Game Engine

There is a significant and previously unidentified ethics problem with many e-games; many of them are designed in such a way that they encourage and train game players to follow a narrow and dangerous model of decision making. It is argued that extending this model of decision making beyond an e-game's virtual reality has significant negative societal consequences. Unfortunately most e-game courses focus primarily on game engine design and other technical issues. E-game curricula and e-game designers need to follow standards which recognize this ethical concern and recognize that their work is not independent from the societal impacts of the technology they develop. Modifying design approaches can reduce the problems caused by the ethical decision making model.

The 'traditional' construction industry has constantly been challenged to improve its inherent problematic practices. Offsite production (OSP), under the umbrella of modern methods of construction (MMC), has been acknowledged as a means to help improve construction industry performance as well as meet new market demands through the provision of improved, adaptable, and sustainable buildings. However, the deployment of OSP systems, if not managed properly, may adversely affect the end result and be counterproductive. It is therefore imperative that the construction industry stakeholders learn and appreciate the specifics, merits, as well as the risks associated with OSP systems in order to achieve the desired outcomes and consequently improve industry performance.

Teaching fundamental programming to freshmen is a hard task to be performed, given the high level of abstraction and logical reasoning that are required for these students to develop in a very early stage of their course. This paper presents a discussion about this topic, along with a case study where computer games are meant to be developed by students in a first programming course, through the use of a game engine which allow students to develop fundamental programming skills without having to learn syntax and idiosyncrasies of any programming language.

Emergent game formats, such as machinima, that use game worlds as expressive 3D performance spaces have new expressive powers with an increase of the quality of their underlying graphic and animation systems. Nevertheless, they still lack intuitive control mechanisms. Set direction and acting are limited by tools that were designed to create and play video games rather than produce expressive performance pieces. These tools do a poor job of capturing the performative expression that characterizes more mature media such as film. Tangible interfaces can help open up the game systems for more intuitive character control needed for a greater level of expression in the digital real-time world.

I n entertainment applications, artificial intelligence techniques have most often been used to implement embodied agents or to automatically generate artistic content. A more recent development concerns using AI to support the user experience through new AI-based interactivity techniques. This is especially of interest for the development of artistic installations based on interactive 3D worlds. 1-4 A major difficulty in developing such installations is to properly translate the artistic intention into actual elements of interactivity, which in turn determine the user experience.

The development of virtual reality (VR) art installations is faced with considerable difficulties, especially when one wishes to explore complex notions related to user interaction. We describe the development of a VR platform, which supports the development of such installations, from an art+science perspective. The system is based on a CAVE TMlike immersive display using a game engine to support visualisation and interaction, which has been adapted for stereoscopic visualisation and real-time tracking. In addition, some architectural elements of game engines, such as their reliance on event-based systems have been used to support the principled definition of alternative laws of Physics. We illustrate this research through the development of a fully implemented artistic brief that explores the notion of causality in a virtual environment. After describing the hardware architecture supporting immersive visualisation we show how causality can be redefined using artificial intelligence technologies inspired from action representation in planning and how this symbolic definition of behaviour can support new forms of user experience in VR. r

Abstract—This report presents a survey of computer based simulators for unmanned vehicles. The simulators examined cover a wide spectrum of vehicles including unmanned aerial vehicles, both full scale and micro size; unmanned surface and subsurface vehicles; and ...

074 0 -74 5 9 / 11/ $ 2 6 . 0 0 © 2 0 11 I E E E SOFTWARE REUSE and family-based production strategies, including software product lines (SPLs), 1 make software engineering more effective and productive. Such strategies let software designers and engineers analyze and implement systems collectively rather than separately, automating more of the software life cycle through reusable domain assets such as application blocks, frameworks, patterns, domainspecific languages (DSLs), generators, and tools.

Computer games are continuously improving graphics capabilities and game-play but the market demands show that more compelling gaming applications are required. In this paper, the requirements of modern gaming applications are investigated and a classification of the most significant game design issues is presented. To understand the issues related to video and virtual reality gaming, an interactive game engine is designed and as a case study a traditional two-dimensional arcade game, called Breakout, is ported. Collision detection is supported between the graphics components of the application based on Newton laws of physics. To test the effectiveness of our approach, a tangible platform for playing interactive three-dimensional games using video see-through augmented reality techniques is proposed. To evaluate the effectiveness of each application a pilot study was performed and the initial results of this study are presented.

