Learning Game Ai Programming With Lua

If 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.

The easiest way to learn Lua programming Key Features The easiest way to learn Lua coding Use the Lua standard libraries and debug Lua code Embed Lua as a scripting language using the Lua C API Book Description Lua is a small, powerful and extendable scripting/programming language that can be used for learning to program, and writing games and applications, or as an embedded scripting language. There are many popular commercial projects that allow you to modify or extend them through Lua scripting, and this book will get you ready for that. This book is the easiest way to learn Lua. It introduces you to the basics of Lua and helps you to understand the problems it solves. You will work with the basic language features, the libraries Lua provides, and powerful topics such as object-oriented programming. Every aspect of programming in Lua, variables, data types, functions, tables, arrays and objects, is covered in sufficient detail for you to get started. You will also find out about Lua's module system and how to interface with the operating system. After reading this book, you will be ready to use Lua as a programming language to write code that can interface with the operating system, automate tasks, make playable games, and much more. This book is a solid starting point for those who want to learn Lua in order to move onto other technologies such as Love2D or Roblox. A quick start guide is a focused, shorter title that provides a faster paced introduction to a technology. It is designed for people who don't need all the details at this point in their learning curve. This presentation has been streamlined to concentrate on the things you really need to know. What you will learn Understand the basics of programming the Lua language Understand how to use tables, the data structure that makes Lua so powerful Understand object-oriented programming in Lua using metatables Understand standard LUA libraries for math, file io, and more Manipulate string data using Lua Understand how to debug Lua applications quickly and effciently Understand how to embed Lua into applications with the Lua C API Who this book is for This book is for developers who want to get up and running with Lua. This book is ideal for programmers who want to learn to embed Lua in their own applications, as well as for beginner programmers who have never coded before.

This book describes in detail many of the AI techniques used in modern computer games, explicity shows how to implement these practical techniques within the framework of several game developers with a practical foundation to game AI.

Jump into the world of Game AI development About This Book Move beyond using libraries to create smart game AI, and create your own AI projects from scratch Implement the latest algorithms for AI development and in-game interaction Customize your existing game AI and make it better and more efficient to improve your overall game performance Who This Book Is For This book is for game developers with a basic knowledge of game development techniques and some basic programming techniques in C# or C++. What You Will Learn Get to know the basics of how to create different AI for different type of games Know what to do when something interferes with the AI choices and how the AI should behave if that happens Plan the interaction between the AI character and the environment using Smart Zones or Triggering Events Use animations correctly, blending one animation into another and rather than stopping one animation and starting another Calculate the best options for the AI to move using Pruning Strategies, Wall Distances, Map Preprocess Implementation, and Forced Neighbours Create Theta algorithms to the AI to find short and realistic looking paths Add many characters into the same scene and make them behave like a realistic crowd In Detail The book starts with the basics examples of AI for different game genres and directly jumps into defining the probabilities and possibilities of the AI character to determine character movement. Next, you'll learn how AI characters should behave within the environment created. Moving on, you'll explore how to work with animations. You'll also plan and create pruning strategies, and create Theta algorithms to find short and realistic looking game paths. Next, you'll learn how the AI should behave when there is a lot of characters in the same scene. You'll explore which methods and algorithms, such as possibility maps, Forward Chaining Plan, Rete Algorithm, Pruning Strategies, Wall Distances, and Map Preprocess Implementation should be used on different occasions. You'll discover how to overcome some limitations, and how to deliver a better experience to the player. By the end of the book, you think differently about AI. Style and approach The book has a step-by-step tutorial style approach. The algorithms are explained by implementing them in #.

