A useful list of AI middleware. Please provide URL, free/open-source or licenced, and brief description of abilites.
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*Package* (License)
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5\$\begingroup\$ I find it kind of sad that basically all AI middleware is pathfinding. \$\endgroup\$– Jari KomppaJan 27, 2011 at 9:38
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\$\begingroup\$ This is perfect timing, I just started a game project class this semester and my team is the "tools" team so we'll probably end up being the ones to write the bridge that integrates one of these into the game. :) \$\endgroup\$– RicketJan 27, 2011 at 13:40
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\$\begingroup\$ @Ricket forget middleware, you want to write it all yourself this one time, just so you know not to do it that way. :) \$\endgroup\$– tenpnJan 28, 2011 at 10:49
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\$\begingroup\$ Is this even a proper question? Apart from the fact that is too broad and any possible answer is heavily determined by personal opinion, this seems to me that someone needed a list of AI middleware but didn't want to search himself and wanted other to do the job. \$\endgroup\$– VersecJun 3, 2015 at 15:05
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10 Answers
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Recast/Detour (ZLib license)
Recast is a library to generate navigation meshes from polygon soups. Detour is a pathfinding and spatial reasoning toolkit that works on navigation meshes.
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\$\begingroup\$ Recast/Detour has to be the coolest AI middleware available - and then it's free - under the MIT license. That's unbelievable. :) \$\endgroup\$– jacmoeAug 4, 2010 at 14:59
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OpenSteer (MIT License):
OpenSteer is a C++ library to help construct steering behaviors for autonomous characters in games and animation. In addition to the library, OpenSteer provides an OpenGL-based application called OpenSteerDemo which displays predefined demonstrations of steering behaviors. The user can quickly prototype, visualize, annotate and debug new steering behaviors by writing a plug-in for OpenSteerDemo.
I've seen it used to great effect in simple games.
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\$\begingroup\$ I've used it to great effect in a simple game prototype. \$\endgroup\$– AShellyAug 4, 2010 at 21:16
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There also MicroPather - an open source path finding library from the same guy who made TinyXML.
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\$\begingroup\$ I've used this in several games--it works great. \$\endgroup\$– gakAug 4, 2010 at 21:28
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Havok AI (Commercial - not cheap)
http://www.havok.com/index.php?page=havok-ai
Havok is pretty good at physics, and has been offering behaviour, animation and other kinds of middleware for a while now.
Physics and AI is not easy to get to cooperate, especially animations, so save yourself some time and use Havok.
Highly recommended. :)
If you can afford it.
Pros: Industry strength quality, proven technology. Makes AI and Physics cooperate.
Cons: Steep Price.
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1\$\begingroup\$ If you have used Havok AI, may I ask how much it cost you ? \$\endgroup\$ Jul 7, 2015 at 8:08
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AI.implant (Licensed)
http://www.presagis.com/products_services/products/ms/simulation/aiimplant/#
No idea if it's any good, I just remember getting some brochures from them at GDC a few years back, and it appears they're still around.
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\$\begingroup\$ The company that made it shut down, so I don't know about "still being around". The support for it was picked up by someone else. \$\endgroup\$ Aug 10, 2010 at 23:15
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Kynapse (commercial) is from what I understand the number 1 market share for pathfinding libraries. It's the oldest of the commercial AI middlewares around.
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?siteID=123112&id=11390544
My experience with previous versions were that they were bulky with a terrible API and not very nicely implemented. We had tons of problems with it.
Now in their new version it seems they've changed data formats and some other radical changes, so maybe they've fixed the problems now.
It's also a commercial product and fairly expensive.
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NavPower (commercial)
My experience with it has been positive, although I haven't shipped any title with it yet. Most others I've talked to about it have had a similarly positive experience with it. API is easy to understand.
Fairly simplistic API, which can be a limitation.
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Golaem (Commerical)
I'll add to the list of commercial products Golaem (Full disclosure: I work for them).
Golaem Path is a real time 3D navigation library (path finding & reactive navigation / steering behaviors). It is not marketed for game development but could be used for a game.
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xAItment (commercial)
Fairly new middleware suite providing everything from pathfinding to behavior / decision making systems. Haven't tried it myself, so I can't say if it's any good.
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SharpSteer. (MIT license?)
https://github.com/boki/sharpsteer
SharpSteer is a C# port of OpenSteer. Like OpenSteer, the aim of SharpSteer is to help construct steering behaviors for autonomous characters in games and animation, with a current implementation focus toward Microsoft's XNA.