Most Impressive Game AI?

togelius asks: "I have the feeling that when developers make the effort to put really sophisticated AI into a game, gamers frequently just don't notice (see e.g. Forza). Conversely, games that are lauded for their fantastic AI are sometimes based on very simple algorithms (e.g. Halo 1). For someone who wants to apply AI to games, it is very interesting to know what AI is really appreciated. What is the most impressive game AI you have come across? Have you ever encountered a situation where it really felt like the computer-controlled opponents were really thinking?"

Comments

Come off as cheap

[Romancer]

A lot of AI that is used in games today can come off as cheap since the computer can think and compare much faster than a human player. Imagine fighting an opponent that can react 10X faster than you.

Another way to look at it is if you think that the AI is learning patterns and adjusting for tactics.
That's been played out in many genres, the most recent to come to mind is the Stargate SG1 episode where a character must face a situation that adapts to his efforts and becomes impossible to beat since the game can react faster than he can and has a perfect memory.

It's a ballance that game AI must match, playability and difficulty.

Fact or fable?

[lawpoop]

When I was contemplating learning video game programming, I was reading a guide that told you first to program a pong clone, and then a pac-man clone. Why pac-man? It teaches you AI. The ghost behavior is actually fairly complex. One ghost wanders randomly, another tries to get on the opposite side of the board from wherever pac-man is. The other two form a hunting pair: one tries to cut off your escape while the other goes for the kill.

I never thought that the ghosts would be so complex!

Galactic Civilizations 2

[Zarhan]

Well, one of the greatest experiences (And still is), AI wise, is Stardocks XXXX-type space strategy game, Galactic Civilizations 2. I especially like, when on easier levels, you do something, and the AI race sends a message "It seems that you are making a massive buildup for war. However, with this difficulty level, I pretend not no notice it until you actually make your strike." or something to that effect.

Cheating

[dunezone]

Ive noticed that AI is not designed to beat your next move but is designed to cheat you without the player noticing. Command and Conquer and Gears of War are two games that have two well hidden cheats. Command and Conquer is twelve years old almost, the enemy AI was programmed to always have full resources as long as one harvester made it back. Therefor what would take you five harvesters would only require them one. Most players would of never noticed this unless their strategy was to cut off enemy resources instead of an full out assault. Gears of War was praised for having AI that used the environment to their advantage which helped cover a little cheat they had. The AI had a weird tendency to know exactly where you were as long as your cross hair covered them or came close to them. For example if you were to pop your head out and just happen to have your cross hair on an enemy turret that was always firing at a covered friend, it would immediately start firing at you, this would also goes for the regular grunts/guards. This is very noticeable on "Insane", since that mode requires you to use cover 90% of the time and better tactics then rush in and shoot everything that moves. AI is not designed to outsmart/out think/or consider your next move, in my opinion most AI is designed to defeat you by using small cheats in the programming that give it an unfair advantage and hopefully designed so that you wont be able to notice it.

Game where computer seems like it is thinking

[Brian_Ellenberger]

Galactic Civilization I and II (see: http://www.galciv2.com/) is one of the few games I have ever played where it seemed like the computer was thinking. If you have never played GalCiv, and you like strategy, I highly recommend picking them up. I consider them to be superior even to the Civilization series. Brad Wardell prides himself on the AI, and it definitely shows. The computer is very difficult to beat and does not cheat. It actually responds in a logical manner, which makes GalCiv go from just being a number-crunching exercise to an actual strategy game. For example, when making some "aggressive" moves towards an enemy (moving some attack ships to an "ally" to wipe them out) I've actually had the game pop up a message from my ally (before ever entering his space) saying something to the effect of "I used to play video games when I was a kid, and when I did I used to build my forces up and send them to sneak attack an opponent. Well I am no video game." Other things like the fact that if another civilization is dependent on you for a large amount of trade income, they won't just randomly attack you because it would hurt them too.

Re:Game where computer seems like it is thinking

[Kingrames]

90% of the time when it seems like the computer is smart, it's more because the game and the AI merge well together.

If the game has lots of bugs, bugs you might not normally see, the AI will suffer.

Oftentimes the A.I. of the game doesn't make the computer smarter. Making a game that's smooth and supports a good A.I., however, will make a much bigger difference.

With a game like chess, the A.I. program is huge and immensely sophisticated.
With a game like tic-tac-toe, you can make an A.I. that can't be beaten, simply because the game is simple and allows for that.

It's important to keep in mind that the actual A.I. algorithm can only accomplish so much. Putting Deep Blue into the seat of your tic-tac-toe opponent gives you the same result as the program you wrote that doesn't break a page.

That being said, a few more examples to look for for good A.I. that merges well with its game would be Kohan and Kohan 2. The AI in that game blew me away.

For an older game, check out emperor of the fading suns (you can get the full game for free) http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc /strategy_games/games_e_f/emperor_of_the_fading_su ns.html
I still have fun playing this one. It's interesting how the computer will actually send you money for nothing in the interest of making you like them more. There are a few other subtle details.

Incidentally I've heard that Gal Civ is based off of EFS, so if you haven't had a chance to check it out, enjoy.

Re:ummm, Galactic Civilizations II?

[ditoa]

I just went to the GalCiv2 website to have a read and saw this

No CD copy protection. Once you install, you never need your CD again. You can even use the included serial # to re-download the entire game from us years from now.

That is very refreshing to see these days. I have given up on most PC games these days because of their copy protection systems.

The Thief Series was Groundbreaking

[BrendaEM]

The AI could see not only see in a view fustrum, but also by how much light you were lit by. The AI could hear depending on what surface you walked on, you could affect the light by putting out torches, affect the sound my mossing the floor. The AI notice bodies and things out of place, such as a climbing rope. The AI also had different alert states. I think that they are pretty good for a game made almost a decade ago.

There are over 400 Thief series fan missions. Last night, I played "Ominous Bequest"
http://southquarter.com/?p=131
One level change for 6 hours of gameplay! Yes, Thief 1 and 2 graphics are quite dated, and low-poly, but if you can forgive that, the gameplay and atmosphere compensates for it.

Lately, there's been a reinsurance in Thief 1 and 2 add-on missions. There's a updated version of 680mb Thief2X add on. Missions like "Ashen Age," and a "Night in Rocksburg" have breathed a little life into T2 visually.
http://forums.eidosgames.com/showthread.php?t=5526 3
http://southquarter.com/?p=131

Someone is working to refresh the Thief Series Engine, but the source code would help. I wish that Eidos would release the source code--for an eight year old game.
http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102289 &page=11