AI Improvements

The AI Improvements is a voting option for a future update of Macro Micro VR Service.
This update is expected to require five months of development.

This update will include a big rework of the AI system, which needs to be redesigned to provide better control.

During this update I will update the AI decision methods, separate the AI desires and the ways to achieve them.
(Currently the AI follow branches depending on the context and take decisions related to the personality)
So the AI will look more natural and less scripted.

I will also use new tools like the State Trees for specific use cases and standardize some of my own tools to make it more modular and easier to use.

I will also do some refactoring like the way to manage the AI and request system.
Currently on the development side, the Game Master code needs to set up every action and then send requests to the AI system.
With the AI Improvements update or the Game Master Improvements (depending on which comes first),
it will be possible to send simple requests to the AI, and it will decide how to achieve them without having to control it directly in the game code. That will help a lot the management of the AI internally.

For the player here the changes:

1. You will be able to send simple commands to Talas in a game master menu or with a cheat menu.
   "Talas -> Action -> Move and stomp -> Player[PlayerName]"

2. New interactions and reactions.
   You will be able to whistle to get Talas' attention or interact with new objects that will trigger a reaction from Talas.
   Turn on the radio, turn off the TV, Thumbtack traps, etc.
   For this update, with the new interactions I will add only very simple animations and blocking to keep this update focus on the AI.

3. New AI for the micro NPCs.
   If you spawn a micro they will be able to interact with them. Ask them to wait, follow you or explore.
   Micro NPC will run away from Talas and hide before continuing their exploration.

4. AI more optimized for multiplayer.
   For the moment the AI focus only on one micro and ignore the others.
   With this update, the AI will be able to manage multiple micros and take decisions based on them.

Return to roadmap: Milestone List