Game Tuning Workshop

AI Babysitter Elective

Game Tuning Workshop

The Designer-Player Relationship

Designer

Player

GameCreates Consumes

Game Tuning Workshop

The Designer-Player Relationship

AI

Player

GameCreates Consumes

Game Tuning Workshop

A Formal Model of“Game Consumption”

Rules “Fun”System

Behavior

Game Tuning Workshop

The MDA Framework

Mechanics AestheticsDynamics

Game Tuning Workshop

Our Task

• Hide-and-seek game

• CMU: “Woggles” Tag the T

Game Tuning Workshop

Our Task

• Hide-and-seek game

• Can be played from both perspectives the babysitter and the child

• Simple, 3 room environment

Game Tuning Workshop

Our Map

Game Tuning Workshop

Avatar: Babysitter

• Moves

• Speaks

• Extra Moves? Why?

Game Tuning Workshop

AI : Baby

• What kinds of fun?

• What kinds of baby AI?

Game Tuning Workshop

Eight Kinds of "Fun"

1. SensationGame as sense-pleasure

2. FantasyGame as make-believe

3. NarrativeGame as drama

4. ChallengeGame as obstacle course

5. FellowshipGame as social framework

6. DiscoveryGame as uncharted territory

7. ExpressionGame as self-discovery

8. SubmissionGame as pastime

Game Tuning Workshop

Baby AI

• Basic abilities and moves?

Game Tuning Workshop

The Dynamics of Hide and Seek

exc

item

en

t

exhaustion

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Technical Details

• Waypoints?

• Obstacle detection?

• Cover points?

Game Tuning Workshop

New Constraints!!

• Many kids!

• Player = babysitter

• Tag a target kid

Game Tuning Workshop

AI : Baby

• What kinds of fun?

• What kinds of baby AI?

Game Tuning Workshop

AI : Baby

• What kinds of fun?

• What kinds of baby AI?

• Reconsider: Hiding behaviors

Game Tuning Workshop

AI : Baby

• What kinds of fun

• What kinds of baby AI?

• Reconsider: Hiding behaviors “Tells”

Game Tuning Workshop

AI : Baby

• What kinds of fun

• What kinds of baby AI?

• Reconsider: Hiding behaviors “Tells” Group goals?

Game Tuning Workshop

AI : Baby

• What kinds of fun

• What kinds of baby AI?

• Reconsider: Hiding behaviors “Tells” Group goals? Pacing and Flow

Game Tuning Workshop

Baby AI

• Advanced abilities and moves?

Game Tuning Workshop

Technical Details

• Waypoints?

• Obstacle detection?

• Cover points?

Game Tuning Workshop

Technical Details

• Waypoints?

• Obstacle detection?

• Cover points?

• World view?

Game Tuning Workshop

Technical Details

• Waypoints?

• Obstacle detection?

• Cover points?

• World view?

• Competition?

Game Tuning Workshop

But Wait – There’s More!!

• Full-blown simulation of tag

• “Real Strategic Gameplay”

• Showcase character AI.

Game Tuning Workshop

Baby AI

• What does it look like NOW?

Game Tuning Workshop

Technical Considerations

• Designers can’t do it all by hand!

• Each AI should have a “style” or “personality” Easier to recognize/predict Different targets require different skills

• This means more granularity – more complex representation.

Game Tuning Workshop

Technical Considerations

• 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?

Game Tuning Workshop

Technical Considerations

• What about sound? Doors make sound, so do hardwood floors. How sensitive to sound is the babysitter, are

the kids?

Game Tuning Workshop

Conclusions?

• How would you do it?

• Making tag different?

• Trends or takeaways for Planning Designing Constraining