Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

ORIGINAL: Joe D.

... perhaps the next poll should be, under ideal circumstances -- i.e., no time constraints, etc. -- what do you prefer to play against: people or the machine?

i don't think that is the purpose of this poll...

That's why I said, perhaps the next poll ...

Other on-line games have dropped the AI entirely; this usually applies to massive, multi-player genres.

I missed the Admiral Edition annoucement; guess I'll go look at the Matrix home page.

Grumpy PBEM players just hate it when they find out that they just a small minority.

FYI, the poll and the Admiral's Edition release plan are not related. With that said, it's always good to know how many people enjoy each play mode.

So, despite the new Ad Ed add-on, will the WitP AI basically remain unchanged?

ORIGINAL: Joe D.
So, despite the new Ad Ed add-on, will the WitP AI basically remain unchanged?

We can't comment on that yet, there's too much AI work still to be done.

there's too much AI work still to be done

That's enough comment for me [:)]

As someone who, at this time, only plays PBEM, I would like to play a reasonable game or two against the AI. If they are able to get it close to competant - mostly not do dumb or stupid things, I would gladly play against it. My preference right now, is to play PBEM and if I don't have turns, I crank up Oblivion and wander about some.

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

ORIGINAL: Joe D.
So, despite the new Ad Ed add-on, will the WitP AI basically remain unchanged?

We can't comment on that yet, there's too much AI work still to be done.

"AI work still to be done"; that actually sounds promising.

I'm one those players who only plays against the AI, as my time constraints and bizarre schedule simply don't accommodate PBEM (my opponents would eventually give up on me). I also enjoy playing for eight or ten hours straight--it's one of the reasons I bought a computer in the first place. Obviously, I dropped this game entirely after firing it up and realizing that the AI was brain-dead. I'd love a competent AI for WitP, as it is my dream war game. One of the reasons I like FoF, for instance, is because its AI isn't half bad at all. (I know it's a much simpler engine than WitP, of course, but I'm just bringing up an example.)

You simply couldn't leave the AI untouched and sell the product. The adjustment needed just to attempt to use the mid-sea intercepting justifies AI modification alone. And that's only the beginning. How about those planes using altitude for CAP and so on? What kind of reaction would you get from customers if the raids were flying the exact same way as before (if that's even possible)? Also the fact that the small ports and airfields (I think I read airfields) won't be overjam city anymore justifies adjustment. And what about the damage systems beign different? You would think that if the player would need to make decisions on how the ships are being repaired, then an AI not used for that purpose previously would indeed need adjustment for that. And how does the old AI use those 500 plane types?

ORIGINAL: Rexor

I'm one those players who only plays against the AI, as my time constraints and bizarre schedule simply don't accommodate PBEM (my opponents would eventually give up on me). I also enjoy playing for eight or ten hours straight--it's one of the reasons I bought a computer in the first place. Obviously, I dropped this game entirely after firing it up and realizing that the AI was brain-dead. I'd love a competent AI for WitP, as it is my dream war game. One of the reasons I like FoF, for instance, is because its AI isn't half bad at all. (I know it's a much simpler engine than WitP, of course, but I'm just bringing up an example.)

Given that the Admiral's Edition is still written over the basic code of WITP, I would doubt that the new team is going to be able to make the AI function any better in a long time frame....., that's not going to be possible until WITP II and code written decently from the ground up. What they might be able to do is get it to play a short scenario more competantly. At least that's the way I see it after reading 4 years of "excuses" and "limitations" and "it's hard-coded's" from folks dealing with it.

ORIGINAL: Charles_22

You simply couldn't leave the AI untouched and sell the product. The adjustment needed just to attempt to use the mid-sea intercepting justifies AI modification alone. And that's only the beginning ...

If I understand you, the AI adjustment is more of an accomodation to the new algorithms, and not necessarilly any real improvement in the AI itself.

Well, the team has said repeatedly they are trying to do both -- to accommodate the new features *and* to improve the AI. We can't expect Deep Blue, but we can hope for some improvement.

270 responses to the poll (me included). That's pretty good[:)]

Hi all,

ORIGINAL: BrucePowers

270 responses to the poll (me included). That's pretty good[:)]

I think that there is at least 1:20 difference between players who post on forums and all players - thus around 6000+ owners are quite possible (and I guestimate that as much as 7000-10000 WitP packages have been sold)...


Leo "Apollo11"

I have always played against the AI, as a WWII buff, especially the pacific theater, I just enjoy playing at my own leisure.
Someday I may play a pbem but I don't know, I just love the "feel" of the game. Putting on my smoking jacket and enjoying one of the best games ever developed.
Thanks again to all of those involved in making this game what is is and to the community for the many many many years of enjoyment.[:)]

Wow! Looking at the poll totals at this point - I never realized that over 50% of the community mostly plays against the AI. I thought I was one of the few!

TOMLABEL

Actually TOMLABEL, I would expect that about 10% play PBEM and the other 90% play against to AI. This poll is biased because most PBEM players are also active forum users.

Interesting.. That makes sense to me, though.

The comments are enlightening as well.

It's not a case that a lot of the players prefer the challenge of the AI, it just that they are not in a position to make the commitment of PBEM and the AI just gives them the opportunity to play anyway.