Bot coders: does the Real World(tm) know
 

you create bots?

Do you ever tell people you know in the Real World about them? Like people from work or school?

I was thinking about this one today while I was trying to explain to someone at work about how A.I. in games work, as I don't usually mention to anyone from school or work that I'm the creator of Fritz.

A friend of mine makes music as a hobby, and when he tells people what he does in his spare time, its like: "cool! you make music. Wow". When I tell people what I do, its blank stares and confusion most of the time. :P

Surprisingly, my GF actually likes the fact I write Fritz, but thats because she enjoys playing RtCW and ET. :D

What are some of the experiences of the rest of you bot coders?

Re: Bot coders: does the Real World(tm) know
 

i can draw line to clan gaming that i do..

even though its probably easier to understand than AI programming its weird how some dont have clue what its all about.. mostly those who dont play games at all.. like mother who thinks games is just about killing..

Re: Bot coders: does the Real World(tm) know
 

sometimes i've told what i do/did in spare time, but all of the people have simply no clue what the heck AI is. Even those who DO play CS have no clue.

Re: Bot coders: does the Real World(tm) know
 

at school quite some ppl knew that I was working on a bot, now at university it's not that much, but since i'm studying physics and similar problems arise in others forms you were able to solve by the pathfinder in the bot, they also get to know :-)

Re: Bot coders: does the Real World(tm) know
 

I guess PMB remembers when my mother spawned behind me when I was checking BU some time ago... I tried to explain her what PMB does ("He codes bots, mom")... Well, I can't say it was easy... 9_9

Re: Bot coders: does the Real World(tm) know
 

Some people know it...and yes its hard to explain for some people :)
Sometimes I just say something like "I make it so, you can play vs the computer".

Re: Bot coders: does the Real World(tm) know
 

lol I remember $eu's mother indeed :D

Most of the time I go just like Rick. Then people go like, "ah, in fact it's super simple then". Then I think "geez" and I change subject. Better to.

Re: Bot coders: does the Real World(tm) know
 

lol yeah. But some people dont understand why. Ie:

"So what is that what you're doing Stefan?"
"I code a program so you can play against the computer in Counter-Strike"
"I thought that game was to play on-line only? How could you code something for that then?"
...

then the hard part comes.

When you say:
"I code a program that is able to 'simulate' the 'internet' by adding 'computer opponents' instead of 'real players'. So you can play the game WITHOUT being connectede to the internet" they are totally lost. :)

Re: Bot coders: does the Real World(tm) know
 

Only my brother knows what it is im doing because he likes dod.
Other than that ppl "blank" at me when i tell what im doing.

Re: Bot coders: does the Real World(tm) know
 

*blank*

lol

Just got to face the facts that ppl have other interests and hobbies or are not that good with pc's so avoid anything to do with them. I could talk about computers and games all day, but people at uni aren't into games the way I am so get bored within the first few seconds of the conversation. If E-sports was worldwide on the Tv I think that would certainly help. Since you can talk about popular sports with out problems unless you know nothing about the sports you are trying to talk about.

Re: Bot coders: does the Real World(tm) know
 

Only two firends know what I do but they actually don't know anythink about AI, etc. They think that this is stuped but I like to code. The motivation for me to code is the users of E[POD]bot. In this way I know that there is a people that like my work.

Re: Bot coders: does the Real World(tm) know
 

What cracks me up is the one time I told someone who IS a gamer that I work on a bot, and he got all pissed and assumed I meant cheat bot, instead of A.I. bot.

It took 5 minutes of explaining for him to realize the difference, but on some level I still don't think he believed me. :P

The word "bot" has a really negative rap with all of the cheating that goes on in most games today, I ususally now say something like Rick does: "I make it so you can play against the computer."

Re: Bot coders: does the Real World(tm) know
 

well everybody in the school knows 'cause my diploma thesis is all about bot :) And everytime my mother comes and coplains that I play, I tell I'm doing work to school

Re: Bot coders: does the Real World(tm) know
 

lol youre working on bots for your diploma? What kind of study is that? :D

Re: Bot coders: does the Real World(tm) know
 

i bet hes pretty young.. and he wasnt introduced to bots around early cs or even quake as I was.. i even had thoughts to do my own then..

Re: Bot coders: does the Real World(tm) know
 

AI :) I'm testing 2 multi-agent approaches on bots. Communicating and non-communicating group. Communicating group is making more intelligent approach, like flanking and formations (well they try to) and stuff like that. 4 CT and 1 T on de_dust with knives. terrorist is fleeing and I'm observing how CTs catch him. Communicating group shall catch him sooner of course...
It's one of the first and one of few projects involving games in our department.. I've also mentioned bots-united in my work :)

Re: Bot coders: does the Real World(tm) know
 

sounds cool.. maybe something for css later..