How I learned Pathfinding
About me
My name is Kevin. I have a BS in Video Game development from Full Sail University. One of my favorite classes is A.I. I recall bits and pieces of what I learned in school. Right now, I am refining what I know about pathfinding by creating a project and occasionally reading an AI book. In my path finding demo, there (at least for the moment) is a room. Inside the room is a coin, an NPC, and walls. The NPC seeks the coin. When he finds the coin, the demo ends.
Why I wanted to learn Pathfinding
I have found pathfinding interesting, and wish to learn more about it by applying what I know to this project. Plus, I figured by doing this, I would be able to help others learn how to create a pathfinding project and perhaps applying it to larger projects.
How I approached learning Pathfinding
My approach includes several steps. First, I noticed the quirks present in video games as well as a GPS device. Knowing how the quirks behave helps me visualize how I want my project to behave. Second, I recalled what I learned in school. Third, I built a project mostly from scratch. Mostly, because I am using the standard template library's vector.
Challenges I faced
The main roadblock preventing me from completing this project is not letting myself rest on my laurels. I always feel the need to add different obstacles to prevent the NPC from reaching the goal. Other than this, everything is preceding well.
Key takeaways
I enjoy relying on what I already know about programming and applying it to the project. It is very satisfying to see the NPC reach the coin.
Tips and advice
I would gladly recommend a handful of books on AI, or offer a helping hand to those willing to learn the hard way.
