Kemco Games

JVGFanatic · Posted: Mar Thu 03, 2005 1:42 pm Post subject: Does Dai Senryaku VII Cheat

This topic is inspired by one I've been posting on at gamefaqs. It actually diverged off into a "even chess programs cheat" subject that I found very amusing.

Anyway, the question is: does the AI in Dai Senryaku VII cheat? So far we've blasted two suppositions:

- It was proposed that units cost less for the AI to build than they do for the player to build. This has been proven (to the best of my abilities) untrue. I played ten games to turn 2. Four of the games were Easy AI, Three were Normal AI, and Three were Hard AI. On turn two I switch control of the CPU over to myself and examined the units that were created and the amount of funds available. In no instance did the value of units excede the amount spent on them.

- It has been proposed that fog of war does not work for the computer. I don't know of a good way to test this adequately but after hundreds of games I have convinced myself anyway that the computer is susceptible to the effects of fog of war. I've played numerous games where the computer suffered the effects of a surprise attack while I, with good reconnaissance suffered none.

- It has been proposed that Harder AI's get a combat bonus. I've not tested this yet though the test is easy enough.

Can you think of any other ways the AI might cheat?

SemperFi2382 · Posted: Mar Thu 03, 2005 3:37 pm Post subject:

Although I'm still waiting on my own copy. I think there might be another way for the AI to cheat. Though these are total assumptions.

Theory 1
In Advance Wars, you can clearly see the use of supplies by the AI and that, in fact, the AI does need to resupply. However...

- I know there are some games that use supply, but somehow the AI isn't affected by "lack thereof" (aka Supply Trucks with ammo or fuel are non-existant, but the AI Army keeps on rolling)

Theory 2
In Advance Wars, the AI is not hindered by the Fog of War, is this maybe because...

- Maybe this falls under the Fog of War, but what about the AI getting to see "farther"? Like your Unit A can only see 2 hexes, but the AI's very same Unit A can see 3 hexes.

- Though with this assumption the AI can "see" farther, does this mean that they might have extra range attacks? (Aka shoot farther)

Theory 3
We hardcore strategy gamers think too much. Rolling Eyes

_________________

"The Object is not to die for your country, but to make the other poor bastard die for his." - General Patton

Guest · Posted: Mar Thu 03, 2005 4:44 pm Post subject:

wait a minute ..you dont even gave a copy of the game?

MisterToad · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 29 Location: NorCal, USA

I agree that the AI isn't peeking or spawning "hordes of the things". Smile

So what then constitutes Easy AI, Medium AI and Hard AI, if it's not granted a production bonus or allowed to lift the FOW ? Simply the level of aggressiveness ? Too much aggression can be as bad as being overly passive. There must be something more to it.
_________________
Steve

DeviousPENGUIN · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Posts: 54 Location: Pittsburgh PA

Maybe it gets more organized on harder levels. Some of the ways it comes at you in easy mode are pathetic. I played one map and the AI basically threw it self onto my wall of armor backed up by SP's. I was playing as japan and the AI was china on the map with the peninsula. Maybe on hard level it would attempt to dismantle my position instead of charging headlong into it.
_________________
Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war.

JVGFanatic · Posted: Mar Thu 03, 2005 8:27 pm Post subject:

SemperFi2382 · Posted: Mar Fri 04, 2005 11:46 am Post subject:

DoubleTap · Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 76 Location: Manhattan

There have been times where the results of a computer attack or counter attack have been SO inconsistant with the firepower/hit %/endurance numbers, I have been tempted to accuse the computer of cheating by skewing the percentages. Alas, I think it's just the fortunes of war.

Semper Fi, I agree with your thoughts about the AI. In the Border Incident mission (perhaps the perfect mission to test any defensive theory), the computer kept on trying to rush infantry across the border on the west side of the map, in spite of the fact that I was pounding them with three ATACs and a Humvee forward observer. It was fairly obvious that they couldn't see the ATACs, and were just kind of trying to keep me busy so they could launch their main attack from the east.
_________________
"If an evil is minor, resist it nonetheless. If a good deed is trifling, perform it all the same." -Liu Bei

snowzone · Joined: 01 Feb 2005 Posts: 2 Location: kingston, on. canada

SemperFi2382 · Posted: Mar Mon 07, 2005 7:22 am Post subject:

Well, I got my copy of the game. Hence my absence here yesterday lol. I did the tutorial and had an 8+ hour free play with my friend vs 2 CPUs.

I plan on running some tests to test out various theories I have. I'm going to have one player be allied so I can "spy" on the CPU every turn to test reactions and the like. Twisted Evil

I'll post the results back once I get them. However, I won't be able to start testing for a few more days. (I want more time on it first lol) Laughing

_________________

"The Object is not to die for your country, but to make the other poor bastard die for his." - General Patton