Development of AI in Games - Survey/Views

badgermonkey

badgermonkey

badgermonkey

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Well I'm currently compiling a report for some coursework for my degree (Computer Games Development - Glamorgan Uni), with regards to the development AI has undergone since the early days of games (such as Space Invaders) to modern day games. I would love it if you guys could fill out at least some of this, as I need to get the ideas/thoughts of others on this subject matter.


1. What was the first game you played that included fully functional AI? (AI that made decisions based on it's environment, not like the patterns and preset or random things of Space Invaders).


2. What, in your opinion, have been the biggest leaps in the AI industry?


3. Where do you see the future of AI in games going? Do you, for example, feel that it will continually evolve until it becomes hard to differentiate between human controlled and AI controlled characters, or do you think we are reaching a plateau in the standards of AI?


4. Is there anything else you feel you wish to contribute to this?



Thank you for your time all :)
 
1. What was the first game you played that included fully functional AI? (AI that made decisions based on it's environment, not like the patterns and preset or random things of Space Invaders).

Probably Half Life 1 was the most ground breaking AI jump for me. The baddies flanking you, calling for backup, throwing frags etc. They won't just run towards you in a straigh line for you to shoot.

2. What, in your opinion, have been the biggest leaps in the AI industry?

Theres not been so many leaps in AI imo recently, as I said above though Half Life 1 utilized it well.

3. Where do you see the future of AI in games going? Do you, for example, feel that it will continually evolve until it becomes hard to differentiate between human controlled and AI controlled characters, or do you think we are reaching a plateau in the standards of AI?

It'll keep on evolving eventually, though the last 2-3+ years have been all about graphics at the expense of gameplay and advanced AI, that goes for console and PC gaming alike.

4. Is there anything else you feel you wish to contribute to this?

Less graphics, more AI & gameplay!
 
1. What was the first game you played that included fully functional AI? (AI that made decisions based on it's environment, not like the patterns and preset or random things of Space Invaders).
Probably Halflife 1 as well. The marine AI was some of the best and regarded as a benchmark until the AI of the Unreal Tournament games came about.

2. What, in your opinion, have been the biggest leaps in the AI industry?
In terms of titles. Halflife 1, UT (2003), FarCry, HL2. FarCry had hierarchical AI, killing the leader of a squad affected their subordinates etc.

3. Where do you see the future of AI in games going? Do you, for example, feel that it will continually evolve until it becomes hard to differentiate between human controlled and AI controlled characters, or do you think we are reaching a plateau in the standards of AI?
AI will continually evolve. I foresee a fully dynamic AI able to think of solutions to problems like a human player would in the distant future. This will eventually allow completely dynamic game worlds. At the moment we will continue to improve their reactions to the player and emulate real player reactions including conversation with the player.
 
1. What was the first game you played that included fully functional AI? (AI that made decisions based on it's environment, not like the patterns and preset or random things of Space Invaders).

Lords of Midnight - the enemy armies never seemed to react the same way in each game. They responded to your troop buildups and took advantage of undefended areas.


2. What, in your opinion, have been the biggest leaps in the AI industry?

Precious few. Most games now rely on scripting and pre-determined set pieces, and on funnelling you through set routes to avoid having to program AI to deal with alternatives. The bots in UT are the best exception I can think of offhand.

3. Where do you see the future of AI in games going? Do you, for example, feel that it will continually evolve until it becomes hard to differentiate between human controlled and AI controlled characters, or do you think we are reaching a plateau in the standards of AI?

AI is pretty much non-existant at the moment. Did a year on it in college myself and was bit shocked at how primitive things are. I don't think we'll see major advances until we understand a lot more about how the human brain works. Can't emulate conscious thought until you fully understand it.

4. Is there anything else you feel you wish to contribute to this?

I'm tired waiting for an army of robot slaves to do my bidding :mad:
 
1. What was the first game you played that included fully functional AI? (AI that made decisions based on it's environment, not like the patterns and preset or random things of Space Invaders).
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The Reaperbot mod for Quake. In terms of a proper commercial release, it was Unreal (Steve Polge, the guy who coded the Reaperbot mod for Quake was hired by Epic on the basis of that work).

2. What, in your opinion, have been the biggest leaps in the AI industry?
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Definitely deathmatch bots - see above.


