Major Disappointment

jowe01 · #1 February 9th, 2001, 05:33 PM

Despite all justified acclamation of the potential and customizability of SE4, let's not forget why this post was originally started: because the hard-coded AI is still utterly stupid !

Sorry to be a spoiler, but my feeling so far is that SE4 still has to go a long way until it reaches the (modest) quality of the AI even in MOO II. However, this is 2001, and it should be better...

raynor · #2 February 9th, 2001, 06:14 PM

By the end of this month, SEIV should be a completely different game if you listen to what folks are saying about the new patch.

One beta tester commented on what a pain cloaked ships are. Another one described one turn in which the AI opened a wormhole into his home system and sent an armada of dreadnoughts through. Probably, the patch will correct some construction queue problems which slow the AI's ship production.

In another topic, someone suggested lowering the AI bonus in the new Version from the current 2x,3x,5x to something much lower if the AI turns out to be as tough as everyone expects.

SunDevil · #3 February 9th, 2001, 06:20 PM

I think that people fail to realize that the Last patch was from 12/19. And since then there has been 113 issues fixed SO FAR in the upcoming patch.

If you have a problem with the game you have two options. Mod the game yourself and fix the issues, or what for MM to fix the issues for you.

If you want to learn to mod or need help, let me know, I'll help you or point you in the direction of who can. But complaining about how the game doesn't stack up to this or that, when its quite clear the game has been out for three/four months and this how the process is(patch/add to the game for the next year and half), I just don't understand the need to complain.

Mephisto · #4 February 9th, 2001, 06:51 PM

Well, the post was started because a bug prevented the Ai from building ships and units. I can't see how the AI of MOO2 could do any better then SE4s AI. Besides, I have watched the AI now for a looooonnngggg time creating my MODs and I cannot say that it is utterly stupid. What needs work is the script files for the AI that decides how the Ai will do things but the hard-coded AI is good when the script files are good.
Don't forget that an AI will not have the same insights as a human for a long long time (if ever).

quote:
Originally posted by jowe01:
Despite all justified acclamation of the potential and customizability of SE4, let's not forget why this post was originally started: because the hard-coded AI is still utterly stupid !

Sorry to be a spoiler, but my feeling so far is that SE4 still has to go a long way until it reaches the (modest) quality of the AI even in MOO II. However, this is 2001, and it should be better...

geoschmo · #5 February 9th, 2001, 07:03 PM

You are correct Mephisto. The ai is good as ai's go. The problem's that everyone have been seeing are symptoms of the construction bugs for the most part. Once that is cleared up, you won't notice as much what little issues might be left becasue you will be too busy defending yourself.

SEIII's ai wasn't genius, no ai that you could afford to put in a shareware or retail game really could be. But SEIII would keep you busy because it did a pretty good job of colonizing and building attack fleets.

I can remeber games where I could have several consecutive turns of 20+ ships fleets coming at me. It would get so bad that you would have to go on the offensive just to clear out all the planets producing ships to send at you.

I predict in another few weeks we will start seeing Posts on here looking for ways to beat the ai, not ways to make it stronger.

Nitram Draw · #6 February 13th, 2001, 02:03 AM

Thank you SunDevil.
Now that I know a little I can really screw it up

raynor · #7 February 12th, 2001, 03:28 PM

Would some kind soul give me a few tips on how to correct the defence base problem in my AI construction files?

Do you just have to take the Defense Base out of ALL the queues? Or, is there a way to take it out of the queues of just the planets that don't have space yards?

Thanks!