Online multiplayer educational games can be designed to support collaboration and assess different cognitive and social abilities among students. The educational games can capture student responses or actions, both shared and unshared, within the game environment and from extrinsic resources. This paper describes the design and integration method of scoring engine to process the log stream data generated by multiplayer games, which have been developed as part of the ATC21S™ research study by the University of Melbourne. Scoring engine, which sits at the heart of the multiplayer gaming architecture, consists of a significant number of scoring algorithms to process the log data generated by the students' responses when they participated in the games. Scoring algorithms are coded to search the log files for particular data event sequences. Each of these algorithms take process stream data (produced by the events of the participants in different tasks) as input and produces relevant output defined by the rule and methods for the corresponding algorithm. The scoring process ensures the reporting engine feeds out individual student results for teachers to use in their classroom teaching. The multiplayer component of the games a remaintained with the use of the AJAX and Web Socket application which allowed the communication protocol between the client and server to be established. HTML5 has been used in preference to other available technologies in creating the games to provide a consistent experience for students across all browsers, platforms, and devices. In addition, canvas has been used to create all animations and game objects.

Traditionally, medical education has used live patients to teach medical procedures. This carries a significant risk to patients. As learning technology advances, the early integration of computer-aided medical simulations into medical training before patient contact is becoming an ethical imperative, yet development costs are constraining. In this paper, we describe the use of a gaming engine to create rapidly a game-like interactive simulation for medical training at a low cost. Our process model, driven by the simulation storyboard provided by the instructors, allows for easy simulation refinements and permits an early evaluation of the educational outcome. We also describe its initial integration into the existing matrix of low-tech simulation (procedures practiced on mannequins) and an educational platform (e-learning system) used to support and track novice physicians within a large academic training center.

Courtroom environments, which have been one of the last bastions of the oral tradition, are slowly morphing into cinematic display environments [1]. The persuasive oral rhetoric of lawyers is increasingly being replaced by compelling visual media displays presenting a range of digital evidence in a convincing and credible manner [2,3].There are a number of fundamental implications inherent in the shift from oral to visual mediation and a number of facets of this modern evidence presentation technology need to be investigated and analysed. Recently, a number of courtrooms around the world have seen the presentation of forensic evidence within reconstructed virtual environments powered by real-time game engines.At first glance, these graphical reconstructions may be seen as potentially useful in many courtroom situations, and they are often treated like any other form of digital evidence regarding their admissibility [4]. However, perhaps this specific form of digital media warrants special care and attention due to its inherently persuasive nature, and the undue reliance that the viewer may place on the evidence presented through a visualisation medium [5,6].This paper describes a range of examples of where evidence has been presented in courtrooms using video games technology (particularly forensic animation and virtual crime scene reconstructions) (The author acted as an expert witness in all of the cases discussed, responsible for the preparation of the virtual reconstructions used as case studies in this paper. Most of the work was undertaken through the author’s own company in the UK, Aims Solutions Ltd., ). The paper then describes experiments undertaken to assess the impact of the technology on jurors and describes some of the issues raised by the results. The paper concludes with a discussion of the potential benefits and problems of implementing this technology in courtroom settings.

The integration of Collaborative Virtual Environments (CVE) into design curricula highlights shortcomings in the existing pedagogy of spatial design teaching. RMIT University's Spatial Information Architecture Laboratory (SIAL) has utilised software developed by the University of Auckland from a commercial game engine to enable the teaching of spatial sound within an architectural design studio "Memory Games". This paper reports on the

On-the-job-training (OJT) is usually sought to facilitate 'experiential' learning, which is argued to be particularly effective in complex tasks, where a great deal of independence is granted to the task performer. However, OJT has been criticised for being expensive, limited, and sometimes devoid of the actual training context. In order to address the problems encountered with OJT, a virtual reality (VR) solution has been proposed to provide a risk-free environment for learning without the 'do-or-die' consequences often faced on real construction projects. The proffered solution provides a unique VR environment for practicing new working conditions associated with offsite production (OSP) practices. While the 'scenes' of the simulator take place on a construction site, the environment predominantly targets professionals, such as project managers, construction managers, architects, designers, suppliers and manufacturers, etc. The VR environment enables unforeseen problems often caused by professionals' decisions, faulty work, and health and safety issues to occur; and the implications of which can be evaluated in respect of time, cost and resources. The VR environment does not aim to resolve problems associated with OSP per se, rather aims to allow 'things to go wrong' and consequently allows users to 'experience' the resulting implications; and furthermore, to reflect on those implications as part of the learning process. This prototype was tested and validated with domain experts from industry, the research community, and academia.

