Learning Game AI Programming with Lua

by David Young

Leverage the power of Lua programming to create game AI that focuses on motion, animation, and tacticsAbout This BookFocus on programming game AI rather than handling low-level resource managementBind Lua to build a script-based game AI using a C++ backend that provides hooks for graphics, physics, and resource handlingA tutorial-based approach where AI functionalities are layered piece by piece to create fully functional AIWho This Book Is ForIf you are a game developer or a general programmer who wishes to focus on programming systems and techniques to build your game AI without creating low-level interfaces in a game engine, then this book is for you.

Knowledge of C++ will come in handy to debug the entirety of the AI sandbox and expand on the features present within the book, but it is not required.

What You Will LearnCreate an animation state machine to drive AI animations within LuaBuild and find paths on navigation meshesWrite and debug Lua scripts within a full-scale Lua IDEDevelop decision logic with behavior trees, state machines, and decision trees to build modular, reusable AIManage short- and long-term knowledge representation with blackboard data structuresAdd sensory perception to give AIs the ability to see and hearDevelop high-level tactics with multiple AIs based on influence mapsIn DetailGame AI can be easily broken up into a number of components such as decision making, animation handling, and tactics, but the balance and interaction between each system strikes a balance between good AI and bad AI.

Beginning with an introduction to the AI sandbox, each new aspect of game AI is introduced, implemented, and then expanded upon. Going forward, you will learn to utilize open source libraries such as Ogre3D, Bullet Physics, OpenSteer, Recast, Detour, and Lua to create an AI sandbox with an entire codebase available to expand and step through.

This is done through a step-by-step approach, from learning to move basic shapes to fully animating your soldiers. By the end of the book, your AI will be able to navigate, pathfind, manage animation playback, communicate, and perceive their environment.

615 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 28, 2014

About the author

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David 2^ Young: Religion, Christian
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David 4^ Young: GR Author, Fiction, Children's
David 5^ Young: New Zealand author, Environmental
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David 10^ Young: Outdoor Activities
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David 14^Young (David of Perth)
David 15^ Young (Welsh rugbyplayer)
David 16^ Young (South African police officer and businessman)
David 17^ Young (American Pastor)
David 18^ Young (British children's author)