Note - Required python modules are pygame and neat-python.
This code is for a Flappy Bird game where an AI learns to play the game using the NEAT algorithm. Here's a detailed explanation:
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Game Overview:
- This code creates a Flappy Bird game where an AI, using the NEAT algorithm, learns to control the bird to avoid pipes and achieve the highest score possible.
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Bird Mechanics:
- The bird can jump and fall, with its movement controlled by physics-based calculations. The bird’s image rotates as it moves, simulating the look of flying or diving.
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Pipes and Obstacles:
- Pipes appear at random heights and move horizontally across the screen. The bird must fly through the gaps between the pipes to stay alive.
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Scrolling Background:
- The ground scrolls continuously to give the illusion of forward movement. The game has a repeating background and base image.
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AI Control with NEAT:
- The NEAT algorithm evolves neural networks that control the bird's movement. Each bird’s neural network decides when to jump based on its environment.
- The AI learns by trial and error, with successful birds (those that navigate the pipes well) having a higher chance of passing on their traits to the next generation.
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Fitness and Scoring:
- Birds earn points by passing through pipes, and their fitness score increases the longer they survive.
- The fitness score is used to determine which birds' neural networks will be used to create the next generation.
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Game Loop:
- The game runs in continuous loops, where the AI-controlled birds try to survive as long as possible. If a bird crashes into a pipe or the ground, it’s removed from the game.
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Evolution Process:
- The game uses a configuration file to set up the NEAT algorithm. The AI birds improve over multiple generations by evolving better neural networks that can navigate the pipes more effectively.