1. Flexible and Purposeful NPC Behaviors using Real-Time Genetic Control
Talib S Hussain, Gordon Vidaver
2006 IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation
Presentation by Raymond Wrobleski

2. Problem Computer Games becoming more open-ended
Traditional game AI techniques don't work
Very little work using evolutionary techniques for real-time control

3. Measures Play Well Play Efficiently Behave in an interesting way
“Believable” Behavior

4. “Believable” Game AI Believable AI will (Livingstone, 2006) Plan
With some strategy / tactics
Coordinate with other AI, or players
Will no repeat failed actions
Act
With human-like reaction time and skill
React
To player's presence and actions
To changes in environment
To presence of enemies, and allies

5. ACTB
Real-time genetic controller designed to control Unmanned Ground Vehicle
Meaningful tactical behavior under dynamic conditions

6. ACTB – Planning

7. ACTB – Attitudes

8. Integration Neverwinter Nights Shadow Door Bridge
Added ability to control multiple NPCs
Create, track scenario
Provide scenario specific knowledge
Virtual look

9. Observations Author playing the NPC(s)
Expressed basic game AI capabilities
Also some basic personality and emotion

10. Specific Observations
Control up to three NPCs
Time lags in response not obviously noticeable
Play style predictable, but know underlying algorithms
Play not repetitive, rarely same exact move twice
Played well, difficult to catch and attack NPC
Possible to determine attitude had changed, not easy to determine current attitude
Some “back-and-forth”, usually commit after a couple iterations

11. Some numbers
Two runs per scenario
Same map
3 random flags

12. Example Behavior

13. “Believable” AI revisited
Plan
With some strategy / tactics
Coordinate with other AI, or players
Will no repeat failed actions
Act
With human-like reaction time and skill
React
To player's presence and actions
To changes in environment
To presence of enemies, and allies

14. Conclusions Real-Time genetic control is feasible
Integration is difficult
Much work to do