Why do so many game's attract modes feature such poor playing of the game? Some game's attract mode will show expert playing, while others feature something more akin to a monkey beating a controller with a rock. I had asked this on another forum a while back and the answer I got wasn't very satisfactory. I was told the game is just "playing itself" and that's why it's often so cruddy. I'm no PC expert, but I think if that were the case a comp would know better than to just walk into enemies, then attempt to strike or jump over them after they have passed by.

I'm guessing that some games are playing canned "footage" of one of the devs playing the game. This really seems to be the case on the occasion you see the character access a secret block, power-up, etc. during attract mode.

When a game's attract mode shows the character walking off a cliff or running face-first into a chainsaw, I guess I could see it as the comp playing the character on a very simple and basic level.

But like I said, I'm far froma  PC expert, but this question has bothered me since I was a lad walking through arcades and seeing this happen. Through the years I've noticed it on console games as well. Does anyone have any knowledge about this? Help solve one of life's great mysteries for me!

Some developers are not good at making an AI, especially for attract mode. They are simply lazy for it as it's not part of the game. They just want to show off the graphics not how an expert plays.

I understand they don't want to show how an expert play, but apparently some companies do show that.

But I'd think there would be better and easier ways to show off the graphics than to just program the game to show the hero running into enemies.

Better yes, easier no.

Hmmm, interesting...but wouldn't it just be easier to just have some canned footage of one of the devs or testers playing the game though?

I wouldn't mind knowing what "attract mode" is?

Is it the trailer type thing you can watch if you leave the game alone on the main menu?

 yes