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Thread: Very interesting AI video

  1. #1

  2. #2
    Co-Founder / PGD Elder WILL's Avatar
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    Re: Very interesting AI video

    Great find. I like that he makes you change your perspective to think about the problem.
    Jason McMillen
    Pascal Game Development
    Co-Founder





  3. #3

    Re: Very interesting AI video

    Glad you liked it, and yeah, it was very informative to look at a new perspective

    cheers,
    Paul

  4. #4

    Re: Very interesting AI video

    Very interesting! I once made a pacman clone myself and did exactly what he said. That is, I made a pacman class, ghost class etc. I even added a path finding algorithm to make the ghosts chase pacman. It did the job well and I never even gave it a second thought.

    Not only does this video show that there are multiple ways to solve a problem, it also shows that often there's an even better solution than the one you already have.

  5. #5

    Re: Very interesting AI video

    Quote Originally Posted by Traveler
    Very interesting! I once made a pacman clone myself and did exactly what he said. That is, I made a pacman class, ghost class etc. I even added a path finding algorithm to make the ghosts chase pacman. It did the job well and I never even gave it a second thought.

    Not only does this video show that there are multiple ways to solve a problem, it also shows that often there's an even better solution than the one you already have.
    I'll agree that this is an interesting solution and there are often multiple ways to solve a problem but in this particular case there's a small issue with the solution as far as I can see.

    Imagine a setup like this:
    # #
    ##########|###
    -G -PG
    ########## ###
    # #

    #: Wall
    G: Ghost
    P: Pacman
    - or |: Trail

    The first ghost and Pacman are moving left while the second ghost is moving downwards. The first ghost has caught pacmans sense and is chasing him. As we can see Pacman is in trouble. However the second ghost has just reached a crossroad section and has to decide where to go next. There's no trail from Pacman to follow so he'll just choose a random direction and with a bit of luck Pacman msy survive this situation even though he should clarly be dead.

    As far as I can see, this method is good for making ghosts chasing Pacman where Pacman has already been but if he's coming right towards a ghost, the ghost will not discover it unless the AI is improved on.
    Imagine I've written something clever here inspiring you to make something awesome. If that happens give me credits

  6. #6

    Re: Very interesting AI video

    First, you have to realize that what Julian was talking about was only a small part of the AI of the ghosts in PacMan. In fact, it was the "chase" section of code. Each ghost also had an "Idle" or "Search" section of code that was unique to only he/she.

    A pretty good overview of how the ghosts "think" is posted at:
    http://www.webpacman.com/ghosts.html

    For information overload on the topic, check out:
    http://home.comcast.net/~jpittman2/p...andossier.html

    The scent by the way is VERY limited and "evaporates" quickly, thus even in the case of the 90 deg corners it is virtually imposable to get a scent trail confusion. Of course, there are ways to do it, and these are "break zones" in the game that many advanced players will make use of simply to get a break (if you go to them under the right circumstances the ghosts will NEVER come find you).

    - Jeremy

  7. #7

    Re: Very interesting AI video

    interesting method
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  8. #8
    PGD Staff / News Reporter phibermon's Avatar
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    Re: Very interesting AI video

    The idea is still in development today. Modern path finding system use flow field optimizations, not just a decrementing integer within a cell, but a field (sometimes many fields for different 'goals') of flow, with vectors of varying lengths indicating direction and bias. Entities seeking goals within this spatial region impart their velocity upon the field. Tied in with the heuristics of a* and it can greatly optimize long, frequently used paths.
    When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie - that's an extinction level impact event.

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