Blender can be used as a 3D scene modeler, editor, animator, renderer and Game Engine. This paper describes how it can be linked to a 3D sound plat- form working within the CLAM framework, making special emphasis on a specic application: the re- cently launched Yo Frankie! open content game for the Blender Game Engine. The game was hacked to

Nothing replaces the importance of the sweat, blood and tears of a live simulated training experience in which all your senses (visual, audio, haptic, olfactory, gastronomy, etc.) play into a physical, mental and emotional life-and- death scenario in a fully three dimensional, real-time world. When Virtual Reality is provided as an alternative, it can pale in comparison, as it is

We introduce a novel approach to the creation of Virtual Reality Art installations, which supports the design of alternative worlds, in which laws of Physics can be redefined to induce new user experiences. To implement this concept of "Alternative Reality", we have used Artificial Intelligence techniques to support the definition of the virtual environment behaviour, an approach inspired by Qualitative Reasoning systems. Besides the redefinition of physical laws, we have developed mechanisms for eliciting causal relations between events, as causality plays an important part in users' perception of virtual worlds. Our pilot installation is a CAVE TM -like system incorporating a state-of-theart computer game engine as visualisation software, which hasbeen ported to this immersive display. The event-based system underlying the game engine is used to bypass the native Physics engine and replace it with our Alternative Reality software. A first prototype has been fully implemented, the Alternative Reality modules totaling over 100,000 lines of C++ code. We present early results obtained with this approach, illustrated with examples taken from two artistic briefs, developed by digital artists associated to this research.

This paper presents MORSE, a new open-source robotics simulator. MORSE provides several features of interest to robotics projects: it relies on a component-based architecture to simulate sensors, actuators and robots; it is flexible, able to specify simulations at variable levels of abstraction according to the systems being tested; it is capable of representing a large variety of heterogeneous robots and full 3D environments (aerial, ground, maritime); and it is designed to allow simulations of multiple robots systems. MORSE uses a "Softwarein-the-Loop" philosophy, i.e. it gives the possibility to evaluate the algorithms embedded in the software architecture of the robot within which they are to be integrated. Still, MORSE is independent of any robot architecture or communication framework (middleware).

The development of virtual reality (VR) art installations is faced with considerable difficulties, especially when one wishes to explore complex notions related to user interaction. We describe the development of a VR platform, which supports the development of such installations, from an art+science perspective. The system is based on a CAVE TMlike immersive display using a game engine to support visualisation and interaction, which has been adapted for stereoscopic visualisation and real-time tracking. In addition, some architectural elements of game engines, such as their reliance on event-based systems have been used to support the principled definition of alternative laws of Physics. We illustrate this research through the development of a fully implemented artistic brief that explores the notion of causality in a virtual environment. After describing the hardware architecture supporting immersive visualisation we show how causality can be redefined using artificial intelligence technologies inspired from action representation in planning and how this symbolic definition of behaviour can support new forms of user experience in VR. r

In this paper we describe our research using a multi-user virtual environment, Quest Atlantis, to embed fourth grade students in an aquatic habitat simulation. Specifically targeted towards engaging students in a rich inquiry investigation, we layered a socio-scientific narrative and an interactive rule set into a multi-user virtual environment gaming engine to establish a virtual world through which students learned about science inquiry, water quality concepts, and the challenges in balancing scientific and socio-economic factors. Overall, students were clearly engaged, participated in rich scientific discourse, submitted quality work, and learned science content. Further, through participation in this narrative, students developed a rich perceptual, conceptual, and ethical understanding of science. This study suggests that multi-user virtual worlds can be effectively leveraged to support academic content learning.

