In my MSc. thesis, I have re-tackled the problem of procedurally generating content for physics-based games I have previously investigated in my BSc. graduation thesis. This time around I propose two novel methods: the first is projection based for faster generation of physics-based games content. The other, The Progressive Generation, is a generic, wide-range, across genre, customisable with playability check method all bundled in a fast progressive approach. This new method is applied on two completely different games: NEXT And Cut the Rope.

2. A Progressive Approach
for Content Generation of Games
A Projection-Based Approach
for Real-time Assessment of Physics-based Games

3. A Progressive Approach
for Content Generation of Games
A Projection-Based Approach
for Real-time Assessment of Physics-based Games

4. A Progressive Approach
for Content Generation of Games
A Projection-Based Approach
for Real-time Assessment of Physics-based Games
Real-time

5. A Progressive Approach
for Content Generation of Games
A Projection-Based Approach
for Real-time Assessment of Physics-based Games
Real-time
Generic

6. State of the Art

7. Procedural
Content
Generation
(PCG)

8. Procedural
Content
Generation
(PCG)

10. Mario

11. Physics-basedGames/AngryBirds

12. Physics-basedGames/CuttheRope

13. Sequels 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, 2014
WWDC 2011, won an Apple Design Award for the iOS platform
150 million downloads
1.6 million users/daily
Physics-basedGames/CuttheRope

14. Demo of CTR

15. A Projection-Based Approach
for Real-time Assessment and Playability Check for Physics-Based Games

16. Design
TheProbleminPhysics-basedGames

17. Design Playable?
TheProbleminPhysics-basedGames

18. Design Playable?
TheProbleminPhysics-basedGames

19. Design Playable?
TheProbleminPhysics-basedGames

20. Design Playable?
TheProbleminPhysics-basedGames

21. Design Playable?
TheProbleminPhysics-basedGames

22. A5secGame
A 5*60=300timesteps
5Actions
TheProbleminPhysics-basedGames
S T A T E S
4.9*10
214

23. A Simulation-based Approach

24. A Simulation-based Approach

25. A Simulation-based Approach
Simulate All Paths (Tree Search + AI Prolog Agent) 29sec

26. StateoftheArt
Simulation-based
Comparison(Check)

27. StateoftheArt
Simulation-based
29sec
Comparison(Check)

28. StateoftheArt
Simulation-based
OurApproach
Projection-based
29sec
Comparison(Check)

29. StateoftheArt
Simulation-based
OurApproach
Projection-based
29sec 0.1sec
Comparison(Check)

30. A Projection Approach

31. A Projection Approach
?

32. A Projection Approach

33. A Projection Approach

34. A Projection Approach

35. A Projection Approach

36. A Projection Approach

37. A Projection Approach

38. A Projection Approach

39. A Projection Approach
Playable! 0.1 sec

40. A Projection Approach
Using the Influence Area 0.1 sec

41. Ok, but this is over-simplified!

42. The Influence Area (IA)
Simple IA

43. The Influence Area (IA)
Simple IA
Complex IA

44. Activation Order
Non-playable

45. Activation Order
Non-playable Playable

46. Context is Vital

47. Context is Vital

48. Context is Vital

49. Context is Vital

50. A Projection Approach
Using the Influence Area

51. A Projection Approach
Using the Influence Area

52. A Projection Approach
Using the Influence Area using tree search ( ) + intelligence

53. A Projection Approach
Using the Influence Area using tree search ( ) + intelligence

54. Static Demo

63. Tree Search + Intelligence
Searching only 8 nodes for 7 components in 0.1sec

64. Online Demo

65. A Progressive Approach
for Content Generation in Games

66. A Progressive Approach
for Content Generation in Games

67. ProgressiveApproach
Constructive Search-based
[+] Fast
[-] Playability
[-] Slow
[+] Playability, Balance Control
PCGApproaches(inliterature)

68. ProgressiveApproach
Constructive Search-based
[+] Fast
[-] Playability
[-] Slow
[+] Playability, Balance Control
PCGApproaches(inliterature)

