This book is based on the presentations at the Third Workshop on Games in Production Management, The Effects of Games on Developing Production Management, held in Espoo, Finland, June 27-29, 1997. The workshop was organized by the Special Interest Group on Games of IFIP Working Group 5.7, which is coordinated by Professor Jens Riis. The Special Interest Group aims to enhance learning in production management in academia and in industry, through the development, application and research of simulation games. Currently, the Special Interest Group is developing a catalogue of games in production management, which will be available on the Internet. The two previous workshops of the Special Interest Group were held in Aalborg and in Sf/lnderborg, and a workshop and exhibition of simulation games was arranged in connection with the APMS '96 Conference in Kyoto in November 1996. In these workshops, various simulation games have been presented, experimented, and discussed, and experiences exchanged. As a result, a network of researchers and teachers interested in games has been created. The third workshop with participants from ten countries further expanded and strengthened the network, and created ideas for potential joint research projects in simulation for learning in production management. The workshop was sponsored by the IFIP Working Group 5.7 on Computer Aided Production Management Systems, Helsinki University of Technology, the Finnish Graduate School of Industrial Management, and the City of Espoo, which we gratefully acknowledge.

This book is based on the presentations at the Third Workshop on Games in Production Management, The Effects of Games on Developing Production Management, held in Espoo, Finland, June 27-29, 1997. The workshop was organized by the Special Interest Group on Games of IFIP Working Group 5.7, which is coordinated by Professor Jens Riis. The Special Interest Group aims to enhance learning in production management in academia and in industry, through the development, application and research of simulation games. Currently, the Special Interest Group is developing a catalogue of games in production management, which will be available on the Internet. The two previous workshops of the Special Interest Group were held in Aalborg and in Sf/lnderborg, and a workshop and exhibition of simulation games was arranged in connection with the APMS '96 Conference in Kyoto in November 1996. In these workshops, various simulation games have been presented, experimented, and discussed, and experiences exchanged. As a result, a network of researchers and teachers interested in games has been created. The third workshop with participants from ten countries further expanded and strengthened the network, and created ideas for potential joint research projects in simulation for learning in production management. The workshop was sponsored by the IFIP Working Group 5.7 on Computer Aided Production Management Systems, Helsinki University of Technology, the Finnish Graduate School of Industrial Management, and the City of Espoo, which we gratefully acknowledge.

The essential guide to solving algorithmic and networking problems in commercial computer games, revised and extended Algorithms and Networking for Computer Games, Second Edition is written from the perspective of the computer scientist. Combining algorithmic knowledge and game-related problems, it explores the most common problems encountered in game programing. The first part of the book presents practical algorithms for solving classical topics, such as random numbers, procedural generation, tournaments, group formations and game trees. The authors also focus on how to find a path in, create the terrain of, and make decisions in the game world. The second part introduces networking related problems in computer games, focusing on four key questions: how to hide the inherent communication delay, how to best exploit limited network resources, how to cope with cheating and how to measure the on-line game data. Thoroughly revised, updated, and expanded to reflect the many constituent changes occurring in the commercial gaming industry since the original, this Second Edition, like the first, is a timely, comprehensive resource offering deeper algorithmic insight and more extensive coverage of game-specific networking problems than ordinarily encountered in game development books. Algorithms and Networking for Computer Games, Second Edition: * Provides algorithmic solutions in pseudo-code format, which emphasises the idea behind the solution, and can easily be written into a programming language of choice * Features a section on the Synthetic player, covering decision-making, influence maps, finite-state machines, flocking, fuzzy sets, and probabilistic reasoning and noise generation * Contains in-depth treatment of network communication, including dead-reckoning, local perception filters, cheating prevention and on-line metrics * Now includes 73 ready-to-use algorithms and 247 illustrative exercises Algorithms and Networking for Computer Games, Second Edition is a must-have resource for advanced undergraduate and graduate students taking computer game related courses, postgraduate researchers in game-related topics, and developers interested in deepening their knowledge of the theoretical underpinnings of computer games and in learning new approaches to game design and programming.

HANDBOOK ON INTERACTIVE STORYTELLING Discover the latest research on crafting compelling narratives in interactive entertainment Electronic games are no longer considered "mere fluff" alongside the "real" forms of entertainment, like film, music, and television. Instead, many games have evolved into an art form in their own right, including carefully constructed stories and engaging narratives enjoyed by millions of people around the world. In Handbook on Interactive Storytelling, readers will find a comprehensive discussion of the latest research covering the creation of interactive narratives that allow users to experience a dramatically compelling story that responds directly to their actions and choices. Systematically organized, with extensive bibliographies and academic exercises included in each chapter, the book offers readers new perspectives on existing research and fresh avenues ripe for further study. In-depth case studies explore the challenges involved in crafting a narrative that comprises one of the main features of the gaming experience, regardless of the technical aspects of a game's production. Readers will also enjoy: A thorough introduction to interactive storytelling, including discussions of narrative, plot, story, interaction, and a history of the phenomenon, from improvisational theory to role-playing games A rigorous discussion of the background of storytelling, from Aristotle's Poetics to Joseph Campbell and the hero's journey Compelling explorations of different perspectives in the interactive storytelling space, including different platforms, designers, and interactors, as well as an explanation of storyworlds Perfect for game designers, developers, game and narrative researchers, academics, undergraduate and graduate students studying storytelling, game design, gamification, and multimedia systems, Handbook on Interactive Storytelling is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the deployment of compelling narratives in an interactive context.