Description: General Game Playing
A General Game Playing (GGP) System is one that can accept a formal
description of a game and play the game effectively without human intervention.
Unlike specialized game players, such as Deep Blue, GGP systems cannot rely on
algorithms designed in advance for specific games. GGP expertise depends on
intelligence on the part of the game player and not just intelligence on the
part of the programmer of the game player. For this reason, GGP is a good area
in which to develop and demonstrate Aritificial Intelligence techniques
(such as knowledge representation, reasoning, planning, learning, and rational
decision making).
This course is a hands-on introduction to GGP and, by extension, Artificial
Intelligence. Theoretical background is provided through lectures and readings,
but the main pedagogical value of the course derives from the students' work in
using this theory to create GGP systems to compete with each other and in
external competitions against other GGP systems.
Prerequisites:
CS103 or equivalent recommended but not required. Programming expertise
essential.
Assignments
There will be weekly assignments, the majority of which will be programming
projects. Over the course of the quarter you will build a general game playing
system. There will be a final competition among all players. Throughout the
quarter, there will be occasional smaller just-for-fun competitions opposing
GGP players, or even a GGP player and a human.
Class Time and Location:
Wednesday 4:15-6:05, Gates 2A Open Space.
Grade requirements:
Weekly assignments and performance in final contest.
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