Search

In this paper we introduce Puck, a new automated game design system which combines continuous creativity with an exhaustive approach to content generation. We explain the motivation behind Puck, and in particular its focus on users and small communities. Puck is, to our knowledge, the first automated game designer that can be downloaded and individualise itself through testing and design. We then describe the engineering and structure of the system, detail some initial outputs and evaluation of the system, and future work.

Automated game design research is usually most concerned with the mechanics and systems of a game, while aesthetics and effects are left to a minimum, if they are considered at all. In this project we integrate 'Squeezer', a tool for generating visual and audio effects (sometimes called 'juice') for games, with 'Puck', an automated game designer. The resulting hybrid system can design games and then generate appropriate sets of effects, making it the first automated game design system that directly engages with 'juiciness' in design. We support this work with a user study, measuring player responses to games with simple animations, effects automatically designed and arranged by Puck, and effects designed and arranged by an expert human designer. We then dissect the engineering challenges presented by integrating the two systems, and the new research questions raised by applying juice through automated game design systems.

In this paper we show how word embeddings, a technique used most commonly for natural language processing, can be repurposed to analyse gameplay data. Using a large study of chess games and applying the popular Word2Vec algorithm, we show that the resulting vector representation can reveal both common knowledge and subtle details about the game, including relative piece values and the natural spatial flow of chess play. Our results suggest that word embeddings are a cheap and simple technique that can provide a broad overview of a game’s dynamics, helping designers and critics form new hypotheses about a game’s design, structure and flow.

Code generation is a promising new area for the automatic production of mechanics and systems in games. Generated code alone is not sufficient for inclusion in a rich, fully-designed game, however - it lacks context to bind the functionality of code to the metaphorical setting of the game. In this paper we explore potential solutions to this problem, both in terms of creative systems which co-operate with human content, and the possibility for contextual meaning in autonomous, human-free creative systems as well.

We describe ANGELINA3, a system that can automatically develop games along a defined theme, by selecting appropriate multimedia content from a variety of sources and incorporating it into a game's design. We discuss these capabilities in the context of the FACE model for assessing progress in the building of creative systems, and discuss how ANGELINA3 can be improved through further work.

AIIDE 2014 is the second AIIDE event that has featured a playable experience track. This paper describes the seven entries that were accepted in the 2014 track, as well as the motivation behind the track and the criteria used to evaluate and accept entries.

Procedural content generation is often seen simply as a means to generate stuff, elaborating on or rearranging abstract data types that describe levels or modular pieces of gameplay. Generating content which is situated in an understanding of the real-world is a much harder task; it requires access to large amounts of knowledge, and a good technique for parsing and using that knowledge. In this paper we describe A Rogue Dream, a game prototype which can generate new visual content and change its design based on an input word from the player at the start of the game. We describe the game and the tools it makes use of to do this, and use the game to discuss ways in which such techniques might enable unique kinds of gameplay or new directions for intelligent design tools.

The AIIDE Playable Experiences track celebrates innovations in how AI can be used in polished interactive experiences. Four 2016 accepted submissions display a diversity of approaches. Rogue Process combines techniques for medium-permanence procedurally generated hacking worlds. Elsinore applies temporal predicate logic to enable a time-traveling narrative with character simulation. A novel level generator uses conceptual blending to translate Mario Bros. design styles across levels. And Bad News uses deep simulation of a town and it's residents to ground a mixed-reality performance. Together these playable experiences showcase the opportunities for AI in interactive experiences.

Analysing strategic decision-making in eSports is an increasingly important problem -- for players, for teams, for commentators, for viewers and for broadcasters. Such analysis is extremely difficult, however, because of the comparatively small quantities of data, the ever-shifting state of competitive play, and the huge complexity of the game. In this paper we describe a system for predicting drafting decisions in DOTA 2, and evaluate both how the system performs compared to human experts, as well as the new kinds of analysis made possible by automation.

This paper describes entries to the third Playable Experiences track to be held at the AIIDE conference. We discuss the five entries accepted to the track for 2015, as well as the ongoing development of the track as part of AIIDE.

In this paper we present a technique for procedurally generating sections of 3D level geometry using computational evolution and guided by the visibility of certain game objects or areas during play. We show that certain level design goals can be achieved in the resulting levels, such as encouraging or dissuading player sightings of certain objects or locations. We also give details of a simple study of players on the generated levels, and discuss how this might be expanded to incorporate more complex problems related to level design.

Fluidic games blur the line between gameplay and game design, providing playful, non-technical, easy-to-use tools for users to design their own games. We introduce Wevva, our first fluidic game for iOS, which allows users to design and share their own games based on novel mechanics, entirely on a mobile device, with no need for programming skills. The development of such software is a significant challenge in user interface design, requiring a new design approach compared to the design of more traditional creative tools, and with much scope for mixed-initiative co-creation and other assistive AI technologies. Our aim with fluidic games is to democratise game design, allowing anyone and everyone to express themselves through the artform of digital games.