Perspectives on the potential of AI and its role in modern game development vary depending on who shares their thoughts and their role within the industry.
From the side of corporate business, AI is seen as a revolutionary tool with the potential to improve production, reduce costs and put power in the hands of players to craft their own experiences.
For developers upskilling in game programming, many are experimenting with AI as a new tool in creating different video game elements – art, narrative, design and more can all be enhanced through the deployment of AI while it also has huge potential as a time-saving resource.
There is also controversy surrounding the tech among creatives with many viewing it as a threat to their livelihoods.
In our blog, we’ll review the role of AI in modern game development, how it can enhance game-making opportunities alongside the challenges it creates for those looking to upskill in game programming.
History of AI in gaming
Video game development is born out of innovation with upskilling in game programming a common theme among creatives developing these player experiences. AI has been around for a longer period of time in gaming than is commonly thought.
In fact, it was during the early period of games that it first came to prominence. In the classic arcade game Space Invaders, the difficulty level and in-game narrative was created in response to how it was played.
In Pac-Man, AI was used to animate the four ghosts that faced off against the eponymous title character. In 1992, Dune II was one of the first to be used in real time strategy games.
Uses of AI in video game development have become increasingly sophisticated as tech has become slicker. Other examples have seen it influence 3D Gaming and machine learning processes where the technology has supported the analysis of vast quantities of data.
How AI can help today’s game developers
There can be negative sentiments towards AI among game users.
Many players want humans to have at least had a hand in crafting their experiences – and when there are clear examples of AI use in game play, these gaming experiences can feel predictable and lacking in originality.
In a recent interview, PlayStation’s boss said how AI has the potential to “revolutionise” gaming, but he believes it will never replace the “human touch” of games made by people.
Hermen Hulst and his co-CEO Hideaki Nishino made the comments to the BBC as Sony celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of the console’s launch.
If AI can be used to meaningfully enhance a gaming experience, then this could change how it is perceived by players. Ultimately, this does depend on how this use is communicated. Here are some ways it can help those upskilling in game programming.
Time saving and repetitive tasks
AI can help produce work of the quality and standard that you would expect from a larger team in a shorter period of time.
For example, certain processes include initial ideation, identifying game playing mechanics or in the testing process.
AI testing systems can act like players, interrogating many different elements of a game to uncover problems much quicker than humans. Machine learning – a type of AI that allows computers to learn from data and improve their performance – can also identify patterns and anomalies from gameplay data, leading to enhanced game performance.
Beating creative blocks
As a game designer, AI can be invaluable to spark inspiration. It can be useful as some designers can end up with tunnel vision if they work in a specific genre or format for too long.
Utilising AI like ChatGPT can be helpful to come up with new ideas that can overcome creative blocks. Inputting prompts can become more specific and detailed as required.
AI Controversy
Art is one of the most controversial areas for AI surrounding copyright although its use in programming is far less so. Using AI to write functions, review code and identify potential bugs is common sense, even to critics of new technology.
Intellectual Property and AI is a trickier area to navigate as the lines between what is created by a person and what is created by tech are blurred. Some designers also see AI as a threat to their livelihoods too.
Photoshop on first release caused similar controversy with many thinking it would remove the need for artists and see lead to them losing work. However, as with AI, it can be a helpful tool when used effectively and is now an industry standard for artists.
Here are some high profile examples of AI use in the development of recent games.
No Man’s Sky
AI-driven procedural generation (PCG) generates different game elements instead of developers manually creating each detail.
PCG creates a unique experience each time the game is played.
Lords of the Fallen
In Lords of the Fallen, AI technology was used to create character voices for prototyping in the early stages of the game’s build.
The final dialogue was recorded by professional voice actors but AI played an important role in enhancing the initial design process.
Incoming tech
Developers wanting to upskill in game programming are always looking at what new tech is trending.
In games, there’s a lot of reinventing the wheel but not that many crazy concepts or ideas that might change gaming forever. What was fun ten years ago is still fun now and innovation comes with its own risks.
AI is unique in its impact and the speed at how it has taken place – mobile was the previously biggest change.
Despite the controversy surrounding it, if used responsibly, AI is extremely effective and it will be exciting to see how it will be utilised in the future.
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