Mechanized Assault & eXploration Reloaded

Subject: Re: Ai implementation

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It depends on how you implement it. You can basically use LUA as client or in the server.

Legend Of Grimrock had a nice article about this recently: http://www.grimrock.net/...ogramming/

They used a variant of LUA called LuaJIT that is capable of just in time compilation. Read pretty slick. I never tried it myself however. Guess why

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Subject: Re: Ai implementation

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I think there is no inherent problem in writing the AI (and even the Server) as a multi-threaded application. So I think multicore support should be possible. We just have to think how to do it right without introducing too many locks.

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Subject: Re: Ai implementation

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Method 1 requires code duplication (as I understand).
I prefer method 2, but it requires a _lot_ of cleaning to separate game state from UI (which is good, I think in long term).
Method 3 is the easier to have something, but I don't like mixing AI stuff in not simple server code...

Subject: Re: Ai implementation

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Yes this would mean the script is interpreted by the server. The advantages would be that with lua we would have one interface for AI scripts and for scenarios that would be very powerful. And the AI would then not be directly integrated within any of the C++ code, but can be handled as separate module that does not affect compilation.
As for the slow down problem with the server I'am with pagra: It should definitely be possible to write this in a multi-threaded manner, so that we can use even more processes.

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Subject: Re: Ai implementation

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I'm for 1.
I think it is possible without having too much code duplication. Maybe that will need as a first step to make a library with all common code to access the server eg. That library would be used by both GUI client and AI client.

And I hate AI that cheats to win

Also for LUA, this is scripting language that can be used to make AI modules, those modules can be used to make more clever AI and so on.
As an example we could have a look at what they did in openTDD (bottom of the page): http://www.openttd.org/en/development

Subject: Re: Ai implementation

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Hello all,

I discovered MAXR a few years ago and have checked in every now and then for the latest release. I'd like to help, but I don't know where to start.

My background:
-I'm an engineer who knows the basics about programming in C++ and writes programs at work.
-However, I'm not a programmer who writes code every day and knows libraries by heart.

My interests:
-I've enjoyed gaming my whole life. Although I've never programmed a "real" game, I've always wanted to make my own game.
-I like to play singleplayer games where I can take my time to strategize and scheme, but they become boring once I "figure out" how the AI works. This leads me to play multiplayer games where I can find opponents who can offer up a challenge. Unfortunately, most of the good multiplayer games that I've come across are either FPSs or RTSs.
-Efficiency.

My convictions:
-Every game that I can think of that I've ever played has made the game harder by giving the AI some kind of bonus/advantage or by giving me a handicap at the higher difficulty settings. Sure, the game becomes more challenging for the first few rounds, but, since the AI has the same limitations as it did on "normal" mode, the AI is still flawed by the same logic. All that means is that now I have to defend against a rush of 15 marines instead of 8. At that point, since I'm always looking for the path of least resistance to victory, I naturally settle for some kind of strategy that involves exploiting the AI's logic to compensate for my disadvantage.
-I understand that developers don't always have the time or resources to develop the AI further, so I don't want to call it "lazy" per se, but, at the bare minimum, it certainly doesn't raise the standard. I expect more. It would be nice if I could help MAXR develop a robust AI to play against.

I really don't think I know enough to be helpful as far as coding how the game communicates with the players and AI over the internet and such. I think I'll go ahead and start throwing together some pseudo-code or methods until you experts decide how the AI should be implemented and I can learn more about what needs to be done and how I can be useful.

Subject: Re: Ai implementation

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Hi Guys,

I'm still out there and watching especially this post, looking forward to the next step...

See ya,
Sandman

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Subject: Re: Ai implementation

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Hi urrit and welcome on the forum. As you may have guessed it's a slow forum / project

It's really great that you want to help. No need to write a resume however Check our Bugtracker, grab the source from SNV and simply start hacking. We gladly accept patches. If you're stucked the fastest way to contact a dev is usually in the evening (GMT+1) on the IRC. Also make sure to check the dev forum where I'll grant you access to.

Sorry, I can't give any more advice or guidance right now since my reallife became very spicy the last months

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Subject: Re: Ai implementation

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Hello everybody and happy new year!

I was playing MAX over the holiday and I remembered the thread. I think the major issue is not the architecture (whether we do in-process or out-process, using LUA or C++, etc ) but the major issue is how to do it with regard of algorithmic implementation. The game is very complex, as it requires an interconnected "threads" of economy, exploration and military strategy. They are interconnected because focusing on economy only will make the player vulnerable to early attacks, while focusing on military expenditure will affect the player on the long run, if unable to defend quickly the adversaries.

What I was wondering these days is if you have any large number of games stored (as a set of events) and in case you do, this may be fed to a neural network. I can contribute the NN and the initial training. I don't know how well can be trained such a player, but I think it is worth trying. The game is highly stateful (one cannot build if no materials are available) or it requires a long chain of events strategy therefore I don't know if the NN will be able to follow up such a chain or rather jump from one strategy to another.

Also, the neural network will "try" at least in the initial phase to build or move items to invalid places, the server needs to be able to reject such requests.

On the other hand, being able to "cheat" with regard of exploration, adversary position and assets would greatly boost the AI.

Cheers,
Razvan