Posted 4/12/2024, 6:46:24 PM
AI Chatbots Show Promise, But Game Design Still Key for Meaningful Experiences
- I tried AI chatbot demos from Inworld AI and Ubisoft, was impressed by the technology but not convinced it will lead to meaningful new gameplay
- The demos let you have "natural" conversations with NPCs, but interactions still have to funnel into a limited set of outcomes the developers designed
- Immersive sims like Deus Ex feel reactive and "real" because everything is densely interlinked, not because conversations are freeform
- Deus Ex creator Warren Spector is more optimistic about AI NPC potential, though admits endless dialogue possibilities may not expand player agency
- Tightly designed games will likely always feel more "real" than ones overreliant on generative/procedural content, so AI's best use is complementing human design