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**Bluevoss** · January 8, 2001, 07:22

In the book "MicroSerfs", Copland makes a good point (and I'm misquoting, probably) - "Multiplayer is just a cheap way of getting out of writing good AI".

One thing AIs should do well is provide a competent background in a historical game. They should not come out of nowhere with a massive stack of units they could not have possibly built, they should not do amazing cheats, and they should not rabidly attack you for no reason at all. They should act (in this case) like their own empires, trying to carve out their own part of a limited globe.

Humans (to me) are a pain-in-the-a$$ to play against. They will read a dozen cheat books and then play out of context to win a game. I remember when I played Red Baron 2 online, there were all sorts of things going on that never happened in the real war, but happened all the time online. I also remember the one time I played Age of Empires online - some guy always played Phonician, and if he did not find trees something like 24 seconds into the game, his advantage was shot. He would watch the time and if it didn't work out, he would tribute all his resources to his allies and opt out of the game, then look for another to play.

Frankly, I get enough of humans in the real world. At home, I just want to play an interesting game without other humans to spoil it. Frankly, saying that AI is a "training ground" is a cop out.

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Bluevoss-

**MrLeN** · January 8, 2001, 17:26

Yeah I know, that sux bigtime. There's nothing worse than a cheat head. And I do agree with you, sometimes I do like to sit down, relax and have a good game when there is no one else around. It would be nice if the AI was capable of standing in for the intelligence of a civer, but that aint so and I don't think it will be for another 10 years.
Also I would like to mention that I never play civ with people that I don't know, or have built up at least 'some' confidence with. For many reasons... The biggest being that most people will 'do a runner' if they are losing and they will use cheats.
I honestly only play with the same person that I have been playing with for ever. I know the individial wont "cheat" and I know he will be around to finish the game. It is hard to find a decent person to play with.
Quote... "They should not come out of nowhere with a massive stack of units they could not have possibly built, they should not do amazing cheats, and they should not rabidly attack you for no reason at all."
Quote" I agree totally, and have made similar comments on this forum. But really, what's worse, a computer that cheats or a person that cheats? I can assure you that the computer cheats one hell of a lot more profoundly than any person will, and that's what sh*ts me the most. I would love to play against a computer that uses the same rules as the human and can beat him at the game. Then I will look at getting my satisfaction from beating a computer.
The BIGGEST thing that annoys me is 'anyone' with half a brain will work out the computers weak spots within a few games. A person can see what the computer does and remember for the next attemp and even the next game. A computer can't do that, and once again wont be able to for another ten years. It doesn't matter how these games are programmed, right now our computers just don't have the goods to keep us on our toes and if the computer relies on cheats and 'one track mind' programming then it will never, ever provide good competition.
One last thing... I play against the computer more than I play multiplayer because of time issues and the Quote... "I also remember the one time I played Age of Empires online - some guy always played Phonician, and if he did not find trees something like 24 seconds into the game, his advantage was shot. He would watch the time and if it didn't work out, he would tribute all his resources to his allies and opt out of the game, then look for another to play" syndrome, but I can honeslty say... I enjoy playing an "honest" person more.
P.S. I'm not Implying that anyone else should, I'ts just my opinion, and therefore it can't be a cop out

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It's better to close your mouth and let everyone 'think' you're stupid, than open it and let everyone 'know' you are.

**Bluevoss** · January 8, 2001, 19:05

Well, you raise some good points. Its true that AI isn't that good yet. The sad thing is that it should be getting better. Its not that I'm trying to beat a chess genious here - I just want a computer that can survey a defensive line, figure out if I am weak and it strong, and then launch an attack. Thats not asking for the world - thats just asking for basic compentency. It lacks even that.

As far as changing basic operating premises, there are certain things (how strong must the computer be before an attack, how quick it will yeild to powerful deplomancy) that should not be too tough. Some variables can be generated that allow its logic to be determined. While it wouldn't be perfect nor always smart, it would be belivably varied.

Yes, I play online with my best freind about every other week. We actually have the best fun playing AOE coop, which means we take the same race (one handles citybuilding, the other the military) and we see if we can beat the computer. If we win, we make the next game tougher. If we lose, we think about makeing it easier. To me, thats the real fun of computers. Not everyone wants to win over flesh and blood. Some of us want to use the experiance to see what real teamwork is like (rather than corporate teamwork [sic]).

Anyway, I stick by my point - Multiplayer is fine, but dammit, the AI has to be at least SOMEWHAT competent!

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Bluevoss-

**Gwap** · January 9, 2001, 09:50

"I would love to play against a computer that uses the same rules as the human and can beat him at the game. Then I will look at getting my satisfaction from beating a computer."

I agree, MrLen ... that would be great, even though I already get beating by the current AI . Now, I'm not a programmer, or even technical (just a paper pusher), but I would like to put in a little word of defence for those programmers that *did* write the AI.

Commercial programmers, I am sure, are not half as experienced as the majority of those that have bought the game. Same goes for playtesters/QA people; there is only so much testing they can do to be able to produce a (financially) competitive product. Bugs and inadequacies are at one level or another unavoidable.

Btw, Bluevoss, I think that CTP2 (and most similar games) have a far greater complexity than chess... more combinations, permutations, not to mention the fact that some of the moves of human players should be unknown to the AI... now consider the AI that is required to produce a chess computer that has the ability to challenge serious chess players (not to mention beat the best in the world). Now also consider the hardware requirements ...