3. Where do you see the future of AI in games going? Do you, for example, feel that it will continually evolve until it becomes hard to differentiate between human controlled and AI controlled characters, or do you think we are reaching a plateau in the standards of AI?
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I don't think we are reaching a plateau, but equally I don't think we will see human-like AI any time soon. The biggest reason for this is that humans learn and adapt to changes in their environment, and predict the behaviour of opponents based on experience and said environment. For example in deathmatch we predict what opponents will do based on how badly damaged they got in a recent fight, what time items will spawn. And conversely we try to trick our opponents by e.g. making sounds as if we are heading in one direction and then double back the other way.

4. Is there anything else you feel you wish to contribute to this?
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In general I'd say that we shouldn't see 'human-like' AI as the holy grail, because it isn't - for a start human intelligence is flawed! I think strides forward can be made in terms of creating AI which is more influenced by the probably reactions of the player than simple IF-THEN-ELSE kind of logic coupled with simple mathematics. I'm talking about AI which doesn't simply rely on 'mathematical desires' (if health < 100 then go to nearest healthpack) and only react to the player when they enter the LOS. Even on the singleplayer front, the AI should know the layout of the level and use that to it's advantage... if it sees the player retreating after being hit (maybe going back to a medikit) the AI should try and push forward and attack while the player is weak. Or likewise move between cover while the player is reloading, rather than at random intervals for no apparent reason.


edit: I've just realised I've written all the above in terms of FPS games, as that's where most of my experience lies.
 
I'm not directly answering any of your questions but I think interest in gaming AI will die out very quickly as online games build more and more momentum.
 
Kreeeee said:
I'm not directly answering any of your questions but I think interest in gaming AI will die out very quickly as online games build more and more momentum.
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Which is a shame really because there will always be a place for single player games. I get bored with multiplayer games very quickly.
 
Even in some multiplayer games there is still a requirement for AI, e.g. in an RTS you need pathfinding AI, 'activation AI' (i.e what a unit does if it comes under attack) etc etc.
 
Kreeeee said:
I'm not directly answering any of your questions but I think interest in gaming AI will die out very quickly as online games build more and more momentum.
Click to expand...

Doubt it, since there's a distinct lack of intelligence of any kind in a lot of online games :p
 
1) From my memory it would probably be the first time I ever played Unreal Tournament. I can't think of anything else I played at a younger age atm.

2) Biggest Leap I have seen in a game that has just come out would have been FarCry. Although since then I have played through a lot of HalfLife1 and for the age the AI is excellent.

3) Definitely continue to evolve and become more human like.
 
1. Half Life 1

2. nothing of late, but in the near future, games such as crysis will show a significant leap in AI behavior, for example. You plough down a tree without realiseing, and your enemy (the AI) will notice your gameing flaw and take advantage of the situation and duck behind the fallen log. that to me is a leap in AI.

3. AI will always be marked out from human controlled characters, simply because of there 'actions' and decision makeing which can be clearly seen. As for the future, yes i expect AI to become much realistic and life like, but then again, humans always find a way around AI to become the higher player out of us and 'them'.

4. AI in games is what makes a game, be it purely single player or slightly multiplayer. with no AI in a game and simple scripts controlling the characters (such as SI *space invaders*) the game will be terible, everyone will obviously be gobsmacked by the visuals, but once played for 15 mins, they will simply put it down. This has happened in several games in the past few years, a beautiful game has been constructed but without well built AI. strong AI and strong graphics is what in these days gives the games the attributes to make it a gold winning one.

ags

good luck :)
 
badgermonkey said:
1. What was the first game you played that included fully functional AI? (AI that made decisions based on it's environment, not like the patterns and preset or random things of Space Invaders).

Probably Champ Man 2 although it could be seen as pattern folowing screwed up by random luck


2. What, in your opinion, have been the biggest leaps in the AI industry?

Black and White was pretty amazing when it was first released. Not as groundbreaking as was promised but was still a huge leap in AI

3. Where do you see the future of AI in games going? Do you, for example, feel that it will continually evolve until it becomes hard to differentiate between human controlled and AI controlled characters, or do you think we are reaching a plateau in the standards of AI?

The only limit AI has it that of the programmers's skill. I'm sure there will be a day when AI will be almost impossible to distinguish from human players. Can't really put a time frame on it but I'm sure it will happen


4. Is there anything else you feel you wish to contribute to this?
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Kreeeee said:
I'm not directly answering any of your questions but I think interest in gaming AI will die out very quickly as online games build more and more momentum.
Click to expand...

