 730 N......Page 731 O......Page 732 P......Page 733 R......Page 735 S......Page 736 T......Page 739 W......Page 740 Z......Page 741

ai Game Engine Programming Provides Game Developers With The Tools And Wisdom Necessary To Create Modern Game Ai Engines. It Takes Programmers From Theory To Actual Game Development, With Usable Code Frameworks Designed To Go Beyond Merely Detailing How A Technique Might Be Used. In Addition, It Surveys The Capabilities Of The Different Techniques Used. In Addition, It Surveys The Capabilities Of The Different Techniques Used In Some Current Ai Engines, And Covers Common Pitfalls, Design Considerations, And Optimizations. If You Re Having Difficulty Determining Which Techniques To Use, Or Looking For Working Code Best Suited To A Particular Game, You Ll Find The Answers Here. You Ll Also Find A Clean, Usable Interface For A Variety Of Game Ai Techniques With An Emphasis On Primary Decision-making Paradigms.

the Book Provides Insightful Coverage Of A Variety Of Subjects Important To Ai Engine Development, And Ties Them Together Masterfully To Form An Indispensable Reference. Part I Provides An Overall Look At Game Ai, Covers The Basic Terminology Used In The Book, Reviews Underlying Concepts Of Game Ai, And Dissects The Parts Of A Game Ai Engine. Part Ii Covers Specific Game Genres (rpg, Trs, Ftps, Shooter, Sports, Racing, Strategy, Adventure, Fighting, Platform, And Miscellaneous) And Explains How They Use Different Au Paradigms. It Also Covers The Move Common Solutions To The Problems Posed By Each Genre. Some Of The Problems Include, Dealing With Direct Ai And Human Interactions, Using Scripting Languages Appropriately, And General Intelligence/entertainment Balancing. Part Iii Provides The Actual Code Implementations For The Basic Ai Techniques Such As Finite State Machines, Fuzzy State Machines, Message Board Systems, Scripted Systems, And Location-based Information Systems. And, Part Iv Covers The Move Advanced Techniques, Including Genetic Algorithms, Neural Networks, Artificial Life, Planning Algorithms, And Decision Trees. The Book Concludes With Part V, Which Looks At Real Game Ai Development. The Areas Covered Here Focus On How Distributed Ai Works As An Overall Paradigm That Can Help With The Organization Of Any Ai Engine. There Is Also Coverage Of Common Ai Development, Debugging And Tuning, And The Future Of Ai.

after Reading This Book You Ll Have Traveled Through Most Of The Huge Landscape Of Knowledge That A Game Ai Programmer Faces, And You Ll Be Prepared To Master It!

key Feature:

         provides A Detailed Guide For Programmers Interested In Creating An Ai Engine For And Game Genre

         breaks Down Ai Elements And Solutions By Genre, And Provides Concrete Examples From Popular Games

         includes Code Implementations For Both Basic And Complex Ai Techniques

         provides Suggestions For How The Ai Systems Discussed Can Be Extended Or Optimized For Space, Speed, And Other Limitations

         explains Distributed Ai As A Paradigm That Can Help With The Organization Of Almost Any Ai Engine

 

on The Cd-rom

the Cd-rom Includes All Of The Source Code Compiled Using Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0, Along With The Compiled Binaries; The Glut Wrapper For Opengl Library, And The Lua Language Library; Useful Bookmarks; And All The Figures From The Book.

system Requirements: Pentium 3.1 Ghz Or Better, Geoforce Go Or 3 Graphics Card Or Better, Windows (me, 2000, Or Xp). The Demonstration Programs Are Written In Microsoft Visual C++ Under The Windows Platform, But Only Rendering Is Platform Specific. The Rendering Api Used Is The Glut Extension To Open Gl.

Offers game developers the tools and information that they need to create modern game AI engines. This book looks at AI design considerations, solutions, and even common pitfalls genre-by-genre, covering the majority of modern game genres and examining concrete examples of AI used in actual commercial games. This text is written for all levels of game AI developers who wish to further their knowledge of the myriad AI games used in various genres. It provides the knowledge and techniques needed to create an AI engine