Developing a video game is a complex process that requires the efforts of a huge team of specialists.

Usually, it looks like this: designers draw up large-scale open worlds and concept art, screenwriters write a non-trivial story, and developers combine all this into a finished product, not forgetting about the content of the game.

To refer to any living object in the game other than the player, two concepts are used – NPC and game artificial intelligence.

Without the final touch of development in the form of artificial intelligence, no single-player game could captivate you for more than a few hours.

We have studied this topic and will tell you how artificial intelligence works in modern games.

Artificial intelligence is used not only in the development of the game but also by the players directly during the game.

For example, special AI calculators can help calculate the necessary sets of equipment in order to develop the character as much as possible.

This is extremely necessary in games like Diablo 4. These games are very complex in view of the variety of items that improve the characteristics of the character, but their combination can drastically change the situation.

Although it is much easier to use the help of boosting companies to upgrade your character. That is why diablo 4 power leveling service is much more popular than AI calculators.

simulation

Simulation

In fact, any single-player game will feel empty without a life simulation. What do we mean by the phrase “life simulation”?

It is almost the natural behavior and the reaction of the environment to the actions of the player. An excellent example of a life simulation is Red Dead Redemption 2.

Of course, we all understand that the behavior of the environment is written at the software level and there is nothing magical here, but watching characters do something independently outside the plot while influencing the game world – is priceless. 

Another game with a cool simulation is Far Cry 4. In it, quite often there are clashes between different types of animals, which turn into a bloodbath.

Such meetings look interesting, of course, but how does it work? Battles between several NPCs are referred to as AI infighting and are most often found in older third-person games.

Everything is simple here. There are enemies, there is a player, and there are allies (or a third belligerent party) – in a collision, neutral parties can accidentally attack each other, after which both factions become hostile for a short period of time.

And to be more precise, they will fight until one side completely kills the other in sight.

How Complexity Affects The Perception Of The Quality Of Artificial Intelligence

Some gamers think that the harder the enemy hits, the smarter it is. But it’s not. In many projects, inept developers use a dirty trick, inflating the characteristics of NPCs to deceive the gamer’s perception.

Which NPC do you think is smarter: the one that tries to use cover and equipment but dies on the first shot, or the one that doesn’t use tactics and kills you in seconds? The majority will most likely choose the second option.

What Interesting Things Can NPCs Do In Games?

Depending on what conditions are prescribed for a particular NPC, this person will perform different tasks.

Developer playing a VR game

Let’s look at a few examples of what artificial intelligence can do in video games:

  • if you often play RTS against the computer, then most likely you have encountered the fact that the enemy is too quick to apply countermeasures to your units. This happens because the computer analyzes all the actions of the player and tries to predict what will happen next;
  • in artificial intelligence for games, the IFTTT scheme is often used. To make it easier for you to understand, let’s give a simple example from GTA – if the player has a wanted level, the NPC will attack or try to arrest him;
  • Artificial intelligence can increase its complexity over time. When fighting bots in Counter-Strike, you probably noticed how they do not pose a particular threat at the beginning of the match, and closer to its end they try not to make unnecessary sounds and use additional equipment.

Some Problems Of Game Artificial Intelligence

This technology, like any other, has some flaws that can spoil the overall impression of the game. Below we have listed the 3 most annoying artificial intelligence problems in video games:

  • this issue is common in Ubisoft games. Hostile NPCs can detect the main character without any prerequisites for this. This is especially annoying in missions that limit us to “mandatory stealth” (fail if detected);
  • team interaction with enemies controlled by a computer is good, but in moderation. Absolutely everyone faced a situation where one enemy, having discovered you, mentally notified all comrades without animation and words;
  • in many RTS strategies, opponents increase the technological level and build armies, despite the fact that absolutely all points that extract resources belong to the player.

As games evolve and technology advances, the role of artificial intelligence in gaming is destined to evolve as well.

These virtual worlds are becoming increasingly intricate, a testament to the dedication and creativity of developers who sculpt AI to enrich our gameplay experiences.

The journey into the heart of AI in gaming has illuminated both its capabilities and its challenges, inviting us to ponder the potential it holds for future interactive entertainment.