I agree. I use to refuse to play any online games and now I cannot seem to find enough time to play WoW and Vanguard. I did start COD3 but the AI seemed so stupid and robotic that I stopped playing. Pretty graphics though :-)
 
1. What was the first game you played that included fully functional AI? (AI that made decisions based on it's environment, not like the patterns and preset or random things of Space Invaders).

im 16 and started pc gaming bout 2 yrs ago, with cod1, which i never played single player of, just multiplayer, then hl 2, so my first experience of AI was hl2, and it was impressive to say the least, although you do feel there could have been a lot more to it.

2. What, in your opinion, have been the biggest leaps in the AI industry?

no one had mentioned f.e.a.r, but i think on the single player game the AI on it is realy good, they use and move objects to their advantage, like sofas, bookshelves etc. and actually appear to have tactics.

3. Where do you see the future of AI in games going? Do you, for example, feel that it will continually evolve until it becomes hard to differentiate between human controlled and AI controlled characters, or do you think we are reaching a plateau in the standards of AI?

i now play cod2 multiplayer in a clan, and in matches theres a LOT of mind games, i.e. smoke one way go the other, maybe run one way then the other, and there is no substitute for playing against another human and considering the many reactions another player can produce, its just always going to be better than AI imo. so i see more and more games going for the online option against real players, while AI will just slowly improve over time.

4. Is there anything else you feel you wish to contribute to this?

the more AI the oposition gets, the better they will be at fighting you, obviously so...more AI = harder game. unless you compensate with a bias in guns or summat.
 
1. What was the first game you played that included fully functional AI? (AI that made decisions based on it's environment, not like the patterns and preset or random things of Space Invaders).

To be honest, this would be the now antiquated iF22 flight sim -when you bounced a flight of enemy planes, and downed/damaged one they'd split up, change course, fire flares and chaff and try to scarper - I checked the error files (yup, it was buggy) and they seemed to work on a randomised set of options, not just a set path.

2. What, in your opinion, have been the biggest leaps in the AI industry?
I would say that the leap from "attacking" AI (such as HL1) to "reactive" AI - where enemies will use cover, flank, and if necessary retreat depending on environment. Some AI in Farcry does this superbly, though it seems to be very much dependant on terrain. (and the monsters are silly!)

3. Where do you see the future of AI in games going? Do you, for example, feel that it will continually evolve until it becomes hard to differentiate between human controlled and AI controlled characters, or do you think we are reaching a plateau in the standards of AI?
I cant see as much has dramatically changed in the last 2-3 years, the CS:Source bots are good given the nature of the game, but leave a lot to be desired. Sadly AI seems to be "better aim, and knowing where you are" rather than actual intelligence. Some games seem to cheat comprehensively with CPU characters knowing you're there, even if you approach silently and give no clues to your existence.

4. Is there anything else you feel you wish to contribute to this?
Contentious perhaps - but would we really want proper AI? Would we want enemies to be as hard as us, think like us and use tactics like humans? Fair enough, online games already give us this... but people get excited, make mistakes, or deliberately do silly things for a laugh - except perhaps in clan matches or serious gaming events (for money) - If AI was accurate, predictable and consistently good then it would lose some of the fun factor I feel. And how come no-one has ever really implemented a good damage system for AI players? Shoot them in the arm... it doesnt affect them! grr.... pet hate.
 
1. What was the first game you played that included fully functional AI? (AI that made decisions based on it's environment, not like the patterns and preset or random things of Space Invaders).

Probably Speedball 2, The AI was fast and difficult to beat.They knew when to throw the ball to hit the lights on the side of the stadium to get a higher score.


2. What, in your opinion, have been the biggest leaps in the AI industry?

I haven't really seen big leaps in AI. It's been a Very slow progression.


3. Where do you see the future of AI in games going? Do you, for example, feel that it will continually evolve until it becomes hard to differentiate between human controlled and AI controlled characters, or do you think we are reaching a plateau in the standards of AI?

I think that AI will get better and that it will evolve so that it becomes hard to differentiate between a good human controlled character and an AI controlled character.
I see this becoming very big in online games as atm NPC's only say set things. For example, if I hailed an NPC he/she would say a set phrase or a phrase from a random set of phrases. Hopefully this will change and eventually you will be able to say anything to an NPC and they will respond much like a human player would.Certain chat rooms have Bots that can do this to an extent already.


4. Is there anything else you feel you wish to contribute to this?

nah :P
 
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Definatley not hl2, I started playing it a couple of days ago and the guards seem to just stand there and let you shoot them in some cases and certainly dont use the terrain to their advantage or get into any sort of formation.
 
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