9 replies to this topic

[Seven_Force]

That is, until Thudd and Arkhan update it? For instance, one of the chenges in the new patch is that all stealth abilities must be researched instead of some of them coming standard. Since the AI hasn't been programmed for this and all the other changes, is the skirmish kinda screwed now? Or will the mod just play as if it hasn't been patched, IE, all the old rules are still in effect?

[thudo]

Yes it does break things to a point. The AI won't simply research new things as it needs to be told they exist. Don't worry: we're on it. Should have a beta out in no time for the testers.

[troubadour]

Did i hear "beta out" ? I have just left for 2 weeks (winterskiing) and just when i am back new : DC patch + new ai mod !!
This summer i am leaving for 1 month so i guess DoW 2 will be out when i will be back ?!

Back to business, I have just installed the patch and now the mod works without the custom .dll so it can be removed from installation
I had 2 skirmish game and AI plays well (eg no crash) except that the new research tree must be implemented even if i saw it building preds and assault termintor as SM, i guess new code wil be needed in order to attach chaplain and upgrade preds with lascannons

keep up the good work !

[thudo]

DoW2 is NOT a late '07 release. Heck.. its still a fairy tale! We don't know if will ever exist yet.

As for v2.2 in DC 2.1, yea it needs tweaking guys. We need to go over it but I can get the initial code ready by tonight or tomorrow. Changes are NOT deadly. Just alot of cost changes, prereqs alterations, ability changes, hardpoint swaps.. not too hard.

[Seven_Force]

Damn, you guys are awesome Thudd. You, Arkhan, and whoever else works with really should just be hired by Relic. If you ever DO get hired by someone major, don't forget to wake these fool devs up to the fact that AI MATTERS! Even to people who play online, good AI matters. At some point, the online portion of a game is going to die out and real gamers play good games indefinitely. Good games always have a spot on the hard drive you know? Good luck with everything.

[Zenoth]

Those guys deserve all the money on this planet for their work.

But somewhere inside me I wish they never get hired by big companies, because with such companies skills are often voluntarily neglected in favor for the dead line. In other words, I'm pretty sure there is talents out there at Relic or somewhere else on the market, but they often have to limit their work, or else the game would never come out. There is a point where you need to please the public's impatience and then receive their complaints on the "bad A.I". Such is how it works sadly.

However with independent work like they do (Arkhan, Thudo, Larkin, Corsix and all others) they work at their own pace, not pushed in their backs by administrative policies and publishing deadlines.

[Malkor]

No, they won't please the public's impatience and update the AI. Shitty AI is something we've had to deal with since gaming began. Only a few games go out of their way to produce decent AI, and often it's not revered enough by the general community to make it a "must-have", which is greatly unfortunate.

On the subject of hiring; I'm a voice actor, and a sound editor. I like to think I'm good at what I do. I've offered companies like Obsidian to do work for them FREE, without any charge or anything, and they still won't/can't accept it. If they hire you, it'll probably be for something other than AI, like general programming, and even then you'll need to do a lot more than this. There is also apparently legal issues involved, which seems a bit stupid to me since I am willing to do it all for free just to improve their game.

The guy who made most of the older starcraft modding utilities, ie stardraft, was hired by blizzard to become a programmer for the games, not support modding.

I think he's quit since then, though. Blizzard's working conditions are apparently atrocious, and they've lost sight of what gaming is really about.

Edited by Malkor, 21 March 2007 - 09:55 PM.

[thudo]

I think he's quit since then, though. Blizzard's working conditions are apparently atrocious, and they've lost sight of what gaming is really about.

Hehe.. thats called the entire gaming industry but don't get me started. Also, us consumers are NOT lemmings anymore like we used to: we actually are MASSIVELY DISCRIMINATING. Not like the good olde 80s and 90s. All these new kids coming online these days -- shheshhh.. bloody egos, arrogance, and attitudes the size of office buildings. Sad sad..

[Seven_Force]

Man, it really sucks that the "business" side of gaming trumps making a stellar, overall product with gameplay being the first priority.

[Campaigner]

Man, it really sucks that the "business" side of gaming trumps making a stellar, overall product with gameplay being the first priority.

Indeed. But what's even worse is that normal people prefer it that way. Seems to be a minority who values A.I the highest.