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Recent Advances in Gaming

This is where you can discuss your homework, family, just about anything, make strange sounds and otherwise discuss things which are really not related to the Lancer-series. Yes that means you can discuss other games.

Post Fri Oct 22, 2004 7:35 am

Recent Advances in Gaming

There have been many recent advances in gaming. Most obviously in the terms of graphics as the examples of DOOM III HL2 etc show us. Along with these graphics have been crazy advances in physics engines. Half-Life 2 is a good example of this. From reading the review of Half-Life 2 in PC Gamer another advance made has been the enhancement of the expression of the NPCs namely by matching their faces to their voices really well. All these advances are well and good but it seems to me that something is being left out, AI. Doom III had really good graphics but the AI is the same old. None of the guys really do anything but run up and shoot at you. From what I hear about HL2 the AI of your squadmates leaves something to be desired. What I really want to see is a game with really good AI. The graphics are good enough. Developers need to make some advances in new areas that serve another purpose other than moving along the GPU market.

Post Fri Oct 22, 2004 8:14 am

well i have heard something, i think it was when they were making LOTR, they made simulations of the battlefields and battles on the computer and programmed in how the soldiers were supposed to act, but something happened that no one expected, when they started fighting, half the soldiers turned and ran(LMFAO ) this was not programmed in, no one had even thought of the possibility, so maybe they can create really good AI, but they might need to know how to control it better, i sure wouldnt want my squad retreating at the sound of the first shot , of course im a 14 year old kid who knows nothing about computers wutsoever so dont listen to me

You can run, but run fast.... 1 shot is all I need.

Edited by - [SGCJack on 10/22/2004 9:14:26 AM

Post Fri Oct 22, 2004 9:09 am

San Andreas is going to have a vastly improved AI. NPC's will run behind boxes and shoot and duck and stuff.

A lot of games though have some real bad AI though. I brought Breed not so long ago and damn, the AI was dreadful. I wanted to jump inside that game and slap the AI for being so stupid. Example: I was running up a hill with a huge verge that dropped in to deep water. My squad proceeded, in turn, to all take a nice run off of this verge straight into the water below. The catch is, non of them swam so my entire squad died!

I was left with very little ammo, alien forces swarming everywhere, and somehow managed to complete the level after like 5 hours!

I haven't played it since.

Post Fri Oct 22, 2004 9:23 am

Can someone please explain why people have already forgotten about Far Cry? It's all good; graphics, gameplay, AI, even the story isn't too hackneyed. Half-Life 2 certainly shows promise but, c'mon, give Far Cry the recognition it deserves.

Post Fri Oct 22, 2004 10:42 am

to the best of my understanding (correct me if I'm wrong) but a major contribution to the AI coding of LOTR is taken directly from the same code used in the battle-scenes of the films done by WETA which you can see being developed in the extended edition DVD special features.

(forgive me if I've made any errors there, I am incredibly tired at the moment and don't feel very well.)

the AI for the battle scenes was originally intended just give a convincing aspect to the battlescenes as the sprites were only really intended for long shots, to show mass armies moving in. However it proved spectacularly successful and gave such unexpected and realistic results that it got used for middle distance and some close ups too. As the games were developed in close coordination with films, it isn't surprising at all to me that the games show the same advanced features. Tis is shown in how massed units flow round obstacles, and the individual elemnts may (or may not) avoid obstacles, react to their environment and move in groups. I must watch it again and check out the deatils now.

I was rather diappointed when i found out that the basis for BFME was Generals; I would have much preferred Total War. But it does look like an excellent job has been done tweaking and polishing the rather crude Generals engine. Not that I don't like Generals, its good fun and looks great, but as a strategy game its lacking a lot of sophistication, and the combat is usual rts mob handedness with none of the control or finesse of Total War, which is a close as most of us will ever get to commanding real armies.

Post Fri Oct 22, 2004 10:59 am

generals is ok, but u r right it is kinda limited and WETA, i was searching for a name lol couldnt remember it, should have been able to cause i went to that LOTR exhibit that was in new zealand and boston only i believe(i was on the boston end) that was cool and WETA was on almsot every caption lol, i no i no off topic

You can run, but run fast.... 1 shot is all I need.

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