AI football - is it worth your time?
Many attempts have been made to add artificial intelligence to football games. Although the earliest examples may look primitive or perhaps not as impressive to more recent ones in comparison, one should always remember that with every milestone reached (and with the available computing power of its generation) an important step in the development of creating better and more advanced AI football games has been made. One of the real challenges for an AI football game is playing a satisfying computer vs computer match.
How does a nice AI football match play out?
For me personally the following points for AI football are relevant:
The graphics, often counterproductive, aren't important to me as long as the gameplay and unpredictability remind me of a real football match. The pacing and a camera angle with a good overview are key elements.
Below is an example of one of many AI matches I've seen on YouTube. This is from a nice retro soccer game.
If the image is blurry try forcing the resolution to 1080p60 in the video player, then watch in fullscreen. Don't forget to come back to this website after you've finished watching to continue where you've left.
Change of generations - for generations
The movement from 2D to 3D graphics with close-ups and freely rotating cameras has added multiple new layers of complexity to programming football games. What appeared impressive to our eyes quickly revealed that 3D football games are likely more prone to bugs and glitches, as here in 2009 and up until today.
He literally submerged into the depths of the pitch. A sanitary AI wouldn't have twisted one's limbs like that.
(Source for the above in-video screenshot outside of its thumbnail: YouTube: PES 2010 bug - "Ronaldo like a drake" by mcigic, taken from Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 by Konami, released in 2009).
Let's take a look at some modern implementations of AI football next, and continue here: More.