Unity Artificial Intelligence Programming

Learn and implement game AI in Unity to build smart environments and enemies with A* pathfinding, finite state machines, behavior trees, and the NavMesh

Key Features

• Explore the latest Unity features to make AI implementation in your game easier
• Build richer and more dynamic games using AI concepts such as behavior trees and navigation meshes
• Implement character behaviors and simulations using the Unity Machine Learning toolkit

Book Description

Developing artificial intelligence (AI) for game characters in Unity has never been easier. Unity provides game and app developers with a variety of tools to implement AI, from 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 game worlds and characters.

The updated fifth edition of Unity Artificial Intelligence Programming starts by breaking down AI into simple concepts. 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. As you progress, you'll learn how to implement a finite state machine (FSM) to determine how your AI behaves, apply probability and randomness to make games less predictable, and implement a basic sensory system. Later, you'll understand how to set up a game map with a navigation mesh, incorporate movement through techniques such as A* pathfinding, and provide characters with decision-making abilities using behavior trees.

By the end of this Unity book, you'll have the skills you need to bring together all the concepts and practical lessons you've learned to build an impressive vehicle battle game.

What you will learn

• Understand the basics of AI in game design
• Create smarter game worlds and characters with C# programming
• Apply automated character movement using pathfinding algorithm behaviors
• Implement character decision-making algorithms using behavior trees
• Build believable and highly efficient artificial flocks and crowds
• Create sensory systems for your AI world
• Become well-versed with the basics of procedural content generation
• Explore the application of machine learning in Unity

Who this book is for

This Unity artificial intelligence book is for Unity developers with a basic understanding of C# and the Unity Editor who want to expand their knowledge of AI Unity game development.

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. Procedural Content Generation
11. Machine Learning in Unity
12. Putting It All Together

Dr. Davide Aversa holds a PhD in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and an MSc in AI and robotics from the University of Rome La Sapienza in Italy. He has a strong interest in AI for the development of interactive virtual agents and procedural content generation. He has served as a program committee member for video game-related conferences such as the IEEE conference on computational intelligence and games, and he also regularly participates in game-jam contests. He also writes a blog on game design and game development.