1. Us vs. It

2. Tanks vs. Robot Turn-based Cooperative StrategyTurn-based Cooperative Strategy Tank players must destroy the Robot before it reaches the city limits.Tank players must destroy the Robot before it reaches the city limits. Robot is controlled by AI rules.Robot is controlled by AI rules.

3. The Robot Has 10 Hit PointsHas 10 Hit Points Actions:Actions: Move: 1 space forward Move: 1 space forward Turn: 90° towards target Turn: 90° towards target Laser Eye: Shoots straight forward Laser Eye: Shoots straight forward Fists: Attack all 8 adjacent spaces Fists: Attack all 8 adjacent spaces Self Destruct: Inflicts blast damage when destroyed.Self Destruct: Inflicts blast damage when destroyed.

4. The Tanks Have 4 Hit PointsHave 4 Hit Points Two Actions Per TurnTwo Actions Per Turn Move: 1 space forward Move: 1 space forward Turn: 90° left or right Turn: 90° left or right Shoot: straight forward Shoot: straight forward Stunned 1 turn when hitStunned 1 turn when hit Lose speed and guns when damagedLose speed and guns when damaged

5. The Battlefield Standard 8x8 checkerboardStandard 8x8 checkerboard Tanks and Robot start on opposite edgesTanks and Robot start on opposite edges Robot wants to move past far edgeRobot wants to move past far edge

6. Battle! Set up the game board.Set up the game board. Robot goes first:Robot goes first: Execute steps in order Execute steps in order Each step that triggers costs 1 action point Each step that triggers costs 1 action point Robot stops when: Robot stops when: out of action pointsout of action points after step 10.after step 10. When Robot finishes, all tanks move.When Robot finishes, all tanks move. Alternate Robot and Tanks until one side wins.Alternate Robot and Tanks until one side wins.

7. Comments?

8. Your Mission: Program the robot to maximize drama.Program the robot to maximize drama. What does that mean?What does that mean?

9. Your Mission: Program the robot to maximize drama.Program the robot to maximize drama. What does that mean?What does that mean? Inevitability Inevitability Uncertainty Uncertainty Dramatic Arc Dramatic Arc

10. Programming the Robot You can specify: Move TriggersMove Triggers Turn TargetsTurn Targets Laser Damage and TriggersLaser Damage and Triggers Fist Damage and TriggersFist Damage and Triggers Sequence of ActionsSequence of Actions Actions per Turn (action points)Actions per Turn (action points)

11. Iterate Towards Drama Fail faster!Fail faster! Try to get in many iterationsTry to get in many iterations Play complete gamesPlay complete games Archive your iterationsArchive your iterations

12. Keep Working… Work until 6:00Work until 6:00 Return to this room tomorrow.Return to this room tomorrow.

13. Welcome Back Keep tuning your robots.Keep tuning your robots. Achieve drama by 10:30Achieve drama by 10:30

14. Add a new feature AttackAttack WeaponWeapon RuleRule Dont ruin the drama.Dont ruin the drama. Dont change the tanks!Dont change the tanks!

15. Time for the Robot Battle! See how your Robot fares against others.See how your Robot fares against others. Robots look like Tanks to other RobotsRobots look like Tanks to other Robots Robots that cross their goal line warp to the opposite edge.Robots that cross their goal line warp to the opposite edge. Last robot standing wins.Last robot standing wins.

16. Results? Present your final programs.Present your final programs. Was there drama?Was there drama?

17. Discussion How does the drama manifest?How does the drama manifest? What creates uncertainty?What creates uncertainty? What creates inevitability?What creates inevitability? When does the climax occur?When does the climax occur?

18. Discussion What is the role of the Self Destruct mechanic?What is the role of the Self Destruct mechanic?

19. Discussion What new feature did you add?What new feature did you add? What was most dramatic?What was most dramatic?

20. Discussion Was the Robot battle dramatic?Was the Robot battle dramatic?

21. Discussion What aesthetic goals can AI serve?What aesthetic goals can AI serve?

22. Final Thoughts?