Training AI to Solve Puzzles

<a href="https://substack.com/profile/103011709-tommy-thompson" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tommy</a> is joined by three of the developers behind ‘Little Learning Machines’: a puzzle game that entrusts players with teaching AI agents called Animos to solve puzzles in a variety of idyllic environments.With a huge content update coming on September 5th to Steam, Tommy sits down with art director Nick Counter, technical lead Dante Camarena and community manager Fiona Firby from Transitional Forms to discuss the game and the year as they transition from early access to full launch, plus winning awards, delivering talks at GDC, and some of the other work they're up to as well! Little Learning Machines is available right now on Steam, with a free update coming September 5th:https://store.steampowered.com/app/1993710/Little_Learning_Machines/ Catch the video version of this podcast on<a href="https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCFiZI2f2E43t3KERLew_TBg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;@AIandGamesPlus&nbsp;</a>https://youtu.be/pG7-ubbNZFI Find out more about Little Learning Machines via the links below.Website: https://www.transforms.ai/little-learning-machinesLearning Companion (PDF): https://www.transforms.ai/learningGDC Postmortem Talk: https://gdcvault.com/play/1034597/AI-Summit-Little-Learning-Machines -- Check out all of our content:AI and Games on Substack with new content weekly: http://www.aiandgames.comAI and Games: http://www.youtube.com/@AIandGamesAI and Games Plus: http://www.youtube.com/@AIandGamesPlusBranching Factor Podcast: https://shows.acast.com/branchingfactorLivestreams on Twitch: http://www.twitch.tv/aiandgames

#024 - Digging into Little Learning Machines

Building Minecraft Settlements with AI

Tommy is joined by Dr Christoph Salge and Victoire Herve from the University of Hertfordshire to talk about the 7th annual Generative Design in Minecraft Competition - an event where participants write AI systems to build settlements in Minecraft. We discuss how the project has continued to grow and persist for this long, the community that has thrived around it, and the big challenges still left to face in Minecraft settlement generation. Find out more about the GDMC by visiting:https://gendesignmc.wikidot.com/wiki:2024-settlement-generation-competition -- Check out all of our content:AI and Games on Substack with new content weekly: http://www.aiandgames.comAI and Games: http://www.youtube.com/@AIandGamesAI and Games Plus: http://www.youtube.com/@AIandGamesPlusBranching Factor Podcast: https://shows.acast.com/branchingfactorLivestreams on Twitch: http://www.twitch.tv/aiandgames

#023 - The 2024 GDMC Competition

The AI and Game Conference 2024 is on November 8th in London 

After a summer hiatus the Branching Factor podcast is back! Sorry, I don't think we mentioned we were going talking a break, but hey - here we are!Tommy fills you in on his travels, the work he's been up to, the stack of episodes we have coming up with some guests. But critically Tommy and George sit down to talk about an event they've put together with a group of friends and colleagues: the 2024 AI and Games Conference! Let's get into the origins of it, how we've set it up, why we think it's needed and more. Find out more about the event and grab tickets at:http://www.aiandgamesconference.com Plus read up on the origins and particulars of the event on Substack:https://www.aiandgames.com/p/introducing-the-ai-and-games-conference -- Check out all of our content: AI and Games on Substack with new content weekly: http://www.aiandgames.comAI and Games: http://www.youtube.com/@AIandGamesAI and Games Plus: http://www.youtube.com/@AIandGamesPlusBranching Factor Podcast: https://shows.acast.com/branchingfactorLivestreams on Twitch: http://www.twitch.tv/aiandgames

#022 - We Made a Conference!?!

Last week Tommy announced his new project 'Goal State', a series of online courses designed to teach people about AI for video games. It's going live on Kickstarter later this year, Here's Tommy replaying the livestream QnA hosted last week that answered as many answers as he could on the subject at this time. Follow 'Goal State' on Kickstarter at:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aiandgames/goalstate You can find out more about Goal State at:https://www.aiandgames.com/p/introducing-goal-state The Branching Factor podcast is sponsored by <a href="http://www.modl.ai/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">modl.ai</a>: unleash an army of AI and ML bots that play, grow, and learn― all inside your game. With millions of players’ to your aid, game testing will never be the same again.With over 5,000 subscribers across our Substack and LinkedIn audiences, plus of course a YouTube audience of over 200K, now is a great time to consider sponsoring the Branching Factor podcast. Visit our sponsorship page for more details.

#021 - Goal State Announcement Q'n'A

Co-host <a href="https://twitter.com/quangdx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Quang Nguyen</a> returns to Branching Factor as Tommy welcomes long-time friend of the show <a href="https://twitter.com/Jupiter_Hadley" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jupiter Hadley</a> to come and chat with us. Quang and Jupiter are two of the organisers behind ‘Brilliant Indie Treasures’: a games event running this summer on July 10th during the Develop conference in the British seaside town of Brighton. You can find out more about the event itself, plus how to submit your own game or provide sponsorship at: <a href="https://brilliantindietreasures.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://brilliantindietreasures.com/</a> The Branching Factor podcast is sponsored by <a href="http://www.modl.ai" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">modl.ai</a>: unleash an army of AI and ML bots that play, grow, and learn― all inside your game. With millions of players’ to your aid, game testing will never be the same again.With over 5,000 subscribers across our Substack and LinkedIn audiences, plus of course a YouTube audience of over 200K, now is a great time to consider sponsoring the Branching Factor podcast. Visit our sponsorship page for more details.

