The AI Revolution?

Hey, everybody! Just popping in to put up yet another random and ill-timed blog post. I'd originally intended this one to be about the death of LAN gaming (actually, I think those words right there were pretty much the entire article), but the draft was lost after I reformatted my computer and downgraded back to Windows XP. But, on to the show!

 

So far, gaming's gone a long way in the past decade or so. We went from 8-bit pixels all the way to incredible graphics, from the likes of Crysis, Uncharted, and more. But that's the point. We've had "graphics revolutions" often enough. We're in no hurry, so why not just stop and smell the roses; take a break and focus on making quality games (obviously not, since shareholders don't play games, right?). And then there was the "gameplay revolution". Introduction of leveling systems in multiplayer, the introduction of the raid in MMOs, cover systems for shooter, immersive and deep worlds for RPGs, and more. Gameplay revolutions, however, wouldn't be so bad, and should happen on a constant basis (nothing too close, maybe a few years' gap in between). And on top of that, we have the "audio revolution", though not as obvious, sounds in AAA games these days can rival that of movies.

 

But for all those nice little things, why haven't we had an AI revolution yet? Sure, the enemy soldiers in games like Killzone 2 or FEAR are smarter than the average shovel, but why stop there? Why hasn't any developer in existence made (or heck, even attempted) to make a better AI? And even then, why does the ENEMY AI always have to be better? What about tactical squad shooters? I'd like my buddies to be a little bit smarter than the grenades they throw, which will rebound from a wall, and subsequently blow them all up. Or perhaps maybe play an RPG where I don't have to TELL my guys where to move (Mass Effect, I'm looking at you), or remind them to dodge that rocket flying towards them.

 

In all honesty, I don't really think the article does it justice. We need better AIs. Start thinking, devs. I don't want pretty-looking people if they're as dumb as rocks (sticks, dirt, whatever. Take your pick).

 

Feel free to discuss (either this or the death of LAN gaming thing)

 

-Delta

 

My next article will be a personal one: What I Learned From MMOs and the Internet (how cliched, right?)

 

Also, I updated my profile pictures. How do you like them? :) And on top of that, check out my Mass Effect 2 review!