Session Name: | Remember to Relax! Realizing Relaxed Behaviors in AAA Games |
Speaker(s): | Bobby Anguelov, Jeet Shroff |
Company Name(s): | Ubisoft Montreal, Avalanche Studios |
Track / Format: | AI Summit |
Overview: | Unlike the "fast and furious" chaos of combat, maintaining an illusion of believability for NPCs in a relaxed scenario can be difficult. During more ambient moments, actions, behaviors and character interaction are generally slower, highly visible and identifiable. As such, flaws and inconsistencies stand out. Additionally, many games also require that relaxed behaviors be integrated into gameplay - having key requirements and focused outcomes. We will cover the importance of relaxed behaviors both for combatant and world-simulation NPCs. Using specific examples and experiences from the past, as well as current developments, this lecture will show which techniques worked and which didn't. We will discuss various AI and gameplay systems and behavior animation techniques used to create and realize these behaviors for individual and groups of NPCs, highlighting ways to maintain the illusion of life on a production and memory budget. |