Are you ready to embark on a journey that will elevate your programming skills and open doors to a world of possibilities? "Mastering Lua" is your comprehensive guide to unleashing the true power of the Lua programming language. Whether you're a seasoned developer looking to expand your toolkit or a programming enthusiast eager to explore new realms, this book will equip you with the knowledge and skills to create dynamic, efficient, and versatile applications. Key Features: 1. Deep Dive into Lua Fundamentals: Immerse yourself in the core concepts of Lua programming, from its lightweight syntax to its powerful scripting capabilities. Build a strong foundation that empowers you to solve complex programming challenges with precision. 2. Game Development Excellence: Dive into Lua's impact on game development. Learn how to integrate Lua scripting into game engines, create interactive gameplay elements, and develop mods and extensions for popular game titles. 3. Scripting and Automation: Discover Lua's potential in automation and scripting tasks. Master techniques for building custom automation tools, developing macros, and creating scripts that streamline repetitive tasks. 4. Embedding Lua in Applications: Uncover the art of embedding Lua in larger applications. Learn how to integrate Lua as a scripting language, extend your software's functionality, and provide users with the ability to customize their experience. 5. Metaprogramming and Extensibility: Explore advanced Lua features like metatables and metamethods. Learn how to create extensible and dynamic APIs, enabling users to modify and enhance software behavior at runtime. 6. Networking and Web Development: Harness Lua's capabilities in networking and web development. Build lightweight network applications, develop server-side scripts, and explore Lua's role in the world of web technologies. 7. Concurrency and Asynchronous Programming: Navigate the world of concurrency and asynchronous programming in Lua. Master techniques for handling multiple tasks concurrently, ensuring efficient utilization of system resources. 8. Creating Domain-Specific Languages: Push the boundaries of your Lua knowledge by creating domain-specific languages (DSLs). Design custom syntax and semantics to simplify complex tasks and enhance code readability. 9. Deployment and Integration: Navigate the process of deploying Lua applications across various platforms. Learn about integration with other programming languages, tools, and libraries, and explore techniques for sharing your work with a wider audience. Who This Book Is For: "Mastering Lua" is an indispensable resource for programmers of all levels who are excited about harnessing the capabilities of the Lua programming language. Whether you're a newcomer intrigued by Lua's potential or an experienced developer ready to explore new domains, this book will guide you through the language's nuances and empower you to create dynamic and versatile applications.

This book follows a tutorial approach with examples and step-by-step instructions to help explain the key concepts of the LÖVE framework as well as everything you need to know about game development using the Lua programming language.LÖVE2d for Lua Game Programming is for anyone who is interested in learning about desktop game development.

Create game AI and implement cutting edge AI algorithms from scratchAbout This Book* Move beyond using libraries for creating smart game AIs, create your own AI projects from scratch.* Implement latest algorithms for AI development and in-game interaction* Customize your existing game AIs and make them better and efficient and improve your overall game performance.Who This Book Is ForThe ideal target audience of this book will be game developers with a basic knowledge of game development techniques. They should know some basic programming techniques in wither C# or C++.What you will learn* Explore the vast game genres that exist* Get to know the basics of how to create different AI for different type of games* Discover the probabilities and possibilities of the AI character to determine moves taking in consideration the state of the player* Know what to do when something interferes with the AI choices and how the AI will behave if that happens* Plan the interaction between the AI character and the environment using Smart Zones or Triggering Events* Use animations correctly, blending one animation into another and rather than stopping one animation and starting another* Calculate the best options for the AI to move using Pruning Strategies, Wall Distances, Map Preprocess Implementation, and Forced NeighboursIn DetailA smart and diverse game AI is considered to be one of the main pillars of a successful game. This book will help you to get inside game AI programming, implement latest cutting edge algorithms with C#, and finally help you create effective and interesting AI for your game projects.The book starts with the basics examples of AI for different game genres and directly jumps into defining the probabilities and possibilities of the AI character to do determine character movement. Next, you'll learn how AI character should behave within the environment created.Moving on, you'll explore how to work with the animations. You'll also plan and create pruning strategies, and create Theta Algorithms to find short and realistic looking game paths. Next, you'll learn how the AI should behave when having a lot of characters in the same scene.You'll explore what methods and algorithms, such as possibility maps, Forward Chaining Plan, Rete Algorithm, Pruning Strategies, Wall Distances, and Map Preprocess Implementation should be used on different occasions, how to overcome some limitations, and how to deliver a better experience to the player. By the end of the book, you would be able to think differently about AI.

This is the first textbook dedicated to explaining how artificial intelligence (AI) techniques can be used in and for games. After introductory chapters that explain the background and key techniques in AI and games, the authors explain how to use AI to play games, to generate content for games and to model players. The book will be suitable for undergraduate and graduate courses in games, artificial intelligence, design, human-computer interaction, and computational intelligence, and also for self-study by industrial game developers and practitioners. The authors have developed a website (http://www.gameaibook.org) that complements the material covered in the book with up-to-date exercises, lecture slides and reading.