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From: "P.J. Snavely" <snavely@ece.sc.edu>
Subject: Re: AI in sports games
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Date: Mon, 14 Oct 1996 15:37:57 GMT
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Jeff Lander wrote:

> For volleyball, I would make the teams "goal" a perfect 3 point
> return (Bump, Set, Spike).  Each player covers a region.  The first
> player's goal is to do a Bump.  Worst case the player should go for
> getting it over the net.

As true as this may be, ideally, the first player's goal isn't always a
bump.  This may be splitting hairs, but there's more than a few
situations that would require other actions.  This is also ignoring the
general digs & block attempts, also.

> There also need to be some understanding of "optimal strategy" for
> that sport.  That is how humans are taught.  We are not put on a field > and allowed to mess around figuring it all out.  We learn classic
> strategies
> and then use variations.

Is there really ever an "optimal" strategy for any sport?  You can look
at football for an example.  20 years ago, it was three yards and a
cloud of dust.  Today, you've got attacks ranging from smashmouth to the
West Coast offense, to the Run & Shoot.  All can be successful,
depending on execution.

> I think ideally, the computer opponent should "learn" your responses
> and adapt to them with new strategies.  This is the far trickier part
> of the AI.

Agreed, on both counts.  When I play a baseball game that notices I try
and pull the ball too much & starts pitching me outside....That's when I
get worried.  Future's awfully bright, isn't it? =) 

P.J.
______________________________________________________________________
P.J. Snavely                               Lookin' for AI jobs in
University of South Carolina               Game Development!  Know
snavely@ece.sc.edu                         any??  Please call!
www.ece.sc.edu/students/snavely		   (Grad date is 63 days away!)
