Tactical AI Kit: A Demo!
by Bryce · 09/18/2008 (4:20 pm) · 18 comments
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EDIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Download the new, crash-less version of the demo here:
www.garagegames.com/blogs/43676/15498
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Play and tell me what you think!
files.filefront.com/TAIKDemozip/;11837673;/fileinfo.html
When you start the game, click the Start Mission button, change your squad position (1 is team leader, 4 is fourth man, etc) and proceed. You need to work carefully to get to the end. When you spawn, expect your first firefight shortly. If you are the squad leader and the fight is over, be sure to tell your squad to regroup ('U' key) to get them following you again. If you are not the squad leader, regroup with your leader in order to move towards the objective again. To swap weapons with one on the ground, move up to the weapon, look down on it, and press 'F' (there is a bug when swapping the secondary weapon--just fire one shot and try again if your weapon doesnt switch). Check out the help section of the game for more.
There is an odd bug in the code that I'm working to fish out that causes the game to crash upon killing an enemy. I'm working hard to figure this out. If I come up with a fix, I'll update the plan.
Screenshots:
*****************************************
*****************************************
EDIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Download the new, crash-less version of the demo here:
www.garagegames.com/blogs/43676/15498
*****************************************
*****************************************
*****************************************
Play and tell me what you think!
files.filefront.com/TAIKDemozip/;11837673;/fileinfo.html
When you start the game, click the Start Mission button, change your squad position (1 is team leader, 4 is fourth man, etc) and proceed. You need to work carefully to get to the end. When you spawn, expect your first firefight shortly. If you are the squad leader and the fight is over, be sure to tell your squad to regroup ('U' key) to get them following you again. If you are not the squad leader, regroup with your leader in order to move towards the objective again. To swap weapons with one on the ground, move up to the weapon, look down on it, and press 'F' (there is a bug when swapping the secondary weapon--just fire one shot and try again if your weapon doesnt switch). Check out the help section of the game for more.
There is an odd bug in the code that I'm working to fish out that causes the game to crash upon killing an enemy. I'm working hard to figure this out. If I come up with a fix, I'll update the plan.
Screenshots:
#2
09/18/2008 (4:45 pm)
@Steve: That's okay, I just realized that I forgot to copy over my new AI code so there are going to be some crashes at random moments with this version. I'll try to nail it tomorrow. 
#3
09/18/2008 (4:46 pm)
Just got one of those crashes :) From the 6 seconds I saw it looks good though. Can't wait for the fix!
#4
This will be a tough one, sorry everyone, possibly no fix until next week if I can't find the problem tomorrow :-( :-(
09/18/2008 (4:49 pm)
What's happening (I think) is they think that they aren't leaving their states properly and they enter an endless loop. New ai code is copied and crashes it anyway! Wha??This will be a tough one, sorry everyone, possibly no fix until next week if I can't find the problem tomorrow :-( :-(
#5
09/18/2008 (4:58 pm)
That sucks. Oh well, I'm sure the wait will be worth it. 
#6
09/18/2008 (5:10 pm)
Hehe, well I'm still gonna test this out. The AI Kit has come so far already, nice work man.
#7
Following could use a little bit of work too as they bunch together fairly tightly. Aside from that, they show very well once they get into combat.
09/18/2008 (5:45 pm)
So now I just played through it for a few minutes. The AI is pretty smart in a straightforward attack, I like how they quickly find cover, and they appear to make room for allies (or was this just coincidental?). When running around corners (like the first bend into an ambush in the mission) seems to have a few problems. It is hard to get the AI to actually see the enemy around the corners, or want to investigate beyond what they immediately see so they end up standing there. You have to run into the enemies in order for your squad to follow you; only then will they be fired upon and react. You might want to add some sort of logic for finding upcoming corners and even special cover action for them.Following could use a little bit of work too as they bunch together fairly tightly. Aside from that, they show very well once they get into combat.
#8
@Dark Wood Games: Tracked down the bug, it was simply a matter of copying the wrong code. I'll repost the link tomorrow.
09/18/2008 (7:15 pm)
@Morrock: What I forgot to add in the help file is that after a fight you need to tell your squad to regroup (press the 'u' key) for them to follow you again or give them a move order (y). If they are just standing around and you are not the team leader, you need to run to the leader's position. They move for the objective when everyone's together. The corner thing is a good catch, I'll make sure I try to tackle that.@Dark Wood Games: Tracked down the bug, it was simply a matter of copying the wrong code. I'll repost the link tomorrow.
#9
09/18/2008 (8:05 pm)
Nice work ! 
#10
09/18/2008 (8:25 pm)
Well done bryce. I'll check it out tonite. I've been waiting for this.
#11
09/18/2008 (10:08 pm)
Good news bryce! Looking forward to it.
#12
Have fun pwning!
09/19/2008 (2:54 pm)
Okay, I updated the link. The crashes are appearing less frequently, and I still have no idea what's causing it. I'll look into it.Have fun pwning!
#13
09/19/2008 (6:02 pm)
Hey, I played it for a good hour, and was impressed. The AI is pretty impressive, except for the some of the detection issue, but other than that it is great. I to am looking forward to it. 
#14
Nice one though with the ai!!!!!!!!
09/20/2008 (1:04 pm)
Nice work lads but i have a bit of constructive crits if thats ok. Try and revamp the ai players position after the ai player moves towards the human player. In a few instances i got into a position where i was blocked in by the ai player and killed. The crashes are still there.Nice one though with the ai!!!!!!!!
#15
09/20/2008 (4:45 pm)
Oh, well I didn't even know about the regroup and movement orders, I'll have to test it again with the updated link.
#16
09/21/2008 (4:51 pm)
@Sean--One of the items on my to-do list is to insert squad formations that let you choose an offset from the leader for each member so you can have them assume the wedge formation, or if the space is tight to just line up single file, etc. The problem now is that each player doesn't care about where any of his squadmates are--they are just running straight for their squad leader. That's why some will be seen standing in place, spinning madly in circles... 
#17
09/27/2008 (7:09 am)
I have tried it and it looks great. It does crash. The squad formations would be a nice addition. This is looking great. Looking forward to seeing more updates.
#18
09/27/2008 (10:12 am)
Crashes fixed. Working link is in my next blog.
Associate Steve Acaster
[YorkshireRifles]