In prototyping stage on an idea I’ve had for a while, a driving game where speed isn’t everything but how well you can navigate traffic also This is the first driving test with roads and traffic. Different AI driver behavior profiles to be work on next to bring some variation and more unpredictability to the traffic. Testing out whether the idea is any fun or not
For the AI profiles, a small set of numbers per driver goes a long way: reaction delay, following distance, how often they change lanes, and how late they brake. Mixing 3 or 4 profiles in the same traffic already reads as “people” rather than “cars on rails”.
The thing to watch is fair vs unfair unpredictability. If a car swerves into you with no warning it feels like the game cheated. If it signals or drifts toward the line half a second first, the same move feels like a near miss you dodged. Telegraphing is what makes weaving through traffic a skill instead of luck.
Yes for sure, there are some people who tailgate, there’s a shit load of people lately who don’t indicate when changing lanes even in medium - heavy traffic, some people do 85 in 100 zone, some go between 90-100, some will 105 in a 100 zone, some change lanes no reasons. But amongst all that, there will need to be some order and logic too as there I’m picturing a semi-open world so AI will be getting on /off freeway, stop at stop lights etc.