Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Search-Based Procedural Content Generation'

Procedural Content Generation (PCG) has become one of the hottest topics in Computational Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence (AI) game research in the past few years. PCG is the process of automatically creating content for video games, rather than by hand, and can offer great benefits for video games companies by helping to bring costs down and quality up. By guiding the process with AI it can be enhanced further and even be made to personalize content for target players. Among the current research into PCG, search-based approaches overwhelmingly dominate. While search-based algorithms have been shown to have great promise and produce several success stories there are a number of open challenges remaining. In this thesis, we present the Learning-Based Procedural Content Generation (LBPCG) framework, which is an alternative, novel approach designed to address some of these challenges. The major difference between the LBPCG framework and contemporary approaches is that the LBPCG is designed to learn about the problem space, freeing itself from the necessity for hard-coded information by the game developers. In this thesis we apply the LBPCG to a concrete example, the classic first-person shooter Quake, and present results showing the potential of the framework in generating quality content.

The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the use of Search-based Procedural Content generation (SBPCG) to help a designer create levels for different game styles. I show how SBPCG can be used for level generation in different game genres by surveying both paper and released commercial solutions. I then provide empirical data by using a Genetic Algorithm (GA) to evolve levels in two different game types, first one being a space puzzle game, and the second a platform game. Constraints from a level designer provide a base to create fitness functions for both games with success. Even though difficulties with level representation make it hard for a designer to work with this technique directly, the generated levels show that the technique has promising potential to aid level designers with their work.

This thesis describes the implementation and evaluation of a genetic algorithm (GA) for procedurally generating levels with controllable difficulty for a motion-based 2D platform game. Manually creating content can be time-consuming, and it may be desirable to automate this process with an algorithm, using Procedural Content Generation (PCG). An algorithm was implemented and then refined with an iterative method by conducting user tests. The resulting algorithm is considered a success and shows that using GA's for this kind of PCG is viable. An algorithm able to control difficulty of its output was achieved, but more refinement could be made with further user tests. Using a GA for this purpose, one should find elements that affect difficulty, incorporate these in the fitness function, and test generated content to ensure that the fitness function correctly evaluates solutions with regard to the desired output.

An Evolutionary Algorithm was run in real-time for the procedural generation ofenemies in a third-person, wave based hack and slash and shoot 'em up game. Thealgorithm evaluates enemies as individuals based on their effectiveness at battlingthe player character. Every generation is presented as a new wave of enemieswhose properties have been adjusted according to the fitness of the last wave. Byconstantly making new enemies more adept at the task of the defeating the currentplayer, I attempt to automatically and naturally raise the difficulty as the gameprogresses. The goal is also to improve player satisfaction as a result. By analyzingthe response from players and observing the changes of the generated enemies, Idetermine whether or not this is an appropriate implementation of EvolutionaryAlgorithms. Results showed that the success of the algorithm varied substantiallybetween tests, giving a number of both failed and successful tests. I go throughsome of the individual data and draw conclusions on what specific conditions makesthe algorithm perform desirably.

The time and money spent on video games are rapidly increasing, as the annual U.S game industry consumer spending has reached 23.5 billion dollars. The cost of producing video game content has grown in accordance with the consumer demand. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been suggested as a way to scale production costs with the demand. In addition to lowering content production costs, AI enables the creation of new forms of gameplay that are not possible with the current toolbox of the industry. The utilization of AI in game design is currently difficult, as it requires both theoretical knowledge and practical expertise. This thesis improved game designer workflow in PCG-based game design by explicating the necessary theoretical frameworks and practical steps needed to adopt AI-based practices in game design. Game designer workflow in PCG-based game design was improved by utilizing the design science research method (DSR). The constructed artefact was determined to be a method in accordance with the DSR knowledge contribution framework, and it was evaluated by using the Quick & Simple strategy from the FEDS framework. The risks related to artefact construction were assessed in accordance with the RMF4DSR framework. The metrics used to measure the performance of the artefact were determined by employing the GQM framework. Finally, the proposed method was evaluated by following it in constructing a simple PCG-based game with an accompanying AI system. The evaluation was performed by utilizing the FEDS framework in an artificial setting. After gathering and analysing the data from the artefact construction and evaluation, the method was modified to address its shortcomings. The produced design method is the main contribution of this thesis. The proposed method lowers the threshold for adopting PCG-based game design practices, and it helps designers, developers, and researchers by creating concrete and actionable steps to follow. The necessary theoretical frameworks and decision points are presented in a single method that demystifies the process of designing PCG-based games. Additional theoretical knowledge has been contributed by studying the topic from a practical perspective and extracting requirements from an actual design process. The method can be used as a practical cookbook for PCG-based projects and as a theoretical base for further studies on PCG-based game design. Future research tasks include evaluating the proposed method in an organizational context with real users. An organizational context also warrants means to managing risks in PCG-based game design projects. Finally, generator evaluation and explicit guidance on generator control are important future research topics.

