Text to Adventure Game

1. Text to Adventure Game Ross Berkland

2. The Valley was far but Frobo needed to reach it if he was to slay the dragon . Do something.

3. Problem statement • Extend the text to scene concept. • Generating a map from its textual description. • Creating virtual characters based on the text. • Replicating the events of a story as game goals. • Automating game development. • Separate game description/story from actual implementation. • Rapid prototyping tool.

4. Evaluation • User testing • Accuracy of map • Accuracy of characters • Accuracy of goals • Technological rating • Control and interface rating • Additional comments

5. Textual annotations The Valley was far but Frobo needed to reach it if he was to slay the dragon . <Regionname=“The Valley”/> was far but <Charactername=“Frobo” /> needed to reach it if he was to slay the < Charactername=“dragon” position=“The Valley”>.

6. Maps • 2 Dimensional array of cells Height Object Surface Resource

7. Map generator components Regions Paths • Radius • Coordinates • Min & max height • Jaggy • Surface • Object/Resource • Density • Start & end coordinates • Jaggy • Width • Surface

8. Regions Radius = 0.1 Coordinate = (0.2, 0.3) Min & max height = (-10.0) – (-2.0) Min & max height = 0.0 – 30.0 Jaggy = 0.2 Jaggy = 0.4 Object/Resource = 0 Object/Resource = 3 Surface = 1 Density = 50

9. Paths • Recursive subdivision algorithm.

10. Paths • Smoothing algorithm • Average of heights

11. Map evaluation Likert statement: Results: The game map accurately matched the description of the world in the story. 4.5 Mean:

12. Character tree Character Tree Trolls Faction Humans Frobo Character

13. Character tree annotations <factionvalue=“humans" type=“playable" team=“0"/> <charactername=“Frobo" faction=“humans" startingposition="{54, 80}" model=“swordman"/> <factionvalue=“dragons" type=“ai“ ai_enabled=“true” team = “1"/> <charactername=“Dragon" faction=“dragons" startingposition=“The Valley" model=“dragon"/>

14. Character evaluation Likert statement: Results: The characters in the game accurately represented the characters in the story. 4.1 Mean:

15. Goals and events Goal: Frobo must reach the valley. Trigger : Character has moved Condition : Is character in Valley? Action : Character must find dragon <unitMoved> if (unitNearPosition(‘Frobo’, 5, {30,40})) then showSimpleMessage (“Now you must find the dragon.”, Congratulations!”) end </unitMoved> <unitMoved> Do something. if (unitNearPosition (‘Frobo’, 5, {30, 40})) then showSimpleMessage (“Now you must find the dragon.”, Congratulations!”)

16. Another example Goal: Frobo must slay the dragon. Trigger : A character has died Condition : Character is the dragon Action : Player has won the game <unitDied> if (lastDeadUnit() == ‘Dragon’) then setPlayerAsWinner(0) endGame() end </unitDied> <unitDied> Do something. If (lastDeadUnit() = ‘Dragon’) then setPlayerAsWinner(0) endGame()

17. Character evaluation Likert statement: Results: The events described in the story are accurately recreated in the game. Do something. 4.2 Mean:

18. Scenario Annotations Do something. Scenario • Different games stored centrally • Games share resources • Saves physical memory

19. More evaluation Likert statement: Results: Please rate the game technologically. 3.4 Mean:

20. More evaluation Likert statement: Results: Please rate the interface and control scheme. 3.9 Mean:

21. Interpreting the results Do something. 4.02 Overall score: • Learn about text to game system • Learn about process of evaluating such as system

22. Demo The Valley was far but Frobo needed to reach it if he was to slay the dragon .

23. Conclusion Problem Statement • Extend the text to scene concept. • Generating a map from its textual description. • Creating virtual characters based on the text. • Replicating the events of a story as game goals. • Automating game development. • Separate game description/story from actual. implementation. • Rapid prototyping tool.