Video games have evolved. I am stating the obvious. But how?
In my opinion, the meta behind video games has always been the same; progression. Every game has it.
Campaigns have an clear objective and end point and are more like a 4D movie. They are very immersive and captivating. You find yourself developing emotional connections with the characters and what effects them.
But, they always come to an end, with the exception of DLC's.
On the more competitive side of the spectrum, is PvP. Players competing against eachother for ultimate victory. But the inner workings of this genre can be far more complex then what meets the eye.
There are different play styles, gamemodes, leaderboards, even competitive leagues with cash prizes of millions of dollars.
Daily jobs, grinding exp for cosmetics and upgrades, climbing the ladder of matchmaking to verse better and more skilled players, being able to boast about an achievement that you have completed, and much more make up the insensitive and motivation to devote hours upon hours of time into a game. And this can bring a very, very rewarding feeling.
As the gaming industry advances in technology and innovation, companies start experimenting and creating new ways to play and new experiences for the hundreds of millions of gamers all over the world.
Each genre, PvP and Campaign brings fulfilling experiences to the players and both excel in different areas.
But what happens when you combine these two genres? You delve into the realm of AI and more so, the human physiology of addiction.
Satisfaction is what immediately comes to mind when I think of this. And the game, CoD Zombies.
Communities, you could almost describe them as cults have formed around this game; and for a very good reason.
Having hundreds of mindless computer controlled bots line up in your line of fire only to be mowed down in seconds by OP weapons, like miniguns, laser guns, guns that shoot fully automatic rockets.
Just visualize it! Headshots, blood and gore, thousands of kills all to your name! And also, the unrealistic aspect of this.
Most AI based gamemodes are even far from comprehension in video game realism, let alone real life, and that is what makes them fun, and outright addictive.
The problem with Sandstorms take on AI warfare, is that it is trying to be something that it reallly can't. And that is realistic.
Yes, AI and deep learning are the closest we have come to making a Fully Autonomous Artificial Intelligent being, but it is expensive. And for too expensive for NWI.
If you think about it, AI in video games - with some outstanding exceptions - is reallly just long lines of code with different finite variables. And Sandstorms AI is far from an exception.
What COOP players are asking for is almost impossible. Bots will never have the same immersion or realism as an actual person will.
Getting noscope across the map, wallbanged, instakilled, dsync, inconsistent behavior. It is all superficial and it will never have thw same kind of satisfaction that other styles of games bring.
If the bots are too easy, the game gets stale. Bots are too hard, game is unplayable. There just aren't enough variables to code "AI" the way the Sandstorm COOP community wants them to behave. It is futile.
In retrospect, COOP is a stale gamemode with no insensitive to play, no satisfaction, and really nothing to offer at all.
I have been told/asked, "why can't you just enjoy the game for what it is?" And my answer to that is, The people saying that are the same people complaining about how broken COOP and it isn't what they envisioned, and it never will be. You simply can't enjoy something that does physiologically stimulate the brains thrist for satisfaction and progression. If you think about it, that is what LIFE is, a constant journey with new experiences. And when we stop experiencing new things, we develop a comfort zone.
I am going to leave you with a quote.
"Grass is sometimes greener on the other side because it is fake"
This means that some things that you want aren't always obtainable in the way you wanted them.
Thanks for reading!
Best Regards,
CatNipples