In modern times, procedural content generation sees frequent use in video games, producing anything from graphics to maps and quests. This study focuses on how these techniques can be used to produce forest maps for tactical role-playing games, and how this is applied in particular to Starshard, one such game. The main points addressed are how well the forestry growth simulation algorithm previously implemented in Starshard compares to algorithms based on other popular techniques, how to utilise evaluation and optimisation to produce correct and strategically interesting maps without human interference, and whether or not players can easily perceive a difference between procedural maps and maps designed by humans. With high demand for new algorithms to automate content generation in order to help smaller teams of developers and maintain interest in content post release, there is much value in delving further into less frequently explored aspects such as tile-based maps or player perception of procedural content. In order to answer the research problems, a controlled experiment comparing four forestry generation algorithms was performed, in addition to a study of literature to implement evaluation and optimisation algorithms, and a survey to gauge player reactions to the produced maps. Ultimately, the growth simulation proves to be more successful than alternative algorithms in reducing number of errors in maps. In addition, the results of the survey showed that while players are capable of reliably picking out human created maps, their ratings for procedurally generated maps were not much lower than these and they could frequently mistake procedural maps as being produced by humans.

Att skapa digitala spel och anställa utvecklare är en kostsam process. Genom att använda procedurell generering av spelinnehåll kan spelföretag skära ner på produktionstid och kostnad. Denna uppsats utvärderar och jämför de olika styrkor och svagheter som finns när man genererar spelbanor för ett 2D pussel- och plattformsspel med en evolutionär generator och en regelbaserad generator. Den evolutionära generatorn använder sig av grammatisk evolution, medan den regelbaserade generatorn är ett strikt kontrollerat system som använder sig av generativ grammatik. Banorna som skapas av de båda metoderna utvärderas genom användarstudier, kombinerat med en analys av tiden och komplexiteten för att utveckla generatorerna. Datan från utvärderingarna visar att den regelbaserade metoden var något mer uppskattad av användare, samtidigt som den var mindre komplex att implementera. Den evolutionära generatorn är dock bättre lämpad för att expandera tillsammans med spelet, och har potentialen att prestera bättre på lång sikt.
Creating digital games and hiring developers is a costlyprocess. By utilizing procedural content generation, game companiescan reduce the time and cost of production. This thesis evaluates andcompares the different strengths and weaknesses of generating levelsfor a 2D puzzle platformer game using an evolutionary and a rule-basedgenerator. The evolutionary approach adopts the use of grammaticalevolution, whereas the rule-based generator is a strictly controlledsystem using generative grammars. The levels produced by eachmethod are evaluated by user studies and combined with an analysis ofthe time and complexity of developing each generator. The datapresented by the evaluations shows that the rule-based approach wasslightly more appreciated by users, and was also less complex toimplement. However, the evolutionary generator would scale better ifthe game would expand, and has the potential of performing better inthe long term

Computer games have always become more and more advanced. One of the biggest reasons to its rapid evolution is the use of procedural content generation (PCG), which is used to generate game content automatically. However, there is one type of games that is more unexplored when it comes to PCG, namely motion games. Motion games are games where the player interacts with the game by moving his own body rather than using a gamepad, mouse or keyboard. Thanks to that, motion games are a healthier alternative to regular games, and this thesis therefore explores the possibilities to use PCG to develop more exciting motion games. The focus lies on achieving variation and progression since both of those are important concepts closely related to PCG. An exploratory case study is also conducted to examine how the derived guidelines work in a real game. The result concluded is that the guidelines seem to work well, but that all of them are not easily adapted to every game. Different game genres therefore call for different guidelines to be used.

