Foundations of AI in Game Development

Overview

This course features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. In this course, you will dive deep into the foundational concepts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its application in game development. By exploring AI techniques in Unity, you’ll learn how to implement AI-driven characters, create realistic movement, and develop advanced pathfinding systems. As you progress, you will discover how mathematics, physics, and algorithms combine to form the backbone of AI development in games. The course begins by introducing the core principles of AI and how it can be applied to game development. You’ll then cover key topics like vector mathematics, the physics behind AI movements, and how AI predicts future object locations. From there, the course walks you through setting up the A* pathfinding algorithm, ensuring your AI characters can navigate complex environments. As you explore more advanced topics, you’ll integrate AI with waypoints, graphs, and projectiles, gaining an in-depth understanding of how to build a responsive, intelligent system for games. This course is ideal for aspiring game developers and those interested in learning AI programming concepts in a game development context. No prior AI knowledge is required, but a basic understanding of Unity and programming fundamentals is beneficial. The course will guide you through all the technical aspects, while also encouraging practical application to bring your AI systems to life.

Syllabus

Introduction

In this module, we will introduce the course, outline key content, and give an overview of artificial intelligence’s role in game development. You’ll also get involved with the H3D student community and set up Unity for future course projects.

The Mathematics of AI

In this module, we will cover foundational mathematics for AI, focusing on vector calculations, distance measurement, and the geometry behind game environments. By the end, you'll be able to model movement and predict AI behavior using mathematical principles.

The Physics of AI

In this module, we will explore how physics principles, like velocity, acceleration, and time, affect AI behavior in games. You will also work with Unity’s physics system to create realistic movement and shooting dynamics.

The A* Algorithm

In this module, we will dive deep into the A* pathfinding algorithm, from the theoretical underpinnings to hands-on implementation. By the end of this module, you'll be able to create AI that efficiently finds the best paths in a game world.

Waypoints and Graphs

In this module, we will introduce waypoints and graphs for complex AI navigation. You'll explore how to integrate these systems with the A* algorithm to create AI that follows defined paths and responds to dynamic environments.