The importance of AI in sports games

[noiseredux]

As mentioned in another thread, I've been reading Racing The Beam. The chapter on Combat went into great detail about the design for the AI in Video Olympic's take on single-player Pong. And really, it was super interesting thinking about how the AI was designed to be good but not unbeatable. It got me thinking about sports games in general, and how the AI in sports games might be one of the most make-it-or-break-it aspects of the game. Perhaps more so than in other genres even, as (most) sports games are aiming for realism.

I guess what I'm saying is that suspension of disbelief is less tolerated in sports games; if you have a basketball game where CPU Glenn Davis can consistently hit a bunch of three pointers in a single game just because he's open, then it breaks the game. If you've got a football game where the computer intercepts passes even though his back is always to the ball and shouldn't be able to "see" it, then it breaks the game.

Discuss.

[Luke]

It all depends on the franchise and the sport.

Take bowling or billiards for example. There's really no AI involved at all, purely a skill game. Same can be said for extreme games such as SSX and THPS.

Completely opposite side of the spectrum when it comes to games like Blitz, where the best way to lose a game is by being up four touchdowns in the 4th.

I believe EA got AI right in the early 90's with their Madden and NHL series. If they continue to do so, I am unaware as I rarely play new sports titles. But up until 2002 (holy shit, I can't believe NHL 2002 is a decade old) I really enjoyed EA's AI.

You were taught to cover everyone, at all times, and the only way an opponent would score on you is if you made a mistake. In order for you to score, you had to either make an incredible play, or have your opponent make a mistake be it a missed check or sloppy line change. It seemed very balanced, and never offered "throw your controller" moments.

I could count on one hand on how many "cheap goals" have been scored on me in NHL 2002, and I've played (lemme see, at least 10, 82 game seasons, not including playoffs, so basically...) almost one thousand games.

Madden is similar that with every mistake you make, you will pay a price, and the only way to score is with a smart play. Well, that or you can be like some of my friends and just throw bombs on every play.

[noiseredux]

ok, games like THPS and SSX are kind of outside the realm of the conversation as I'm talking strictly Man Vs Computer here.

I guess what I'm trying to discuss is the importance of the AI being both believablly "good" at the sport -- they make smart decisions regarding the sport. But also they aren't perfect like a computer can be. They make mistakes or can make the player believe they are as flawed as a human could be.

In the example of Video Olympics' robot Pong, it points out that simple programming would make the computer impossible to beat. But then what would the point be? On the flip, if you made the computer too easily exploitable, then the illusion of playing against a worthy opponent is gone.

[sevin0seven]

it's very important. back when i use to play NBA Live 98 for PC i hated it when Shawn Bradley scored 40 points on me. talk about lack of realism.

[retrosportsgamer]

This (I think) is related but basketball games have always had the "Shot control" option where the percentages are either based on ratings, or based on how the player (read: you) attempted the shot (form, release, etc).

I always found this confusing back in the Genesis days of NBA Live.

[meat]

it's very important. back when i use to play NBA Live 98 for PC i hated it when Shawn Bradley scored 40 points on me. talk about lack of realism.

Reminds me of shaq in live 02-05,man he was to good.Plus there weren't any good centers in the league at the time.Vlade divac was ok.

[brandman]

I suck at sports games anyways but I remember flash games on the internet having really sorry AI. It would seem like the computer would always win.

It's kinda Like Punch Out, it wasn't a matter of defeating Mike Tyson, but how long you could last in the first round before you lost.