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Neste trabalho apresentamos um modelo computacional baseado em teorias de design para gerar mapas de jogos de plataforma visualmente agradáveis. Nós estudamos o problema de geração de mapas como um problema de otimização e provamos que uma versão simplificada do problema é computacionalmente difícil. Em seguida, propomos uma abordagem de busca heurística para resolver o problema de geração de mapas e utilizamos ela para gerar níveis de um clone do Super Mario Bros (SMB), chamado Infinite Mario Bros (IMB). Antes de avaliar os níveis de IMB gerados pelo nosso sistema, realizamos um estudo detalhado das abordagens comumente utilizadas para avaliar o conteúdo gerado por programas de computador. A avaliação utilizada em trabalhos anteriores utiliza apenas métricas computacionais. Embora esses indicadores são importantes para uma avaliação inicial e exploratória do conteúdo gerado, não é claro se são capazes de capturar a percepção do jogador sobre o conteúdo gerado. Neste trabalho, comparamos os conhecimentos adquiridos a partir de um estudo com seres humanos usando níveis de IMB gerados por diferentes sistemas, com os conhecimentos adquiridos a partir de análise dos valores de métricas computacionais. Os nossos resultados sugerem que as m ́etricas computacionais atuais não devem substituir estudos com seres humanos para avaliar o conteúdo gerado por programas de computador. Usando os conhecimentos adquiridos em nosso experimento anterior, foi realizado outro estudo com seres humanos para avaliar os níveis de IMB gerados pelo nosso método. Os resultados mostram a vantagem do nosso método em relação a outras abordagens em termos de estética visual e diversão. Finalmente, foi realizado outro estudo com seres humanos, mostrando que o nosso método é capaz de gerar níveis de IMB semelhantes aos níveis de SMB criados por designers profissionais.
In this work we introduce a computational model based on theories of graphical design to generate visually pleasing video game maps. We cast the problem of map generation as an optimization problem and prove it to be computationally hard. Then, we propose a heuristic search approach to solve the map generation problem and use it to generate levels of a clone of Super Mario Bros (SMB) called Infinite Mario Bros (IMB). Before evaluating the levels of IMB generated by our system, we perform a detailed study of the approaches commonly used to evaluate the content generated by computer programs. The evaluation used in previous works often relies on computational metrics. While these metrics are important for an initial exploratory evaluation of the content generated, it is not clear whether they are able to capture the player’s perception of the content generated. In this work we compare the insights gained from a user study with IMB levels generated by different systems with the insights gained from analyzing computational metric values. Our results suggest that current computational metrics should not be used in lieu of user studies for evaluating content generated by computer programs. Using the insights gained in our previous experiment, we performed another user study to evaluate the IMB levels generated by our method. The results show the advantage of our method over other approaches in terms of visual aesthetics and enjoyment. Finally, we performed one last user study that showed that our method is able to generate IMB levels with striking similarity to SMB levels created by professional designers.
Autor sem Lattes e arquivo PDF não criptografou

