OXMUK
Battlefield 4 is shaping up to be this winter's strongest shooter, despite a slight want of new ideas beneath that thick, crunchy layer of next generation pyrotechnics. Could developer DICE have done more with Xbox One's more esoteric capabilities, such as that much-trumpeted "magical" cloud support? I asked creative director Lars Gustavsson for his thoughts.
Specifically, I was eager to hear Gustavsson's take on the concept of cloud-powered AI, as employed by Respawn's incredible-looking Titanfall. If you're new to the idea, the latter game features computer-controlled grunts alongside human players, in order to (a) furnish those human players with a steady supply of cannon fodder, and (b) drive the story via scripted multiplayer map events, such as AI troops launching their own, independent offensives while your attention's elsewhere. Read more about it in my Titanfall first look.
DICE has toyed with similar, though markedly less ambitious practises in earlier Battlefields. "It was quite, in our world, unorthodox to develop a small AI drone that you could have with you in Battlefield 2142," Gustavsson recalled. "You could have it as a battle upgrade, floating over you and shooting enemies. And we've been talking about being able to place AI paratroopers in there on the battle."
He feels Battlefield 4 can do without this kind of thing, however, thanks to its beefy multiplayer headcount. "It's not something we have built for Battlefield 4 - with 64 players we feel that there's more than enough in our world." There are balancing issues to consider, too. "In a co-op experience, [AI support ] is super cool, but in multiplayer, we've had feedback that people prefer dying from real human bullets, rather than [at the hands of] an AI that's too accurate or something. It just feels more fair if I get killed by a human player.
"So I'm not saying that we're not going to do it in the future, I see potential in it," Gustavsson went on. "But based on the feedback we've had and the huge number of players we already have on the battlefield, we've stayed away from it for now.
"For the moment, we're moving ahead with our traditional setup. But as always, whatever is best for the game, whatever is best for the customer, we look into sooner or later. And with the power of Frostbite, and the power of multiple teams working within EA on Frostbite, we are constantly looking into new possibilities, so... It's definitely interesting. We'll see what happens down the road."
Microsoft's Mike Lavin has suggested to OXM that the Xbox One cloud could eliminate "unfair advantages" in multiplayer - principally, host advantage.
http://www.oxm.co.uk/61275/battlefield-4-xbox-one-dice-sees-potential-in-titanfall-style-cloud-ai/
