2023 WIF AI Progress Report

[paulderynck]

Another month gone. Is there any news? Does Steve have any deadlines to meet or is it just an open ended contract to finish whenever? Perhaps he could use some help from a an experienced AI programmer? Does MG have any expectations? Will it be this summer, this year, 2025, etc.

The beta tester FTP site had a new version (7.0.0.0) posted on Mar 24, but this was unannounced. I found it by happenstance. This was the first release since October and likely us beta testers had lapsed looking for them and possibly even visiting the Development Forum, where I started a thread concerning its availability. It's puzzling this was not announced in the Development Forum as one would assume the sooner a new version is tested, the sooner any needed fixes would be discovered.

EDIT: Don't anyone get excited, this version 7.0.0.0 does not have the ability to start an AI game. Apparently there is now a version 7.0.0.1 available to beta testers.

[jaeenox]

Another month gone. Is there any news? Does Steve have any deadlines to meet or is it just an open ended contract to finish whenever? Perhaps he could use some help from a an experienced AI programmer? Does MG have any expectations? Will it be this summer, this year, 2025, etc.

The beta tester FTP site had a new version (7.0.0.0) posted on Mar 24, but this was unannounced. I found it by happenstance. This was the first release since October and likely us beta testers had lapsed looking for them and possibly even visiting the Development Forum, where I started a thread concerning its availability. It's puzzling this was not announced in the Development Forum as one would assume the sooner a new version is tested, the sooner any needed fixes would be discovered.

EDIT: Don't anyone get excited, this version 7.0.0.0 does not have the ability to start an AI game. Apparently there is now a version 7.0.0.1 available to beta testers.

That is truly amazing to me. Let's not tell anyone that a new version is available. I hope at this point this Steve guy is working for free as his performance is miserable.

[PaxMondo]

I hope Steve's health is ok ... I am concerned at this point that he may be working under some difficult circumstances ... we all know that he has challenges.

[CanInf]

I disagree with the emphasis on working on the game as is. Improving convoys will not get us sales, and sales are the only way we keep our game. My favourite game bar none. I figure I have played at the very least 5,000 hours of this game, and paid something like 100 bucks CAN for the privilege. Only public water supply has those kinds of ROI. If we want our game we need recruits. To get recruits we need AI. Ergo AI comes first.

[Joseignacio]

IMO, to get recruits (and not scam them) you need a working game.

A game that still has multiple failures may get many sales until the word spreads that it is not working, it stalls, and you need to edit the game to cope with this all.

[juntoalmar]

Improving convoys will not get us sales

Although I understand your point, I don't think it's a matter or one or the other (AI or bugs). An AI opponent will still need to do convoy routes correctly. A game against AI will still be unplayable if the game gets stuck.

Anything that helps solitary game, helps game against AI.

If simple things can't be fixed, trying to create much more complex things doesn't seem like a good strategy, in my humble opinion.

[RFalvo69]

I disagree with the emphasis on working on the game as is. Improving convoys will not get us sales, and sales are the only way we keep our game.

Sales of a game full of problems?

Also, we don't want "improved convoys". We want for convoys to work as intended.

To get recruits we need AI. Ergo AI comes first.

Very true: start with the convoys' AI.

[jaeenox]

It's now well into July. Is there any information on AI progress? Can we at least get into the beta? Is everyone so busy that 5 minutes a month for updates is too much work?

[jaeenox]

What deadline?

Schedule for 2024
The expectation is that the AIO will be playing the Russian side of the Barbarossa scenario fairly well by March 1st, 2024.

Is it March yet?

[btd64]

Hummmmmmmm....GP

[Zovs]

Hi everyone,

Steve has continued working on the AI and we've been checking in with him bi-weekly. Without a doubt, the WIF AI has proven more challenging than he expected but he has not given up. He's working through Barbarossa AI decisions phase by phase and when that's done we will have a public beta. I expect there will be a few more internal test builds before then.

Regards,

- Erik

It has been over six months (6), any updates from Steve? Oh, I just realized this was originally from 2023. Over two years ago, so nothing new since?

[Orm]

This was an official post in another thread.

25 Jun 2025, 20:44

Hey everyone,

Work on World in Flames AI and further bug fixes is ongoing. As mentioned in previous posts, Steve is the only currently active developer who's working on World in Flames, and we're giving him the time and support to get things right. Once we're happy and ready to share something with the public, we will do so.

[Zovs]

This was an official post in another thread.

25 Jun 2025, 20:44

Hey everyone,

Work on World in Flames AI and further bug fixes is ongoing. As mentioned in previous posts, Steve is the only currently active developer who's working on World in Flames, and we're giving him the time and support to get things right. Once we're happy and ready to share something with the public, we will do so.

Thank you Orm.