I denna uppsats kommer vi att presentera en modell vars syfte är att generera beteende-mönster för rollfigurer i digitala spel. Spelgenren rollspel (eng. Role-playing games) placerarspelaren i en värld fylld av fantastiska monster och modiga hjältar. I ett sådant spel ärde goda karaktärerna minst lika viktiga som de ondskefulla varelser som spelaren kämparmot. Hur ser livet ut för en spelkaraktär när den inte hjälper spelaren på dess äventyr? Dekanske lever som fiskare på havet eller som bönder ute på fältet. Mer troligt är att de bori en by tillsammans med en massa andra spännande karaktärer. Vi undersöker hur sådanakaraktärers vardag ser ut och tittar på en teknik som används för att skapa deras beteen-demönster, Cyclic Scheduling. Tekniken innebär att utvecklare skapar scheman som styrrollfigurernas beteende. Dessa scheman måste skapas i förväg under spelets utveckling ochkräver i stora spel många arbetstimmar för att utvecklas. Modellen vi presenterar i dennauppsats använder tekniken Smart Terrain för att automatiskt generera beteendemönsteroch kan användas för att minska utvecklingstid. Vi diskuterar hur modellen kan användas iföränderliga spelvärldar där utvecklare inte i förhand vet hur spelens omgivningar kommeratt se ut.
In this thesis we present a model for the generation of behaviour patterns for charactersin digital games. In the genre Role-playing games the player is placed in a world filledwith fantastic monsters and brave heroes. In this kind of game the good characters areas important as the evil creatures the player must fight against. What kind of life doesa game character have when not helping the player on adventures? Maybe they live asfishermen on the sea or as farmers in the fields. More likely they live in villages amongstother exciting game characters. We examine what these characters’ daily routines looks likeand look at a technique used for creating their behaviour patterns, Cyclic Scheduling. Thetechnique is used by developers to create schedules that control the behaviour of charactersin games. These schedules have to be created during the game development process andfor bigger games this consumes a lot of time. The model we presents in this thesis uses thetechnique Smart Terrain to automatically generate behaviour patterns thereby reducingthe development time. We discuss how the model can be used in dynamic game worldswhere the developers are unaware of potential changes in the game world.

Na última década diversos algoritmos baseados em busca foram desenvolvidos para a geração de níveis em diferentes tipos de jogos. O espaço de busca para geração de níveis geralmente possui restrições, uma vez que a mecânica de um jogo define regras de factibilidade para os níveis. Em alguns métodos, a avaliação de factibilidade requer uma simulação com um agente inteligente que controla o jogo. Esse processo de avaliação geralmente possui ruído, causado por componentes aleatórios no simulador ou na estratégia do agente. Diversos trabalhos têm utilizado simulação como forma de avaliação de conteúdo, no entanto, nenhum deles discutiu profundamente a presença de ruído neste tipo de abordagem. Assim, esse trabalho apresenta um algoritmo genético capaz de gerar níveis factíveis que são avaliados por um agente inteligente em uma simulação ruidosa. O algoritmo foi aplicado a jogos de quebra-cabeças baseados em física com a mecânica do Angry Birds. Uma representação dos níveis em forma de indivíduos é introduzida, a qual permite que o algoritmo genético os evolua com características diferenciadas. O ruído na função de aptidão é tratado por uma nova abordagem, baseada em uma sistema de cache, que auxilia o algoritmo genético a encontrar boas soluções candidatas. Três conjuntos de experimentos foram realizados para avaliar o algoritmo. O primeiro compara o método de cache proposto com outros métodos de redução de ruído da literatura. O segundo mede a expressividade do algoritmo genético considerando as características estruturais dos níveis gerados. O último avalia os níveis gerados considerando aspectos de design (como dificuldade, imersão e diversão), os quais são medidos por meio de questionários respondidos por jogadores humanos via Internet. Os resultados mostraram que o algoritmo genético foi capaz de gerar níveis distintos que são tão imersíveis quanto níveis produzidos manualmente. Além disso, a abordagem de cache lidou apropriadamente com o ruído nos cálculos de aptidão, permitindo uma correta evolução elitista.
In the last decade several search-based algorithms have been developed for generating levels in different types of games. The search space for level generation is typically constrained once the game mechanics define feasibility rules for the levels. In some methods, evaluating level feasibility requires a simulation with an intelligent agent which plays the game. This evaluation process usually has noise, caused by random components in the simulator or in the agent strategy. Several works have used a simulation for content evaluation, however, none of them have deeply discussed the presence of noise in this kind of approach. Thus, this paper presents a genetic algorithm capable of generating feasible levels that are evaluated by an intelligent agent in a noisy simulation. The algorithm was applied to physics-based puzzle games with the Angry Birds mechanics. A level representation in the form of individuals is introduced, which allows the genetic algorithm to evolve them with distinct characteristics. The fitness function noise is handled by a new approach, based on a cache system, which helps the genetic algorithm finding good candidate solutions. Three sets of experiments were conducted to evaluate the algorithm. The first one compares the proposed cache approach with other noise reduction methods of the literature. The second one measures the expressivity of the genetic algorithm considering the structural characteristics of the levels. The last one evaluates design aspects (such as difficulty, immersion and fun) of the generated levels using questionnaires answered by human players via Internet. Results showed the genetic algorithm was capable of generating distinct levels that are as immersive as levels manually designed. Moreover, the cache approach handled properly the noise in the fitness calculations, allowing a correct elitist evolution.

