Contest Website:
http://cseweb.ucsd.edu/~calder/UCSDProgramContest/archive/spring06/
Summary: A timed event where you program a team of space ships to gather energy and destroy other space ships also gathering energy.
Programming Style: Based on the 2005 contest, I came up with an algorithm that produced the winning AI. I taught the algorithm to others for future contests and they also did well. The algorithm is based on Computational Theory (CSE 105) and can be explained best in person.
List out all the possibilities to gain points and mitigate point loss
Program and test out all possible ways of gaining points against bots that don't move
Program and test out all possible ways of mitigating point loss against all sample bots
Taking the winning/best characteristics and fine tune them
Note: Steps 2 and 3 involve some imagination but you an get a lot of information off the instructions and whatever sample code they may provide. This style of programming also banks on your ability to program fast.