Ever since AR/VR headsets made their entrance into the gaming arena, research and development has poured into gadgetry. According to statistics gathered at the Game Developers Conference and reported in Medium, 29% of developers work on VR/AR and associated gadgets. Going high tech is clearly the way forward for developers.
Forcing their way into contention and looking to make a storm in 2019 are a few key technologies. Through AI and better VR integration, games will be more advanced. What developers aim to create is an ever more immersive experience across every title platform.
How AI crafts games
The idea of AI in games isn’t new. No Man’s Sky was crafted by algorithms and user input. Every role-playing game in history has sought to emulate the ‘organic’ process of life by crafting quests around your choices in game. Where this is being taken to the next level is through entirely AI-crafted worlds, and specifically through devices such as Angelina. The MIT technology review has outlined how this sort of technology will be able to intuitively look at user preferences and design an entirely new game based on its judgement. While this sounds futuristic, the developers have also sought to make it affordable to the average high street consumer in order to reach the mass market.
Integrating AI with VR
Creating a world is one matter, but turning it into an immersive and worthwhile experience is another. Where AI and VR meet is already seen via augmented reality, which is often used in cars. In gaming, that’s a less well trodden path. Where is the crossroads? Gaming developers will be familiar with IBM’s Unity engine. This product allows people to create their own games for free, but also has higher levels of functionality on purchase. An additional function is Watson, a powerful AI integration for the engine. IBM recently announced that they would be enabling Watson functionality for VR/AR applications. This should set a trail for developers creating utterly immersive worlds that are seen through your own eyes and felt through your own choices and preferences.
Gaming continues to evolve in a way that allows the end user to experience their products in a very personal way. The success of VR has encouraged developers to invest in immersive products, and AI is the next step. With a full integration of both functions, gamers of the future can enjoy even better experiences.