Online shopping has become an important part of people’s daily life with the rapid development of e-commerce. In some domains such as books, electronics, and CD/DVDs, online shopping has surpassed or even replaced the traditional shopping method. Compared with traditional retailing, e-commerce is information intensive. One of the key factors to succeed in e-business is how to facilitate the consumers’ approaches to discover a product. Conventionally a product search engine based on a keyword search or category browser is provided to help users find the product information they need. The general goal of a product search system is to enable users to quickly locate information of interest and to minimize users’ efforts in search and navigation. In this process human factors play a significant role. Finding product information could be a tricky task and may require an intelligent use of search engines, and a non-trivial navigation of multilayer categories. Searching for useful product information can be frustrating for many users, especially those inexperienced users. This dissertation focuses on developing a new visual product search system that effectively extracts the properties of unstructured products, and presents the possible items of attraction to users so that the users can quickly locate the ones they would be most likely interested in. We designed and developed a feature extraction algorithm that retains product color and local pattern features, and the experimental evaluation on the benchmark dataset demonstrated that it is robust against common geometric and photometric visual distortions. Besides, instead of ignoring product text information, we investigated and developed a ranking model learned via a unified probabilistic hypergraph that is capable of capturing correlations among product visual content and textual content. Moreover, we proposed and designed a fuzzy hierarchical co-clustering algorithm for the collaborative filtering product recommendation. Via this method, users can be automatically grouped into different interest communities based on their behaviors. Then, a customized recommendation can be performed according to these implicitly detected relations. In summary, the developed search system performs much better in a visual unstructured product search when compared with state-of-art approaches. With the comprehensive ranking scheme and the collaborative filtering recommendation module, the user’s overhead in locating the information of value is reduced, and the user’s experience of seeking for useful product information is optimized.

Os jogos baseados na localização possibilitam o desenvolvimento de narrativas e experiências emlocais específicos. Como tal, estão muitas vezes limitados pela área geográfica para a qual foramdesenvolvidos. Através de técnicas de geração procedimental de conteúdos é possível adaptar asmecânicas de jogo definidas a outros locais.O principal objectivo desta dissertação é criar uma ferramenta que permita a geração de ummodelo da localização actual do utilizador, através da utilização de informação geográfica. Ainformação sobre a localização é integrada em agentes, sendo utilizadas técnicas de Geração Pro-cedimental de Conteúdos para gerar os componentes. A usabilidade e um possível impacto do usoda aplicação em turismo serão estudados.
Location-based games are games where the physical position of the player has influence on thegameplay. Most of these games are currently developed with a specific location in mind, so asto provide the user with a more immersive experience. Thus, procedural content generation haspotential to be of great value to this type of games, as they can be extended to arbitrary locationsin a less labor-intensive fashion.The main goal of this dissertation is to create a tool that is able to generate a model of thecurrent location based on geographical data. Non-player characters containing knowledge of thelocation are used to interact with the player. Procedural Content Generation techniques will beused to generate the components, and a possible impact of the use of this tool for tourism purposeswill be studied.

