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Developing StarCraft 2 Build Orders With Genetic Algorithms

Posted by Soulskill on from the nerd-intersection dept.

Jamie recommends a blog post from software engineer Louis Brandy explaining how using genetic algorithms to evaluate build orders in StarCraft 2 has led to some surprisingly powerful results. Quoting: "One of the reasons build-order optimization is so important is that you can discover openings that 'hard-counter' other openings. If I can get an army of N size into your base when you do opening X, you will always lose. ... a genetic algorithm is a type of optimization algorithm that tries to find optimal solutions using a method analogous to biologic evolution (to be specific: descent with modification & natural selection). Put simply, you take a 'population' of initial build orders, evaluate them for fitness, and modify the population according to each element’s fitness. In other words, have the most successful reproduce. The program’s input is simply the desired game state. In practice, this means 'make N units' to determine some rush build order (but it also allows for other types of builds, like make N workers with some defensive structures and a small army)."

3 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. Does anyone find Slashdot usefull anymore? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    SO many times have I responded with Industry insight, and I've been modded into oblivion by Editors and Moderators for initially sounding Draconian. For instance, a new moderation system was introduced whereas I can no longer read comments at -1 just so I catch other commentary that might not be trollish. I find this absolutely a failure of Slashdot as a Nerd Icon. I full-well recognize with my own eyes those Commentaries that have fraudulent content and meritless facts and I don't need someone's moderative pre-suppositions trying to hide that from me.

    FIX SLASHDOT. Remove the Moderation SYSTEM.

    Besides this, StarCraft has no class: it's like a College-student's class about Game Programming. They don't need to be efficient to capture the imagination of someone because with limitless performance it has all fruited into an inefficient scripting-language to move smoke and mirrors around on behalf of the magician to wherever the psychologists think will entertain the young audiences the most for highest yield of recurring billing.

    1. Re:Does anyone find Slashdot usefull anymore? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Thanks for your support, Jeebs. You sure are a swell guy! I'm a...little short...tonight. How about some unmoderation on my original post huh? Thanks, you're a swell guy! Excuse me, I have to get to the men's room.

      >>Thanks for responding to Jack and getting a Score of 2.

      >>Thanks to you, I read Jack's post, and I found it hilarious.

  2. Mass reproduction by hesaigo999ca · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    >have the most successful reproduce
    This is why humans are the most successful reproducing species on the planet....not only do we reproduce like rabbits, but we also mame all other species in our areas (by building over their habitats) thereby giving us no real competitors for our resources.
    If we were to encounter an alien race, I wonder if we would really be the top on the food chain....

    Many people that have discussed my love for animals think I am over exaggerating my point of view sometimes...some even argued that because man was intelligent (and that dogs were not) men had more right to live then dogs.... I tend to disagree, I believe it is the one with the least negative impact on its environment that has more right to live, and unfortunately , this would make us first in line
    to die as a species.