Unity Artificial Intelligence Programming, 4th Edition

Learn and Implement game AI in Unity 2018 to build smart game environments and enemies with A*, Finite State Machines, Behavior Trees and NavMesh.

Key Features

• Build richer games by learning the essential concepts in AI for games like Behavior Trees and Navigation Meshes
• Implement character behaviors and simulations using the Unity Machine Learning toolkit
• Explore the latest Unity 2018 features to make implementation of AI in your game easier

Book Description

Developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for game characters in Unity 2018 has never been easier. Unity provides game and app developers with a variety of tools to implement AI, from the basic techniques to cutting-edge machine learning-powered agents. Leveraging these tools via Unity’s API or built-in features allows limitless possibilities when it comes to creating your game’s worlds and characters.

This fourth edition with Unity will help you break down AI into simple concepts to give you a fundamental understanding of the topic to build upon. Using a variety of examples, the book then takes those concepts and walks you through actual implementations designed to highlight key concepts and features related to game AI in Unity.

Further on, you’ll learn how to distinguish the state machine pattern and implement one of your own. This is followed by learning how to implement a basic sensory system for your AI agent and coupling it with a Finite State Machine (FSM).

Next, you’ll learn how to use Unity’s built-in NavMesh feature and implement your own A* pathfinding system. You’ll then learn how to implement simple ?ocks and crowd dynamics, which are key AI concepts in Unity. Moving on, you’ll learn how to implement a behavior tree through a game-focused example. Lastly, you’ll apply all the concepts in the book to build a popular game.

What you will learn

• Create smarter game worlds and characters with C# programming
• Apply automated character movement using pathfinding and steering behaviors
• Implement non-player character decision-making algorithms using Behavior Trees and FSMs
• Build believable and highly efficient artificial flocks and crowds
• Create sensory systems for your AI with the most commonly used techniques
• Construct decision-making systems to make agents take different actions
• Explore the application of machine learning in Unity

Who this book is for

This book is intended for Unity developers with a basic understanding of C# and the Unity editor. Whether you’re looking to build your first game or are looking to expand your knowledge as a game programmer, you will find plenty of exciting information and examples of game AI in terms of concepts and implementation.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to AI
2. Finite State Machines
3. Randomness and Probability
4. Implementing Sensors
5. Flocking
6. Path Following and Steering Behaviors
7. A* Pathfinding
8. Navigation Mesh
9. Behavior Trees
10. Machine Learning
11. Putting It All Together