A geração procedimental é algo ainda recente no mundo académico, que se entende como a criação de conteúdos automaticamente via algoritmos. Há várias razões para o desenvolvimento desta técnica, mas a principal é a redução da memória consumida, pois os algoritmos de geração procedimentais são capazes de gerar conteúdo em massa, ocupando ordens de magnitude menores em disco. Este procedimento é, normalmente, utilizado em jogos para gerar níveis, mapas, vegetação, missões, sendo menos comum para gerar ou alterar o motor de jogo ou o comportamento de NPCs (Non-Player Character). Apesar de a maioria dos jogos possuírem música, é frequente este elemento apenas servir como suporte ao jogo e ajudar a criar o ambiente necessário. Os jogos que utilizam a música como fonte de informação para criar conteúdo jogável ainda são raros e mesmo nestes o conteúdo gerado é, muitas vezes, gerado previamente e estático. Nesse sentido, novos jogos têm vindo a diferenciar-se neste processo, nos quais a música escolhida irá gerar conteúdos automaticamente e de forma diversa. O objetivo desta dissertação é desenvolver um jogo, de forma completamente procedimental a partir de segmentos de música, com o intuito de ser possível diferenciar de forma significativa os diferentes níveis criados e ser capaz de tirar conclusões referentes à utilização de música como gerador procedimental de conteúdos. Jogo este que será composto por missões de stealth onde é necessário ao jogador atravessar todo o nível com os recursos que encontrar e sem ser visto/apanhado pelos inimigos. O jogo consistirá, então, em receber uma música ou segmento de música como input e através de uma análise individual poder recolher algumas características importantes que o irão distinguir de outros. Após este processo, cada nível será criado consoante estes, permitindo diversidade em cada missão, principalmente de forma a condicionar o modo como esta será jogada.
The generation of content procedurally is still something that is emerging in the academic studies, and it is understood as the creation of content automatically, through algorithmic means. There are many reasons to develop this technic, but, mainly, it is used to decrease the memory used for this matter, as this algorithms can continuosly create great amount of content, using lesser space in disk. This procedure is already used in games to create different levels, maps, missions or, less common, to change the game engine or the NPCs (Non-Player Character) behaviour.Even though most games already use music, it is mostly used as a way of supporting the game and create all the needed environment to enhance the user experience. Games that use music as an input source to create playable content are still rare and, commonly, they have their content generated before and in a static way. Naturally, new games are becoming popular in this process by using the chosen songs to generate different content automatically.The goal of this disseration is to develop a game, in a complete procedural way, through music segments, so it would be possible to distinguish significantly different levels, as well as being able to create an opinion about the usage of music as a procedural content generation. This game will be consisted in different stealth missions where the player has to cross the entire level using the available resources in order to not being seen/caught by the enemies. So, the game will receive a music or a segment of it as an input and through a unique analysys it will collect some important features that will allow each segment to be different. After this process, each level will be generated following these features, allowing it to create diversity in each mission, mainly to change the way the game is meant to be played.

