Introduction:
Alexa! Call father!
How easy life has become with such smart assistants who think, process and perform functions like a human brain does. Well, none of these would be possible without the evolution of Artificial intelligence. Siri, Tesla, Netflix, and many such products and industries rely on AI for functioning. Gaming is one such industry where AI has set its footsteps a long time ago. A recent report states that, gaming industry will set up a CAGR of 12% between 2020-2025. The report also infers that AI and virtual reality are the most reliable assets of the gaming industry. In the year 2020, gamers spent almost $4.5 billion on immersive gaming. Mobile gaming has also evolved drastically, dominating over 60% of the overall video game market in 2021.
AI and gaming:
Even before gaming industry gained its recognition, Artificial Intelligence was already incorporated into gaming. It originated way back in 1950s, where MiniMax algorithm was used to develop chess games. This algorithm worked on choosing the best possible move based on the current board setting. The 1970s saw a wide recognition of the gaming industry, which in turn resulted in AI becoming a major component in popular gaming brands.
The 1980s saw the game "Pac-Man' which displayed a much challenging opponent which learnt the routes of the gamer in specific circumstances. "Donkey Kong" was another game released in the 1990s which challenged the players to newer levels of difficulties.
However, AI was still underdeveloped back then, since the opponents repeated the same mistakes, and were incapable of self-learning the gamer's tactics.
Years later, a big jump was observed in Gaming AI, which gave rise to new possibilities.
By 2011, many game developers developed games that had complex and vast landscapes, with the help of AI. By mid 2015s, there was a huge surge in gaming where AI was used for generating unique challenging missions, deploying pre-programmed NPCs and opponents.
Today, the entire gaming industry has evolved and has become a sustainable source of income for many popular gamers in the market. Games like Pub-g, GTA, Need for speed, et cetera are proofs that how AI can give rise to such an amazing and challenging gaming experience to the user.
Why does AI matter in gaming?
Since AI inculcates human intelligence into machines, making them function like humans and carry out actions like humans has changed the gaming industry drastically. Now players encounter a realistic gaming experience on a virtual platform and showcase their skills to their full potential against an AI-based worthy opponent. For example, Mortal Kombat, a duo fighting game where the AI-based opponent studies your fighting skills and defends itself by foreseeing them beforehand, giving the player a much more challenging environment to play in..
Stimulates gamer's interest
A majority of users play games as a medium of recreation from their stressful and hectic life. Gaming helps in creating a sense of satisfaction and achievement. The AI-based opponents are trained with a variety of styles and techniques, giving the user a realistic approach to the game. The gamer gets involved in strategy building and brainstorming new tactics to defeat the opponent who is way too powerful for simple and predictive gameplay styles. Video games are no longer some redundant activity used to pass time. The involvement of AI has given an open and challenging platform for enthusiastic gamers to play at their full potential.
Developing smarter games
AI-based Voice Intelligence is attracting major changes in gameplay. A new range of smarter games across a variety of genres are given rise with the help of these assistants. AI can also help in planning and building a strong framework of gameplay. A good example of this would be, using reinforcement learning technique of AI to make the game characters self-learn and function as per the designed surroundings. Example, in “Assassin’s Creed”, the enemies self- learn the gamer’s attacking and defending strategies and attacks him strategically when he is vulnerable or prone to damage.
Developing Realistic Games
The advancement in AI has led to gameplays having interactive 3D visualizations, and merging games with Augmented and Virtual Realities. It gives a realistic feeling when games obey the laws of physics and have a much more intelligent approach. Such games are not only visually appealing, but they also give the gamers a feeling of living in a parallel world where they have the freedom to do what they want. Example, “Grand Theft Auto” is a widely popular game where the user experiences living in a whole new virtual city where he can roam, steal cars, accomplish missions, go for shopping, get a haircut, et cetera.
How is AI used in gaming?
Decision Trees:
These are supervised learning models that are used in predicting and classification of outcomes.. Decision trees are the most primary AI methods for designing games. They predict the outcome of the desired action done by the user by following simple decision-making rules based on the data that it gets. It is easy to interpret results from Decision trees and display them with interactive visualizations.
In AI- based gaming, Decision Trees (DTs) help in predicting the outcomes and consequences of certain actions or choices performed by the gamer. Narrative-based games use DTs to proceed with one among their various alternative narratives depending on the actions of the gamer. Example, The game "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order" uses DTs to display hints of the past and future outcomes of the protagonist given the specific circumstances he is in. The protagonist can now make a reasonable choice among the available options and direct the gameplay’s narrative in the way he wants.
Deep Neural Networks:
Artificial Neural Networks are algorithms that function similarly to human brains and interpret various features from the data that is already stored. Neural Networks have the ability to model a reality-based world and create complex gaming scenarios. They coverup the limitations of basic AI techniques that occurs while gaming development. They self-learn and adapt to the constantly changing gaming environments.
The Neural Network algorithm interprets data in two ways. They are either manually trained through a vast data and then launched in the game or they learn in real-time during the gameplay through the live generated data. The latter helps in improving the gaming agents even while the game is played.
