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 AI for Game Developers

 

Published by: O'REILLY & ASSOCIATES
Author: David M. Bourg, Glenn Seemann
Number of pages: 370
Group: A.I.
ISBN: 0596005555/9780596005559
User level: Programmer - Int/Adv
Objective: Reference
Date Published: August 2004
 RRP £28.50 Save 29%
  Our Price £20.23

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  Book Information

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.