#020 - Searching for Brilliant Indie Treasures with Quang and Jupiter Hadley

The horror roguelike comes to Steam on May 22nd

In this episode Tommy sits down with Mark Drew, the director of Villainous Game studios. Their next title, Harvest Hunt, launches on Steam on May 22nd. We get into our shared history, my accent, making sure you survive your first indie game, the lessons learned from shipping anything&nbsp;to Steam, building a scalable game with a small team, and the benefits of having a publisher in those closing stages. Check out the store page for Harvest Hunt on Steam:<a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2009620/Harvest_Hunt/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://store.steampowered.com/app/2009620/Harvest_Hunt/</a> -- The Branching Factor podcast is sponsored by <a href="http://www.modl.ai/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">modl.ai</a>: unleash an army of AI and ML bots that play, grow, and learn― all inside your game. With millions of players’ to your aid, game testing will never be the same again. With over 5,000 subscribers across our Substack and LinkedIn audiences, plus of course a YouTube audience of over 200K, now is a great time to consider sponsoring the Branching Factor podcast. Visit our <a href="https://www.passionfroot.me/aiandgames" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sponsorship page</a> for more details.

#019 - On the Harvest Hunt with Mark Drew

In this episode Tommy is joined by longtime friend Melissa Phillips, who is now the director of the Games Leadership Network: a a non-profit organisation that aims to promote and improve leadership skills in the games industry. We dig into what it means to build leadership skills in games, why training is so vital and reflect on the projects we worked on together many years ago at Norwich Games Festival and the BAFTA YGD programme. You can find out more about Games Leadership at:https://www.gamesleadership.com/ -- The Branching Factor podcast is sponsored by <a href="http://www.modl.ai/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">modl.ai</a>: unleash an army of AI and ML bots that play, grow, and learn― all inside your game. With millions of players’ to your aid, game testing will never be the same again. With over 5,000 subscribers across our Substack and LinkedIn audiences, plus of course a YouTube audience of over 200K, now is a great time to consider sponsoring the Branching Factor podcast. Visit our <a href="https://www.passionfroot.me/aiandgames" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sponsorship page</a> for more details.

#018 Musings on Games Leadership with Melissa Phillips 

Surviving the Soulsborne of gaming events...

Tommy and George are back for this episode of Branching Factor, recorded on the final day of the 2024 Game Developers Conference (GDC). The team reflect on the week that has passed, and just how valuable a solid nights sleep can be when caught up in all this madness. -- The Branching Factor podcast is sponsored by <a href="http://www.modl.ai/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">modl.ai</a>: unleash an army of AI and ML bots that play, grow, and learn― all inside your game. With millions of players’ to your aid, game testing will never be the same again. With over 5,000 subscribers across our Substack and LinkedIn audiences, plus of course a YouTube audience of over 200K, now is a great time to consider sponsoring the Branching Factor podcast. Visit our <a href="https://www.passionfroot.me/aiandgames" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sponsorship page</a> for more details.

#017 - Tommy & George @GDC2024

The Viking Blonde joins us to discuss all things games

Will Overgard, aka the Viking Blonde joins Tommy for a chat about his career as a Twitch streamer supporting game developers, and the current state of the industry going into GDC 2024. The conversation covers everything from good indie games to monetisation models, surviving as a game developer, being a content creator, generative AI, crypto and Web3, EA' project 10 dollar, good dogs, British civility and much more besides! Catch up with what Will's up to over at: https://www.twitch.tv/viking_blonde The Branching Factor podcast is sponsored by <a href="http://www.modl.ai/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">modl.ai</a>: unleash an army of AI and ML bots that play, grow, and learn― all inside your game. With millions of players’ to your aid, game testing will never be the same again.

#016 - Legendary Chat with Will Overgard

Welcome to Branching Factor, a podcast about video games from people who play, develop and research video games.In each episode,&nbsp;join our host Dr. Tommy Thompson as he sits down with co-hosts Dr. Anne Sullivan, George Osborn, Dr. Mike Cook, and Quang as they explore the gaming world.Learn about how video games are made, the goings-on of the games industry, what academic research in games is all about, interviews with guests, and more! Branching Factor is brought to you by the AI and Games YouTube channel, watch episodes on AI and Games Plus, and become a Patron to support the show.Watch episodes of Branching Factor on YouTube:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.youtube.com/@AIandGamesPlus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/@AIandGamesPlus</a>Learn About AI and Games:<a href=" http://www.youtube.com/@AIandGames" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> http://www.youtube.com/@AIandGames</a>Become an AI and Games Patron: <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ai_and_games" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.patreon.com/ai_and_games</a>Follow&nbsp;AI and Games&nbsp;on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/aiandgames" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://mastodon.gamedev.place/@AIandGames" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mastodon </a>and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@aiandgames" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TikTok</a>

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