A Tyrannosaurus rex (Barney) on the left has identified an Edmontosaurus regalis (Gertie) on the right. Red lines indicate respective dinosaur’s goals (food). (Click to enlarge.)

Today the AI (Artificial Intelligence) routines for the inhabitants of Dinosaur Island to identify food were put in place and tested. The above screen capture shows the results: Gertie, a hungry Edmontosaurus regalis, has spied a forest of Araucaria trees on higher ground about 55 meters to the north-northeast. Barney, a very hungry nine year-old Tyrannosaurus rex has spotted Gertie 145 meters almost due east on the other side of a creek bed lined with Nipa plants. This doesn’t look good for Gertie. Will one and a half football fields be enough of a head start? How long will Barney pursue dinner before the energy expended will be too great? Look at Barney’s health. He hasn’t eaten for a while and he doesn’t have much energy left.

A reminder: the 2D ‘top down’ version of Dinosaur Island is just for testing and scenario creation purposes. Dinosaur Island will be released in full 3D. Dinosaur Island is a unique interactive simulation of real dinosaurs in their natural environment.