Algorithms, Heuristics & Hacks

Algorithms:

An algorithm is a well-defined procedure that allows a computer to solve a problem. Another way to describe an algorithm is a sequence of unambiguous instructions. In terms of games, an algorithm is a very basic set of rules that the AI character follows during gameplay in order to simulate real-world behaviour. This is applied to every type of game in some way or another, because they allow its developers to give the AI something to do either by telling how and when they should more, and what their end goals are and how they can achieve it.

Heuristics:

A heuristic is any approach to problem solving, learning, or discovery that employs a practical (though, not guaranteed) method towards reaching an immediate goal. They are used to rapidly come to a solution that is close to the best possible answer, or 'optimal solution'.  A heuristics is a "rule of thumb", an approximate solution that might work in many situations but is unlikely to work in all. Regardless, however, in some videogames these days if an NPC cannot find a can’t find a suitable solution to getting stuck or not finding a path they’ll teleport to an open space or in the vicinity of the player. This is most noticeable in games like Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls: Skyrim or Fallout 4 (Both of which use the same Game Engine), in that the NPCs might get stuck in the environment and if it cannot find a path then it will teleport in order to get around this.

Hacks:

A hack is when an AI Entity which is using information, they shouldn’t have access too; This means when the AI player suddenly does something and react in a manner that we do not expect. The AI player had set off a trigger and the AI responds to this “trigger”. A hack is a piece of code which forces an AI character to respond in a very predictable way. This is sometimes necessary to make the AI difficult or to trigger a certain event for the story of the game etc. A player character can often use this to their own advantage in-game. However, this “hack” can break story immersion and make the gameplay become somewhat unrealistic as a result.