Steve Hartmeyer, a programmer on NetDevil's upcoming Jumpgate Evolution, files this Dev Journal on the game's AI system.

We've spoken a great deal in interviews and other articles about just how excited we are about Jumpgate Evolution's AI system. It has rapidly gone from being a system intended to solve one or two things, to becoming the tool of choice to address all sorts of interrelated game issues. Although we try to maintain perspective and recognize that employing the AI system is not always the proper solution to a problem, this is truly a case where the excited kid inside each of us tends to burst out and enthuse, "We can make the AI do that! Wouldn't that be great?" It's simply the case that our AI system is turning out to be very capable and versatile, so it's extremely tempting to make quite extensive use of it.

Read the whole thing here.

Apsolutely amazing.

You guys are actually making living breathing universe

It will be interesting to see a truely dynamic universe in which we the gamer can participate in and influence. Nice work so far. If you continue down this path you definately will have  a hit.

It could be amazing... and looks like they are aiming for that goal and no other.

Imagine it..

You (player) jump into a system. Trader/hauler/miner NPCs fly about on 'safe' routes through the system, protected by patrolling defender NPCs...

When a message flashes across your comm from a trade vessel...

"We're under attack by pirates! Someone please help! We can't outrun them!"

You see a patrolling defender break off his patrol route and fire his afterburner towards the distressed trader. A message pops up on your comm from the defender, he's engaging hostiles and requesting backup.

You then have a choice, help the defender to save the trader? Or simply go about your business?

The comm lights up again, a pirate's grizzled voice chimes through,

"1,000 credits to any freelancer who get's these patrol ships off our back!"

What do you do?

This simlpe situation creates so many possibilities for both PvE action and PvP action, as defined by how you wish to role play your character.

The possibilities... are truly endless.

Keep up the good work, and if the game really does play more like X-Wing vs. Tie-Fighter (instead of the crappy Jump to Lightspeed) you can count me in!

Interesting approach... I can't wait to see it in action.

Originally posted by heerobya

It could be amazing... and looks like they are aiming for that goal and no other.

Imagine it..

You (player) jump into a system. Trader/hauler/miner NPCs fly about on 'safe' routes through the system, protected by patrolling defender NPCs...

When a message flashes across your comm from a trade vessel...

"We're under attack by pirates! Someone please help! We can't outrun them!"

You see a patrolling defender break off his patrol route and fire his afterburner towards the distressed trader. A message pops up on your comm from the defender, he's engaging hostiles and requesting backup.

You then have a choice, help the defender to save the trader? Or simply go about your business?

The comm lights up again, a pirate's grizzled voice chimes through,

"1,000 credits to any freelancer who get's these patrol ships off our back!"

What do you do?

This simlpe situation creates so many possibilities for both PvE action and PvP action, as defined by how you wish to role play your character.

The possibilities... are truly endless.

Keep up the good work, and if the game really does play more like X-Wing vs. Tie-Fighter (instead of the crappy Jump to Lightspeed) you can count me in!

That reminds me of Space Ranger. Great game.

I really like what I'm hearing, looking forward for more info on JE.

   This does sound good.  Might get me out of MMORPG retirement

OMG Everything I hear about this game is totally rad...  I promised myself I wouldn't get all worked up over a game before it's release(mostly because of the dissapointment afterwards) but I cannot help it! This game is so good if I could I would eat it!!  

I'm definitely looking forward to this game. JGC was fun, but JGE has the opportunity to be so much more.

All devs rant and rave about how excited they are about their AI.  So far it hasn't really lived up to par.  I wouldn't have a problem with eating my own words though about this game. 

I think most of what they're stating is not only possible, but pretty much available in the AI systems that exist today. The division of AI from bots may be useful in debugging both sets of behaviors ( code ). All in all, these developers seem to have the basics under the belt, if they're willing, they'll make several breakthroughs that will make current MMOs look terrible by comparison.

-- Brede

Originally posted by MagicStar
AIs should not be designed to replace each players roles. If there are a lot of players online, AIs should not be that important.

I'm sure a mechanism will exist to scale bot activity with player numbers or player activity.

Dear God...

There is actually someone out there that knows what Traveller is!!!

Lets hope that JGE tries to get some of that "Feel" in the game.

I actually played Traveller, great system - actually the rewritten edition but core of the idea was the same and also Mega Traveller, those were the times.

JE seems to be building to a very interesting title, hopefully they won't compromise when quality and features are in question.

Many of you who have ever played JG know who I am or have heard of me. Those that don't well lets just say that I played this game a little too much. It still remains my all time favorite game. I'm hoping that this new AI will breath some life back into JG so that I can come back and fly and fight with old friends again.

Fun Times :D

ixholla (EEA)

That's great.

Did you here that MM is coming out with T 5?  It's suppose to be out summer '08.

Myself, I refereed games mostly between Traveller Classic and TNE.  Did not like TNE, but it had some good conceptual material.

Originally posted by MagicStar
AIs should not be designed to replace each players roles. If there are a lot of players online, AIs should not be that important.

They're not meant to replace players. They're meant to supplement player-interaction and bring the universe to life.

Even if there are a lot of players, AI would still be important because players could use them to their advantage in many ways, by disrupting them to throw the economy off balance or manipulate AI routes to sabotage enemy players. You just have to think about how your actions and the actions of AI effect the world around you, that in turn effect other players.

The way this works is fantastic. Playing a game where all this is going on will feel like the gameworld is alive and your actiuons have a real impact. For example:

A station needs supplies so it spawns a mining ship. The ship uses AI to fly off and locate the right roid and mine it. On the way it "posts" its status in a que that other bots have access to. Pirates try to kill it, patrollers try to defend it, players get involved too. If it survives it gets the ore back to the station where a hauler grabs some and takes it to another station for processing. It "posts" its status... and the entire thing happens again sparking other actions and reactions from AI bots and players alike.

I can imagine a LOT f comm traffic between bots and players... calls for help, offers of bounties to help kill this bot or that attacking player. This system will make the Jumpgate universe really come to life

Originally posted by Sroek

 

Originally posted by MagicStar
AIs should not be designed to replace each players roles. If there are a lot of players online, AIs should not be that important.

 They're not meant to replace players. They're meant to supplement player-interaction and bring the universe to life.

Another thing, AI can be programmed to be a lot better at roleplaying, in a way.  It can be programmed to behave in ways that fit the environment more realistically, offsetting all the players charging around like lunatics after their dangling carrots.  Good AI can make for a much more immersive gameworld.