ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
The game can't "think" so i cannot devise devious dastardly deeds. I has its scripts to tell it what targets to attack or defend and when to start and stop the script. There are also some raiding scripts just to keep it interesting.
What some players appear to consider "gamey" has been explained as the necessity for the AI to be able to carry out its scripts even though the script writer had no way of knowing what the tactical or strategic situation would be after a few turns of play. SO, the AI was given the ability to "warp" ships out of port to where they are needed for the script. I presume that could be the case for some air units and LCUs as well.
To the player it is "gamey" because he cannot do the same, but it is just part of the bargain when you play the AI.
I think part of the 'gamey' commentary amongst newer players is the fact that they don't know that the AI will be-by definition-a gamey, cheating experience. They expect it to follow the same rules as another person, but it can't and it must lean on several code tricks to offer a decent overall game experience.
So, from the perspective of an expected human opponent, the AI cheats like a ******-******. But it *has to*. It's perfectly reasonable to be disappointed or surprised by this discovery. I know I was back in the day. But you can have a good game against the AI regardless.
