generic speaker image
Luke Dicken - Robot Overlord Games. Glasgow, , GB

Luke Dicken

Founder | Robot Overlord Games

Glasgow, UNITED KINGDOM

Expert in Artificial Intelligence Applied to Games and Simulated Worlds

Media

Publications:

Documents:

Videos:

Audio/Podcasts:

Social

Biography

Luke Dicken is the founder of Robot Overlord Games, and a researcher with the Strathclyde Artificial Intelligence and Games group at the University of Strathclyde in the UK. He has been awarded three of the prestigious International Game Developers Association (IGDA) Scholarships, contributes to AltDevBlogADay and is one of the organisers for the web-based AltDev Conference series. Luke has been passionate about artificial intelligence since playing “Creatures” as a teenager, and pursued it at university, first through several degrees in traditional AI before specialising in AI for games as part of a PhD he is still (occasionally) pursuing. Luke is a director of IGDA Scotland, member of the AI Game Programmers Guild and chair of the IGDA’s Special Interest Group on AI.

Industry Expertise (3)

Education/Learning

Computer Gaming

Information Technology and Services

Areas of Expertise (3)

Artificial Intelligence

Game Development

Education

Accomplishments (4)

Awarded an IGDA Scholarship to attend E3 (professional)

2011-06-06

I was awarded one of the prestigious IGDA Scholarships to attend E3 alongside a select group of other scholars. We received the opportunity to meet with a number of high profile members of the industry, and got to visit several local studios and organisations as part of the award.

Awarded the 2012 Eric Dybsand Memorial AI Scholarship (professional)

2012-03-05

In 2012 I was awarded the Eric Dybsand Memorial AI Scholarship by the IGDA Foundation, which enabled me to attend GDC, The scholarship is given to a promising student in the field of Game AI, and gives the student an All-Access pass and mentorship from the Guild of AI Game Programmers amongst many other benefits.

Awarded an IGDA Scholarship to attend the IGDA Summit and Casual Connect (professional)

2012-07-22

I became jointly the first person in the world (alongside fellow three-time Scholar Kyle Rentschler) to receive three of the IGDA Scholarships. This one allowed me to attend the IGDA Summit and Casual Connect in Seattle, and provided a range of additional opportunities outwith the conference.

Awarded Student Bursary to Attend AISB AI and Games Symposium 2011 (professional)

2011-04-05

I was awarded a bursary by Namaste Entertainment (now Storybricks) to attend the Society for Artificial Intelligence and Simulated Behaviour's Symposium on AI and Games.

Education (4)

The University of Edinburgh: MSc, Bio-Informatics 2007

University of Strathclyde: PhD, Autonomous Systems 2012

In progress (expected 2013)

The University of Edinburgh: BSc(Hons), Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science 2006

University of Strathclyde: MRes(Dist), Automated Planning for Autonomous Systems 2009

Affiliations (2)

  • International Game Developers Association
  • AI Game Programmers Guild

Event Appearances (31)

Artificial Intelligence - A Beginners Guide to Enslaving Mankind

The Developer After University  Glasgow

2012-11-14

Artificial Intelligence in Computer and Video Games

British Computer Society (Glasgow) Monthly Meeting  Glasgow

2010-04-11

Knowing When to Hold 'Em, When to Fold 'Em and When to Blow 'Em Up

UWoS Research Student Society Meeting  University of West of Scotland

2010-03-03

Integrated Influence - The 6 Million Dollar Man of AI

UWoS Computing Departmental Seminar  University of West of Scotland

2010-03-10

Applying Clustering Techniques to Reduce Complexity in Automated Planning Domains

International Conference on Intelligent Data Engineering and Automated Learning  Paisley

2010-08-31

Influence Landscapes - From Spatial to Conceptual Representations

Society for Artificial Intelligence and Simulated Behaviour Symposium on AI and Games  York

2011-04-06

SPREE - The Strathclyde Poker Research Environment

Society for Artificial Intelligence and Simulated Behaviour Symposium on AI and Games  York

2011-04-05

The Next Generation of Game AI Planners

The Paris Game AI Conference  Paris

2011-06-21

Panel - The Next Generation of Game AI Planners

The Paris Game AI Conference  Paris

2011-06-22

What I Done on My Holidays - IGDA Scholars at E3 2011

IGDA Scotland Monthly Meeting  Edinburgh

2011-07-26

The Integrated Influence Architecture - Combining Reactive and Deliberative AI for NPC Control

AltDevConf  Online

2012-02-11

Game AI 101 – NPCs and Agents and Algorithms... Oh My!

University of Bradley Invited Seminar  Online

2012-02-18

IGDA Scholarship Applications Workshop

IGDA Scholarship Applications Workshop  Glasgow

2012-04-18

Panel - Why Attend GDC

IGDA Scotland Monthly Meeting  Edinburgh

2012-04-10

More Than Soldiers and Aliens

Video Games Extreme Workshop 2012  Valparaiso, Chile

2012-06-28

More Than Soldiers and Aliens

Mendeley AI in Gaming Seminar  London

2012-07-08

Procedural Processes - Lessons Learnt From Automated Content Generation in "Easy Money?"

No Show Conference  Boston, MA

2012-07-14

More Than Soldiers and Aliens

MIT Media Lab Lunchtime Seminar  Boston, MA

2012-07-15

More Than Soldiers and Aliens

Boston "Post Mortem" IGDA Chapter  Boston, MA

2012-07-16

The Integrated Influence Architecture - Combining Reactive and Deliberative AI for NPC Control

Lockheed Martin Lunchtime Seminar  Burlington, MA

2012-07-17

Skynet and You - Game AI for the Uninitiated

IGDA Summit / Casual Connect  Seattle, WA

2012-07-22

Microtalk - R&D on a Budget

IGDA Summit / Casual Connect  Seattle, WA

2012-07-22

Microtalk - Return of the AI: The SIG Strikes Back

IGDA Summit / Casual Connect  Seattle, WA

2012-07-22

Skynet and You - Game AI for the Uninitiated

Pleven Mathematical School Invited Session  Online

2012-10-09

Skynet and You - Game AI for the Uninitiated

University of Strathclyde "GeekSoc" Student Society  Glasgow

2012-10-10

Skynet and You - Game AI for the Uninitiated

Konsoll  Bergen, Norway

2012-10-18

Skynet and You - Game AI for the Uninitiated

University of West of Scotland Invited Seminar  Paisley

2012-10-30

Panel - Higher Education and Beyond

The Developer After University  Glasgow

2012-11-14

The International Game Developers Association

Scottish Game Jam (Global Game Jam)  Glasgow

2012-01-27

The Ludic Fallacy Applied to Automated Planning

Strathclyde Planning Group Seminar  Glasgow

2012-02-11

Panel - Do Games Matter? (Moderator)

Semana de Videojuegos, Chile  Online

2012-11-06

Sample Talks (1)

Skynet and You - Game AI for the Uninitiated

In this session I talk about Game AI in a way that is accessible for designers and producers to help them understand more about what it is, and how it can be used to greater effect in games. I dispel the myths of the "scary" specialism, and show that it is more than "the bit that makes the bad guys shoot back". Example is 25 minutes, 60+ versions are also possible. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD9HGw1ZTZY

Style

Availability

  • Keynote
  • Moderator
  • Panelist
  • Workshop Leader
  • Host/MC

Fees

0 to 1000 *Will consider certain engagements for no fee