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Does AI Fit in Game Design?

Love it or hate it, AI is something that is being implemented across a diverse range of industries and will be here for the foreseeable future. Critics will often point towards how unfriendly it is for the environment, and generative AI has also drawn scorn for how it learns and could potentially replace many in the creative industries.

While these are valid points, and governments are stepping up regulations to implement greater controls, there are also a lot of benefits to AI. In particular, a lot of mundane tasks can be automated, streamlining businesses and reducing costs.

AI can be implemented in a variety of ways across all different types of industries, and the gaming industry is a perfect example of that.

Personalisation of the Game Experience

AI implementation in the gaming industry can help to personalise and enhance the overall experience for users, from gameplay to how they are targeted by marketing campaigns.

AI can be used to create reactive game content based on player preferences and choices, while difficulty settings can also react directly to the player's ability and update as they improve. This helps to keep games challenging enough to keep people interested without being too difficult.

The gambling industry is often among the first to explore new technologies to improve games and customer satisfaction, and was one of the first industries to embrace cryptocurrencies. Now, it appears to see a similar potential in AI to improve its marketing and security.

The UK's top online slots sites increasingly use AI to detect changes in player behaviour and alert them to ensure there are no issues. By locking the account temporarily until the user proves their identity, they can protect themselves against account takeovers and fraud.

The personalisation of marketing campaigns with AI by online slots and casinos has been a game-changer, with previous blanket campaigns relying on luck they reach the relevant audience. Personalised offers for specific games can then be created to encourage greater interaction, while the introduction of new games with similar aspects can be targeted towards people who are likely to enjoy them.

Many marketing campaigns will be about game awareness, and try to get them into people's heads, while others can include deals that attempt to drive interactions. It is not just the gambling industry that can benefit from this, with the traditional gaming industry also offering online gaming that can be monitored, with data used for more targeted ad campaigns.

Smarter NPCs

The reactive nature of AI implementation in gaming has taken it to the next level, with immersive world creation and smarter NPCs improving gameplay immeasurably. Gamers in previous generations were limited to what the developer had created, and while worlds grew, they still had their boundaries.

AI is making it possible for a gaming experience to be truly unique, with the game adapting to each decision the player makes. Smart NPCs have been a big part of this, and are able to develop and respond in more realistic ways rather than giving stock answers or actions.

Online betting sites are able to offer a better iGaming experience to players with AI dealers and competitors that help to create a lifelike casino session.

Game Development Suggestions and Generation

Nobody wants game development to go too far towards AI, with the creative minds behind some of the most popular titles over the last few years still being able to offer something special. However, using AI to suggest game mechanics based on previous games and player data can help direct games in the right direction.

The use of AI to simulate playthroughs also makes it easier to balance potential issues and resolve bugs before release, and can do this more quickly and efficiently than human testers. A combination of both can help to streamline processes without losing the human touch and nuances that help to identify the best aspects of games.

Using AI to generate boilerplate code, freeing up humans to concentrate on more complicated issues and helping to lower the cost and time it takes to create the games.

Things to Remember About AI in Gaming

• AI in gaming doesn’t mean the robots are taking over, and good governance will see it being used sensibly to enhance the creative aspects of game development and streamlining more mundane data collection and analysis tasks.
• AI can be used to enhance security by identifying suspicious behaviours far quicker than other methods. This is already being used in the FinTech industry, and gaming and iGaming will benefit by enjoying greater consumer trust with robust security systems in place.
• Using AI to complement the creativity of game developers can result in more immersive and reactive gaming experiences for players. Used in the right way, it is capable of providing far more realistic reactions and developments among NPCs and storylines.

Conclusion

AI development is moving at a rapid pace, and the industries in the tech sector, like gaming, are beginning to explore how it can benefit them in different ways. Streamlining processes and taking the boring and repetitive jobs away, freeing people up for more creative work, is one positive aspect.

From a consumer point of view, AI directly improving gameplay and personalising sessions and marketing campaigns has made a massive difference to customer satisfaction levels.