AIIDE-09 Call for Papers

CALL FOR PAPERS: AIIDE'09—The Fifth Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment

AIIDE'09—The Fifth Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment (sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence) will be held October 14–16, 2009 at Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA

Submissions Deadlines

• Papers and Industry Track abstracts due April 14, 2009
• Extended abstracts for demonstrations due April 14, 2009
• AIIDE-09 Paper Submission Site

AIIDE'09 — the Fifth Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment — is intended to be the definitive point of interaction between entertainment software developers interested in AI and academic and industrial AI researchers. AIIDE-09 will include invited speakers, research and industry presentations, project demonstrations, interactive poster sessions, and product exhibits. While traditionally emphasizing commercial computer and video games, we invite researchers and developers to share their insights and cutting-edge results on all topics at the interface of entertainment and artificial intelligence, including serious games, entertainment robotics, and beyond. AIIDE-09 is sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI).

Papers

Because AIIDE-09 crosses disciplinary boundaries, submissions will be evaluated based on their accessibility to both commercial game developers and researchers in addition to their technical merit.

Research Track

Research Track papers describe AI research results that make advances towards solving known game AI problems or enabling a new form of interactive digital entertainment. The novel technique should be validated in a game prototype or test-bed, but need not be validated in a commercial game. Research Track papers are evaluated by the highest standards of academic rigor. The highest rated papers will be presented in short lecture format. The next highest rated group of papers has the opportunity to present their work in a poster session. Applicants submit a paper of no more than 6 pages in the AAAI format for blind review (i.e. authors names and affiliations are omitted). All papers will be allocated 6 pages in the proceedings regardless of presentation format.

Industry Track

Individuals that have game development experience but lack the time or need for publishing rigorous academic papers can alternatively apply to the Industry Track. This track will include presentations of AI techniques, issues, or case studies from the perspective of implementing a product in the current commercial environment. Presentation proposals will be evaluated on their potential for conveying clearly elaborated ideas that have not been previously described to an adequate degree. Industry Track applicants submit an extended abstract describing the content of the proposed talk that also includes one paragraph describing their game industry experience. An extended abstract of two pages is sufficient, although any length up to that of a full paper (6 pages) is acceptable. Abstracts will be published in the conference proceedings.

Example Topics (list is suggestive only)

• AI Authoring Tools
  Behavior-building, cognitive modeling, data collection and encoding
• Novel Solutions for Traditional AI Problems
  Path planning, animation/camera control, tactical/strategic decision making, terrain analysis
• AI Supporting Novel Game Concepts or Gameplay Elements
  Interactive drama, narrative or character development, NPC belief, attitude, or emotion modeling
• AI Architectures for Games
  Automata, scripting, planning, level of detail
• AI Support for Game Production
  Game design, content creation, testing
• Other Entertainment Applications of AI Technologies
  Robotics, natural language processing, reinforcement learning, neural networks, Bayesian networks, genetic algorithms, logic, rule based systems
• Commercial AI Implementations
  Case studies, implementation analysis, comparative evaluations

Submissions

All research and industry track papers, as well as demonstration abstracts, are due no later than April 14, 2009 at 11:59 PM PDT.

Electronic submission of papers and extended abstracts is required. All Research Track submissions must be in PDF format, no longer than 6 pages including references, and formatted in AAAI two-column, camera-ready style (see the author instructions page). Industry Track submissions are preferred to be submitted in PDF format, must be no longer than 6 pages including references, and should be formatted in AAAI two-column, camera-ready style; however, we realize that this may be cumbersome to those not familiar with these requirements, so Industry Track authors may submit their content in any reasonable format for review and AIIDE will assign an editor to help meet publication formatting requirements for accepted work. Full submission instructions are included below and at the AIIDE web site.

