Biologically Inspired Artificial Intelligence for Computer Games

As game developers a few years from now, we may look back at current generation AI with astonishment and possibly with a hint of nostalgia. We will notice the extreme simplicity of the systems and behaviours we created, asking ourselves whether it was in fact by design or more by necessity. More importantly, we will be surprised by the amount of time taken to prototype such AI. These classical game AI techniques (such as finite-state machines or scripts) appeal to us game developers because they can be easily controlled, but they suffer from this very same property; the content creators must craft each behaviour manually. Any progress in game AI necessarily involves finding a solution to this bottleneck without our designers loosing control over their creations.

This book provides an overview of modern AI techniques that can alleviate the burden. Biologically inspired AI techniques—and machine learning in general—provide us with methods and tools for creating complex in-game behaviours in a manageable way. Not only does this allow designers to prototype simple tasks quickly, but it also means that additional resources can be directed to improving the believability of our characters. While such AI techniques enable the creation of behavioural content in a much more scalable fashion, they are also broadly applicable across the many disciplines of game programming, particularly in off-line tools, as they are already used in parts of the games industry.

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