Is there anyway to test my bot besides uploading it to the AI Challenge website? I'm playing with the java starter bot for now, so it's not exactly competitive. I just want to make sure it works before I worry about how well it does.

z-dog: supposedly the code for the server is on github, no clue how to set it up though, couldn't find any instructions for that either, but i did upload the default randombot to the site and already have 5 games to analyze, so i don't think it's that troublesome to use the website for testing, you can easily upload a new version at any time. don't know how they'll handle if something crashes halfway though.

Did you have to edit the default bot at all to get it to run?

Also, if the ELO rating system on the site will determine qualification for the final, would it be detrimental to one's chances to upload the default bot? I don't want to accidentally enter and then lose a bunch of matches.

is this very hard, or am i just to stupid to understand? :(
is most of the basic coding done in the "StarterBot" (and will work as it is, just bad) ? or is that not even close?

The fact that they chose a template that I cannot recreate is really annoying, its borderline problematic.

z-dog: i tried the c# version, and didn't have to edit anything at all. it just deploys and attacks randomly, but it's good enough to figure out what the hell is going on in terms of game mechanics and what the simulator expects to be returned.

dead piggy: don't go bailing on me now, think of all the hookers and blackjack we can buy with the prize money!

z-dog: you can always create a new account later if you want. i wouldn't worry too much about it at this point.

I'm not sure if I have enough time to learn coding and make a bot all by myself in two months, if anyone wants to code in Python or Java I would happily do it with them, mainly helping with what the AI "should" do, and after I've familiarised myself with the code I can help code as well(I don't want to learn any other type since I've heard a lot more about Python and Java, and wasting time learning something which isn't too relevant isn't a good choice imo)

Send me a PM if you are interested.

I noticed Fizzer didn't reply to piggy's post earlier which I had been thinking myself - where is the prize money coming from?

I wrote the pseudo code without actually playing any games. Its not ideal but this is a very straight forward template. I cant see how any of the other bots will beat it. I hope its easy for you all to turn into proper code =D. It was harder than i thought.

Ive spoken to a handful of people about working with them which soon is going to create conflicts of interest as you are all competing. I am not especially interested in money (though it is a lot) and have no way of forcing anyone who codes my words to give me part of the prize anyway. From here on out I will revise each entrants bot with them privately. I hope I am not breaking the tournaments rules by being "part" of multiple teams, there is a lot of money at stake so Im sure they will be strict.

I would love to see how it does asap so I can write out a version 2.

Edited 3/18/2014 22:53:27

piggy, I would split the money with you for sure, I am honorable. But I haven't yet looked at the difficulty of coding this yet. I will let you know if I think it is realistic for me to do, and if so you can send me your ideas.

great!

I can make the custom scenarios if anyone would like to help me out playing some trial games. For example I have no idea what kinds of attacks are appropriate at 100% luck. Is a 3v2 a waste of time? is a 7v2 appropriate?

Should visual basic be a supported language?

Edited 3/18/2014 23:10:48

invite me to your custom scenarios, i'd like play some trial games too.

What do these guys hold against vb?

Bananashake, you're right that there's enough code in the starterbot files to play; the real challenge is getting it to play well. For instance, right now, the bot picks randomly from available territories. You'll want to implement some kind of strategy.

How often are the bots placed in games? I submitted my first version a few hours ago, and it has yet to be matched up. (Errors aren't the problem; it passed the test match fine)

Also, I noticed that in the java code, there's a Long variable "timeOut" passed to many of the methods, but never used. Have you guys found a use for it? I think it's the maximum time you can take each turn.

maximum time you can take each turn is 2 second i think. is that how long the timeOut takes?

This challenge actually seems fun, and doesn't take that much time. I'll give it a try.

Also, I noticed that in the java code, there's a Long variable "timeOut" passed to many of the methods, but never used. Have you guys found a use for it? I think it's the maximum time you can take each turn.

Yes, the bot is expected to commit orders within 2 seconds.

If I understand correctly, you can access System.currentTimeMillis() which gives you the current time. I might be mistaken though.

http://www.java-forums.org/advanced-java/14441-timeout-method-execution.html

See post #3, first part.

maybe someone who know how to do this, can put up a tutorial on youtube? :D about basics

anyone can help me understand something plz:

when i load the java starterbot as it is when i downloaded it, compile is a success. But if i unzip the starterbot i downloaded, then zip it again myself, the compile fails and i get:

"javac: no source files
Usage: javac
use -help for a list of possible options"

any guess on why is that?

The compiler cannot find the source files?

If you cannot get that to work, you can download the zipped file anew, open its files without unzipping them, and copy-paste your modified files in their stead. Then upload the zip file.