Summary

If you find artificial intelligence to be a fascinating area of computer research, you hopefully enjoyed this hour. You learned about the three fundamental types of game AI (roaming, behavioral, and strategic), along with how they are used in typical gaming scenarios. As a game programmer with at least a passing interest in AI, your AI knowledge will likely grow a great deal as you encounter situations in which you can apply AI techniques. After you get comfortable with implementing the basics, you can move on to more advanced AI solutions based upon prior experience and research on the Web. I hope this hour at least provided you with a roadmap to begin your journey into the world of the computer mind.

The next hour applies your newfound AI knowledge to the most ambitious game in the book. The game is called Space Out, and it's a space shoot-em-up with a quirky cast of characters .