psychicsoftware
June 18, 2011
Conferences & Events, Darkwind, Techie

Pathfinding just like those clever humans..

June 18, 2011
Conferences & Events, Darkwind, Techie

This paper discusses the use of empirical cost-surfaces derived from substantial amounts of player-traced movements in Darkwind, for the purposes of improving A* pathfinding by AI vehicles. My core ideas are that (i) there are a number of subtle factors related to both effectiveness and aesthetic value, which define optimal routes around the terrains, and that (ii) it may not be feasible to deal with these factors algorithmically. I aim to achieve efficient, believable (‘human-like’) routes which navigate terrain features and surface types sensibly, are safe from collision damage and, where possible, enemy fire.

Since Darkwind is a well established online multiplayer game, it provides substantial amounts of empirical evidence about player-chosen routes. The basic premise is that we have thousands of player-controlled cars travelling around the maps every week, so why not let the computer learn the favourite routes taken by humans?

Draft Paper here (pdf, ~3.5MB)

This is all based on ‘votes’ that I have been gathering in the game for the past 12 months or so.

pheromone trails

Tweet
An Experiment in Games Addiction
Seriously, why aren’t you playing Darkwind yet?

Newsletter

Your email address will not be shared with any 3rd parties, and will only be used for occasional newletters about Psychic Software's games.
 
[Our Privacy Policy]

Presskit

  • Press Kit here

Games in Development

  • The Necromancer's Tale
  • Newby Chinese

Games Released

  • Darkwind: War on Wheels
  • Let's Break Stuff!
  • Musclecar Online
  • Goblins & Gottos
  • Orbs.it
  • Mars Defender
  • Demon Pit
  • Afterburn 2150
  • Block Rockin'
  • More on Gooogle Play
  • More on iOS Appstore

Unfinished Projects “On Hiatus”

  • Zed's Dead
  • Ping Pong Planets
  • Godkin

Archives

  • June 2022
  • April 2022
  • May 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • August 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • October 2019
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • January 2018
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • May 2017
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • September 2015
  • July 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • October 2014
  • August 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • September 2013
  • July 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • December 2012
  • October 2012
  • August 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • March 2006
  • February 2006
  • January 2006
  • November 2005
  • October 2005
  • September 2005
  • August 2005
  • July 2005
  • December 1995

Categories

  • Afterburn 2150
  • Block Rockin'
  • Conferences & Events
  • Darkwind
  • Dead By Dawn
  • Demon Pit
  • Game Musings
  • Goblins & Grottos
  • Godkin
  • Guest Posts
  • Let's Break Stuff!
  • Mars Defender
  • Monster Melee
  • Musclecar Online
  • Newby Chinese
  • Orbs.it
  • PC Gamer
  • Rock Paper Shotgun
  • Techie
  • The Necromancer
  • Uncategorized
  • Zed's Dead

CyberChimps WordPress Themes

PSYCHICSOFTWARE | Psychic Games Ltd.
Sam Redfern indie games developer and university academic