I may of worked hard on this game for 20 months, but a few others have helped along the way. The AI in Ghostship aftermath is very different from the norm. Our AI doesn't use navmeshes or pathnodes! Each creature is a living intelligence that has just 1 objective, to get you! They will traverse any environment, they can traverse dynamically placed objects (such as boxes etc) some will try and evade your fire, some will just keep coming! And some will even guess (quite accurately) where you will be in the second they strike to make sure they get a hit. Some are fast and will be a challenge to take down, others will have weak points and only die when shot in certain places.
I may have concepted this AI, but the genius behind this new AI is Rama. The only programmer to lend a hand and ensure that you guys have a challenge. To make the enemies even more of a challenge you never know what or when to expect it. Every new game is different and the "Trial and error" side of most games is very different from dealing with any situation when it arises. Not one you know about!
This is a mail I received From Rama after he played against his own AI in the finished game.
"Dear Shaun,
I've been playing for awhile
and I must say
my AI kicks might butt
and disorients me
extremely well!
I spent about half of my AI time refining the jumping
and its the jumping that gets me in-game!
When they jump past me!
its so disorienting!
I've never played against an AI quite like it!
Their combat maneuvers just totally play with my head and have me dizzy,
and wasting ammo!
You also made it really hard to waste ammo, you really have to plan your
shots!
So the AI tactics + limited ammo make it really hard!
really feels like a fight to survive!
My AI and the rest of your game play choices came together really well to
make a very challenging fight to survive!
"
So be rest assured, GhostshipAftermath is not your average game Expect to earn your survival