Good book on AI?

[sunsett]

I'm about to be delving into the great unknown (at least to me) about AI and was wondering if someone could point me to some good books on the subject?  Ideally I'd like to have the "end-all-be-all book on AI", but I'll settle for "a good book on AI".

Thanks!

[Orangy Tang]

Russell / Norvig is still considered "the" AI book to get IMHO. Covers pretty much everything, albeit in a quite dry and academic manner.

[sunsett]

Dry and academic isn't always a bad thing.

Thanks!

Games published by our own members! Check 'em out!

[Jeff]

I really  like the series of books edited by Andre LaMothe. There is a ncie AI book in that series...

http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN193184108X&id=6F9nKQdj8hwC&pg=PA448&lpg=PA448&ots=dR04EWnZqB&dq=AI+Techniques+for+Game+Programming&sig=b7q_E_j-rp6BFAW1YGO1NIKPox4

[sunsett]

Jeff, great, I'll look into that one as well.  Just ordered the other book, so I might hold off a bit before getting the other until I've had a chance to go through this one a bit.  The one you recommend looks great for application of principles though.

Thank you.

[Raghar]

Jeff, great, I'll look into that one as well.  Just ordered the other book, so I might hold off a bit before getting the other until I've had a chance to go through this one a bit.  The one you recommend looks great for application of principles though.

Thank you.

Why book when you can start from experience. I'd recommend to start with the character modeling. If it's for RPG.

[sunsett]

Why book when you can start from experience. I'd recommend to start with the character modeling. If it's for RPG.

I don't follow....I'm trying to understand AI concepts for developing an API I can use to rig up my characters in games so that instead of player controlling or networking controlling you can have AI controlling as well.

[fletchergames]

Russell / Norvig is still considered "the" AI book to get IMHO. Covers pretty much everything, albeit in a quite dry and academic manner.

I had to use Russel/Norvig's first edition book for a college class, and I could make neither heads nor tails of it.

I own both Programming Game AI by Example (Mat Buckland) and AI Game Engine Programming (Brian Schwab).  Both cover approximately the same material, but I think Buckland's book is a little bit better.  Even so, I must admit that I've sidestepped the whole issue by making games with almost non-existant AI.

[sunsett]

I had to use Russel/Norvig's first edition book for a college class, and I could make neither heads nor tails of it.

Don't suppose you have a copy of it in good condition you'd like to sell for about $40?  I purchased a copy from Amazon used and they just refunded my money because the company that was selling the book apparently had a flood and the book was destroyed. :-p

Gotta order another copy of it.

[fletchergames]

I had to use Russel/Norvig's first edition book for a college class, and I could make neither heads nor tails of it.

Don't suppose you have a copy of it in good condition you'd like to sell for about $40?  I purchased a copy from Amazon used and they just refunded my money because the company that was selling the book apparently had a flood and the book was destroyed. :-p

Gotta order another copy of it.

I'm afraid not.  I think I actually threw it away when I moved.

You'd probably be better off with the 2nd edition anyways.

Games published by our own members! Check 'em out!

[Raghar]

Why book when you can start from experience. I'd recommend to start with the character modeling. If it's for RPG.

I don't follow....I'm trying to understand AI concepts for developing an API I can use to rig up my characters in games so that instead of player controlling or networking controlling you can have AI controlling as well.

So you think after you'd learn all AI concepts, it would be easy to create API, and be done with it. The real problem is API shouldn't be the final goal, character behaviour and correct integration into rest of the game is.
Some parts of AI shouldn't be put into the library because they are too much dependent on current version of the rest of the program. The best idea would be create list of concepts, and decide with one you need.

[ENC]

Mauy I ask what kind of AI logic would be recommended if I would to create an AI API?

[fletchergames]

It depends upon what you're using it for.

If you're making a game, just seperate your generic ai classes and then include them in your API.  I'm no expert, but I'm 100% certain that there's no "best" kind of ai.  Different methods are used for different things.

[Breakfast]

I think there is a best kind of AI. If we could just devise a superhuman intelligence able to redesign itself better and thus transcend the limitations of human science think of the fun we could have!

Not best for games, maybe, but best for classic sci-fi cliche!

[fletchergames]

I think there is a best kind of AI. If we could just devise a superhuman intelligence able to redesign itself better and thus transcend the limitations of human science think of the fun we could have!

Not best for games, maybe, but best for classic sci-fi cliche!

Good idea.  Implement a superhuman intelligence that can redesign itself and then link to its source code from this topic.

[ENC]

I think there is a best kind of AI. If we could just devise a superhuman intelligence able to redesign itself better and thus transcend the limitations of human science think of the fun we could have!

Not best for games, maybe, but best for classic sci-fi cliche!

But don't you think that it would be a bit dangerous? Just think of the possibilities, the AI which is created if learns enough might just kill its creator. Or is it just me? Maybe I watch too many movies.. 

[sunsett]

Make it have a short extension cord so you just have to stay out of its 6ft range.

[ENC]

Make it have a short extension cord so you just have to stay out of its 6ft range.

But with such AI bulit into it which is superhuman intelligence a 6ft extension cord will be more than enough for it I guess.

I am still strongly against an AI which will enable the machine to learn on its own. at its on freewill

[ravenger]

I suppose if your a bit settled in AI, the currently 3 books on AI Game Programming Wisdom each are awesome. They hold numerous articles on a wide set of subjects and i find it a really interesting read.