AI DEAD MATCH CONTEST!
 

Here more than once, the people have asked about what is or are the best AI Races.
In my humble opinion, the question can't be answered 100% in an objective way. Mostly, because depending of the game settings and starting position, the luck, and the preferences of the human player, most of the AI races will have different performances.
Anyway, all of us agree that all (most?) of the the modded Races, are better than the stock Races... then, think that some degree of comparison can be done.
More than one year ago, here was organized an AI tournament, and think that now is time to start a new one!

I want to start this contest, with 2 premises:

- Exclude in the possible the luck.
I know it's impossible...but want to do my best effort! IMHO, most the time the starting position and the map, determine the AI performance in a game. Then, believed that starting with a custom map, that could be fair enough to offer similar opportunities to all the AIs, would be a good idea. I did it and if the map that did, it's fair to all the AIs or not, can be debated... and I would be glad to hear opinions. But at least it's something that I can start to use (hey, if it's too geometric and boring to somebody, please remember that I did the SE3/4 Ladder's Map!!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif ).

- Head to Head games (it mean, 1 AI vs 1 AI).
Why? Because are more easy to do (and fast!), because avoid the problem when the AI doesn't know where to send their fleets, and finally because avoid the problem when an AI is struggled between other two. I know, races like the Rage will have an advantage, and will be a drawback for the peaceful ones. But at least in my games, the aggressive AIs usually have more success than the peaceful (maybe excluding the TDM Praetorians).

RULES.
- Everybody can vote here, for 5 AI scripts to be included into the contest, until the next 11/12 night.
- The 16 more voted AI scripts, will take part of the AI DEAD MATCH CONTEST!
- If we can't reach this number, I will include the AI's that could consider more competitives, until have 16 AIs.
- I will use the more new AI scripts Versions that could find, or if the AI's author want, could send me an updated Version.
- If the author of the AI don't want to see their scripts included into this contest, the AI will be replaced for the next AI in the list.
- Using a random function (as I said, we can't avoid 100% the luck!), will assign numbers from 1 to 16, to every AI.
- I will start matches, between the AI 1 vs AI 2, the AI 3 vs AI 4, etc, etc.
- The games will be played using a custom map, TDM data files, 3 Good Starting Planets, no random events, simultaneous movement and the first Player for the "human" player.
- The victory can be decided by:
a) One AI was able to destroy 100% the other AI.
b) The AI with more victory points after 500 turns.
- I will post the save game at the end of every game.
- Every AI will need to defeat 3 times their opponent, to pass the next round (it mean, at least 3 games between the two AIs!).
- If somebody have suggestions or observations, I will be happy to hear it!

Please, can somebody vote?

Re: AI DEAD MATCH CONTEST!
 

Here is the link to the map:

AIContestMAP.zip

EDIT: I have changed the map a bit, to balance the Gas Giant races, including some Large planets.

[ November 10, 2002, 20:41: Message edited by: Master Belisarius ]

Re: AI DEAD MATCH CONTEST!
 

I still have the tech files I used for the old AI Challenge. They were used for a playaer controlled observer race since one player race is needed to run a game and a human player with full AI control runs differently than a full AI player.

With your SE4batch program running, 1 on 1 duels should go very quickly. The only problem I see is if two friendly players ally with each other and remain approximately equal in score. Then they will never fight each other (no MEE).

Might I offer a suggestion to judge races on style and originality as well as brute combat effectiveness?

Re: AI DEAD MATCH CONTEST!
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You did a great effort this time... more considering that you needed to do it manually all the time.
I can see your point about the human race. But I have decided a different approach: have created a lone system, without warp connections far in the left down corner for the human player. Then, I don't need special tech files: simply the human player will be out of the battle. And if one AI can open a hole to this system (what I doubt), good for them!

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I never knew 2 so peaceful races... but would be possible, I think. At this case, the race who will manage the resources better, or the race that could colonize more fastest, will make more points than the other race and would be the winner.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I can remember that you included this point in your contest. I liked the idea. But the problem is that to determine the winner, would be based in my subjective judge!
And my subjective judge believe that the United Flora, should win every style and originality contest hands down! And because I wanted to do the more objective contest possible, have decided to exclude other kinds of prizes.
But, if you want to be part, and judge the races considering style and originality, I have not problems!

Hey, nobody like to vote for any AI? Please don't let me select the 16 AI races myself! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

Re: AI DEAD MATCH CONTEST!
 

Out of my six AI (Jraenar, Klingons, Praetorian, Romulans, Shadows and UkraTal), I'd be interested to see how my Klingons do....

Regards

GE

PS: I have posted an update that supercedes my mod-pack Version.

[ November 10, 2002, 00:04: Message edited by: God Emperor ]

Re: AI DEAD MATCH CONTEST!
 

I absolutely insist that the United Flora compete. I would also like to see how the Space Vikings fare, and am interested in the Drakol showing.

CombatSquirrel

Re: AI DEAD MATCH CONTEST!
 

The modified tech files had a component that closed warp points (for sealing off the human's system on a random map), had a master computer, super high movement, quantum reactor, super high cloaking, and all sensors and scanners.

I did it because I wasn't sure if "omnipresent view" affected AI behavior. Also it was kind of cool to play the omnipotent observer.

I simply slapped together a few observer escorts for each AI race and parked them over key systems. Then I could see anything they did and note any nifty actions. I also played AI turns outside of the game every hundred turns or so so I could see how they were doing research wise and stuff.

P.S. I really want the Orks to take some names.

[ November 10, 2002, 05:04: Message edited by: Urendi Maleldil ]

Re: AI DEAD MATCH CONTEST!
 

I would like to throw in the Earth Alliance and the Narn. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: AI DEAD MATCH CONTEST!
 

First, thanks to everybody for the votes!!!

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I understand! The question is that now I will run the games with a batch mode, then, can't see the AI behavior "Online"! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif But I can keep savefiles.

Re: AI DEAD MATCH CONTEST!
 

Being one who never underestimates the power of the Dark Side I'd like to see how the Empire does (Star Wars Empire 1) or even my poor misunderstood EEEvil Empire. As for other peoples AI's I've always had a great respect for the Angelican Regency. That and the Xi'Chung have always kicked butt (mine at least!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif )