Press Release
August 26, 2004
"AI for Game Developers": Chasing, Evading, Swarming, and More
Sebastopol, CA--From the ghosts in the classic arcade game Pac Man to
the bots in the first-person shooter Unreal and many others in between,
most games incorporate some form of artificial intelligence (AI). The
definition of AI can vary broadly depending on whom you ask, but is often
considered the ability of a computer or machine to exhibit behavior that
is typically thought to require intelligence. Some definitions go even
further, arguing that it's not enough to be able to reason and solve
problems intelligently, but AI must also learn and adapt to be considered
intelligence. AI that meets these requirements is termed "strong AI,"
contrasted with game AI, which is considered "weak AI."
As David M. Bourg and Glenn Seemann, authors of AI for Game Developers
(O'Reilly, US $39.95) note, "The bottom line is that the definition of
game AI is rather broad and flexible. Anything that gives the illusion of
intelligence to an appropriate level, thus making the game more immersive,
challenging, and most importantly, fun, can be considered game AI." Like
the use of real physics in games, the authors maintain, good AI adds to
the overall experience of the game, drawing players in and suspending
their reality for a time.
Indeed, today's game players have grown in sophistication, no longer wowed
by dazzling and compelling 3D graphics that were only dreamed of years
ago. Fortunately, advanced AI game techniques are within the grasp of
every game developer--not just those who dedicate their careers to AI.
"AI for Game Developers" introduces novice game programmers and
experienced programmers who are new to AI to a wide range of impressive
game AI techniques such as finite state machines, fuzzy logic, and neural
networks.
Written in straightforward, easy-to-understand language, and supported
with code samples (written in C/C++) throughout, the book instructs
readers in basic game behaviors, from chasing and evading, to pattern
movement and flocking, to anticipating player moves. Readers are shown
how to apply AI techniques to give their game characters believable
intelligence by employing a mix of deterministic (traditional) and
non-deterministic (newer) AI techniques aimed squarely at beginning AI
developers.
Other topics covered in the book include:
Handling chasing, evading, swarming, and obstacle avoidance using a
single technique based on potential functions
Solving pathfinding problems using several techniques, including
waypoints and the venerable A* algorithm
Extending a game's underlying AI and exposing the AI engine to designers
and players using AI scripting
Giving your game characters reasoning capabilities with rule-based AI,
including fuzzy logic and finite state machines
Dealing with uncertainty by applying basic probability and advanced
techniques such as Bayesian inference
Most books about game AI are geared toward experienced AI programmers and
focus on relatively specific and advanced topics, effectively placing
sophisticated AI techniques out of the reach of programmers who may not
have the time or resources to dedicate themselves to tackling this vast
field of study. But those who are new to game programming or experienced
game programmers who need to get up to speed quickly on AI techniques will
find "AI for Game Developers" to be the perfect starting point for
understanding and applying AI techniques to their games.
Additional Resources:
AI for Game Developers
David M. Bourg, Glenn Seemann
ISBN 0-596-00555-5, 371 pages, $39.95 US, $57.95 CA
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938; 1-707-827-7000
About O'Reilly
O'Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O'Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying "faint signals" from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.
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