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Good AI vs Fun AI
Soloeus
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This topic was covered by Soren Johnsen a well known game developer and I think Zenimax needs to learn the difference here because they have a boring AI that irritates and annoys you, not a fun AI that makes you want the next battle.
The presentation can be found with Google, you can help yourselves. You will observe a few key points:
1. Good AI will always "play to win" so it will try to keep you stunlocked, and use abuses/exploits and other mechanics to ensure you don't stand a chance. Some people say they want this game but they usually change their tune when every monster on the map kills them with cheap tactics. But hey, GOOD AI will use the best it has to the best efficiency it can.
It will always start with Nuke/Stun the healers/mages, and use healing rotations and CC to wipe the party.
2. Fun AI will always play to "Go out with a bang". Fun AI doesn't try to keep you stun-locked or use tactics that would grief, annoy or anger the player. The tactic is to be fun for the player. The AI isn't a player so it doesn't matter. Its only purpose is to provide fun engagement in the environment. This isn't just monsters either. It can also be time challenges, or anything else that makes a game fun with the AI, such as crafting systems or even loot.
Of course, what an MMO really needs is a fine balance. You want an AI that is consistent and persistent. You want the player to "feel" challenged and rewarded. You want the stick AND the carrot.
The question is, how do you balance Good vs Fun in a game in which the hardcore sports community only wants "The hardest game ever made" and the casuals only want "A fun activity that doesn't feel like a whole lot of work" and create any kind of harmony to please both crowds?
Solo Players are usually Casuals who just want Fun AI. They want much of the game to be Easy because they aren't trying to compete, they want to get the carrot at the end of the stick and have fun doing it.
Group Players are usually hardcore sports players who only want Good AI. They want the hardest experience possible. This is where you get most of your PVP and Hardcore PVP players.
There are casuals who are group players and pro sports solo players.
The question is, how to appease one crowd without turning off the other?
Nerfing CC angered both crowds. Hardcore Sports players lost a weapon they needed to compete. Casuals lost their ability to solo content with reasonable effort.
It is easy to turn away either crowd, or even both crowds yet it can be hard to appease either or both crowds. Pro Sports players want more rules, straightjackets and time/gold sinks. Casual Players want fewer restrictions, more options and easier gameplay with fewer gold sinks.
I hope someone, somewhere in Zenimax reads this and really thinks about Fun AI vs Good AI and the type of audience they want to attract.
The presentation can be found with Google, you can help yourselves. You will observe a few key points:
1. Good AI will always "play to win" so it will try to keep you stunlocked, and use abuses/exploits and other mechanics to ensure you don't stand a chance. Some people say they want this game but they usually change their tune when every monster on the map kills them with cheap tactics. But hey, GOOD AI will use the best it has to the best efficiency it can.
It will always start with Nuke/Stun the healers/mages, and use healing rotations and CC to wipe the party.
2. Fun AI will always play to "Go out with a bang". Fun AI doesn't try to keep you stun-locked or use tactics that would grief, annoy or anger the player. The tactic is to be fun for the player. The AI isn't a player so it doesn't matter. Its only purpose is to provide fun engagement in the environment. This isn't just monsters either. It can also be time challenges, or anything else that makes a game fun with the AI, such as crafting systems or even loot.
Of course, what an MMO really needs is a fine balance. You want an AI that is consistent and persistent. You want the player to "feel" challenged and rewarded. You want the stick AND the carrot.
The question is, how do you balance Good vs Fun in a game in which the hardcore sports community only wants "The hardest game ever made" and the casuals only want "A fun activity that doesn't feel like a whole lot of work" and create any kind of harmony to please both crowds?
Solo Players are usually Casuals who just want Fun AI. They want much of the game to be Easy because they aren't trying to compete, they want to get the carrot at the end of the stick and have fun doing it.
Group Players are usually hardcore sports players who only want Good AI. They want the hardest experience possible. This is where you get most of your PVP and Hardcore PVP players.
There are casuals who are group players and pro sports solo players.
The question is, how to appease one crowd without turning off the other?
Nerfing CC angered both crowds. Hardcore Sports players lost a weapon they needed to compete. Casuals lost their ability to solo content with reasonable effort.
It is easy to turn away either crowd, or even both crowds yet it can be hard to appease either or both crowds. Pro Sports players want more rules, straightjackets and time/gold sinks. Casual Players want fewer restrictions, more options and easier gameplay with fewer gold sinks.
I hope someone, somewhere in Zenimax reads this and really thinks about Fun AI vs Good AI and the type of audience they want to attract.
Within; Without.
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