This unit will introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques that can be used in games development. General capabilities of AI technology, behaviours/circumstances that need to be simulated/learned/reproduced by the smart non-player characters/environments in smart games, AI techniques (such as evolutionary and neural computations) used in the development of smart games will be discussed at length. This unit will build upon previous programming skills, and provide a strong grounding for further study in this area, especially related to games engine development. The unit will examine intelligent game creation using C++.
2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs laboratories/wk
Every week you will need to attend:
You will also need to spend 2-3 hours of personal study per one hour of contact time in order to satisfy the reading and assignment expectations.
Alan Dorin
Alan Dorin
Contact hours: 4-5pm, Thursday by arrangement during labs & lectures or email
Alan Dorin
At the completion of this unit students will have:
Examination (2 hours): 60%; In-semester assessment: 40%
| Assessment Task | Value | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Player Character Game Controller | 20% | Week 7, 15 April 2011, 6pm |
| Coordinated Non-Player Character Game Controller | 20% | Week 12, 27 May 2011, 6pm |
| Examination 1 | 60% | To be advised |
Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through SETU, Student Evaluation of Teacher and Unit. The University's student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.
For more information on Monash's educational strategy, and on student evaluations, see:
http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html
If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp
On-campus students may use the software which is installed in the computing labs. Information about computer use for students is available from the ITS Student Resource Guide in the Monash University Handbook.
You will need access to:
| Week | Date* | Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 21/02/11 | No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0 | |
| 1 | 28/02/11 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) | |
| 2 | 07/03/11 | Introduction to Artificial Life (AL) | |
| 3 | 14/03/11 | History of AI and AL | |
| 4 | 21/03/11 | The interactive game loop, Finite State Machines | |
| 5 | 28/03/11 | Neural Networks | |
| 6 | 04/04/11 | Mid-course revision | |
| 7 | 11/04/11 | Vectors and Steering Behaviour, Introduction to Search Algorithms | Assignment 1 due Week 7, 15 April 2011, 6pm |
| 8 | 18/04/11 | Cooperative strategies for agent behaviour | |
| Mid semester break | |||
| 9 | 02/05/11 | Growing plants and forests intelligently and realistically | |
| 10 | 09/05/11 | A* Search algorithm | |
| 11 | 16/05/11 | Artificial Evolution | |
| 12 | 23/05/11 | Virtual Ecosystems | Assignment 2 due Week 12, 27 May 2011, 6pm |
| 30/05/11 | SWOT VAC | No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC | |
*Please note that these dates may only apply to Australian campuses of Monash University. Off-shore students need to check the dates with their unit leader.
To pass a unit which includes an examination as part of the assessment a student must obtain:
If a student does not achieve 40% or more in the unit examination or the unit non-examination total assessment, and the total mark for the unit is greater than 50% then a mark of no greater than 49-N will be recorded for the unit
Please consult the detailed document.
Please consult the detailed document.
Assignment coversheets are available via
"Student Forms" on the Faculty website: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/
You MUST submit a completed coversheet with all assignments, ensuring
that the plagiarism declaration section is signed.
Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.
You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html.
Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University's academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them.
You can find Monash's Education Policies at:
http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html
Key educational policies include:
The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at www.monash.edu.au/students The Monash University Library provides a range of services and resources that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. Students who have a disability or medical condition are welcome to contact the Disability Liaison Unit to discuss academic support services. Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) visit all Victorian campuses on a regular basis
Reading List
No prescribed text is required. Recommended reading lists will appear each week with the lecture notes.
Some useful web resources
www.ai-depot.com
www.generation5.org
www.ai-junkie.com
www.gamedev.net