... you think this may be it? I hope so!! There are so few good AI books out there that aren't just theory (not that theory is bad, it's just better off for people who already know how to do the darned stuff! ) and actually have some how-to code. *prays*
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Drew Sikora
A.K.A. Gaiiden
ICQ #: 70449988
AOLIM: DarkPylat
Blade Edge Software
Staff Member, GDNet
Public Relations, Game Institute
3-time Contributing author, Game Design Methods , Charles River Media (coming GDC 2002)
Online column - Design Corner at Pixelate
NJ IGDA Chapter - NJ developers unite!! [Chapter Home | Chapter Forum]
Mwa... Not sure. My humble opinion that you can''t really learn how to program a great AI, because it is an artform... You need to think like the computer, and need to see the structures you need...
It''s kinda like a painter. Off course, you can take classes, and become technicly a good painter. But the real masters, they draw their talent from the inside, they *know* how to paint (instead of learning someone elses style)...
-Maarten Leeuwrik "Some people when faced with the end of a journey simply decide to begin anew I guess."
Sure you can learn how to program AI by following step-by-step instructions and the more you do so the greater the ''feel'' you get for the artform. I think that a lot of what makes AI great in any game is the feel the programmer has for gameplay as much as the AI itself. As long as you have a vision of what you want to achieve you can learn the tools, although having a passion for it is, as ever, the most important element, all else can be learnt.
As to AI wisdom, our venerable AI forum moderator, Ferretman, has yet another article in it''s hallowed pages, so you can''t put it down unless you want to have all your posts deleted and your IP banned from GameDev ;-)
quote:
Original post by MikeD As to AI wisdom, our venerable AI forum moderator, Ferretman, has yet another article in it''s hallowed pages, so you can''t put it down unless you want to have all your posts deleted and your IP banned from GameDev ;-)
Who says you have to be Ferretman to boot people!??? Heck, I think I''ll have to ban anyone who doesn''t read my thesis! Or maybe I should ban people who do!!!
Just kidding!
I''m sure I''ll have to wait 6 months before this new book hits shelves here in Australia. I''ll certainly check it out when I have the chance though!
I''m not saying this book will make me an AI master, lol. But it''s just that there are few books that cover all AI topics in depth and provide and introduction to them with code samples for support. It''s just something to help get me started. The basics.
But Gaiiden...you''re GDNet _staff_, do you not know all or have my beliefs now been smashed beyond repair?
Also on the book note, don''t forget the Game Programming Gems series now heading towards it''s third incarnation. There''s plenty of beginer and advanced AI stuff int there. Not pure AI books, any of them, but there''s a fair few articles in each you might find useful.
Ronin: But you can learn so much more by being open to other people''s ''art'' (and not shutting yourself in a cupboard with your fingers stuffed in your ears), and these people seem to know what they''re doing They''re there to let you know about the options so you can decide for yourself.
There are so few good AI books out there that aren't just theory (not that theory is bad, it's just better off for people who already know how to do the darned stuff! 
Heck, I think I''ll have to ban anyone who doesn''t read my thesis! Or maybe I should ban people who do!!!
