Apex Utility AI

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1

Apex Utility AI - RELEASED

2 versions available
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Survival Shooter full project download for free at https://www.assetstore.unity3d.com/#!/content/57846

Apex Utility AI is an advanced hierarchical scoring-based artificial intelligence (AI) framework for computer games. The AI is capable of advanced abstract reasoning using simple scoring functions to evaluate complex situations. Unlike other technologies such as Behavior Trees and Finite State Machines, the AI allows for much simpler design, easier debugging, and better handling of unforeseen scenarios. The principles of the AI have been used in some of the best AIs in games, including titles such as Killzone and F.E.A.R.

  • High performance
    Apex Utility AI ships as a high performance, load balanced, zero GC alloc AI foundation, that can be used directly inside the Unity editor and can be extended with templates for many game genres.

  • Extendable using C#
    Apex Utility AI is extendable using C#, with industry-standard documentation, scripting guides, API and extension points.

  • Saving countless hours for AI developers
    Apex Utility AI is supported by game AI frameworks from Apex, saving countless hours for AI developers and allow focus on making great AI.

  • Built-in Editor that is simple
    The Apex Utility AI has a built-in Editor that is simple, powerful, and intuitive, and allows for in-scene runtime visual debugging.

How does it work?
The Apex Utility AI works by making several decisions possible to the agent, and then scoring each potential decision. The Utility AI then selects the high scoring decision and has the AI perform the action associated with this decision.

An example of how the Apex Utility AI works could be to evaluate whether the agent should attack, take cover or load his weapon. In a simple scenario, this might be solved by an if-then statement, such as if the enemy is visible then shoot. However, what happens when there are multiple conditions to take into account such as whether the weapon is loaded, how many enemies there are, and whether we are hurt, and need to take cover? In these complex scenarios, the number of conditions and the potential interactions between them might become so complex that we cannot plan for all scenarios. Furthermore, as the game development processes, we need to be able to extend our AI design, without having to redesign it every time.

Apex Utility AI – Editor
The Apex Utility AI comes with an advanced editor that works inside the Unity editor. The editor provides one interface to handle all Utility AIs and is loaded with advanced features. The editors allows you to visually connect different utility decision points in a hierarchy, and make advanced decision sequences and decision trees.

This can be used for both simple and complex AIs, and is packed with features including different selection algorithms, connecting to other AIs, and visual runtime debugging, with support for breakpoints.

Apex Utility AI Main features

  • Advanced multipurpose utility AI
  • Plug-and-play
  • Tactical reasoning
  • Parallel and hierarchical configurations
  • Capable of creating very simple behaviour fast and very advanced behaviour when needed
  • High-performance
  • Low memory footprint
  • Zero garbage collection
  • C# programming language
  • Modularized and high reusability of configurations
  • Can easily be extended by developers
  • Easy to debug
  • Easy to test
  • High controllability
  • Powerful Mecanim-style editor
  • Custom inspector editors
  • Serialization for save / load for persistence
  • Load balanced
  • Seamless integration with Apex AI products
  • Supported by future Apex game-specific AI releases

You can find more information at: http://apexgametools.com/products/apex-utility-ai/

If you like to get notified as soon as Apex Utility AI is released just signup at the form on the page.

Tutorials
Survival Shooter

Apex Game Tools
Team

4 Likes
2

This is really great

I’m just wondering…

This is just one package? or there are several product?

I hope a more detailed explanation

3

Hi

Thanks for your reply.

This is just a heads up and to tell what we are working on!
It is one package containing a framework that support many use cases, of course we are have a lot more detailed description as soon as we release.

Apex Game Tools
Team

4

I read an article on your website

There are so many features

Can I see it in February?

If so, it is really surprising,

1 Like
5

Lots of interesting things covered. I’m looking forward to it. Is this anything to do with Utility Theory AI that Dave Mark has written about?

6

In February we are releasing version 1.0, it will contain the Utility AI framework with the framework you will be able to implement all listed features quite easy, we will of course provide tutorials, scripting guides etc. to speed up you development! and soon after we will start releasing behaviours, configurations etc.

Apex Game Tools
Team

1 Like
7

Is there any news? February is just around the corner

8

Yes - it is shipping soon!

We are really excited about this release as it has been long in the works, with many prototypes and real game implementations to make sure we target key features for artificial intelligence in games. Our hope it that it will be part of making ground-breaking changes in artificial intelligence for games. We have worked hard to target many of the key challenges with existing technologies, to make a powerful and yet very efficient AI framework.

