It has been a while since the last update!
This extra report it is not like the usual.
It does not contain any update for the game; instead this report is for showing something that will be available in the next update.
At first, the 0.2130 version was intended to be just a quick update with some small improvements in the AI and some extra content. However, it is becoming a more substantial update with bigger changes in AI, including several improvements to the game in general.
But without reveling too much, this extra report is just to talk about what’s coming regarding the AI improvements.
As most of you may be aware, the actual AI already showcase some interesting behaviors that without any cheating it can be challenging to any player.
But while they may be considered more advanced than usual for the genre, they still have several flaws. One of those flaws is the collision avoidance, until now the collision avoidance was a bit random; but worse, all the AI pilots always fly straight toward the target regardless what may be in front of them.
This next update will try to fix some of these issues and enhance the overall AI.
So the purpose of this extra report is to show a small video of the latest improvements in the AI.
This video depicts a special level to test the collision avoidance routines of the AI.
This is not a pre-scripted path, the AI units plan their route in real time.
You may have noticed the avoidance is not perfect, some of the AI crashed during the video, while still going to be improved, it will never be perfect nor is it intended to be..
So what do you think of this?
And what are your thoughts about the current AI? Is too easy? Too difficult?
Look interesting for ,me not much time to play but in survival ai always got me
Anyway nice to see how ai work hope it will getting better and better,
Is the collision test meant for skyscraper dogfighting in cities? :D
Yes, but not just for skyscrapers, there will be other tests for enclosed spaces, tunnels and areas with airborne debris.
Or canyons... remember that level in AC 3 ?... Oh god, I still have some nightmares from it.
I think the problem with the AI isn't that it's too smart or too dumb so much as it is "too machine-like" B-52 tail gunners can shoot you down even if you are flying perpendicular to the bomber's tail, and the AI in survival mode never seem to make mistakes (although this could just be because they only have to keep track of one plane and can flank you with impunity). The AI crash into the ocean during combat maneuvers and don't seem to know to gain altitude, but these don't seem like "real" pilot errors (which could be simulated with a random number generator) so much as a machine that can't cope with situations it's not programmed to understand. I think giving the AI more rules to follow (don't get too close to sea level, look for opportunities to gain altitude during dogfights, maybe even some algorithm to help the AI exploit the blind spots of turreted aircraft) and a tie a lot of the AI's existing actions to random number generators (allowing you to base difficulty on the chance of errors in judgment by enemy pilots, rather than increasing enemy health or something), but this might be a resource hog.
Thanks, for the next update there are several improvements to fix some of the issues you mentioned. Most of them will give the AI a more natural behavior and more variety in their actions.
I look forward to hear your opinion after that, to see if you still think of the AI acts like a machine.
They seem a bit dumb, after all they are trained fighter pilots with multimillion dollar planes
That won't apply in VR/simulator environment anyway.
Oh wai- :P
This was in VR; no AI player was hurt during the test.
But they should train more to avoid make this kind of mistakes in actual combat.
Yes, some of them may seem rather dumb, but before this, all the AI players flew toward against the wall.
With time, they should be able to avoid any obstacles that the player may lead them to.
Times in that sneak peak for Report 29 is that some form of airborne carrier shadow I see? Also is it me or have you improved the ground textures in that pic?
No there was no improvement. It just a normal screen shot but with the highest graphic settings.
Can you add a AC style gun crosshair in the next update? Which is basically the crosshair showing the trajectory of the bullets during turns. Would really help during frantic dogfights.
Also, the bomb physics are a little buggy.
The upcoming update is already pretty late, but maybe, if there is a little extra time, the issue with bomb behaviors will be fixed.
I agree something simualr to ACX gun reticule system.
The gun aiming system has been delayed, so it would be developed after the improvement in the projectiles.
As the projectiles improvement is already done, it shouldn't take long to the new aim system be available.