Expwnent said:
Bots have always been second to actual players in terms of intelligence and ability. The only reason we ever used them was for single player or to make teams when other people weren't available to play. That was before the internet. Now there are always people online who can play a match, making bots obsolete, at least in multiplayer. There are notable exceptions to this, such as the zombies in L4D or the jets and helicopters in modern warfare, but enemies who have all the same abilities as the player might as well be controlled by players.
It's pretty obvious to everyone they aren't as good as human players
most of the time (anyone who says ALL of the time has never player Unreal Tournament) but you're missing the point. It's always the internet being brought up as something that renders bots useless, but don't believe this is so for many reasons:
*Humans can be better, but humans also tend to whine, abuse, teamkill, camp, steal vehicles, go lone wolf in a team game, spam chat, go AFK, ragequit, obstruct people, ignore special server rules/limitations etc etc etc. Bots
always play properly, without complaint, whenever you want and HOW you want.
*Not everyone has fast internet, and telling them to just get it is pretty narrow minded. Even many that DO have internet prefer bots for the above reason alone.
*5 years down the line most people will move on from a game, and if you really like the game and can't find a group of similar minded people, bots allow you to keep playing for as long as you want. Forever, if you so wish. Personally I look forward to enjoying that luxury with Perfect Dark and Timesplitters.
*Split screen or LAN matches with just a handful of players take on the size of a full server when bots are included. Even if they're lousy bots, theres more action and you're friends take on the role of 'bosses'.
For some modern games like Bad Company 2, bots are a missed opportunity for people to learn how to best use vehicles and weapons in a combat situation. Since there is no offline mode for such games, people are forced to do their experimenting online, causing much frustration to the players around them- especially those that could use the vehicles to much better effect.
Bots allow you to explore an arena at your own pace, checking out the scenery or map layout and shortcuts without getting killed by people out for stat-boosting. In most bot supported games you can even walk around an arena alone, having a look at the architecture you'd otherwise be too busy to notice.
Even if you don't ever use bots, there will always be players that do. There's no excuse to keep them out. Games are full of features some use more than others, and bots are no different.
Anyway, as for another great moment with bots- I had one in Bf 1942 where a guy in an AA gun on an aircraft carrier brought down an incoming bomber, but then had to watch helplessly as the charred wreckage drifted down and blew up a friendly plane as it was taking off, before sliding over and decapitating him.
