Abstract
M.Sc. (Information Technology)
The dissertation provides a look at artificial intelligence techniques that have been embedded
into computer games, which is then referred to as either game agents or non-player character
agents (NPC-agent). This dissertation focuses on the design and creation of an agent that utilises
the concept of symbiosis for controlling a non-player character (NPC). The dissertation considers
what agents are, and what their connection to computer games is. The aspect of cloud computing
was considered as it provides a new avenue for additional resources to be obtained for agents in
computer games. To understand how this can be achieved cloud computing is investigated to
provide a basic understanding of cloud computing as a whole.
The next stage was to consider the essential components in a game agent, which are navigation,
decision-making, and perception. The components are then discussed along with the techniques
that they have utilised.
Once the research was completed, the model was designed with the aid of symbiosis to create a
symbiotic game agent (SGA). The SGA is created by breaking down the vital components of a
game agent into separate symbiont agents that have the sole purpose of fulfilling one set of
responsibilities, for example, a symbiont agent is responsible for all perception activity in
connection to the NPC. To allow access to the resources to be obtained from cloud computing,
service orientation and a service agent are introduced into the design.
The last stage of the dissertation is the creation of a prototype SGA to provide proof of the
concept of the model. Within the prototype, the SGA was implemented along with the
implemented navigation symbiont agent, using a service agent. Results of the implementation are
presented, highlighting the use of each of the symbiont agents in the SGA while they direct the
NPC in the prototype computer game environment.