Improving Gameplay: Characterising Differences between NPCs & Human Players Jennifer Sandercock

Outline Introduction Testing Methods Characteristics of Bots and Humans Playing vs. Observing Characteristics and Accuracy The Future Conclusions Questions

Bot or Human? Lauren

Outline Introduction Testing Methods Characteristics of Bots and Humans Playing vs. Observing Characteristics and Accuracy The Future Conclusions Questions

?????? Study 1: Quake III ?

Study 2: Unreal Tournament 2004 ???? Case 1: Playing

Study 2: Unreal Tournament 2004 ????? Case 2: Observing

Study 2: Unreal Tournament 2004 PlayingObserving

Passing the Turing Test?

Bot or Human? Renegade

Outline Introduction Testing Methods Characteristics of Bots and Humans Playing vs. Observing Characteristics and Accuracy The Future Conclusions Questions

Characteristics of Bots & Human Players Categories Skill Level Personality Persistence & Vengeance Anticipation Learning Teaming Bot limitations and advantages

Characteristics least used PlayingObserving 1.Ability to learn from watching others 1.Similarity to known avatar (Bot) personality 2.Similarity to known avatar (Bot) personality 2.Ability to learn from watching others 3.Use of warning shots 4.Number of suicides4.Exploration of the entirety of the terrain 5.Knowledge of exact location of PowerUps 5.Always uses the same waypoint as an attack point

Characteristics most used PlayingObserving 1.Easy/hard to kill1.Direction of normal movement (e.g. always runs forwards) 2.Amount of movement during firing 3.Number of kills3.Amount of movement throughout entire game (e.g. stands still lots) 4.Aim Accuracy4.Ability to perform multiple tasks (e.g. jumping and firing simultaneously) 5.Amount of movement throughout entire game (e.g. stands still lots) 5.Movement through terrain: creative paths vs. erratic in a predictable way

Bot or Human? Romulus

Outline Introduction Testing Methods Characteristics of Bots and Humans Playing vs. Observing Characteristics and Accuracy The Future Conclusions Questions

Playing vs. Observing: Confidence Playing Observing

Playing vs. Observing: Accuracy Observing Playing

Bot or Human? Rylisa

Outline Introduction Testing Methods Characteristics of Bots and Humans Playing vs. Observing Characteristics and Accuracy The Future Conclusions Questions

Accurate Playing Characteristics When playing, people who got high accuracy rated the following as important:  Ability to strafe  Movement during firing

Inaccurate Observing Characteristics When observing, people who got low accuracy rated the following as important:  Use of sniping positions  Number of suicides  Persistence to kill & to chase  Number of kills  Position during firing  Ability to see behind  Ability to react to being fired upon

Accurate Bot Characteristics When playing, people who got high accuracy rated the following as important:  Amount of movement during firing  Direction of normal movement (eg always runs forwards)  Ability to perform multiple tasks (eg jumping & firing simultaneously)  Types of weapons used  Movement through terrain: creative paths vs erratic in a predictable way  Movement to points in the room already traversed  Priority to obtain PowerUps when entering rooms  Ability to see behind their avatar  Ability to react to being fired upon

Inaccurate Human Characteristics When observing, people who got low accuracy rated the following as important:  Movement through terrain: creative paths vs erratic in a predictable way  Interesting to watch  Similarity of mistakes (eg always falls off a ledge at a given point)  Exploration of the entirety of the terrain

Bot or Human? Virus

Outline Introduction Testing Methods Characteristics of Bots and Humans Playing vs. Observing Characteristics and Accuracy The Future Conclusions Questions

Bot or Human? Brock

“Getting Games and Military Simulations to Play Together” Jennifer Sandercock & Michael Papasimeon Friday 2:30pm Latrobe Theatre, Level 2

Questions?