Conference

Active Learning Prototypes for Teaching Game AI

2023 IEEE Conference on Games (CoG)

Fachada, Nuno; Barreiros, Filipa F.; Fonseca, Micaela — 2023 — IEEE

Key information

Authors:

Fachada, Nuno (Nuno Fachada); Barreiros, Filipa F.; Lopes, Phil; Fonseca, Micaela

Published in

12/04/2023

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) in computer games can enhance the player experience by providing more realistic and dynamic interactions with non-player characters and/or the game environment and is, therefore, an essential skill for game development students to acquire. In this paper, we discuss ten active learning prototypes for undergraduate game development students focusing on AI for Games. The prototypes were implemented in the Unity game engine, and each prototype considers a particular technique or set of algorithms. Depending on the prototype, students are required to interact with it on two levels: 1) by running it within the Unity editor, manipulating the respective technique's parameters, and experimenting and/or playing with the implemented demo or game; or, 2) in addition to the previous level, by actively changing and expanding the provided code to achieve the desired behavior or result. We performed a survey immediately after contact with the prototypes and found that they were easy for the students to manipulate and/or build upon, and most significantly, that they helped students understand the associated techniques and algorithms.

Publication details

Authors in the community:

Publication version

VoR - Version of Record

Publisher

IEEE

Link to the publisher's version

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10333229

Title of the publication container

2023 IEEE Conference on Games (CoG)

Location of the conference

Boston, USA

Conference date start

08/21/2023

Conference date end

08/24/2023

DOI

10.1109/CoG57401.2023.10333229

Fields of Science and Technology (FOS)

computer-and-information-sciences - Computer and information sciences

Keywords

  • AI for games
  • AI education
  • active learning
  • computer games
  • game development

Publication language (ISO code)

eng - English

Rights type:

Restricted access

Financing entity

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Number for the project, award or grant: UIDB/04111/2020 (COPELABS)

Financing entity

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Number for the project, award or grant: UIDB/05380/2020 (HEI-Lab)

Financing entity

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Number for the project, award or grant: EXPL/COM-OUT/0882/2021 (Project PlayersAll)