The AI Babysitter

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The AI Babysitter
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Book Learnin

• University of Chicago
• BA in General Studies
• Masters work in AI Information Systems
• Northwestern University
• PhD work in AI Robotics Video Games

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Street Smarts

• Game Design and Tuning Workshop
• Indie Game Jam/Experimental Gameplay Workshop
• IGDA Education Committee
• Currently Lead Designer MySims

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The Designer-Player Relationship
?
?
Creates
Consumes
Game
Designer
Player
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The Designer-Player Relationship
?
?
Creates
Consumes
Game
AI
Player
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A Formal Model ofGame Consumption
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The MDA Framework
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Our Task

• Hide-and-seek game
• CMU Woggles
• Tag the T

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Our Task

• Hide-and-seek game
• Can be played from both perspectives
• the babysitter
• and the child
• Simple, 3 room environment

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Our Map
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Avatar Babysitter

• Moves
• Speaks
• Extra Moves? Why?

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Eight Kinds of "Fun"

• 1. Sensation
• Game as sense-pleasure
• 2. Fantasy
• Game as make-believe
• 3. Narrative
• Game as drama
• 4. Challenge
• Game as obstacle course

• 5. Fellowship
• Game as social framework
• 6. Discovery
• Game as uncharted territory
• 7. Expression
• Game as self-discovery
• 8. Submission
• Game as pastime

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The Dynamics of Hide and Seek
excitement
exhaustion
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The Babysitter

• What kinds of fun?
• What kinds of AI?

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Technical Details

• Waypoints?
• Obstacle detection?
• Cover points?

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Seek!

• Brainstorm 5 behaviors
• Babysitter (NPC)
• Baby (PC)
• Prototype/Play/Discuss
• Goal Clearly understand mechanics, dynamics,
  aesthetics of this design

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Our Map
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Results?

• What makes playing with the babysitter fun?

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New Constraints

• Player babysitter
• What kinds of fun?
• What kinds of baby AI?

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AI Baby

• Reconsider
• Hiding behaviors

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AI Baby

• Reconsider
• Hiding behaviors
• Tells

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AI Baby

• Reconsider
• Hiding behaviors
• Tells
• Group goals?

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AI Baby

• Reconsider
• Hiding behaviors
• Tells
• Group goals?
• Pacing and Flow

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Seek!

• Brainstorm What changes?
• Babysitter (PC)
• Baby (NPC)
• Prototype/Play/Discuss
• How has the player experience changed?

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Hunter vs. Hunted

• What makes playing with the babies fun?

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Baby AI

• Advanced abilities and moves?

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Technical Details

• Waypoints?
• Obstacle detection?
• Cover points?

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Technical Details

• Waypoints?
• Obstacle detection?
• Cover points?
• World view?

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Technical Details

• Waypoints?
• Obstacle detection?
• Cover points?
• World view?
• Competition?

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But Wait Theres More!!

• Full-blown simulation of tag
• Multiple Babies
• Real Strategic Gameplay
• Showcase character AI.

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Baby AI

• What does it look like NOW?

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Reality is Expensive

• Cant do it all by hand!
• Consider style or personality
• Easier to recognize/predict
• Different targets require different skills
• This means more granularity more complex
  representation.

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Fidelity

• Hiding
• How much cover is the fern...as opposed to the
  closet or under the table?
• Do AIs perceive others and plan around them?
• Do they track the babysitter?
• What if they can turn on and off lights?

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Scale

• Did your design scale when player character
  changed?
• Does it scale when the aesthetic itself changes?
• Is it still fun
• To desgin
• To play

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Other Thoughts?