There are several aspect that AI supports the gaming industry. It provides more content, responsive, adaptive, and challenging gaming environment. This article will introduce different type of usage of the AI technology in gaming. There are two types of AI in game; deterministic and nondeterministic. Deterministic AI for gaming is widely used, because it is simple, predictable and limited-effect of gameplay. This type allows limit change from the AI and mostly controlled the outcome. The latter is more of the real AI, it is uncertainty, which learns, evolves and adapts to the content. Game developer doesn't need to anticipate all possibilities of this type.
How to use AI for game?
Non player character (NPC): the most used function of AI. Game NPC meant to acts like real human or controlled by one, instead of fixed dialogue like those in 80s-90s games. AI algorithm and engine are responsible for NPC behavior based on decision tree developer have prepared. The NPC like human in the market or shop could provide player a better dialogue. On another hand, energy NPC like monster could behave without script. It could adapt to actual ecosystem in the gaming environment or adapt to player play style to give more challenging fight. Good example is Monster Hunter World, where the monster behave differently in environment and attack each other rather than focus only on player.
Pathfinding: there are two aspects of pathfinding; one is to create path from player to destination and another is generate game world, namely landscape based on player in-game decision, play style, move and etc.
Decision making: Cause-and-effect become a common feature of Role Playing Game (RPG) this generation. The decision you made earlier in the game, could effect game world, NPC, and environment for late game experience. For example, in Red Dead Redemption 2, NPC behavior during interaction is vary based on blood stain on your character or type of hat you wear. It makes player feel the consequences of their choices.
Data mining: It is mostly for development and marketing purpose. Like doing business on social network, game designer and studio collects data to figure how people plays their game, favorite parts, and when do they stop playing. These information is important to deliver a sequel or another game.
Procedural content generation: Using AI to create new content, interactive stories, environment and landscape, level and music automatically. With trained AI, developer could use these AI to help create a new game. For example, the developer wants to create an underground dungeon with bandit hideout, he doesn't care about where the kitchen or toiler should be. The AI could generate cave terrain to inside of bandit's home.
Play experience modeling: To allow all level of player to experience the game, some game balance its difficulties based on player ability.
Cheating: This is more of the computer side. AI provides cheat to some part of the game, for example NPC speed to keep up with human or advantages spawning location for monster.
Benefit of using AI in gaming
- Smarter and more realistic gameplay
- NPC characters are adaptive and responsive to player's playstyle and decision
- It saves cost and time for developer
- With the ability to balance difficulties, it is easier for any user to play
- Eliminate the predictability of the game, which create novel experience for player
