The new features in BtS might be nice, but what I'm really looking forward to is the improved AI that's supposedly included. I am unable to find any details about it, however. Previews usually include a sentence that AI is improved, but that's it. Even here on the forums nobody seems to care.

So, are there any real news about the AI? I wouldn't be playing CivIV anymore without the BetterAI mod, but the developers of it seem to have vanished for good. Probably the mod won't work with BtS.

Actually, Blake who made BetterAI didn't vanish, he now works for Firaxis (that's why you don't see him post here anymore, he's not allowed to do so)and he was responsible for the BtS AI, so the mod (and much more) will be included in BtS.

The makers of BetterAI have been hired by firaxis to improve the AI for this game. By all accounts, they've done a very good job of it as well :D.

My understanding is that the biggest improvement to the AI is that it quits if it doesn't find copper near its first city. ;)

There is little definitive. Blake did admit that he worked on the BtS AI, so presumably there is some of the Better AI stuff in there. His name was also mentioned in the chat. One of the developers said the improved AI was his favorite thing about BtS. Supposedly the AI is better at naval invasions and better in using military generally. We'll see.

My understanding is that the biggest improvement to the AI is that it quits if it doesn't find copper near its first city. ;)


"No, Sir, that is not a bug, when the game drops to desktop it simply means one of the AI leaders has quit out of the game. Its a feature, Sir."

That's great news! :)

I read once that Blake and Iustus were hired by Firaxis, but then I read this had been just a rumor and they publicly denied that they do. Guess that was a rumor then ;)

yes, the new ai plays like a human :lol:

My understanding is that the biggest improvement to the AI is that it quits if it doesn't find copper near its first city. ;)

That's great news! :)

I read once that Blake and Iustus were hired by Firaxis, but then I read this had been just a rumor and they publicly denied that they do. Guess that was a rumor then ;)
Blake was contracted to work on BTS, but Iustus was not involved.

Jon

I have a lot of faith in the BTS AI. If you've ever played the Better AI mod, you know that it's a way more intelligent AI

I've seen Blake post on here recently