How do videogame devs create bots ranging from beginner level to hardcore depending on your settings choice?
In: Technology
It depends on the game. It could incorporate specific variables that effect / fine tune the performance, “intelligence”, or so on of the bot, and/or use different algorithms or pathways entirely of decision making.
E.g. opponents looking at x steps ahead, or operating completely blind to future odds. Using optimal strategy, suboptimal strategy, or purposely blundering frequently. Having near-100% precision, or random variance around the “correct” value. Tracking the player directly when targeting, or factoring in player movement to fire predictively. Letting the computer “know” player position and status as normal, or force it to choose options as if it didn’t have access to this information (think fog of war, cards in your hand/deck, etc.). And so on.
An important note is that a computer opponent that chooses the optimal strategy isn’t always fun to play against, so often it’s better to purposely make an AI opponent act “dumber”, so players have a better experience. And sometimes that involves making something too smart and working backwards. Or, sometimes it’s building up to a point and leaving it purposely flawed in ways that are more fun to play against.
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