Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Investigating Genetic Algorithm Optimization Techniques In Video Games, Nathan Ambuehl

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Immersion is essential for player experience in video games. Artificial Intelligence serves as an agent that can generate human-like responses and intelligence to reinforce a player’s immersion into their environment. The most common strategy involved in video game AI is using decision trees to guide chosen actions. However, decision trees result in repetitive and robotic actions that reflect an unrealistic interaction. This experiment applies a genetic algorithm that explores selection, crossover, and mutation functions for genetic algorithm implementation in an isolated Super Mario Bros. pathfinding environment. An optimized pathfinding AI can be created by combining an elitist selection strategy with …