Artificial Intelligence has been part of the world of online gaming for some time. It’s different and improved the gaming experience for online gamers everywhere. That said, there is possibly no happier online gaming community at the introduction of AI than the online football gaming community. With games such as FIFA, the most popular online football game, introducing AI into their games from as early as 2017. It has certainly been a game-changer for football fans across the board.
Artificial Intelligence consists of two basic ideas. The first involves observing and studying the thought processes of human beings and, secondly, addressing and managing those processes using machines such as PCs, and robots. The field of online gaming with artificial intelligence has been the centre of interest over the past few years. AI methods are being used in games to provide an engaging and entertaining gaming experience for people.
If you want to find out more about the development of AI in online football gaming, just keep reading.
AI Algorithm and FIFA Sports Game
FIFA, otherwise called FIFA Soccer or FIFA Football, is a series of affiliation football video games or football simulators delivered every year by Electronic Arts under EA Sports. FIFA is a football simulator game that you can play against other people or play against the computer AI. However, AI is still implemented when you’re playing against other people. This is to keep up with the consistency in the football team with every one of the eleven players, just as in the PC side. Generally, a few basic AI algorithms are used for these types of games (Team Sport-Related), such as A-Star search to figure out how to get players to the right position, also allowing players to pass the ball between one another. These essential capacities then get layered to allow for the higher-level methodology.
What Is The A-Star Search Algorithm?
The A* Search algorithm, otherwise called the A-Star Search algorithm, is usually used in graph traversal and pathfinding. It is broadly used due to its exceptional performance and accuracy. In sports games such as FIFA, this algorithm gives the human player a better gaming experience. A-Star is frequently used in software engineering because of its optimality, completeness, and optimal productivity. So, it’s no surprise that sports simulator games such as FIFA have made use of it.
In FIFA, the A-Star Search Algorithm helps you analyse the distance of the opposition player and the space around them to find the better passing opportunity. If you, as the human player, have possession of the ball, your teammates will understand when you get the chance to pass, and they will move accordingly to create the opportunity for you to pass or take the shot. The smarter (thanks to AI) players and the increased ball activity offer the chance to open up the game for the opposition team for better gameplay.
More On How AI Works With Online Football Games
Simply put, the use of AI in online football games does three things:
- Anticipating the future and what might happen at any random time during an attacking play.
- Understanding when the dribbler wants to make a pass, thus allowing their teammates the opportunity to time their run accurately.
- Understanding and also ranking attacking space.
Previously, AI players would not take the risk of running into space if a defender was already there. However, now the way that the defensive line sits will consider how a player gets into space. If there is no space available, that doesn’t mean a player will not make a run. Instead, they will consider alternative options to make an open passing lane. If there is also no clear passing lane, AI-controlled players will attempt to confuse the defenders and attempt to move closer to make a passing option. This is so that the player with possession of the ball can pass it while not losing possession. The great thing about introducing AI in online football games is that there is always support whether you play attack or defence.
AI And the Benefit For Players Who Play Against Their Computer
Online football games have put a great deal of consideration to the CPU (players whose actions are controlled completely by the processor) difficulty as they want everybody to have a great experience playing the CPU in all modes, for example, Career mode or even Kick-off matches. Besides tweaking and fine-tuning the gaps between the diverse difficulty settings, there were also changes made to ensure that the CPU AI does not hog the ball. Fans of online football games complained that the CPU kept possession of the ball for way too long, prompting them to pass the ball back and hold onto it simply. Presently, the CPU plays more intentionally while the player has more possession of the ball. Since the player has more possession of the ball, they have a better gaming experience. Moreover, the CPU AI has more diverse play styles, both defensively and offensively, depending on the attributes of the team.