1.4 A*

A* Algorithm

The A* algorithm (Using AI in Computer Games - Assignment 1, 3.1 Pathfinding Concepts - A* Algorithm) the process of plotting an efficiently directed path between multiple points, So where will this be used in my game idea you ask...

Now the A* algorithm will come into play when the player character enters room B, the zombie AI's will then leave their patrol position and begin to chase down the player character. As you see in the image above that in the path of the AI's is a rock, the zombies will need to use pathfinding - a* to move around the rock and get to the player character. The AI's will use the A* algorithm to plot a directed efficient path to the player character, this will add more realism to the game and will evade the attempt of the zombie AI running into the rock.

"A-Star algorithm, used in performing fast searches for the optimal path connecting two points on the map (graph) of a game."

"That time witnessed the birth of such memorable games as the immortal River-Raid, Donkey-Kong, Boulder-Dash, and many other objects of fascination for users of eight-bit machines, back in the 1970s."(5)

Grzyb makes the point that the A* algorithm has been used in the games we play today for more than 40 years, they are the soul purpose which gives the AI the ability to avoid objects and get from point to point on the map. Its a simple applied algorithm which can enhance a games realism just by allowing the AI to move how a human should.