This paper describes the development of collaborative virtual environment (CVE) software based on a game engine to support the early stages of design in the context of architectural education. The precedent of narrative drawing technique in architecture is introduced. From this we position the use of a CVE as a means to explore design context in a manner that is not possible when using typical architectural visualization software. Outcomes from software trials are reported that establish the value of working in a real time environment where design iterations can be tested from multiple points of view, and the important role of 3D sound to evoke occupancy and materiality. Negative results are reported in relation to collaborative design functionality and a revised approach based on an integrated project database is described.

Many games, in particular RTS games, are populated by synthetic humanoid actors that act as autonomous agents. The navigation of these agents is yet a challenge if the problem involves finding a precise route in a virtual world (path-planning), and moving realistically according to its own personality, intentions and mood (motion planning). In this paper we present several complementary approaches recently developed by our group to produce quality paths, and to guide and interact with the navigation of autonomous agents. Our approach is based on a BVP Path Planner that generates potential fields through a differential equation whose gradient descent represents navigation routes. Resulting paths can deal with moving obstacles, are smooth, and free from local minima. In order to evaluate the algorithms, we implemented our path planner in a RTS game engine.

The Digital Songlines (DSL) game engine is used as a vehicle for Indigenous Australian storytelling. Their storytelling is inextricably linked to the 'country' from which it emerges. The game engine provides a simulation of that country for embedding of the stories to be told. Much of the 'country' referred to is sacred. However, the fundamental underlying principles of threedimensional reproduction of space in a 3D computer game (3DCG) defines all spaces as mathematically equal -there is no place for notions of sacred spaces. This presents a dilemma for those cultures that do not subscribe to the scientific notions of ontological certainty underpinning such mathematically modelled space. In the case of the DSL game engine, notions of the sacredness of the country modelled has been made explicit in order to highlight its importance for its physical-world corollary. Hence, this paper discusses notions of sacredness and its place in the simulational spaces of the DSL's 3DCG engine. It presents a series of dilemmas for the inclusion of sacred places in simulational spaces. It does not attempt to resolve these dilemmas, but rather to bring them into sharp relief with examples drawn from the DSL project experience. In so doing, it presents a new way of thinking through the significance of this issue for Western and non-Western use of the 3DCG in cultural heritage applications. Abstract. The Digital Songlines (DSL) game engine is used as a vehicle for Indigenous Australian storytelling. Their storytelling is inextricably linked to the `country' from which it emerges. The game engine provides a simulation of that country for embedding of the stories to be told. Much of the `country' referred to is sacred. However, the fundamental underlying principles of threedimensional reproduction of space in a 3D computer game (3DCG) defines all spaces as mathematically equal -there is no place for notions of sacred spaces. This presents a dilemma for those cultures that do not subscribe to the scientific notions of ontological certainty underpinning such mathematically modelled space. In the case of the DSL game engine, notions of the sacredness of the country modelled has been made explicit in order to highlight its importance for its physical-world corollary. Hence, this paper discusses notions of sacredness and its place in the simulational spaces of the DSL's 3DCG engine. It presents a series of dilemmas for the inclusion of sacred places in simulational spaces. It does not attempt to resolve these dilemmas, but rather to bring them into sharp relief with examples drawn from the DSL project experience. In so doing, it presents a new way of thinking through the significance of this issue for Western and non-Western use of the 3DCG in cultural heritage applications. A A A

Traditionally, medical education has used live patients to teach medical procedures. This carries a significant risk to patients. . As learning technology advances, the early integration of computer-aided medical simulations into medical training before patient contact is becoming an ethical imperative, yet development costs are constraining. In this paper we describe the use of a gaming engine to rapidly create a game-like interactive simulation for medical training at a low cost. Our process model, driven by the simulation storyboard provided by the instructors, allows for easy simulation refinements and permits an early evaluation of the educational outcome. We also describe its initial integration into the existing matrix of low-tech simulation (procedures practiced on mannequins) and a high-tech educational platform (e-learning system) used to support and track novice physicians within a large academic training center.

