Artificial intelligence, more commonly referred to as AI, is one of the fastest-growing technological advancements to have ever existed. A few years ago, this tech was a mostly underground thing, capable of only basic commands and rudimentary in what it could deliver. Now, however, it is everywhere, embedded into almost every sector, and it is greatly improving our productivity, security and overall way of life.
One area that has certainly made impressive use of artificial intelligence technologies is the gaming industry. Though AI influences many aspects of gaming and has changed how we access and play games on a daily basis, it is the technology’s impact on the development of games that this article is interested in.
Customising Player Experience
Artificial Intelligence is being utilised by countless different game developers to create a more personalised and customised experience for every player and perhaps nowhere is this clearer than in the world of online casino gaming. When utilised by the developers of online casino platforms, AI can gather and analyse massive amounts of data from every single player. This data can then be converted into valuable insights into every gambler’s gaming behaviour, which in turn enables operators to create a personalised experience for every player, providing tailored ads, offers and game recommendations.
When we look at how non GamStop casinos work by investigating the massive game libraries they offer to players, their incredible bonuses and their focus on player freedom, it is easy to see how AI technology could greatly improve the gambling experience of everyone who uses these platforms. AI can help players find content dedicated to them and their style, without requiring them to compromise on choice, the best deals, or the ability to use unique payment methods such as cryptocurrency to wager and withdraw funds.
Taking on Menial Tasks in Game Development
When it comes to creating video games, there are countless different tasks involved, all requiring different levels of creativity and ingenuity. Artificial intelligence is already being used by multiple game development companies to take on some of the more menial and repetitive tasks, which are still essential for the creation of a working game, but don’t require the human touch of creativity.
This then allows for the human game developers to focus on the more creative side of game development, such as narrative, as well as art and design, which often allows for the creation of better-crafted games. It also means that players are able to access games by specific studios more quickly, as the use of AI in the development stage massively increases the production speed and lets games hit the shelves at a much quicker rate. All of this helps contribute to a better gaming experience for the player.
Enhancing NPC Behaviour
NPCs, or non-playable characters, are often the heart and soul of a video game. These are the people you meet in the world of the game that you, as the player, do not control. NPCs could be allies, quest givers, loved ones of the playable character or even enemies, and it is usually these individuals that give the game its meaning and purpose.
AI has been used in the game development stages to greatly improve the behaviour of NPCs, making them much more realistic. Through this technology, NPCs can react in real-time to the player characters’ actions. They can also remember previous encounters with the player character and change their behaviour accordingly. All of this makes for a much richer and more realistic NPC and a more immersive gaming experience overall. AI has also been utilised to allow for NPC enemies to adjust their combat strategy depending on how well the player is performing, meaning they will make more mistakes if the player is struggling, or become better and more skilled should the player be doing well, tipping the balance and making sure a game never becomes too easy or too difficult to be enjoyable for the player.
Procedural Content Generation
It isn’t just supporting roles that artificial intelligence can take on during the game development stage; this technology can actually generate gaming content for the player to interact with. Rather than real people having to create and code every single aspect of the game, AI can create new and unique environments, characters and even entire levels in a matter of seconds.
What this means for players is that every experience of the game will be different and unique, no two players will have seen the exact same content in the game, and every playthrough will be new and exciting.The game No Man’s Sky is an excellent example of this technology in action. Artificial intelligence algorithms in this game create a whole universe of planets, including ecosystems, landscapes and creatures, that can be explored by the player. Every time you launch this game, the planets and their contents will be different, and everything, from the terrain, weather, flora and fauna of these worlds is procedurally generated in real-time as the player explores.
