Automatic Content Generation in the Galactic Arms Race Video Game

Abstract

Abstract-Simulation and game content includes the levels, models, textures, items, and other objects encountered and possessed by players during the game. In most modern video games and in simulation software, the set of content shipped with the product is static and unchanging, or at best, randomized within a narrow set of parameters. However, ideally, if game content could be constantly and automatically renewed, players would remain engaged longer. This paper introduces two novel technologies that take steps toward achieving this ambition: (1) A new algorithm called content-generating NeuroEvolution of Augmenting Topologies (cgNEAT) is introduced that automatically generates graphical and game content while the game is played, based on the past preferences of the players, and (2) Galactic Arms Race (GAR), a multiplayer video game, is constructed to demonstrate automatic content generation in a real online gaming platform. In GAR, which is available to the public and playable online, players pilot space ships and fight enemies to acquire unique particle system weapons that are automatically evolved by the cgNEAT algorithm. A study of the behavior and results from over 1,000 registered online players shows that cgNEAT indeed enables players to discover a wide variety of appealing content that is not only novel, but also based on and extended from previous content that they preferred in the past. Thus GAR is the first demonstration of evolutionary content generation in an online multiplayer game. The implication is that with cgNEAT it is now possible to create applications that generate their own content to satisfy users, potentially reducing the cost of content creation and increasing entertainment value from single player to massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) with a constant stream of evolving content.

AudioInSpace: Exploring the Creative Fusion of Generative Audio, Visuals and Gameplay

“…The evolutionary parameters are set through preliminary testing, and the probability of adding a new node or connection is 30% and 15%, respectively. Similarly, the activation functions at any node can be replaced by one of the following with an even chance: Sigmoid, Hyperbolic Tangent, Sine, Cosine, Bipolar Sigmoid, Gaussian, Ramp, Step, Spike [18]. However, the activation function of any particular node is only changed with a 20% chance.…”

“…The multifaceted PCG approach is evaluated in a space shooter, called AudioInSpace, which extends approaches by Hastings et al [18] for weapon particle generation through the integration of an audio component. As the game progresses, the player moves through different space-based game levels encountering obstacles and hostile enemies (as shown in figure 3).…”

“…For instance, Galactic Arms Race [18] encourages players to interactively evolve weapon visuals and bullet trajectories to their aesthetic and gameplay preferences, while Game-o-matic [19] helps players visually construct the topic of their game and then procedurally generates the rules and visuals, challenging players to interpret the designer's intent on topics like religion or politics. A Rogue Dream [7] is 2D maze game that gathers and parses internet data to discover relationships between natural language concepts to create visual and gameplay facets.…”

Procedural Content Generation for Real-Time Strategy Games

“…Regarding other kind of content, Hastings et al [12,13], proposed a PCG algorithm for the game "Galactic Arms Race" in which the weapons available were generated on the fly. In this case, the fitness of the generated weapons was computed based on the amount of time the players used them, hence measuring the player satisfaction without requiring explicit feedback from the players.…”

A Spatially-Structured PCG Method for Content Diversity in a Physics-Based Simulation Game

“…Hastings et al [24,25], proposed a SBPCG algorithm for the game "Galactic Arms Race". In this case, the fitness of the generated weapons was computed based on the amount of time the players used them, hence measuring the player satisfaction without requiring the explicit attention of the players.…”