The Threat AI in Directive 8020 is SMG’s first venture into real time threats for the Dark Pictures franchise, and was important to get right and lay a foundation for future projects. The feature and sub-mechanics needed to be designed modularly, and with cross department use in mind.
Inspiration
When creating the AI, we did extensive research into horror and stealth systems developed for other notable titles; I.e.: Alien Isolation, The Last of Us franchise, Amnesia: The Bunker. This allowed us to develop a response AI with a focus on natural escalation and de-escalation behaviours. Dependant on engagement with the player, the AI would adjust the pressure it applies to them.
Alongside this, controls were baked into the AI infrastructure so narrative-driven and scripted beats to play out as anticipated.We paired the AI development process with that of the gameplay stealth systems (i.e.: Cover, vents) and tools, making sure they compliment each other and progress together.
AI design, prototyping, and implementation across the interdisciplinary team was done using an agile management methodology. This way, the AI was iterated based user experience, and tuned to achieved design & project goals.
Vents
Prototyping
Death in Loco
A big addition to the franchise and AI system was the inclusion of failure consequences in exploration in the form of ‘Death in Loco’; Systemic branching interactive cinematics baked into an AI behaviour for repeated use with variability dependant on the AI class. With this, we were able to deliver the iconic SMG QTE cinematics at any position the player was caught by the AI and branch the narrative dependant on the QTE.
