Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
14
Modeling Individual
Decisions
To this point, we have pondered a lot of theory, laid out plenty of tools, and
even examined ways of measuring our workspace. While all of that prepara-
tory work was necessary, we have arrived at the point where we can put all of
what we have learned to use.
Before we proceed with the glorious and rewarding process of crafting our
decision models, however, we really need to determine what we are doing. Before
we act, we must choose. Before we choose, we must decide what we are choosing.
After all, the decision to choose (or choice to decide?) isn't one to take lightly. I've
also heard it said that “if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.�
(Wow… just saying that gives me a Rush.)
With all of this choosing and deciding and acting ahead of us, perhaps a defin-
ition of terms is in order.
The most atomic structure in behavioral game artificial intelligence (AI) is the indi-
vidual decision. I use the word
atomic
, not in the literal sense that it was first used—
that is, “the smallest possible object�—but rather in the sense of “what bigger things
are built out of.� The true definition of the word
atom
is “something so small as to
prohibit further division.� Scientists of the past originally named atoms “atoms�
because the belief was that there was nothing smaller from which an atom was
made. They believed it was impossible to divide them further.
Since that point, of course, we have discovered otherwise. The etymology of the
word has drifted as well. When we talk about the chemical nature of a substance,
we don't make a count of the electrons, protons, and neutrons that are involved. We
refer to the
atoms
. We may refer to a molecule as well, but usually that molecule
is made up of atoms. We even name molecules after the atoms that are in them.
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