Automated systems have always been integral to digital games, but 21st century generative AI is fundamentally transforming how games are designed and played. This course explores the technical implementation and cultural impact of AI in games and game development. Students will examine traditional game AI techniques, such as pathfinding, behavior trees, procedural generation, and dynamic difficulty adjustment. Alongside emerging generative tools, students will build and use intelligent systems in Unity to profoundly shape player experience. This course will also establish critical frameworks for understanding how automated systems encode values in games. The blend of hands-on development and ethical analysis will encourage students to make informed decisions about when to utilize automated systems in their own designs and workflows.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 18

Prerequisites: One of (CS 221, CS 321, CS 220, CS 230)

Distribution Requirements: MM - Mathematical Modeling and Problem Solving

Typical Periods Offered: Spring

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Spring

Notes: