I got to say this - COTA has one of the best AIs I have seen

[MarkShot]

I am sorry, but I just had to say this.

I know you are thinking, "well what would a beta tester say about a game that they are closely involved with?".

Fair point.

You know COTA is not the only game I play. I will not enumerate the other games I play here and point out the flaws in the various AI implementations. But here is what I know:

Most reasonable quality games that I buy (which is the only type I buy, since I usually wait until the game has been out for quite a while), I am able to figure patterns in the AI behavior after no more than six months. Those patterns tend to repeat themselves from game to game such that a few standard formulas are sufficient to beat the AI provided that the scenario author hasn't buried some nasty surprises in the scenario or the force balance is not heavily weighted against the player.

I have been playing/testing the AA engine which powers COTA since 2001. So, I know the engine much better compared to these other games that I already own or purchase from time to time. Yet after five years with the AA engine I have yet to come up with a set of human-vs-AI formulas that guarantee one victory after another. Now, I do win these days the majority of scenarios which I play on the first time around. However, those victories come through careful analysis of the scenario, situation, and terrain --- no formula templates. The techniques which I employ are those very same ones that have shown up in my mini guide threads. For the most part, we are talking about high level plans composed out of building blocks of realistic military tactics. And in my case, there may also be an occassional ahistorical military practice here or there, since I am no grognard (just a game player).

But that is really something when you think about it. Five years and I have yet to arrive at a few basic rules for trouncing the AI every game I play. I have played video games since around 1992/1993 and done a number of gaming guides focused on MP or SP over the years. Those patterns of weakness in the AI found in other games, just don't seem to be there in COTA.

I am not saying the AI is perfect. I write scenario reviews when I play them and often do have criticisms, but those criticisms are more often than not about how the AI played a specific situation and not how it handles an entire class of situations.

Like I said, I am a beta tester and you can write this off as your usual "fan boy" ranting if you want. But those who have read my air combat gaming guides will know that I am very good at spotting patterns. If COTA's AI has patterns, then its going to take a lot more smarts than me to spot them.

COTA is as close you are going to get to being able to find "war in a box" and get a sense of what it means to command. And if you are not a grog and only a guy or gal who likes computer games, then it will be an intellectual challenge worthy of the investment of your time.

And that's all I have to say about that.

[ravinhood]

Writing this off as usual "fanboy ranting" hehe
 
No really thanks for the view. But, you know what they say, the challenge of the ai is in the grey matter of the players. They ranted MM's Civil War Bull Run ai was fantastic also, but, when I finally played it within 2 games I had it figured out, I swept practically the whole union army with Jacksons brigades. The only time I lost after my initial learning experience of the mechanics of the game was due to a crapshot lucky shot by some far off artillery piece that killed Jackson. lol
 
One of these days I'm going to load up HTTR and give this ai a try. I never was a fan of British actions during the war unless I was playing the Germans hehe. I'm waiting on the next one really the Bulge one, then I will surely give it a whirl.

[Arjuna]

ravinhood,
 
To maximise your chances of giving BFTB a whirl I would urge you to buy COTA. We really do need all the support we can get in order to continue developing this engine.

[MarkShot]

Ravinhood,

Just curious ...

You didn't purchase RDOA; you purchased HTTR, but didn't play it; and you are not buying COTA. (At least you did buy CWBR and invested enough effort in it to form an opinion.) Despite this, you apparently read most of the posts here and from time to time post yourself.

So, excuse my lack of subtleness, by why do you bother with this forum?

Thanks.

PS: I am not trying to be argumentative. It's simply that I barely find the time to follow the forums for the games I own and play. So, I am curious as to what motivates you to keep up with events relating to this game that you are not planning to own or play.

[Arjuna]

Yeh me too![:)]

[Tactics]

Put it up so we can purhase and download it.  The proof is in the pudding. HTTR was great, I'm ready for addtional COTA greatness.

[Arjuna]

Subject to no show stoppers occuring in the next 24 hours we will sign off tomorrow. It's looking godd so far ( touch wood, fingers crossed etc ). [:)]

[Brady]

 
 I am realy excited about this game, as much as I was about WiTP  to be honest, I am a big fan of the subject matter and the theater, cant wait to play around with this and put off the yard till next summer[:)]

[Arjuna]

Hey Brady, this summer had better be dry otherwise you'll end up needing a machete to cut your way out by next summer. But I suppose that would just get you in the mood for a nice Guadalcanal or Finschaffen battle, hey.[;)]

[Tzar007]

I certainly agree this engine has great AI. I did not play RDOA, but I played extensively HTTR and I have not trounce the AI that often. I believe I win about 60% of the time, but even these wins are no walk in the park, I need to work my brains to get them.

And I agree with you MarkShot that there is not really any pattern to see in this AI, although I haven't tried very hard to find one, I play for the pleasure of playing.

Now I can't wait for COTA anymore, I hope Matrix will be fast putting up the game for download !

[Grotius]

Oh, I routinely got my head handed to me playing HTTR, regardless of which side I played.  So I'm delighted to hear that CoTA continues this tradition of solid AI.  This game is a must-buy for me.

I guess when Arjuna "signs off" we still have to wait another couple weeks before we can digitally download?  Is that right, Arjuna?

[Real and Simulated Wars]

There is a pattern in HttR's AI behavior: it beats me all the time!
[:D]

[Banquet]

lol, me too [:D]

ORIGINAL: Chelco

There is a pattern in HttR's AI behavior: it beats me all the time!
[:D]

[Arjuna]

Matrix normally make it available for download in around two to three weeks after going Gold. David Heath said they would endeavour to get it out asap.

[Crimguy]

It really is superb AI.  I preach it to everyone.

I think a big part of what makes it superior is the orders delay.  When you can turn entire divisions on a dime (I'm thinking HPS games here), it really puts any AI at a disadvantage. The engine (do we call it the Airborne Assault Engine(tm)?) by virtue of this feature really balances things out, and can sometimes really surprise with intelligent decisions (pathfinding, attacks after organization).  I'm very excited to see what tweaks you've introduced.

The MMG AI is somewhat predictible, (Markshot myself and others have beaten that to death) and I usually thrash the AI in Open play, but I've been very impressed with the scenario designers work in maximizing the playability.  Taliaferro's scenario, for example, continues to give me fits even though its only division level.  I consider myself pretty competent, but when Doubleday comes around my flannk (in one variation) I'm usually wiped off the map by what is only an equal force.

[Real and Simulated Wars]

Now that you mention HPS: every time I play HPS' Panzer Campaigns (PzC), I value even more Panther's AI. I'm not referring to the OPFOR AI (HPS has been criticized for its less than stellar OPFOR AI elsewhere, not the point here) but to friendly AI. Don't get me wrong, PzC is a wonderful series of games, but to accomplish anything sensible you have to click counters to the point of exhaustion. In contrast to this, I have played HttR scenarios in which I have not clicked a single unit for more than 6 hours of simulated time! Look Mom, no mouse!

[jungelsj_slith]

In contrast to this, I have played HttR scenarios in which I have not clicked a single unit for more than 6 hours of simulated time! Look Mom, no mouse!

Heh, well, there's a flipside to that. The game tends to get boring when I'm waiting for something to happen and I have nothing to do. I normally would speed up time during those instances, but I hate missing important events because of it. Being able to run the game in windowed mode would help this problem immensely - I can do other things during those boring lulls when there's no interactivity with the game.

[benway9]

wouldn't you miss those important events just as often while doing other things in windowed mode?  even at fastest speed, the game is not going warp speed or anything.

[jungelsj_slith]

ORIGINAL: benway9

wouldn't you miss those important events just as often while doing other things in windowed mode? 

No

[sterckxe]

ORIGINAL: molotov_billy

ORIGINAL: benway9

wouldn't you miss those important events just as often while doing other things in windowed mode? 

No

A new feature in COTA is the "Run Fast Until" button. I find that I often set the clock to run for 1 game hour while I <alt><tab> to get some real work done, when I <alt><tab> back and find out I've missed something I attribute this to FoW, inept subordinate commanders and the uncertainty of warfare in general [;)]

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx