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arXiv · 1005.4446

Genetic algorithms and the art of Zen

Jack Coldridge·Martyn Amos
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Abstract

In this paper we present a novel genetic algorithm (GA) solution to a simple yet challenging commercial puzzle game known as the Zen Puzzle Garden (ZPG). We describe the game in detail, before presenting a suitable encoding scheme and fitness function for candidate solutions. We then compare the performance of the genetic algorithm with that of the A* algorithm. Our results show that the GA is competitive with informed search in terms of solution quality, and significantly out-performs it in terms of computational resource requirements. We conclude with a brief discussion of the implications of our findings for game solving and other "real world" problems.

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Jack Coldridge, Martyn Amos. 2010-05-24. Genetic algorithms and the art of Zen. https://arxiv.org/abs/1005.4446

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