Dynamic Bayesian Network:

• Bayesian network

  • Joint probability distribution of discrete random variables

• Nodes

  • Simulation state variables

• Dependencies

  • Arcs

  • Conditional probability tables

• Dynamic Bayesian network

  • Time slices → Discrete time

"Boid" - corresponds to a shortened version of"bird-oid object", which refers to a bird-like object.

Path finding:

• achieving it successfully is crucial

• populate a game world with path-finding information (adding an invisible layer of nodes on top of the game terrain which indicates which areas are accessible)

• Nodes/links between game worlds can be annotated with information regarding the difficulty of crossing particular terrain types

Finite state machines:

• simple system in which a finite number of states are connected by a graph of directed transitions (how changes can move the NPC from one state to the next)

• the nodes of an FSM indicate the possible states NPCs can assume

• so simple, well understood and extremely efficient in terms of processing and memory usage

Rule based systems:

• comprised of a database of associated rules

• relatively simple to use and can be exhaustively tested

• rule sets can be written using simple proprietary scripting languages, rather than full programming languages

• scripting languages available to the general public

Learning systems:

• a set of extremely powerful learning techniques which have been used widely in industry and academia

• it is difficult to frame a learning problem in the dynamic worlds in which games are set

• game developers do not have a great

• understanding of learning techniques

The need for really intelligent solutions (examples):

• units in strategy games that cannot find their way safely across a game environment

• partner characters that get in the way of the player