Game AI Interfaces:

Movement, Pathfinding,
Decision Making, and
Strategy
Understanding the Core AI Techniques in Game
Design

by SWATHI G
Movement AI
Movement AI controls how characters navigate and move within the game world, creating lifelike and responsive behaviors.

Seek and Flee Arrival

AI characters move toward or away from a target position. AI characters move to a target and slow down to
ensure smooth stopping.
Movement Techniques
Wander Pursue and Evade

AI characters move in random directions, simulating AI characters predict and react to future positions of
natural behavior. targets or pursuers.
Kinematic Movement
Fixed Velocity Dynamic Movement

Characters move at a constant speed in a specific direction. Characters adjust their speed and direction based on
surroundings and objectives.
Pathfinding AI
Pathfinding AI enables characters to navigate complex environments, finding the most efficient routes to their destinations.

A* Search Navigation Meshes

A popular algorithm that finds the shortest path A simplified representation of the environment that
between two points, considering obstacles and costs. allows for faster pathfinding calculations.
Decision Making AI
Decision making AI allows characters to make choices and react to events in the game world, creating dynamic and
unpredictable gameplay.

Finite State Machines Behavior Trees

A simple and efficient way to represent different states A hierarchical structure that allows for more complex
and transitions for AI characters. and flexible decision-making logic.
Strategy AI
Strategy AI enables characters to plan and execute complex strategies, creating challenging and engaging gameplay experi

Minimax Algorithm Monte Carlo Tree Search

A classic algorithm used for game tree search, A more modern approach that uses random simulations
predicting opponent moves and choosing the best to evaluate different strategies and make decisions.
strategy.
AI Interfaces
AI interfaces provide a way for game developers to interact with and control the behavior of AI characters, making it
easier to design and implement complex AI systems.

Behavior Editor AI Debugger

A visual tool for creating and editing AI behaviors, A tool for analyzing and debugging AI behavior, helping
making it easier to design and test different strategies. developers identify and fix issues.
AI in Game Design
AI is transforming the way games are designed, creating more immersive, challenging, and engaging experiences for player

NPC Behavior Game Difficulty

AI is used to create realistic and engaging non-player AI can dynamically adjust game difficulty based on
characters (NPCs) that interact with players in player skill, ensuring a challenging and rewarding
meaningful ways. experience.
Key Takeaways
AI is a powerful tool for game designers, enabling them to create
more immersive, challenging, and engaging experiences for
players.

1 Movement AI 2 Pathfinding AI
Controls how characters Enables characters to
navigate and move within navigate complex
the game world. environments.

3 Decision Making AI 4 Strategy AI

Allows characters to Enables characters to
make choices and react plan and execute
to events. complex strategies.
Movement AI in Games
This presentation explores the fascinating world of Movement AI in
video games, focusing on pathfinding algorithms and their
applications.
Applications of Movement AI
Lifelike Navigation Fluid Character Movements

Ensuring AI-controlled NPCs navigate the game world in Creating fluid and believable character movements in
a lifelike and believable manner. various scenarios, such as combat, exploration, and
interactions.
Pathfinding AI
Pathfinding AI calculates the optimal route for characters to reach
their destination while avoiding obstacles and hazards.
Graph-Based Pathfinding
Nodes and Edges Breadth-First Search
(BFS)
Simplifying navigation by
representing the game Ensuring the shortest path
world as a graph, with in unweighted graphs by
nodes representing exploring all nodes at the
locations and edges same level before moving to
representing connections. the next level.

Depth-First Search (DFS)

Exploring paths by diving deep into branches, exploring one
path completely before backtracking and exploring another.
Heuristic-Based Pathfinding
A* Algorithm Dijkstra's Algorithm

Combining path cost and heuristic cost for optimal Finding shortest paths in weighted graphs based on
pathfinding, prioritizing paths that are both short and path cost, considering the cost of each edge to
likely to lead to the destination. determine the optimal path.
Navigation Meshes (NavMeshes)

Polygonal Areas Pathfinding on NavMeshes

Dividing the game world into walkable areas AI characters navigating through polygons, avoiding
represented by polygons, simplifying the navigation obstacles and finding the optimal path within the
space for AI characters. defined walkable areas.
Applications of Pathfinding
AI
1 Efficient Navigation 2 Obstacle Avoidance
Enabling AI characters to Ensuring characters avoid
navigate complex obstacles while moving
environments efficiently, toward their destinations,
finding the shortest and creating a realistic and
most logical paths to their believable experience for
destinations. players.
Benefits of Pathfinding AI
Enhanced Gameplay Improved Realism

Creating more engaging and immersive gameplay Adding a layer of realism to games by simulating how
experiences by enabling AI characters to navigate the characters would navigate and interact with their
game world realistically and interact with players in surroundings in the real world.
meaningful ways.
Challenges of Pathfinding AI

1 Dynamic Environments

2 Real-Time Updates

3 Performance Optimization

Pathfinding AI faces challenges in dynamic environments, where obstacles and conditions change constantly,
requiring real-time updates and efficient algorithms to maintain performance.
Future of Movement AI
The future of Movement AI holds exciting possibilities, with advancements in machine learning and artificial
intelligence leading to more sophisticated and realistic character movements, creating truly immersive and
engaging gaming experiences.
Decision-Making AI in
Games
This presentation explores the various techniques and applications
of decision-making AI in game development, empowering
characters with intelligent and engaging behaviors.
Decision-Making AI
Decision-making AI allows characters to choose actions based on their current state, goals, and environmental
context. This enables characters to react realistically to player actions and make choices that feel natural and
believable.

