Network Agents

A Unity-based simulation featuring autonomous agents in a procedurally generated world. The project implements a custom Entity Component System (ECS) architecture to manage complex agent behaviors and world interactions.

Architecture

Entity Component System (ECS)

The project uses a custom ECS implementation with three main pillars:

• WorldManager: Core orchestrator that manages systems and entities
• Entities: Game objects that contain components
• Components: Data containers that define entity properties
• Systems: Logic processors that operate on entities with specific components

Core Systems

Messaging System

• Centralized message bus for system communication
• Type-safe message publishing and subscription
• Priority-based message processing (Low, Normal, High, Critical)
• Automatic message queue management
• Built-in message types:
  • SystemInitializedMessage: Sent when systems initialize
  • TimeChangedMessage: Sent on day/night cycle changes
  • ResourceStateChangedMessage: Sent when resources update
  • NPCNeedsChangedMessage: Sent when NPC needs change
  • TerrainChunkGeneratedMessage: Sent when terrain generates

Terrain System

• Procedural terrain generation using multiple noise layers
• Seamless chunk-based world loading
• Multiple biomes (Plains, Forest, Mountains, Desert)
• Smooth transitions between chunks and biomes
• Dynamic LOD and chunk management based on viewer position

NPC System

NPCs are autonomous agents with:

• Needs: Hunger, Thirst, Energy, Social
• Personality Traits:
  • Sociability: Influences desire for social interaction
  • Bravery: Affects risk-taking behavior
  • Curiosity: Drives exploration
  • Diligence: Impacts work ethic and task focus
• States:
  • Movement: Idle, Moving
  • Activities: Working, Resting, Eating, Drinking
  • Social: Interacting, Socializing
• Behaviors:
  • Dynamic decision-making based on needs and personality
  • Pathfinding and terrain-aware movement
  • Resource seeking and consumption
  • Social interaction with other NPCs

Spawner System

• NPC Generation:
  • Configurable initial population
  • Random name assignment
  • Customizable spawn radius and positioning
  • Group spawning capabilities
• Initialization:
  • Randomized movement properties (speed, rotation, interaction range)
  • Unique personality trait generation
  • Initial needs randomization
  • Optional visual representation through prefabs

Resource System

• Resource Types:
  • Food: Consumable for hunger needs
  • Water: Consumable for thirst needs
  • RestArea: Used for energy recovery
  • WorkArea: Designated work locations
• Resource Properties:
  • Quantity tracking
  • Consumption rates
  • Quality multipliers
  • Automatic replenishment
  • Infinite/finite resources
• Resource Management:
  • Usage tracking
  • Depletion mechanics
  • Replenishment delays
  • Visual feedback through Gizmos

Time System

• Configurable day/night cycle:
  • Customizable day length
  • Dawn, Day, Dusk, Night periods
  • Transition periods (dawn/dusk)
• Time Management:
  • Real-time to game-time conversion
  • Day counting and period tracking
  • Progress tracking within each day
• Environmental Impact:
  • Influences NPC behavior patterns
  • Affects resource availability
  • Modifies terrain visualization

Technical Features

Terrain Generation

• Uses FastNoiseLite for coherent noise generation
• Multiple noise layers for varied terrain:
  • Base terrain layer
  • Biome variation layer
  • Detail noise layer
• Smooth chunk transitions using edge blending
• Custom terrain shader for biome visualization

NPC AI

• Needs-based decision making
• Personality-influenced behavior
• Dynamic target selection
• Social interaction system
• Resource seeking and consumption
• Terrain-aware movement

Performance Optimization

• Chunk-based world loading
• Entity pooling
• Efficient component lookup
• Dependency-aware system initialization

Project Structure

Assets/
├── Scripts/
│   └── ECS/
│       ├── Core/
│       │   ├── WorldManager.cs     # Central ECS orchestrator
│       │   ├── Entity.cs           # Base entity class
│       │   ├── ComponentBase.cs    # Base component class
│       │   ├── SystemBase.cs       # Base system class
│       │   └── Messaging/          # Message-based communication
│       │       ├── Message.cs      # Base message class
│       │       ├── MessageBus.cs   # Message routing and handling
│       │       └── SystemMessages.cs # Built-in message types
│       ├── Components/
│       │   ├── NPCComponent.cs     # NPC properties and state
│       │   ├── ResourceComponent.cs # Resource properties
│       │   ├── TerrainDataComponent.cs # Terrain chunk data
│       │   ├── TimeComponent.cs    # Time management
│       │   └── VoxelData.cs        # Voxel-based data structures
│       └── Systems/
│           ├── NPCSystem.cs        # NPC behavior management
│           ├── ResourceSystem.cs    # Resource management
│           ├── TerrainSystem.cs    # Terrain generation and management
│           ├── TimeSystem.cs       # Time simulation
│           └── SpawnerSystem.cs    # Entity spawning

Dependencies

• Unity Universal Render Pipeline (URP)
• Custom TerrainShader for biome visualization
• FastNoiseLite for procedural generation

Implementation Details

Entity Management

• Automatic component registration
• System dependency resolution
• Event-based component updates
• Efficient entity querying
• Message-based system communication:
  • Decoupled system interactions
  • Priority-based message processing
  • Automatic subscription management
  • Type-safe message handling

Terrain Generation

• Multi-threaded chunk generation
• Seamless chunk stitching
• Biome blending
• Height-based biome distribution

NPC Behavior

• State machine-based behavior system
• Need-based decision making
• Dynamic target selection
• Social interaction mechanics
• Resource consumption logic

Resource Management

• Sophisticated resource type system with multiple categories
• Dynamic usage tracking and state management
• Configurable regeneration mechanics:
  • Customizable replenishment rates
  • Delayed regeneration options
  • Quality-based consumption effects
• Proximity-based discovery and interaction
• Visual debugging through Unity Gizmos