Smoke and Mirrors: The True Art of Game AI
Game technology is constantly improving with the goal of creating the next must-have game, yet game AI technology has been pretty much static for a long time. How come this side of the games industry finds it so hard to move forward? There are numerous AI techniques that have been used in academic AI for years which could create the next big leap in game AI, so why aren't they used? Should they be used?
Presented by Kieran D'Archambaud or Steve Horsburgh.
Kieran completed his masters degree in Computer Science and Cybernetics in 2004. Since then he has been working at Rare as a software engineer. In that time he has worked on two released games, Conker: Live and Reloaded on Xbox and Perfect Dark Zero on Xbox 360. In both of those games he worked on the multiplayer AI. Kieran is keen to push the boundaries of game AI and believes that to do this the games industry needs to work closer with the academic research community. He is currently working on his third game title which will showcase new and innovative AI techniques.
A passion for both programming and gaming that stemmed from his first encounter with a Spectrum at the age of 10 finally led Steve to join Rare way back in 1995. Despite being just under a year into a fast-track graduate IT career with a major bank that had followed on naturally from his BSc Computer Science degree, the infinitely more glamorous (or so he imagined) world of video games beckoned. With over 12 years experience working on several platforms ranging from the Super Nintendo Entertainment System right through to the Xbox360, Steve has worked on nearly every aspect of games programming. Having contributed towards camera systems, front-end development, in-game editors and player / baddie / boss controls, his main area of expertise is now in the field of gameplay, where he is an enthusiastic advocate of the creative use of artificial intelligence as a means of supporting a more rewarding gameplay experience. Steve recently completed work on ‘Kameo: Elements of Power’ for launch with the Xbox360 and is now working on his third, and as yet undisclosed Xbox360 title.
