Newsgroups: comp.ai.games
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From: glennc@cix.compulink.co.uk ("Glenn Corpes")
Subject: Re: Why is action AI so poor?
Message-ID: <DnpHLw.KH2@cix.compulink.co.uk>
Organization: Compulink Information eXchange
References: <8BAE4DB.14EC000A63.uuout@almac.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 3 Mar 1996 19:17:56 GMT
X-News-Software: Ameol32
Lines: 37

> WD> >Activision Studios, maker of such titles as "MechWarrior 2", "Zork:
> 
> IMHO, the AI in MechWarrior 2 could be vastly improved. You just don't 
> feel the other Mech's are worthy opponents, especially when they try to 
> shoot their way through obstacles and run out of ammunition, and when 
> the game powers them up rather than make them more "intelligent" in 
> combat. Still like the game, though . . . 
> 
> It's a common problem in flight sims and space combat type games. I've 
> not seen any of these style games where "one-on-one" would be fair to 
> the computer (ie in an equal fight, the human always wins). Has anyone 
> else?
> 
> The only exception I can think of is the "beat-em-ups" like Virtua 
> Fighter and Mortal Kombat. Even a lot of strategy games rely on the 
> computer "cheating" to make the game even.
> 
> Any professional game programmers out there want to tell us why? Is 
> good AI too computationally intensive, so that we'd only get 5fps with 
> MW2?
> 
> Neil
> ---
>  * RM 1.3 U0448 * Neil.Slater@Almac.co.uk

I think that the main reason for simple AI is the current trend for 
simple doom clones, if a monster in one of these games had the ability to 
traverse the map properly to find you or dodge your rockets it would not 
enhance the game, it would just piss you off. If you want to see some 
more realistic AI look out for Dungeon Keeper and Syndicate wars (sorry 
about the advert).

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