In adversarial video games, human players and non-player characters (NPCs) compete to win certain goods or targets. To gain an advantage and create realistic behaviors, NPCs could cooperate by forming groups or coalitions. Surprisingly enough, they typically do not. Consequently, we have concentrated our efforts on providing game developers with the necessary tools to enhance virtual characters with teamwork capabilities. To start with, we address this challenge by observing that a classical Reconfiguration Algorithm, known in MAS, can serve as an umbrella for teamwork-related activities of NPCs. Reconfiguration amounts to intelligent replanning in response to changing circumstances. By analogy, our solution, inspired by the reconfiguration process, takes the control over the game and keeps it going by utilizing mechanisms that facilitate cooperation under adversarial conditions. As a proof of concept, we have developed, implemented, and tested Ara, the Adversarial Reconfiguration Algorithm, alongside an encompassing agent-oriented framework called Arag and a simple stealth video game called Treasure Hunt. Arag facilitates a flexible approach to aspects of teamwork such as belief representation, communication, reconfiguration, and task allocation. As demonstrated by Treasure Hunt, NPCs coordinated by Arag outperform those lacking cooperative capabilities, even with the adopted simplifying design choices.

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Teamwork in Adversarial Video Games

  • Barbara Dunin-Kęplicz,
  • Rafał Tyl

摘要

In adversarial video games, human players and non-player characters (NPCs) compete to win certain goods or targets. To gain an advantage and create realistic behaviors, NPCs could cooperate by forming groups or coalitions. Surprisingly enough, they typically do not. Consequently, we have concentrated our efforts on providing game developers with the necessary tools to enhance virtual characters with teamwork capabilities. To start with, we address this challenge by observing that a classical Reconfiguration Algorithm, known in MAS, can serve as an umbrella for teamwork-related activities of NPCs. Reconfiguration amounts to intelligent replanning in response to changing circumstances. By analogy, our solution, inspired by the reconfiguration process, takes the control over the game and keeps it going by utilizing mechanisms that facilitate cooperation under adversarial conditions. As a proof of concept, we have developed, implemented, and tested Ara, the Adversarial Reconfiguration Algorithm, alongside an encompassing agent-oriented framework called Arag and a simple stealth video game called Treasure Hunt. Arag facilitates a flexible approach to aspects of teamwork such as belief representation, communication, reconfiguration, and task allocation. As demonstrated by Treasure Hunt, NPCs coordinated by Arag outperform those lacking cooperative capabilities, even with the adopted simplifying design choices.