They learn and adapt new tactics of gamers and keep the spark of the game alive even if it extends beyond a point. They also help in controlling Non Playable Characters and gaming environments.
Reinforcement Learning:
This machine learning method functions on the basis of trial and error. The model is trained by letting itself act on certain scenarios and self-learning on the basis of good or bad outcomes from those actions. The algorithm remembers the bad outcomes and finds a way to avoid them in further actions.
This technique is quite beneficial in designing Non Playable Characters (NPCs) and enhancing their decision making skills when they are put in new environments. Games are the primary targets for testing reinforcement training because this technique has been in practice since a long time.
Many computer players use AplhaGo which is a popular reinforcement training algorithm. However, this technique cannot be a stand alone for high-end games, hence AlphaGo plays a supporting role in many AI techniques such as deep learning.
Genetic Algorithm:
It is an advanced-level technique that is based on the theory of natural evolution. Similar to the rule of natural selection, this algorithm chooses the most suitable candidates to advance them to the next level.
This technique is basically used in tasks that require accuracy. They are known for generating amazing outcomes in multicriteria scenarios. GAs was earlier used in board games in order to perform the best moves for the gamer opponent. The widely used application of GAs is to learn the most repetitive but efficient tactics used by gamers and defend themselves against such tactics. This makes the gameplay more challenging and realistic, as it covers many loopholes which the players will no longer be able to exploit through repeated steps that guarantee victory in games. Hence, GAs help in extending the gameplay and making it more unpredictive and long-lasting.
AI in gaming development:
Image Enhancement
Image Enhancement simply means to transforms 3D visualizations and graphics into photorealistic images. For example, locations in the popular Grand Theft Auto. The AI engineers deployed in the Deep Learning system used the trained neural network algorithm. They transform a mere synthetic image of places like LA and California into a realistic depiction. Also, with AI upscaling, a low resolution image is converted into a similar-looking image but with many pixels. This process enhances the graphics of the games and makes them more playable. (as seen in the above figure)
Procedural Content Generation (PCG)
These refer to a variety of AI-based methods that give rise to vast open-world environments, unique levels and many other gaming elements. This is not only challenging but also a promising advancement in the application of AI in gaming. Many of the popular games are based on open-world gameplays. "Need for Speed" is one such game belonging to the "racing" genre which uses this technique to generate new race tracks, new safe houses, new garages, etc.
Players have the freedom to explore and discover new landscapes. Development and design of such games require a lot of time and resources if done manually. But this AI technique itself builds new and unique scenarios depending on the game's status. 'Subway Surfers' game is also a pretty good example of how the game itself creates more challenging environments as the user progresses through it.
Adding interactive narratives
AI has even proved itself to have a creative mind as it is also used for generating new stories and narratives. Such games are pretty unique where the narrative of the game lies in the hands of the gamer. They can impact the storyline through their choices, words or actions. Natural Language Processing is one such AI technique which is used to analyze text and give rise to new scenarios based on past learnt storylines. Example, the game "AI Dungeon 2" works on an open source text generator that is developed by OpenAI. The source of the training data for this game is through many adventure books.
Making Non-Playable Characters (NPCs) smarter
Most of the games use pre-programmed NPCs which play the role of opponents. Hence, AI is being used to bring authenticity and intelligence to such NPCs. This will make them more unpredictive, more challenging and more enjoyable opponents. AI will also help NPCs to respond to specific scenarios and conditions in games in pretty unique ways. Hence, generating AI-based NPCs will save the time and resources of coding and developing pre-programmed NPCs. For example, in the game ‘Grand Theft Auto’, the NPCs fight back when you trouble them, or some even call up the cops to arrest you.
Future of AI in gaming:
The sudden development in the gaming industry is a result of advancements in AI. There are complex techniques that help in conducting in-depth analysis and outcome predictions for a game with the help of AI algorithms and carry out decision-making processes.
Recent games have already programmed gameplay storylines that are enacted based on the user's decision. But in the future, AI can build their own game storyline based on how you direct your choices and answer your characters.
The primary motive of AI was to enhance users' gaming experience by giving amazing interactive interfaces. However, given how AI is evolving, it won't come as a surprise if the Speech recognition feature is incorporated into gaming. Users then will be able to speech inputs, and the character could interpret it and react accordingly. The AI can also bring certain advancements in the future where you can entirely be a part of the virtual world that is happening in the game. You could interact with the gaming characters and gaming elements at a one-on-one level. You may also be able to feel the sensations occurring in the game. This shows there are endless possibilities on how the gaming industry would look like in the future as AI keeps progressing. Well, one thing is certain, that there is no going back from here.
Conclusion:
The benefits of AI are endless, especially since it's developing even as we speak. One can strongly say that AI has revolutionized the entire gaming industry whether it comes to the manner in which we interact with games, the narratives of the games, or the designing framework inculcated in them. Gaming will no longer be a time passing activity, but a medium to take a break from reality and involve ourselves in a virtual world where everything seems real.
Written by,
Saurabh Tholiya, MSc Statistics and Data Science.
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