Sony's semi-official blog ThreeSpeech has posted an article that asks AI coders from a number of studios "how close are we to creating truly autonomous AI characters" in games. To quote:
Part one: autonomy
To kick off, we’re looking at enemies who think for themselves. How close are we to creating truly autonomous AI characters, able to react in real-time to player actions and formulate their own responses? Some developers have been experimenting with techniques such as Goal-Orientated Action Planning (GOAP) for several years in order to create ‘thinking’ beings.
But is this desirable? And is there still a role for scripted AI, in which the baddies perform actions based on pre-programmed, pre-determined elements? We ask the makers of F.E.A.R, Prototype, Dead Space and Wheelman.
Participants:
Sergio Garces Casao, Lead AI Programmer, Prototype, Radical Entertainment
Chris Hecker: Independent game coder
Jef... More »
Sam_Protagonist has confirmed on the official PS boards (linked above) that the online level creation mode in LittleBigPlanet will not be accessible at launch as originally planned.
According to his post, the functionality will be implemented through a post-launch patch due out at an unspecified date, however, users will still be able to create levels with friends offline and share them online.
To quote: This is correct. The ability to create with your friends online will come as part of the first major update after the game is released. Offline creating with up to 4 people on one PlayStation 3 however is available right from the get go.
Just to clarify what this means for the game, here's a few more FAQs -
Is online create in the game from launch?
No it's not, however it will be included in the first game update after launch. We're working on making this available as quickly as possible, but want to make sure it's right... More »
Daimion Pinnock, the WipeOut HD producer, has revealed it was quite a challenge to get SIXAXIS motion control in Wipeout HD.
Pinnock revealed that it is possible to just throw motion control into games although they spent the time tweaking it to ensure it felt right. He added that continuous feedback was particularly important to ensure motion control was beneficial to the actual gameplay itself and not just there for the sake of it. To quote:
WP: Let's talk about the motion controls. WipeOut, from its very earliest inception, has always supported analog control, but WipeOut HD is the first in the series to actually support motion controls with the SixAxis. How hard was that to get it right?
DP: Well, it was a challenge. It certainly was a challenge to get it in there. The main thing when you're going to have the SixAxis controller in there. I mean obviously, you can go in and put it in there, but we spent time tweaking it, making sure it... More »
Back before Square Enix rescinded its friendly Tecmo takeover bid, we first broke the news that RPG maker was baffled. Tecmo rejected its offer in favor of merging with Dynasty Warriors company Koei. Most curious. Square Enix had three questions for Tecmo:
1. Please confirm that the decision on the start of discussions with KOEI toward integration of management is the reason for rejection of the Proposal.
2. If that is the case, please clarify concretely that major terms of integration of management with KOEI (form of the integration, stock prices assumption, integration ratio and so forth) are favorable for TECMO's shareholders than the Proposal.
3. If not, please clarify that TECMO has an alternative plan, which is favorable for TECMO's shareholders than the Proposal.
Tecmo didn't answer these questions until today. We've translated that, after the jump.
PSU writes: In a beneficial turn of events for the home entertainment industry, Blu-ray sales continue to rise drastically despite the staggering U.S. economy.
As DVD sales decline, Blu-ray has been filling in the gap, generating more than $200 million in the first half of 2008. This is in stark contrast to the same point last year, where Blu-ray earnings were less than 33% of current figures.
“We are trending 8% Blu-ray sales [per title], and at the end of the year, we will be between 10% and 12%," stated Mike Dunn of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.
Lori MacPherson, general manager for Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, North America contributed her thoughts.
“I think people are becoming pickier on what they spend their money on, but home entertainment always represents a good value. Thirty dollars for a Blu-ray movie that you can watch over and over again is still a great value,” she commented.
More »
General
- Dispel effects will no longer attempt to remove effects that have 100% dispel resistance.
- Parry Rating, Defense Rating, and Block Rating: Low-level players will now convert these ratings into their corresponding defensive stats at the same rate as level 34 players.
- Haris Pilton has launched a new line of bags and jewelry. Check her out in the World’s End Tavern!
- Mounts at 30?! Yes, it’s true: Apprentice Riding and mounts are now available at level 30. Training costs 35 gold.
- Blood Elf flightmasters outside of Silvermoon City and Tranquillien have traded their bats in for glorious fire-breathing dragonhawks.
- Alcohol cooldowns have been rolled into Drinks: All 10-second cooldowns have been removed and replaced with the 1-second Drink cooldown.
- Numerous flying non-combat pets have had their flight height modified to no longer skim along the ground: captured firefly, dragon... More »
An experimental helmet is being tested by scientists as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease. It delivers low levels of infra-red light, which researchers at the University of Sunderland, believe may stimulate the growth of brain cells.
Tests in mice showed it improved learning ability and a study in humans is due to begin in the summer. Current treatments for Alzheimer's delay progression of the disease but cannot reverse memory loss.
The infra-red therapy was first developed to treat cold sores.
But when researchers studied how it worked, they found it stimulated growth of cells and may have applications in other conditions.
Daily therapy
In tests in people with dementia using infra-red lasers, eight out of nine people showed some improvement, said Dr Gordon Dougal, a GP and director of Virulite, a medical research company based in County Durham.
However, in order to safely deliver the treatment through... More »
The news just continues to sour for the HD DVD camp. Earlier today, Warner Bros. decided to go Blu-ray exclusive by the end of May 2008. Warner Bros. executives backed their decision by saying that the move was beneficial for consumers.
"A two-format landscape has led to consumer confusion and indifference toward high definition, which has kept the technology from reaching mass adoption and becoming the important revenue stream that it can be for the industry," stated Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group President Kevin Tsujihara.
Toshiba, clearly stunned by the announcement, issued a press release of its own stating its disappointment with the decisions by Warner Bros.
"We will assess the potential impact of this announcement with the other HD DVD partner companies and valuate potential next steps," said Toshiba in a statement. "We remain firm in our belief that HD DVD is the format best suited... More »
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