ABSTRACT

This chapter describes a set of technologies that would support the appropriate gameplay. Although some details of the specific games in each genre are available in the public domain, much of the algorithmic specifics are confidential. A variety of learning mechanisms is possible for the character. Published games in the genre have used neural networks and decision tree learning. Typically, there are more than one species of creature in a herding game, and it is the interactions of all species that make the game world interesting for the player. As a genre, it provides lots of room for interesting strategies: one species can be used to influence another, which can lead to unexpected solutions to puzzles in the game. Most games are fairly modest in the Artificial intelligence techniques they use, and in the behaviors they want to achieve. An instinct is a built-in behavior that may be useful in the game world.