A geração procedimental é algo ainda recente no mundo académico, que se entende como a criação de conteúdos automaticamente via algoritmos. Há várias razões para o desenvolvimento desta técnica, mas a principal é a redução da memória consumida, pois os algoritmos de geração procedimentais são capazes de gerar conteúdo em massa, ocupando ordens de magnitude menores em disco. Este procedimento é, normalmente, utilizado em jogos para gerar níveis, mapas, vegetação, missões, sendo menos comum para gerar ou alterar o motor de jogo ou o comportamento de NPCs (Non-Player Character). Apesar de a maioria dos jogos possuírem música, é frequente este elemento apenas servir como suporte ao jogo e ajudar a criar o ambiente necessário. Os jogos que utilizam a música como fonte de informação para criar conteúdo jogável ainda são raros e mesmo nestes o conteúdo gerado é, muitas vezes, gerado previamente e estático. Nesse sentido, novos jogos têm vindo a diferenciar-se neste processo, nos quais a música escolhida irá gerar conteúdos automaticamente e de forma diversa. O objetivo desta dissertação é desenvolver um jogo, de forma completamente procedimental a partir de segmentos de música, com o intuito de ser possível diferenciar de forma significativa os diferentes níveis criados e ser capaz de tirar conclusões referentes à utilização de música como gerador procedimental de conteúdos. Jogo este que será composto por missões de stealth onde é necessário ao jogador atravessar todo o nível com os recursos que encontrar e sem ser visto/apanhado pelos inimigos. O jogo consistirá, então, em receber uma música ou segmento de música como input e através de uma análise individual poder recolher algumas características importantes que o irão distinguir de outros. Após este processo, cada nível será criado consoante estes, permitindo diversidade em cada missão, principalmente de forma a condicionar o modo como esta será jogada.
The generation of content procedurally is still something that is emerging in the academic studies, and it is understood as the creation of content automatically, through algorithmic means. There are many reasons to develop this technic, but, mainly, it is used to decrease the memory used for this matter, as this algorithms can continuosly create great amount of content, using lesser space in disk. This procedure is already used in games to create different levels, maps, missions or, less common, to change the game engine or the NPCs (Non-Player Character) behaviour.Even though most games already use music, it is mostly used as a way of supporting the game and create all the needed environment to enhance the user experience. Games that use music as an input source to create playable content are still rare and, commonly, they have their content generated before and in a static way. Naturally, new games are becoming popular in this process by using the chosen songs to generate different content automatically.The goal of this disseration is to develop a game, in a complete procedural way, through music segments, so it would be possible to distinguish significantly different levels, as well as being able to create an opinion about the usage of music as a procedural content generation. This game will be consisted in different stealth missions where the player has to cross the entire level using the available resources in order to not being seen/caught by the enemies. So, the game will receive a music or a segment of it as an input and through a unique analysys it will collect some important features that will allow each segment to be different. After this process, each level will be generated following these features, allowing it to create diversity in each mission, mainly to change the way the game is meant to be played.

Os jogos baseados na localização possibilitam o desenvolvimento de narrativas e experiências emlocais específicos. Como tal, estão muitas vezes limitados pela área geográfica para a qual foramdesenvolvidos. Através de técnicas de geração procedimental de conteúdos é possível adaptar asmecânicas de jogo definidas a outros locais.O principal objectivo desta dissertação é criar uma ferramenta que permita a geração de ummodelo da localização actual do utilizador, através da utilização de informação geográfica. Ainformação sobre a localização é integrada em agentes, sendo utilizadas técnicas de Geração Pro-cedimental de Conteúdos para gerar os componentes. A usabilidade e um possível impacto do usoda aplicação em turismo serão estudados.
Location-based games are games where the physical position of the player has influence on thegameplay. Most of these games are currently developed with a specific location in mind, so asto provide the user with a more immersive experience. Thus, procedural content generation haspotential to be of great value to this type of games, as they can be extended to arbitrary locationsin a less labor-intensive fashion.The main goal of this dissertation is to create a tool that is able to generate a model of thecurrent location based on geographical data. Non-player characters containing knowledge of thelocation are used to interact with the player. Procedural Content Generation techniques will beused to generate the components, and a possible impact of the use of this tool for tourism purposeswill be studied.

碩士
國立臺灣科技大學
資訊工程系
107
The digital content such as games, movies and cultural creations based on ancient Chinese literature and history, requires a large number of Chinese-style buildings and scenes. The structure of Chinese-style buildings is complex with polygons count much higher than European and modern buildings. In this research, we propose procedural techniques to generate Chinese-style buildings, towns and scenes flexibly and efficiently. In this paper, we develop a Chinese-style building construction system that allows users to quickly create Chinese-style buildings by manipulating parameters associated with template models such as Tented Roof, Hip Roof, Hip-and-gable roof, Mansard roof, and Gable Roof. And a Chinese town could be arranged by compiling these buildings. Each level of the building is divided into three parts: roof, body and platform. A novel three edges representation is proposed to draw the roof of the Chinese-style building, and then user adjusts the parameters of pillars to construct walls or gates between the pillars and generate the length, width and height of the body and platform. As experimental results show, our approcah could model almost all types of Chinese-style buildings. And, with parallax mapping, tessellation, and LOD techniques applied, our method can provide interactive frame rate for large amount of Chinese town with hundred of feature buildings.