Artificial Stupidity

Yeah, there's a buzzword for ya. AI, or artificial intelligence. It's been a main staple in any game since ever, umm, ever. But nobody gave much of a care till games entered the third dimension. Ever since, it's been thrown around more then Paris Hilton.

Numerous games have tried to claim the AI crown. From Space Invaders and it's relatively simplistic enemy AI action, to Oblivion and its so-called "Living, breathing world", AI has seen a major leap forward. No longer will gamers tolerate allies running into walls, or kamikaze enemies that aren't normally violent.

Yes, gaming has taken a huge step forward in the AI department. But is AI, or gamers for that matter, ready to take the next step? The goal of AI is to emulate real life (or as close to real in the context of the game), right? Then why is AI so perfect all the time?

Let me explain. When it applies to games, programmers are always to make their games more realistic. Too bad life isn't always perfect. Take Halo 2 for exapmle: Sure, walking around the game, grunts would fall asleep, and act surprised when MC awoke them.

But it's not that realistic! If you were an elite, and you were bored with a tank, you wouldn't just sit there, waiting for MC to come around and you could blast him. Nope, you would probably take the tank, and have a little fun. I'm sure it would seem odd to come upon a new area, and not find the elites al lexpecting you, but that is more realistic!

Take oblivion for example. Sure, the NPC's seemed pretty real, not just standing around to offer you a quest. And for the most part, this is pretty real. But not quite enough.

See, NPC's need to have lives that extend far beyond the moment you kill them. Pretend a NPC is going through a big break up with his "wife". He might have a nervous breakdown, and decide to kill everything that moves. Place that near the character, and you'll have a villager come out of nowhere and attack you with a knife.

Or GTA. In San Andreas, I believe there were a couple of NPC's that would in a sense jump from a high place and commit suicide, kind've like lemmings. Here, I was at the local grocery store, and I decided to take a nice evening stroll through the parking lot. Now, put that into a sandbox game like GTA. It's probably look weird and feel odd to watch a NPC walk around the parking lot for no reason.

Yeah, that's the problem. AI like that doesn't fit into a videogame. Gamers are used to their enemies lying in wait around the next objective for them. Heck, I'd feel weird watching a NPC stroll around the parking lot in GTA. And not being told why a character does something unexpected like that can be frustrating for a gamer.

I dunno, maybe there will be a shift, and AI like this will become more of the norm. But I would like to be told why NPC #365 just attacked me with a knife. Who knows?