This paper describes the creation of a 2D game engine, the ULL Introductory Game Engine (UIGE), for use in an introductory video game programming course as part of an undergraduate computer science curriculum. Having the right tools available can make illustrating the concepts of game development and design substantially easier. In creating the engine, a number of factors such as ease of use and accessibility, were considered. Furthermore, course instructors must determine how much assistance (in the form of tools for the engine) is too much assistance, as students may miss core principles if development with the engine is made too abstract. Successful implementation of tools like UIGE allow students to produce games quickly and the concepts of game development to be taught more effectively.

In this paper we describe a visualization system for an emergency simulation. We start by presenting a flooding emergency case scenario and all the elements that are involved in it. Then we describe the design decisions that were made in order to create a credible representation of the scene. This includes using a game engine to render the scenario using a three-dimensional terrain, with objects and information retrieved from geographic information systems. Additionally we describe experiments with new touch and tangible devices that support a war table like interaction with the simulation. We further describe our ideas for the emergency interface and conclude describing the directions for future work.

In this paper, we propose three different ways of using IMS Learning Design to support online adaptive learning modules that include educational videogames. The first approach relies on IMS LD to support adaptation procedures where the educational games are considered as Learning Objects. These games can be included instead of traditional content to adapt the learning experience to the preferences of the student. In the second approach, the game engine supports the entire adaptation cycle, simply using IMS LD as a delivery mechanism for the packages containing the games. The learner profile is used to adapt the game, and the activity within the game is used to adjust the profile. Finally, the third approach stands between the other two, using IMS LD to model the general adaptation guidelines and then refining the adaptation inside the games. We illustrate these approaches with the <e-Adventure> educational game engine, which includes the mechanisms required to support these adaptation cycles.

In this paper we describe a visualization system for an emergency simulation. We start by presenting a flooding emergency case scenario and all the elements that are involved in it. Then we describe the design decisions that were made in order to create a credible representation of the scene. This includes using a game engine to render the scenario using a three-dimensional terrain, with objects and information retrieved from geographic information systems. Additionally we describe experiments with new touch and tangible devices that support a war table like interaction with the simulation. We further describe our ideas for the emergency interface and conclude describing the directions for future work.

This paper explores the synergies between geography, GIScience and serious gaming. From a skills-based rather than issues-based direction, the work highlights opportunities for using games engines for the development of fieldwork preparation tools. Our emphasis lies with exploring the contention that games can foster associative learning. Specifically, we evaluate the role that presence may play in realizing this goal.

In this paper, we describe a small-scale, yet complete, integration of a real-time immersive interactive storytelling system. While significant progress has been achieved in recent years on the individual component technologies of interactive storytelling, the main objective of this work is to investigate the concept of interactive storytelling in a fully immersive context. We describe each individual component of immersive interactive storytelling from a technical perspective. We have used a commercial game engine as a development environment, supporting real-time visualisation as well as the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence components controlling virtual actors. This visualisation engine has been ported to an immersive setting using dedicated software and hardware supporting real-time stereoscopic visualisation. The hardware platform is built around a 4-sided CAVE-like immersive display operated by a PC-cluster. The interactive storytelling engine is constituted by a planning system based on characters motivations and emotional states. The user can interact with the virtual world using multimodal interaction. We illustrate the system's behaviour on the implementation of excerpts from Madame Bovary, a classic XIX th century novel, and demonstrate the ability for the user to play the role of one of the characters and influence the unfolding of the story by his actions.

In this paper, we introduce a novel approach to the use of AI tech- nologies to support user experience in Virtual Reality Art installations. The un- derlying idea is to use semantic representations for interaction events, so as to modify the course of actions to create specific impressions in the user. The sys- tem is based on a game engine

This work reports results obtained with the use of a game engine as a tool to create and to navigate in virtual environments, to perform simulations and training of workers in risky areas, for safety purposes. The game engine used can be used for non-commercial and educational purposes, and its source code is available for users. Thus, the engine can be modified and adapted for the modeling and simulation of any environment, including the development of new functionalities. A case study is shown, which has the purpose of supporting dose assessment in nuclear plants, for optimization of operational routines in these areas. The implemented modifications are explained, and simulations' results are shown.

This paper challenges current practices in the use of digital media to communicate Australian Aboriginal knowledge practices in a learning context. It proposes that any digital representation of Aboriginal knowledge practices needs to examine the epistemology and ontology of these practices in order to design digital environments that effectively support and enable existing Aboriginal knowledge practices in the real world. Central to this is the essential task of any new digital representation of Aboriginal knowledge to resolve the conflict between database and narrative views of knowledge . This is in order to provide a tool that complements rather than supplants direct experience of traditional knowledge practices . This paper concludes by reporting on the recent development of an advanced learning technology that addresses this.

