Full metadata record
| DC Field | Value | Language |
|---|---|---|
| dc.contributor | Department of Computing | en_US |
| dc.creator | Ng, Hiu Fung | - |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/6992 | - |
| dc.language | English | en_US |
| dc.publisher | Hong Kong Polytechnic University | - |
| dc.rights | All rights reserved | en_US |
| dc.title | Game strategy indexing, learning and optimization in real time strategy (RTS) games using soft computing techniques | en_US |
| dcterms.abstract | In real-time strategy (RTS) games, players position and maneuver units and structures under their control to secure areas and destroy their opponents' assets. Typical strategies are resource gathering, units formation and positioning, base building, technology development and path finding. All the movements, construction and researches take place in real time, and players have a bird's eye view to control and monitor units using their own strategy. Selecting which strategy to use becomes one of the major challenges. This research focuses on indexing, learning and optimization of these RTS games strategies using soft computing techniques. Three game strategies are selected for the investigation, and original techniques have been developed to tackle this strategy determination problem. Based on our findings, development of RTS computer game software is better understood and supported using soft computing techniques. The first investigation is to develop a strategy to quickly position game units effectively in a map so that they will create maximum casualty to enemies. A model integrating artificial neural network (ANN), genetic algorithm (GA) and case-based reasoning (CBR) is proposed and tested. The main idea is to evaluate the past strategies using GA, and train up an ANN for fast retrieval of units' locations. When new maps and new conditions are presented, CBR is used to compute the adjustments needed for the new locations. The key contribution here is the formulation of the RTS game strategy selection as CBR planning using a neural-evolutionary model. A number of simulated experiments with different maps and game unit settings are carried out to test the model. The result demonstrated that the model provides an efficient and natural game strategy indexing and determination scheme. | en_US |
| dcterms.abstract | The second investigation is to develop a strategy to determine the types of game units to be selected for production with the purpose to effectively combat with opponents' troops. A contribution is made here by considering how the order of production and feature interaction of game units affect the result of playing RTS games. Due to complicated game rules, extensive terrains and numerous playable items, exhaustive search or explicit description of unit combination effects using analytical models, such as finite state machines, Bayesian networks and decision trees may not be feasible. We developed a machine learning model that extracts and evaluates game unit combination strategy from past data. This model takes into account the sequence in which game units are produced and the interaction among them. We combine fuzzy measure, fuzzy integral and genetic algorithm to develop the model. Warcraft III battle data from real players are used in our experiments. Compared with the traditional Choquet Integral, our new order-based fuzzy integral gives a smaller training and testing error in RTS game strategy selection. A dynamic Bayesian Network is also developed in learning game players' behavior. The third investigation is optimal path determination. This is complicated because RTS game environment is hostile, dynamic and consists of many different types of game units interacting with each other in the battle field. Traditional path searching algorithms like min-max, alpha-beta pruning, hill climbing and A* are not suitable in such a complicated dynamic game world. We modified the multi-agent potential field model by incorporating the non-linear feature interaction property. The effect of unit cooperation can then be described, and therefore taken into consideration in optimal path determination. Our approach can identify the direction of positive and negative interaction for unit movement planning and team composition in RTS games. A combination of using real data and simulation experimental setting is used in this investigation. The results demonstrated that our path determination method is much better than the traditional methods implemented in Warcraft III. As a summary, this PhD research focused on the investigation of RTS game strategies. Three original models are developed, namely (i) a neural-evolutionary model for CBR planning, (ii) an order-based fuzzy integral model, and (iii) a model of multi-agent potential field with feature interaction. All these three models are tested experimentally and promising results were obtained. A number of conference papers were published. One journal paper is under second review while another one is under preparation. | en_US |
| dcterms.extent | 178 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. | en_US |
| dcterms.isPartOf | PolyU Electronic Theses | en_US |
| dcterms.issued | 2013 | en_US |
| dcterms.educationalLevel | All Doctorate | en_US |
| dcterms.educationalLevel | Ph.D. | en_US |
| dcterms.LCSH | Computer games -- Programming. | en_US |
| dcterms.LCSH | Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations | en_US |
| dcterms.accessRights | open access | en_US |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b26160213.pdf | For All Users | 7.22 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
Copyright Undertaking
As a bona fide Library user, I declare that:
- I will abide by the rules and legal ordinances governing copyright regarding the use of the Database.
- I will use the Database for the purpose of my research or private study only and not for circulation or further reproduction or any other purpose.
- I agree to indemnify and hold the University harmless from and against any loss, damage, cost, liability or expenses arising from copyright infringement or unauthorized usage.
By downloading any item(s) listed above, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the copyright undertaking as stated above, and agree to be bound by all of its terms.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/6992