Demonstrations

We invite researchers and practitioners to share insights and cutting-edge results from a wide range of topics and encourage the demonstration of (1) research systems in the context of existing commercial games, (2) new games authored by researchers, (3) contributions demonstrating the adoption and/or extension of AI research results in published games, (4) completely new forms of interactive digital entertainment made possible by AI research, and (5) other relevant work. An electronic submission of a 2-page abstract and demonstration materials is required. Demonstration materials can take the form of a recorded demonstration session, an executable version of the demonstration with written instructions, or a detailed description of the demonstration heavily illustrated with screenshots. Please note that these materials are for review only; it is hoped that all demonstrations will be conducted live at AIIDE-09. Demonstration 2-page abstracts should be submitted via the AIIDE-09 paper submission site. Abstracts should include the URL of a site where demonstration materials can be viewed. Submissions will be judged on technical merit, accessibility to developers and researchers, originality, presentation, and significance. Demonstration abstracts will be published in the conference proceedings.

Author Registration

Authors must register at the AIIDE-09 web-based technical paper submission site. The software will assign a password, which will enable the author to log on to submit an abstract and paper. In order to avoid a rush at the last minute, authors are encouraged to register as soon as possible.

Abstract and Paper Submission

Electronic abstract and paper submission through the AIIDE-09 paper submission site is required on or (preferably) before the dates shown in the timetable below. We cannot accept submissions by e-mail or fax.

Papers must be in trouble-free, high resolution PDF format, formatted for US Letter (8.5" x 11") paper, using Type 1 or TrueType fonts. Papers may be no longer than 6 pages (two (2) pages for demonstration abstracts) including references, and formatted in AAAI two-column, camera-ready style (see the author instructions page. Please note that these formatting instructions are for final, accepted papers; no additional pages can be purchased at the review stage. In addition, the copyright slug may be omitted in the initial submission phase. Please also refer to the section below on preparing your paper for blind review.

Authors will receive confirmation of receipt of their abstracts or papers, including an ID number, shortly after submission. AAAI will contact authors again only if problems are encountered with papers. Inquiries regarding lost papers must be made no later than April 21, 2009.

Submissions to Other Conferences or Journals

AIIDE-09 will not accept any paper that, at the time of submission, is under review for or has already been published or accepted for publication in a journal or conference. This restriction does not apply to submissions for workshops and other venues with a limited audience.

Blind Review Process for Research Track Papers

Program committee members will identify papers they are qualified to review based on the information submitted electronically (the paper's title, keywords, and abstract). Their reviewing will be done blind to the identities of the authors and their institutions.

To prepare your research track paper for blind review, the first page, on which the paper body begins, should include the title, abstract, content areas, and ID number (if available), but not the acknowledgments and names or affiliations of the authors. The references should include all published literature relevant to the paper, including previous works of the authors, but should not include unpublished works.

When referring to one's own work, use the third person, rather than the first person. For example, say "Previously, Newell (Newell 1980) has shown that...," rather than "In our previous work (Newell 1980) we have shown that...." Try to avoid including any information in the body of the paper or references that would identify the authors or their institutions. Such information may be added to the final camera-ready version for publication.

Note: Industry Track Papers and Demonstration Abstracts should not be prepared for blind review.

Publication

All accepted research papers and industry extended abstracts will be allocated six (6) pages in the conference proceedings. Up to two (2) additional pages may be used at a cost to the authors of US $275 per page. Demonstration abstracts will be allocated two (2) pages. Authors will be required to transfer copyright of their paper to AAAI.

Conference Registration

At least one author must register for the conference by the deadline for camera-ready copy submission. As AIIDE is an academic conference, all attendees including presenters pay a registration fee.

Exhibits

AIIDE-09 will have exhibit space available. Companies, publishers and other groups are encouraged to consider purchasing either a tabletop display or an exhibit booth. Exhibit space is limited and will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis. Please contact AAAI at aiide09@aaai.org for more information.

Important Dates

• March-April: Authors register on the AIIDE web site
• April 14, 2009: Electronic submission of Research/Industry Track papers/abstracts
• April 14, 2009: Electronic submission of extended abstract for a demonstration
• June 2, 2009: Notification of acceptance decision

Organizers

Conference Chair
Chris Darken
(Naval Postgraduate School)

Program Chair
G. Michael Youngblood
(University of North Carolina, Charlotte)

Organizing Committee Members
Vadim Bulitko (University of Alberta), Kevin Dill (Rockstar New England), Richard Evans (Maxis), Brian Schwab (Sony), Robert Zubek (Three Rings Design)

For additional information, please see www.aiide.org or e-mail the conference organizers at aiide09@aaai.org.