This paper details the implementation of an agent-based educational gaming environment utilizing the REAL cognitive framework (Reflective Agent Learning Environment). REAL provides an interactive learning environment that allows students to 1) construct their imaginary world; 2) reflect upon the quality of their understanding; 3) test it out in the dynamically generated simulation games. The REAL framework stresses reflection as the critical component of thinking processes. The reflective agent's action is monitored by an expert agent, a pedagogical agent, and a communication agent. With a rule-based reasoning engine and game engine embedded, REAL makes it easier for developers to model domain knowledge and develop simulation games that are otherwise time-consuming. Our studies show that this kind of learning environment engages students in learning and encourages collaboration among researchers in different areas.

Cavazza, M. O. et. al. (2003) 'Alternative reality: a new platform for virtual reality art', ACM symposium on virtual reality software and technology, Osaka, Japan, October 1 -3, 2003 in Proceedings of the ACM symposium on virtual reality software and technology. New York: ACM, pp.100-107. "© ACM, 2003. This is the author's version of the work. It is [posted] included here by permission of ACM for your personal use. Not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in the Proceedings of the ACM symposium on virtual reality software and technology, 2003 http://dx.

Monte-Carlo Tree Search (MCTS) is a successful algorithm used in many state of the art game engines. We propose to improve a MCTS solver when a game has more than two outcomes. It is for example the case in games that can end in draw positions. In this case it improves significantly a MCTS solver to take into account bounds on the possible scores of a node in order to select the nodes to explore. We apply our algorithm to solving Seki in the game of Go and to Connect Four.

Autonomic Computing is now showing its value as a solution to the increased complexities of maintaining computer systems and has been applied to many different fields. In this paper, we demonstrate how a gaming application can benefit from autonomic principles. Currently, minimal adaptivity has been used in games and is typically manifested as bespoke mechanisms that cannot be shared, extended, reused etc. In this paper we show the advantages of Autonomic Computing in terms of not only improved performance, but also show that decoupling adaptivity mechanisms from the managed game can be done efficiently whilst improving its software engineering.

In this paper, we propose a documental approach to the development of graphical adventure videogames. This approach is oriented to the production and maintenance of adventure videogames using the game's storyboard as the key development element. The videogame storyboard is marked up with a suitable domain-specific descriptive markup language, from which the different art assets needed are referred, and then the final executable videogame itself is automatically produced by processing the marked storyboard with a suitable processor for such a language. This document-oriented approach opens new authoring possibilities in videogame development and allows a rational collaboration between the different communities that participate in the development process: game writers, artists and programmers. We have implemented the approach in the context of the <e-Game> project, by defining a suitable markup language for the storyboards (the <e-Game> language) and by building a suitable processor for this language (the <e-Game> engine).

In this paper, we introduce a novel approach to the use of AI tech- nologies to support user experience in Virtual Reality Art installations. The un- derlying idea is to use semantic representations for interaction events, so as to modify the course of actions to create specific impressions in the user. The sys- tem is based on a game engine

The emerging cloud gaming service has been growing rapidly, but not yet able to reach mobile customers due to many limitations, such as bandwidth and latency. We introduce a 3D image warping assisted real-time video coding method that can potentially meet all the requirements of mobile cloud gaming. The proposed video encoder selects a set of key frames in the video sequence, uses the 3D image warping algorithm to interpolate other non-key frames, and encodes the key frames and the residues frames with an H. ...

Nowadays three dimension (3D) architectural visualisation has become a powerful tool in the conceptualisation, design and presentation of architectural products in the construction industry, providing realistic interaction and walkthrough on engineering products. Traditional ways of implementing 3D models involves the use of specialised 3D authoring tools along with skilled 3D designers with blueprints of the model and this is a slow and laborious process. The aim of this paper is to automate this process by simply analyzing the blueprint document and generating the 3D scene automatically. For this purpose we have devised a 3-Phase recognition approach to pseudo 3D building generation from 2D floor plan and developed a software accordingly.