Maybe not brand new for some of you, but as i’ve just started an investigation on AI in games, brace yourself for more of those and send me tips if you feel like it.

Forza Motorsport for the Xbox reveals a game built around “machine learning techniques” (AI) or what marketing people call Drivatars™.

In the game the computer opponents no longer behave in an unrealistic of ways just to remain competitive against a human player. “In most driving games, cars tend to drive in a very artificial way,” says researcher Mike Tipping, “that’s what we were trying to get around.”

The computer-controlled cars are more convincingly human, and they don’t cheat (so they are not that human, are they?) The problem with computer opponents is that to be competitive with you they have to cheat. Whether that’s artificial grip, or artificially fast engines or braking ridiculously late through corners.

In the Drivatar feature a player can train their own “avatar” how to drive. Just by practicing themselves, the player teaches their own Drivatar. It becomes the human player’s own on-screen, virtual incarnation. “You can set him off racing for you,” adds Tipping, “and watch, which is quite compelling. You can even race against your own Drivatar.”

You can even copy your own Drivatar and install it on a friend’s Xbox and have it compete for you when you are not around.

Further developments include a sequel to Forza, with Drivatar technology much expanded. And then there may be alsot a football game.

Via Culture lab. Image Computer and Video Games.