Sentient sketchbook : computer-assisted game level authoring

Abstract

This paper introduces Sentient Sketchbook, a tool which supports a designer in the creation of game levels. Us- ing map sketches to alleviate designer effort, the tool auto- mates playability checks and evaluations and visualizes sig- ni cant gameplay properties. Most importantly, this paper introduces constrained novelty search via a two-population paradigm for generating, in real-time, alternatives to the author's design and evaluates its potential against current approaches. The paper concludes with a small-scale user survey during which industry experts interact with Sentient Sketchbook to design game levels. Results demonstrate the tool's potential and provide directions for its improvement.