69. ProgressiveApproach
[+] Fast
[+] Playability, Balance Control
Constructive Search-based
[+] Fast
[-] Playability
[-] Slow
[+] Playability, Balance Control
PCGApproaches(inliterature)

70. ProgressiveApproach
[+] Fast
[+] Playability, Balance Control
Constructive Search-based
[+] Fast
[-] Playability
[-] Slow
[+] Playability, Balance Control
PCGApproaches(inliterature)

71. ProgressiveApproach
[+] Fast
[+] Playability, Balance Control
Constructive Search-based
[+] Fast
[-] Playability
[-] Slow
[+] Playability, Balance Control
PCGApproaches(inliterature)

72. The Generation Problem on its HEAD!

73. The Generation Problem on its HEAD!
Generator
(Comps Placement)

74. The Generation Problem on its HEAD!
Level
(Player Interactions)
Generator
(Comps Placement)

75. Current Evolution Approaches

76. Current Evolution Approaches Rep.

77. Current Evolution Approaches Rep.
Rope(200, 10) Rope(220, 23) Bubble(170, 130) OmNom(150, 200)

78. Current Evolution Approaches Rep.
Rope(200, 10) Rope(220, 23) Bubble(170, 130) OmNom(150, 200)

79. Current Evolution Approaches Rep.
Rope(200, 10) Rope(220, 23) Bubble(170, 130) OmNom(150, 200)

80. The Generation Problem on its HEAD!
Level
(Player Interactions)
Generator
(Comps Placement)

81. The Generation Problem on its HEAD!
Level
(Player Interactions)
Generator
(Comps Placement)
Generator
(Player Interactions)

82. The Generation Problem on its HEAD!
Level
(Player Interactions)
Generator
(Comps Placement)
Generator
(Player Interactions)
Level
(Comps Placement)

83. Progressive Approach Rep.
0 600 2000 4100 5400
EndStart
Time(MS)

84. Progressive Approach Rep.
0 600 2000 4100 5400
EndStart
Time(MS)
RopeCut RopeCut BubblePop OmnomFeed

85. Progressive Approach Rep.
0 600 2000 4100 5400
EndStart
Time(MS)
RopeCut RopeCut BubblePop OmnomFeed

86. Progressive Approach Rep.
0 600 2000 4100 5400
EndStart
Time(MS)
RopeCut RopeCut BubblePop OmnomFeed

87. Progressive Approach Rep.
0 600 2000 4100 5400
EndStart
Time(MS)
RopeCut RopeCut BubblePop OmnomFeed

88. Progressive Approach Rep.
0 600 2000 4100 5400
EndStart
Time(MS)
RopeCut RopeCut BubblePop OmnomFeed

89. Progressive Approach Rep.
0 600 2000 4100 5400
EndStart
Time(MS)
RopeCut RopeCut BubblePop OmnomFeed
Rope(200, 10) Rope(220, 23) Bubble(170, 130) OmNom(150, 200)

90. Progressive Approach Framework
• A Progressive Approach
1. Timeline Generation (Grammatical Evolution)
rope_cut(200) rope_cut(500) aircuh_press(700) rocket_press(600) omNom_feed(0)
2. Timeline Simulation (Game Engine)

91. Progressive Approach Framework
• A Progressive Approach
1. Timeline Generation (Grammatical Evolution)
rope_cut(200) rope_cut(500) aircuh_press(700) rocket_press(600) omNom_feed(0)
2. Timeline Simulation (Game Engine)
Timeline Generation
Grammatical Evolution
.
.
.

92. Progressive Approach Framework
• A Progressive Approach
1. Timeline Generation (Grammatical Evolution)
rope_cut(200) rope_cut(500) aircuh_press(700) rocket_press(600) omNom_feed(0)
2. Timeline Simulation (Game Engine)
Timeline Generation
Grammatical Evolution
.
.
.
Simulation
Game
level
Game
simulator
Evaluator

93. Progressive Approach Framework
• A Progressive Approach
1. Timeline Generation (Grammatical Evolution)
rope_cut(200) rope_cut(500) aircuh_press(700) rocket_press(600) omNom_feed(0)
2. Timeline Simulation (Game Engine)
Timeline Generation
Grammatical Evolution
.
.
.
Simulation
mapping Game
level
Game
simulator
Evaluator
Assign score