Some highlights are:

  • The Apex Utility AI ships as a high performance, load balanced, zero GC alloc AI foundation, that can be used directly inside the Unity editor and can be extended with templates for many game genres.
  • The Apex Utility AI is extendable using C#, with industry-standard documentation, scripting guides, API and extension points.
  • The Apex Utility AI is supported by game AI frameworks from Apex, saving countless hours for AI developers and allow focus on making great AI.
  • The Apex Utility AI has a built-in Editor that is simple, powerful, and intuitive, and allows for in-scene runtime visual debugging.

So thank you for your patience. As always, at Apex we strive to deliver products of professional quality. We sincerely hope the waiting time will be worth it for all our supporters.

/The Apex Team

1 Like
9

thank you very much

it’s great… I think Apex Utility AI is game changer…

I have two question

It is optimized for the mobile ?

and When is the exact release date?

10

Hi Dreamer,

The AI foundation is very efficient, so mobile is not a problem. The AI can be run outside the Unity loop, can be multi-threaded, has close to zero garbage collection etc. There are even some utilities for avoiding garbage collection in custom behaviors. The actual AI behaviors are customizable, so the CPU load will depend on the implementation you want for your game. If you have specific needs, let us know, then we can provide best practices.

Release date is February - we will come back with the exact date shortly. We are working on the last refinements as well as producing tutorials and code-examples for the above-mentioned functionality. So what is currently holding the release back is that we want to ship as complete a product as possible.

/The Apex Team

1 Like
11

I read an updated version article on your website about Apex Utility AI
It is really amazing and wonderful

I know you have plan to making Add on

  • First-person shooter AI framework
  • Real-time strategy framework
  • Role-playing game framework

In addition to the genre-specific frameworks, specific add-ons are planned, including:

  • Dynamic dialogue module
  • Dynamic missions module
  • Personality module
  • Tactical reasoning

I really would like to know…

When are you going to release strategy framework and Role-playing game framework

I would like to know about the ETA…

It seemed to me that the framework is attractive

12

Main post updated with the latest description and info!

Let us know what you think!

13

will this intergrate with your other tool in anyway? or is it standalone?

14

I’ve read it already in your web page
This is really amazing and awesome
You are great man

I have one thing to worry about

You promised Add - On Real-time strategy framework, Role-playing game framework… Dynamic dialogue module, Dynamic missions module, Personality module, Tactical reasoning

When will it be released?

I’ll wait for add on packs
I would buy the product. After Add-On Pack is released…

Please…

Add-On Pack should be released soon

I would like to know about the ETA… Add-On Pack

15

@ thedreamer

Beyond the sample behaviors, we plan to release the AI with an integrated behavior example for a third person & first person AI. The sample behaviors include a number of RPG related behaviors, such as dialogue, desires, tactical positioning, long-term memory, and squad-based coordination.

We are currently working on an RTS AI as well, but we don’t know whether this will be ready for release. Otherwise it will be added in an update.

ETA is still February.

16

@frekiidoochman

The Apex Utility AI can be used as stand-alone, and integrates with other Apex products. There are special behaviors that work out-of-the box with other Apex products, and can be used as templates for custom behaviors to our other products.

17

I think You should read this article

http://blogs.unity3d.com/2016/02/09/launching-a-successfull-product-on-the-asset-store/

You are making great product. But No one does not have an interest in your product without me
This was something wrong
I hope that the product is to be successful

I Know.. More selling More supporting More updating

It requires efforts to sell products
I think you should provide video and web demo
Only text does not give the impression to someone

18

Looking forward to this. Are your utility curves based or inspired by prior AI work? Your described method (at least superficially) reminds me of some of the utility theory lectures I’ve seen by Dave Mark.

Bullet points are nice, but I’d like to dig a little deeper into the AI theory behind your system to get to know it better.

Keep up the awesome work guys! My team loves your existing products.

19

@ thedreamer

Thank you for the link. You are right → this is something we are keen on. We probably come from a different tradition, where you scope with a few beta clients, and then develop prototypes internally, before you launch an almost complete product. Although we have done presentations at game jams, discussed the product with several game studios, held workshops, worked with experts and academics etc. But this is still more corporate-style and indie-style.

However, what we have not been good at, it to make a really good community-based development process. I have take note, and I hope we can do that for the add-ons / follow-ups to the Utility AI, as well as for future products.

2 Likes
20

We are working on using JSON instead of XML to reduce the size of stored AIs to the absolute minimum and improve cross-platform compatibility, thus, we have to postpone the release date to mid-March. However, we still hope to start releasing information over the coming days on the Apex site, as well as in this thread.

http://apexgametools.com/products/apex-utility-ai/

Thank you all for your patience.

/The Apex Team

1 Like