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Nostalgia isn't what it used to be

**Bluevoss** · January 9, 2001, 10:52

Well, perhaps stratagy is tough to program (I did some of it years ago).

Of course, last night, when I was sieging Hong Kong with a million knights, it seemed a little odd for the computer to roll two of his caturpults out of a walled city over to one side, and then bombard me with them. A clever ploy, there. And we had units watching the other side of the city - nobody was coming in (no extra room was needed). And even if a new unit was produced, why roll two units out - you can't build two units in a turn. Unless one of the defending units was pregnant.

Who the heck knows with this product anymore.

**MidKnight Lament** · January 9, 2001, 11:19

There's plenty of threads around on why a good AI is notoriously hard to program for a game so complex as Civ. There was one in a couple of months ago that was particularly good, but I forget where...

Unfortunately Civ-fanatics will be hard-pressed to be a given an "Impossible" AI for a long time yet. Sad but true. Which is the very reason why it's so baffling that CTP2 seems to have such appalling multi-player stability and support. Surely you would have thought that it should have been high on Activision's priority list.

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- MKL
"And a sun that doesn't set but settles" - Augie March
Shameless Plug: http://www.poetic-license.org ............. All welcome.

**MrLeN** · January 9, 2001, 11:38

Gwap,

quote:

I agree, MrLen ... that would be great, even though I already get beating by the current AI . Now, I'm not a programmer, or even technical (just a paper pusher), but I would like to put in a little word of defence for those programmers that *did* write the AI.

At what point in my post did I say, mention or imply anything negative about programmers?
I was reffering to the strength of our current technology.
As a matter of fact my post probably implies (more than anything) that the programmers can only do so much, and that's why Bluevoss referred to my post as a cop out.

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It's better to close your mouth and let everyone 'think' you're stupid, than open it and let everyone 'know' you are.

**MidKnight Lament** · January 9, 2001, 11:46

Aaaah, here it is. I heartily reccommend this thread to anyone who's interested in how hard it is to program a good AI.

Arguments why its nearly impossible to program an "almost human" AI.

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- MKL
"And a sun that doesn't set but settles" - Augie March
Shameless Plug: http://www.poetic-license.org ............. All welcome.
[This message has been edited by MidKnight Lament (edited January 09, 2001).]

**Gwap** · January 9, 2001, 12:04

MrLen, my apologies. You are right. You didn't.

Guess all those threads criticising the AI/Activision must have clouded my vision.

In that case I think the remark should possibly be directed at Bluevoss ;-)

MKL, Thanks, I will have a read of that thread.

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Nostalgia isn't what it used to be

**MrLeN** · January 9, 2001, 12:31

Hey, no worries gwap

Gee that is very long MKL, I just had a glance, but it seems interesting so I'm off to see what it's about

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It's better to close your mouth and let everyone 'think' you're stupid, than open it and let everyone 'know' you are.

**Bluevoss** · January 9, 2001, 14:10

quote:

Originally posted by Gwap on 01-09-2001 11:04 AM

In that case I think the remark should possibly be directed at Bluevoss ;-)

Now what did I do?

Still, I stick by what I said. Claiming AI is nothing but a training device for online is a cop out. If Activision couldn't write an army stratagy game, they should have produced "Pittfall Harry Gold" or something.

Or mayby they should put on the box:
WARNING - This product is intended for Online Use only. A tutorial AI is provided from TRAINING PURPOSES ONLY.

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Bluevoss-
[This message has been edited by Bluevoss (edited January 09, 2001).]

**MidKnight Lament** · January 9, 2001, 20:38

quote:

Originally posted by MrLeN on 01-09-2001 11:31 AM
Gee that is very long MKL, I just had a glance, but it seems interesting so I'm off to see what it's about

Don't worry, I haven't read it all either. But the large part of it that I had read was quite interesting. It's easy to say they should make the AI do this and that, but no one usually talks about the nitty gritty of it. Programming a computer player for even the very simplest of games can be very difficult.

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- MKL
"And a sun that doesn't set but settles" - Augie March
Shameless Plug: http://www.poetic-license.org ............. All welcome.
[This message has been edited by MidKnight Lament (edited January 09, 2001).]

**MrLeN** · January 10, 2001, 00:44

Hey Bluevoss,
ROFLMAO @ "Pitfall Harry Gold", *hehe*

...and Diadochi,

quote:

The computer opponent is desperately pathetic. There is no excuse for this in a basically single player game. Game designers have been creating reasonable computer opponents for years now. CTP2 is a step backwards.

Truer words were never said, but that's not what I was talking about with the initial post in this thread. Also, that same reply (give or take a few words) can be found in 50% of the threads on this forum, but hey, thanx for your opinion. I know you're trying... well done

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It's better to close your mouth and let everyone 'think' you're stupid, than open it and let everyone 'know' you are.

**Diadochi** · January 10, 2001, 01:51

Let forget the use of the word A.I. for the moment, for I don't believe any games use 'self learning' at the moment.

The computer opponent is desperately pathetic. There is no excuse for this in a basically single player game. Game designers have been creating reasonable computer opponents for years now. CTP2 is a step backwards.

Personally I think multiplayer doesn't rest easily with turn based games, however that is a different issue.

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