EU Artificial Intelligence as open standard?

[Guest]

Although I haven't bought the game yet, I noticed (through downloading patch 1.03) that each nation's AI is stored as a separate .ai file.

Would Paradox consider releasing an 'AI editor' where gamers could enhance the AI, and releasing 'alternative AI's'? Imo, such open standard initiative could increase the challenge of the game further and, eventually, improving the general AI of the game significantly.

 

[unmerged(13)]

Rather than doing that I think Paradox would only maky *significant* updates to the A.I of EU if and when an add-on / EU 2 is released.


An add-on would be obviously slightly less enterprising than the new game, but nevertheless there is scope for some significant improvement. EU2 would need to have A.I that utterly deficates on the art-intelligence of EU1 or any add-on and the idea of that is just utterly mindnumbing considering that the A.I in EU is probably the best I've ever faced in this sort of game, though it does have its faults. Nothing is perfect.

As for using the EU A.I standard in other games of this sort, I don't see why not. However they would only be released by Paradox, but I don't doubt other developers would steal this sort of setup and use it for their own games with significant improvements. Unfortunately thats what most developers do nowdays.

Sapura

 

[Doomdark]

The .ai files are very general in nature - there is not much you can change in them. I.e. an ordinary text editor will suffice. 99.9% of the AI behaviour is certainly in the actual game code.

/Doomie

 

[maurice]

Some random thoughts.
The AI certainly could be better.
I have been playing Portugal on hardest level and it usually isn't too hard to defeat Spain and France and India which is more than enough to win.
There are a few barriers to a good AI though:
1. Historically, European countries were not out to conquer Europe - there was no real incentive - whereas EU human players must conquer to win.
2. So the AI needs to be more focussed on defense = fortifying, building a big 'home army' or two, recognising threats
3. Should the AI cheat? The answer is yes - at least to the same extent as players 'cheat'. For example, tobacco and spices colonies are #1 targets for establishment of a trading post. I know where they are - does the AI? Conquering India and the Aztecs will win the game usually - does the AI care?
If I play against human players, will they stick to historical strategy? e.g. Spain in Central America? As a human player I would go for all the valuable colonies regardless of which country I am. Is there an option for the AI to play historically or 'death match'?
4. What the game needs is a random New World - then the AI would have a chance.