Post on 27-Mar-2015
structure
styleChris Hecker Maxis / EA
chrishecker.com
vsvs
disclaimerdisclaimer
concrete
specific
fancy demos
big name game
provided solution
concrete
specific
fancy demos
big name game
provided solution
What technology hashad the most profound
impact on games?
What technology hashad the most profound
impact on games?
QuestionQuestion
The Heartbreaking Beauty of theTexture Mapped Triangle
The Heartbreaking Beauty of theTexture Mapped Triangle
Powerful structurePowerful structureThe computer can reason about the triangle at a deep level...
morphologytransformrasterizelighthit test
topologytraverse
The computer can reason about the triangle at a deep level...
morphologytransformrasterizelighthit test
topologytraverse
xyzuvwhd
texelsconnect
xyzuvwhd
texelsconnect
Expressive styleExpressive styleThe artist can represent subtle but rich designs...
minimal DOFssimplelinear
intuitive DOFsverticestexture pixels
The artist can represent subtle but rich designs...
minimal DOFssimplelinear
intuitive DOFsverticestexture pixels
This is much deeper than“data-driving”.
This is much deeper than“data-driving”.
Other ExamplesOther Examples
skinned mesh & bonesskinned mesh & bones
Other ExamplesOther Examples
wavetable synthesiswavetable synthesis
Style Machines, Brand & Hertzmann, 2000Style Machines, Brand & Hertzmann, 2000
Other ExamplesOther Examples
mocap processingmocap processing
Other ExamplesOther Examples
Lucas KovarLucas Kovar
mocap processingmocap processing
Other ExamplesOther Examples
spore creature animationspore creature animation
Henry GoffinHenry Goffin
Other ExamplesOther Examples
spore creature paintspore creature paint
Other ExamplesOther Examples
html+csshtml+css
Other ExamplesOther Examples
typefacestypefaces
This decomposition is everywhere
hard interactive problemsare being solved.
This decomposition is everywhere
hard interactive problemsare being solved.
structure stylevsvs
What is a“hard interactive problem”?
What is a“hard interactive problem”?
Not...
“wicked” problems. (Rittel & Webber, Hocking)
“how to make this game fun” problems.
Not...
“wicked” problems. (Rittel & Webber, Hocking)
“how to make this game fun” problems.
Also, not “easy” problems...
no quantitative success metric.
don’t care about CPU, RAM,even P or NP.
Also, not “easy” problems...
no quantitative success metric.
don’t care about CPU, RAM,even P or NP.
What is a“hard interactive problem”?
What is a“hard interactive problem”?
Problems at the intersection of...
technology,
aesthetics,
interactivity.
Problems at the intersection of...
technology,
aesthetics,
interactivity.
What is a“hard interactive problem”?
What is a“hard interactive problem”?
I think solutions to hard interactive problemswill always have a deep
structure vs styledecomposition.
I think solutions to hard interactive problemswill always have a deep
structure vs styledecomposition.
My Theory...My Theory...
Why?Why?
Emotion & aesthetics demand that a human be “in the loop”.
Emotion & aesthetics demand that a human be “in the loop”.
Interactivity demands that the computer be “in the loop”.
Interactivity demands that the computer be “in the loop”.
Humans in the LoopHumans in the Loop
algorithmsalgorithms
datadata
create
execute
create
execute
generate
illustrate
judge
generate
illustrate
judge
Humans vs ComputersHumans vs Computers
Humans & ComputersHumans & Computers
Bridging the Gap?Bridging the Gap?
What technology shouldhave had the most profound
impact on games?
What technology shouldhave had the most profound
impact on games?
QuestionQuestion
AI technology is the keyto deep
interactivity, consequence, and
meaning.
AI technology is the keyto deep
interactivity, consequence, and
meaning.
We have not yet found a
structure vs styledecomposition for
AI.
We have not yet found a
structure vs styledecomposition for
AI.
What is structure?What is structure?
What is style?What is style?
xyzuvwhd
texelsconnect
xyzuvwhd
texelsconnect
structurestructure
stylestyleValues for the DOFs describing the object. Values for the DOFs describing the object.
Static specification of the DOFs describing the object. Static specification of the DOFs describing the object.
staticstructure
staticstructure
xyzuvwhd
texelsconnect
xyzuvwhd
texelsconnect
You can reason about it. You can write code that reasons about
it.
You can reason about it. You can write code that reasons about
it.
malleablestyle
malleablestyle
You can write code that changes it.It is data.
You can write code that changes it.It is data.
intuitiveexpressive
frugalblendableefficient
intuitiveexpressive
frugalblendableefficient
It took a long time for the triangle to “win”.
The rigid body has not yet won.
It took a long time for the triangle to “win”.
The rigid body has not yet won.
Choosing style DOFs is an ArtChoosing style DOFs is an Art
structure vs style for AIstructure vs style for AI
structure vs style for AIstructure vs style for AI
What are the style DOFs for AI?What are the style DOFs for AI?
Can code be a style DOF?Can code be a style DOF?
Does behavior mean code?Does behavior mean code?
Note: this is still code!Note: this is still code!
Where does the code live?Where does the code live?
Not in the DOFsNot in the DOFs
Code is not...Code is not...
intuitiveexpressive
frugalblendableefficient
intuitiveexpressive
frugalblendableefficient
tick_ai() is not a good DOF!tick_ai() is not a good DOF!
My Prediction...My Prediction...
There will be astructure vs style
decomposition for AI.
There will be astructure vs style
decomposition for AI.
Its style will not be based on code.
Its style will not be based on code.
There will be a “Photoshop of AI”.
There will be a “Photoshop of AI”.
Near TermNear Term
Look for thestructure vs style
DOF decomposition for your game’s AI.
Look for thestructure vs style
DOF decomposition for your game’s AI.
Thank You.Thank You.