94. • A Progressive Approach
1. Timeline Generation (Grammatical Evolution)
rope_cut(200) rope_cut(500) aircuh_press(700) rocket_press(600) omNom_feed(0)
2. Timeline Simulation (Game Engine)
Framework Customization in CTR

95. • A Progressive Approach
1. Timeline Generation (Grammatical Evolution)
rope_cut(200) rope_cut(500) aircuh_press(700) rocket_press(600) omNom_feed(0)
2. Timeline Simulation (Game Engine)
Framework Customization in CTR
Timeline Generation
Grammatical Evolution
.
.
.

96. • A Progressive Approach
1. Timeline Generation (Grammatical Evolution)
rope_cut(200) rope_cut(500) aircuh_press(700) rocket_press(600) omNom_feed(0)
2. Timeline Simulation (Game Engine)
Framework Customization in CTR
<timeline>::=<IEs><IE_terminal>
<IEs>::=<IE><IEs_more>
<IEs_more>::=<IE>|<IE><IEs_more>
<IE>::=<rope_cut>|<aircush_press>|<bubble_pop>|<bumper_inter>|<rocket_press>
<rope_cut>::=rope_cut(<default_ET>)
<aircush_press>::=aircush_press(<default_ET>)
<bubble_pop>::=bubble_pop(<short_ET>)
<rocket_press>::=rocket_press(<short_ET>)
<bumper_inter>::=bumper_inter(<long_ET>)
<IE_terminal>::=OmNom_feed(0)
<short_ET>::=[600,1600]
<default_ET>::=[800,1800]
<long_ET>::=[1200,2200]

97. • A Progressive Approach
1. Timeline Generation (Grammatical Evolution)
rope_cut(200) rope_cut(500) aircuh_press(700) rocket_press(600) omNom_feed(0)
2. Timeline Simulation (Game Engine)
Framework Customization in CTR
Simulation
Game
level
Game
simulator
Evaluator

98. • A Progressive Approach
1. Timeline Generation (Grammatical Evolution)
rope_cut(200) rope_cut(500) aircuh_press(700) rocket_press(600) omNom_feed(0)
2. Timeline Simulation (CRUST 2D Engine)
Framework Customization in CTR
Simulation
Game
level
Game
simulator
Evaluator

99. Demo

100. Results
&
Analysis

101. Generator Analysis – Axiality
Axiality Histogram over 100 generated levels of the Projection Agent

102. Generator Analysis – Color Maps
Air-cushion placement color maps for 100 generated levels of the Progressive Agent

103. Comparison(Check)
29sec
Simulation-based

104. Comparison(Check)
29sec
Simulation-based
0.1sec
Projection

105. Comparison(Evolution)
470sec
Simulation-based

106. Comparison(Evolution)
470sec
Simulation-based
13sec
Projection

107. Comparison(Evolution)
470sec
Simulation-based
13sec
Projection
7sec
Progressive

108. Comparison(Quality)
-Simulation-based

109. Comparison(Quality)
-Simulation-based
-Projection

110. Comparison(Quality)
-Simulation-based
-Projection
Usage+
Difficulty+
Playability+
Progressive

111. Future [Research?] Directions

115. Progressive Approach in Mario?

116. Progressive Approach in Mario?
0 600 2000 4100 5400
EndStart
Time(MS)
KillEnemy MiniJumpx5 KillTurtle
HighJump

117. Progressive Approach in Mario?
0 600 2000 4100 5400
EndStart
Time(MS)
KillEnemy MiniJumpx5 KillTurtle
HighJump

118. NEXT www.mohammadshaker.com/next.html

119. Thesis Publications

120. A Projection-Based Approach for Real-time Assessment and Playability Check for Physics-Based Games
In Proceedings of EvoGames: Applications of Evolutionary Computation, Lecture Notes on Computer Science, 2015

121. A Progressive Approach to Content Generation
In Proceedings of EvoGames: Applications of Evolutionary Computation, Lecture Notes on Computer Science, 2015

122. Live Demo

123. Thx.