Example Benefits

An AI-controlled enemy might choose to attack a player Decision-making AI enhances the player experience by
if they are close enough, or to flee if they are creating more engaging and challenging gameplay.
outnumbered.
Finite State Machines (FSM)
FSMs are a common technique for implementing decision-making AI. Characters have defined states and transitions
based on conditions. For example, a character might have a "idle" state, a "moving" state, and an "attacking" state.

1 States and Transitions 2 Hierarchical FSMs

Characters transition between states based on Organizing states into a hierarchy helps manage
specific conditions, such as player proximity or complexity for characters with multiple behaviors.
enemy health.
Behavior Trees
Behavior trees provide a hierarchical structure for organizing actions and decisions. They are often used for complex
behaviors, such as navigating environments or interacting with objects.

Composite Nodes Flexibility

Selector, Sequence, and Parallel nodes allow for Behavior trees are flexible and can be easily modified
complex behaviors by combining simpler actions and to adapt to changing game requirements.
decisions.
Utility-Based Systems
Utility-based systems allow characters to evaluate actions based on utility scores. This enables more dynamic and
context-aware decision-making.

1 Utility Functions

2 Action Evaluation

3 Decision-Making
Rule-Based Systems
Rule-based systems use predefined rules to guide character
decisions. They are simple to implement but can lead to
predictable behavior.

If-Then Rules Simplicity

Characters follow rules like Easy to implement and
"If player is within range, understand, but can result
then attack." in repetitive behavior.
Applications of Decision-
Making AI
Decision-making AI has numerous applications in game
development, creating more engaging and believable experiences
for players.

NPCs Gameplay
Creating believable and Implementing complex AI
intelligent NPCs that respond to behaviors in various game
player actions. scenarios, such as combat,
exploration, and puzzle-solving.
Challenges of Decision-Making AI
Developing effective decision-making AI presents several challenges, requiring careful consideration and implementation.

1 Complexity

2 Realism

3 Performance
Future of Decision-Making
AI
Decision-making AI in games is constantly evolving, with
advancements in machine learning and artificial intelligence
pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

1 2
Machine Learning Emergent Behavior
AI systems can learn from AI characters can exhibit
player behavior and adapt their complex and unpredictable
decisions over time. behaviors that emerge from
their interactions with the game
world.
Key Takeaways
Decision-making AI is essential for creating engaging and believable game characters. By understanding the various
techniques and challenges, developers can create AI systems that enhance the player experience.
AI in Games: From
Movement to Strategy
This presentation explores the role of AI in game development,
covering various aspects from basic movement to complex
strategic decision-making.
Strategy AI: The Mind of
the Game
Strategy AI focuses on high-level planning and tactics to achieve
long-term goals, particularly in strategy and simulation games.
Planning Algorithms: The Blueprint for Action
Hierarchical Task Networks (HTNs) Goal-Oriented Action Planning (GOAP)

Decomposing tasks into smaller actions and sub-goals. Characters select actions based on goals and preconditions.
Tactical AI: Mastering the Battlefield
Formation Management Flanking and Ambush

AI characters arrange in formations for coordinated actions. Using terrain and positioning for tactical advantages.
Strategic AI: The Art of the Long Game
Resource Management Adaptive Strategies

AI manages resources to achieve strategic objectives. AI adjusts strategy based on player's actions and game state.
Applications of Strategy
AI: Shaping the Future of
Games
Strategy AI enhances the challenge and depth of strategy games,
creating dynamic gameplay experiences requiring tactical and
strategic thinking.
Beyond Strategy: AI in
Game Design
AI is not limited to strategy. It plays a crucial role in various aspects
of game development, from character movement and pathfinding
to decision-making and dialogue.
The Future of Game
Design: AI as a Partner
AI is rapidly evolving, and its applications in game design are
expanding. AI can help create more immersive, challenging, and
engaging gaming experiences.
Key Takeaways: The Power
of AI in Games
AI is transforming the landscape of game development, from basic
movement to complex strategic decision-making. It's shaping the
future of gaming, creating more immersive and engaging
experiences for players.
Next Steps: Embracing the AI Revolution
As AI continues to evolve, we can expect even more innovative and exciting applications in game design. It's an
exciting time to be a gamer and a game developer.