Future super intelligent system

Chapter 88 Anxious Ubisoft
Liu Fan's expectation for AI games is firstly due to the huge market. According to the latest data, the number of players worldwide has reached 22 billion, and it is likely to exceed 18 billion by the end of 24.

At the moment when the homogenization of games is becoming more and more serious, AI games and virtual reality have become the two hottest topics, but the realization of virtual reality may have to wait a long time, but AI has actually entered the player's side , and the development is not bad.

Big companies like Ubisoft, EA, and Blizzard have invested heavily in the development of AI games over the years.

For example, EA has strongly promoted the cooperation between the EA Frostbite laboratory team and OPEN AI, and has begun training AI in games such as "Battlefield 1", "Red Alert 2", and "Command and Conquer". Blizzard announced its cooperation with DeepMind at the end of 2016. Trying to make StarCraft II a test bed for artificial intelligence.In fact, Ubisoft began to try to improve the algorithm in 2011, and established the artificial intelligence research department "LaForge", which successfully applied AI to the game.This time Liu Fan extended an olive branch to these major companies for cooperation. Ubisoft was the first to respond, which may have once again proved their desire for the development of AI games from the side.

The application of AI in games is mainly rendering, modeling and intelligent NPC, and Liu Fan's strength lies in the creation of intelligent NPC and intelligent environment.

Because the biggest advantage of Liu Fan's system is analysis. Although at the decision-making level, you still need to write the dominant algorithm yourself, the advantages at the analysis level should not be underestimated.

What is the reason why many games cannot retain players now? It is nothing more than getting tired of playing, and there are only so many routines after playing.But once the game environment and NPCs become intelligent, the traditional rigid linear task process can be broken, allowing the game to have countless possibilities. Take the most common monster fighting in the game as an example. In the past, we went outside the city to fight monsters. Monsters are not intelligent. The level of monsters is set during game development. You just need to find monsters with corresponding levels according to your own strength.

But in AI games, the level of this kind of monster may no longer exist, and it will become unpredictable when you go outside the city to spawn monsters. Maybe you kill a lamb, and a flock of sheep will rush out to kill you. Maybe you Go chop a tiger, the tiger senses your ability and runs away instead.In the end how to upgrade, you need to spend your time exploring.

At the same time, the intelligence and uncertainty of NPCs will inevitably make players who pursue challenges explode. Games like "Resident Evil" will become more exciting. You never know what will happen in the next second, and players need to be more advanced. control and adaptability.

In a competitive game like LOL, there is likely to be an intelligent branch of AI sparring. Through countless matches with the team, the AI ​​will continue to grow itself and discover the weaknesses of the team players, thus forcing the team players to continuously strengthen their own. ability.

As for the intelligent environment, for example, if it is raining when you are fighting monsters outside the city, you may be killed by lightning, but at the same time, monsters may also be killed by lightning. Maybe an avalanche occurred when you went to the snow mountain to challenge the abyss lord, and the abyss The lord was stoned to death.At that time, there may be a new group of players called corpse pickers.

At the same time, because other players will also face various uncertainties in the game, the interaction between players is destined to have more possibilities, especially more possibilities in terms of emotional collisions, so for players Said that every time you log in to the game, the game will have infinite possibilities and playability.

The ultimate goal of AI games is to make the game world more like a real world full of infinite possibilities, rather than a pre-set world.

After going upstairs, Liu Fan told Liu Wei about the situation and asked Liu Wei to stay in Yanjing for a few more days, and he returned to Hangzhou early the next morning.

Ubisoft is very anxious and wants to see himself this afternoon.It is understandable if you think about it. Ubisoft has always been a big bug maker, and players jokingly say that you buy bugs and get games. Fortunately, Ubisoft’s rapid development in AI in recent years has saved a little face for itself, so Ubisoft may have a big problem with AI. Relatively more sensitive.

At one o'clock in the afternoon, Liu Fan received Yang Long, general manager of Ubisoft China Region, in the living room.

"Hello Mr. Liu, I've admired you for a long time." Yang Long greeted Liu Fan very politely, and his kind smile made people feel very comfortable.

"Hello, hello, Mr. Yang, sit down quickly." After everyone sat down, Liu Fan asked directly, "Is Mr. Yang coming this time because we are an AI game plan?"

"Yes." Seeing Liu Fan speak so directly, Yang Long was unambiguous, "We have watched your company's plan and test video, and we are very interested. If it wasn't for some problems in the company's review process, I would It's time to visit Mr. Liu."

"Mr. Yang has a heart." Liu Fan smiled business-like, "Then I don't know what you think about it now?"

"It's like this, because your company didn't have any cases in the game before, so it may take a little more time in the early stage of running-in and testing, so if there is a chance to cooperate, we actually hope to enter the process as soon as possible, no Know if your company needs to prepare for anything.

To tell you the truth, we will release the preview of "Assassin's Creed: Odyssey" next month, and plan to officially release it in the second half of this year. This time, "Assassin's Creed: Odyssey" is a very important step in our strategic planning. If possible, We very much hope that the AI ​​game mode described by Mr. Liu can be realized in "Assassin's Creed: Odyssey"

"This is too hasty." Liu Fan said instinctively. Although Liu Fan doesn't understand the game industry, he still has basic common sense. It will be released in the second half of the year. It can be said that the game is finished by this time. Next A few months should be more about debugging, finding bugs and optimizing, and suddenly a major surgery is required. Isn't this a mess?

"I believe that the headquarters will make good arrangements for this matter, and if we really can't catch up, we may consider postponing the release time. As long as things are done well, I believe players will choose to understand."

Liu Fan nodded, this is Ubisoft's business, he didn't ask any more questions, but he couldn't help but feel a little shocked, "Assassin's Creed" is the best bowl of cold rice cooked by Ubisoft, and the other party actually used "Assassin's Creed" to make it directly The first guinea pig, maybe there is some internal reason?I heard that Ubisoft seems to have been subject to hostile takeovers before, and it was liberated not long ago. I don’t know if it is related to this matter.

While Liu Fan was thinking, Yang Long continued, "By the way, Mr. Liu, do you have any ideas on the cooperation model?"

"Cooperation model?" Liu Fan didn't quite understand what the other party meant. "We provide technical support and charge technical fees. This is our model."

Yang Long leaned forward slightly, and said with a smile, "Has Mr. Liu thought about exclusive authorization?"

Liu Fan's brain turned quickly. If he took the road of exclusive authorization, it would mean that he would not be able to cooperate with other game manufacturers. From the perspective of money, it is really hard to say which model earns more. After all, Ubisoft is still a well-established game company.

But considering Liu Fan's own needs, of course he didn't want to go exclusive, so he didn't think long before he refused on the spot, "Sorry Mr. Yang, I think the development of technology should serve all mankind, and I don't want to go exclusive." road."

"Okay, that's really a pity." Yang Long didn't insist. He chatted with Liu Fan about some cooperation details, and everyone reached a cooperation intention and signed a contract of intent. You can sign a formal contract.

Liu Fan can see that Ubisoft is really in a hurry, and this cooperation with Ubisoft will bring about a revolution in the game industry.
(End of this chapter)