I Am Sick of Cheap Computer AI

[IntvGene]

I just finished playing Twisted Metal Black, and I love the game and all, but I am getting a little sick of cheap AI for the computer opponents. In the game, your opponents don't need to pick up any weapons. They seem to have an unlimited assortment of weapons that they can fire off. It makes the game turn from fun to joystick-chewing frustration. >:(

I remember that the Computer AI in games has always been a little on the questionable side. I first noticed this in Hoyle's Card games for the PC. In Cribbage, I couldn't possibly keep track of the 24-point hands that the computer would seem to get "by chance".

Command and Conquer was another area where the computer doesn't play by the rules. When any of its harvesters got back to the base, it got ALL of its money back. Now, that's fair.

I am sure that the list goes on and on. Feel free to share your frustrations with an uneven playing field against the computer. I fear that in the future, the single player aspect of games may be marginalized even more, due to the emphasis on online play. I hope not. A good, fair Computer AI is tough to program and I hope that things get better, not worse.

[bargora]

Advance Wars (GBA) is a really fun game, but the AI is ultimately both cheap and weak.

Cheap: When you play with the "fog of war" option that conceals units to varying degrees, the computer always seems to know where your units are.

Weak: Highly predictable AI strategy. After a while you can manipulate the computer fairly easily.

The weak outweighs the cheap, though, as you can often defeat two equal computer opponents who are allied against you. Is it just overly difficult to program a good, non-cheap, non-predictable strategy AI?

[buttasuperb]

Simple solution to getting rid of the cheap AI in Twisted Metal Black. Play it online against other people.

[davidbrit2]

Heh, I was just going to mention Advance Wars. It seems that most programmers can't make an AI worth crap, and the game ends up too easy. Rather than improve it, they just let it cheat. Lovely. Hopefully Advance Wars 2 will be a bit more honest when it's released.

[IntvGene]

Simple solution to getting rid of the cheap AI in Twisted Metal Black. Play it online against other people.

Yeah, but going online opens another can of worms... dealing with assholes, and immature children. I think I would rather play against the AI.

[buttasuperb]

I'd much rather have real competition and deal with the few idiots, than play against the same computer all the time.

Anyways, in TMB online there isn't really a chance for people to be assholes. There is nowhere to chat, thus there is nowhere to talk shit, not even in the lobby. There might be cheaters, but I'm sure about that.

I don't understand why so many people are against online gaming.

[Retsudo]

Well IMHO, I think some people dont like online gamin is because of the Assholes and cheaters. I do play games online. But only on my computer. I've been playing Delta force1 for about 3 years now. There are plenty of cheaters in this game. But it doesnt bother me because I only play in selective servers where the host is always there and he doesnt put up with cheaters and abusive language.

I never tried playing online with my PS2 yet, but was going to check it out until I heard about all the Bull you havta put up with. The only game I was considering playing was Socom. I know its free to play, but all the glitchers and cheating going on is ridiculous. People use Gameshark and codebreakers to play in these servers. Cheats like INf. health, Rapidfire, and some cheat called Skywalker where you can fly like the flying Nun. Who want to play with a bunch of dickwards who play like this?

[Nature Boy]

I don't understand why so many people are against online gaming.

On top of the aforementioned cheaters and a-holes it's the cost that keeps me away. I have a free 56k connection at home through my wife's job (which I barely use).

To game online I'd have to not only get my own connection (which, again, I'd barely use), it'd likely have to be broadband (i.e. more $$$). And then there are the fees you hear about on top of your ISP connection. No thanks. I'll take cheap AI over bleeding money any day.

[buttasuperb]

Yea, I can understand not wanting to pay for dsl, it isn't exactly cheap, but I think it's worth it even without the fact you can play games online.

As for cheaters, I used to play a lot of Delta Force online, and that's where I've noticed the most cheaters. People moving at double speed, grenades falling out of the sky, shit like that. But does it really bother you that much? Sure there might be a couple cheaters, but you're stlll playing 20 other people who are playing fair.

Currently I play a lot of UT2003 online, and I haven't seen any cheaters yet. Just really skilled players. If someone is doing really good and racking up the kills, and rarely dying, it doesn't always mean they are cheating. There are people out there that are better than you. It's almost guaranteed. Of course those people play the game way too much, but it doesn't make them cheaters. I've only seen a couple people act like assholes swearing and such. And I've probably played the game online around 50 total hours over the last few months.

As for console games online, I haven't played Socom yet, but a friend says he hasn't seen many cheaters. I've played Madden and Twisted Metal Black online for ps2, and I've seen no cheaters, and in Madden there will be people swearing in the lobby, but it's not a big deal.

I just got an xbox to play CvS2 online, and so far it's been awesome. I don't use the headset, so I don't know if any of the people I'm playing are assholes and trying to talk shit, but all you gotta do is not use the headset to get rid of that. The only thing they need to fix, is that when someone quits in a game, say as soon as they lose, you are not credited with the win. Only the match counts, and the game only tallies up wins and total matches. Still a whole hell of a lot more fun than playing the computer.

:rocker:

[Retsudo]

@Buttersuperb

No, the online cheating in DF doesnt bother me at all anymore. Like i said before, i play in select servers.

By the way, Wat was your name in Delta force?

[Bratwurst]

In Half Life these days you can't play anywhere online without running into someone who has a head-shot aim bot.

On that note, I always hated it when a game's AI has PERFECT aim. Come on.

[NE146]

Yeah that Damn Guile and his instant Flash kick. wtf is up wit dat?!!? >:(

[buttasuperb]

By the way, Wat was your name in Delta force?

I had a few.

Gonorrea
Dick Cheney
Dikembe Mutumbo

I think that's it.

[Nature Boy]

Yea, I can understand not wanting to pay for dsl, it isn't exactly cheap, but I think it's worth it even without the fact you can play games online.

Worth it for some but not for all unfortunately. I just don't surf at home enough to use it - nor do I want to start surfing at home more. Doing it at work is cool enough with me.


But does it really bother you that much? Sure there might be a couple cheaters, but you're stlll playing 20 other people who are playing fair.

It would *totally* bother me. Especially since I'd have to start forking out more money for it - having to wade through the cheaters to get to the honest gamers would piss me off just that much more.

I can't stand liars or cheaters at all - there's just no reason for it. Get a life I say...

[Retsudo]

On that note, I always hated it when a game's AI has PERFECT aim. Come on.

Reminds me of Soviet strike on the PS1. talk about perfect aim >:(

[zot wildstarr]

Retsudo-

Did you mean "dickwads" instead of "dickwards" ?

Dickwards is sort of a combination slur on Robin. Dick Grayson....Burt Ward.


To the Batcave, old chum......

[ubersaurus]

Advance Wars (GBA) is a really fun game, but the AI is ultimately both cheap and weak.

Cheap: When you play with the "fog of war" option that conceals units to varying degrees, the computer always seems to know where your units are.

Weak: Highly predictable AI strategy. After a while you can manipulate the computer fairly easily.

The weak outweighs the cheap, though, as you can often defeat two equal computer opponents who are allied against you. Is it just overly difficult to program a good, non-cheap, non-predictable strategy AI?

Actually the fog of war thing was a glitch...in the one game mode, the enemy can see you in fog of war. I forget what mode it was though..versus I think.