Warren Spector: Hey Carmack, Sweeney, stop rendering and start making believable AI

[itachi73378]

Deus Ex and Epic Mickey maker Warren Spector has thrown down the gauntlet. He wants superstar programmers John Carmack and Tim Sweeney to stop fascinating on rendering believable objects and to start fascinating on creating believable minds, AI, and to start simulating life.
Imagine what they could do if they spent as much time on it as they do now modelling a gun, Spector enthused to Eurogamer Germany today at Gamescom - imagine what they could create.

Can you imagine what they could create?
"I've been actively trying to shame some of my fellow developers, specifically John Carmack and Tim Sweeney," Spector declared. "Can you imagine what games would look like if those two guys spent as much time working on non-combat AI as they do on rendering? Can you imagine what games we would have if John Carmack decided he wanted to create a believable character as opposed to a believable gun?

More here

[Fijiandoce]

not sure if trollin or humbling
writer of article was poor in conveying the tone of statement.

Killzone has good AI. so does Crysis. Oblivion has AMAZING AI....i don't get where his problem lies. if they choose to render pretty pictures that's their prerogative. no point having good non-combat AI when all you're going to do is gun them down

[Ghost-Rhayne]

If Carmack had spent more time on creating something new and innovative instead of wanking over his super saiyan textures, perhaps Rage would have been more fun to play.

[itachi73378]

not sure if trollin or humbling
writer of article was poor in conveying the tone of statement.

Killzone has good AI. so does Crysis. Oblivion has AMAZING AI....i don't get where his problem lies. if they choose to render pretty pictures that's their prerogative. no point having good non-combat AI when all you're going to do is gun them down

You seem to be missing the point here. The article says to focus on creating believable human characters and shift the focus from graphics to AI development. Human revolution had great AI, but a lot more can be done in this field. Therefore he wants the big devs to switch gears

[Fijiandoce]

You seem to be missing the point here. The article says to focus on creating believable human characters and shift the focus from graphics to AI development. Human revolution had great AI, but a lot more can be done in this field. Therefore he wants the big devs to switch gears

i was inclined to believe he was humbling himself, whilst stating his disapproval of other studio heads. the article writer didn't do a very good job. in fact, he made up a quote about half way through. which is why im confused about the articles tone, is the writer trolling or humbling...
but as i say, "non-combat AI" is only really useful in a game which doesn't revolve around combat doesn't it?

im a bit confused.

from what i've seen, Cryengine 3 has kickass combat and non-combat AI.
how much further can you take AI in a game?

Oblivion has AI that walk from town to town. eat, sleep, go shopping etc. i assume this is the kind of non-combat AI he is referring to right?
or is he trying to imply some form of TRUE AI??? which fully reacts to, and is aware of, the world around them?

[itachi73378]

Yeah he means non combat AI.
imho there is always room for improvement. We have seen great improvements recently and there's always room for more

[Fon]

I believe that what the article is trying to get at is making AI that don't act like robots.