Philips Magnavox Videogames and the Entertainment Revolution Trigger Happy - Manual (Page 184)

Trigger Happy
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of “Strong AI” in order to become excited by these
possibilities for videogames. “Strong AI” is the
position, much postulated in science fiction from Blade
Runner and Terminator to The Matrix, that one day
computers will be able to think for themselves. Now,
just as with physical modeling, with NPCs you only
ever need as much realism as is appropriate to the
game. Remember, an accurate simulation of Formula
One racing would be a bad game, and simplifications
and elisions are part of the process of good game
design.
Some simplifications, however, are more
impoverishing than others. And as much as the
behavioral possibilities of videogame NPCs (whether
flesh, fish or fowl) are increasing, dramatic interactions
are still going to be pretty one-sided unless the
videogame player is allowed greater freedom and
creativity in the exchange.
Outcast requires the player actually to “speak” to other
characters in the game; their responses vary from the
helpful to the belligerent. Yet how are the player’s lines
chosen? You cannot simply say anything you like.
Instead, you call up a menu screen that offers you a
handful of possible conversational gambits, and you
simply choose one with the joystick or keyboard. It is