Reactive Formation-Based Armies for Games

Author: Jethro Muller

Introduction

These two programs were produced as part of an undergraduate research course. My topic was the extension of Craig Reynold's Boids algorithm to be used to control formations in strategy games.

To do this I used the force-accumulator and weighted average systems used in his flocking algorithms and used them as the basis for the unit movement. The unit movement was also largely based on the flocking.

An additional layer was added to the mix in the form of a formation object to control and manage the formation. The unit's movements are all still behaviour based, however, where precisely they go is determined by the formation as it controls the waypoints they head towards.

Installation

To run this, all you will need to do is install pygame.
apt-get install pygame

Instructions

• Formation Maker:

  • Run: python ./formation_designer.py
  • Left Click (1st time) place the center point of the formation.
  • Left Click (2nd time) place the direction point of the formation.
  • Left Click (nth time) place a unit.
  • Esc to quit.
  • CTRL-S to save the formation.
  • CTRL-O to open and edit a formation.

• Simulation:

  • Run: python ./main.py
  • CTRL-O to open a formation file.
  • Esc to quit.
  • R to reset the simluator.
  • Right Click give the formation a move command.
  • Left Click (1st time) set the start point of an enemy.
  • Left Click (2nd time) set the end of the enemies path and spawn it.