Why Conversations with NPCs in Games Haven't Caught On

The concept of having real conversations with non-playable characters (NPCs) in video games has long been a topic of fascination and discussion among gamers. However, despite the technological advancements in the gaming industry, this feature has failed to gain widespread popularity among players.

In ancient times, people would gather around campfires in Mesopotamia to listen to stories told by bards, elders, and priests. These stories held a deeper meaning and imparted wisdom to the listeners. Similarly, conversations with NPCs in games are meant to serve a purpose beyond just arranging words into sentences. They are expected to take players on a journey and provide a meaningful destination.

One might argue that the creative aspects of these conversations, such as the use of verbs and rhymes, are important. However, the ultimate goal is to reach a destination that feels worthwhile. For example, while artificial intelligence (AI) can generate music compositions that are virtually indistinguishable from human-made ones, people still prefer listening to music created by real composers. This is because the AI-generated music lacks a sense of purpose and meaning.

A game called Facade, released in 2005, attempted to fulfill the dream of having conversations with NPCs. Although the developers made impressive advancements in conversational AI for the time, the game failed to gain widespread appeal. It was seen as playable but ultimately lacking depth and excitement.

In contemporary dialogue-heavy games like The Witcher, Disco Elysium, Assassin’s Creed, or Baldur’s Gate 3, conversations with NPCs are essential for progressing the storyline. However, they are not the main draw for players. Game writers often focus on pushing the players along and creating a sense of immersion, rather than engaging in lengthy and unnecessary dialogues.

Dialogue in games serves a function. It adds to the overall atmosphere and helps create a more realistic and alive world. However, spending excessive time engaging in prolonged conversations that do not contribute significantly to the main storyline can have a detrimental effect on the player’s experience. Open-world games, in particular, already offer a vast array of activities and side quests. Losing players in sub-plots that lead nowhere can result in disengagement and a diminished sense of purpose in the game.

One might argue that AI could solve this issue by providing NPCs with limitations and realistic responses. However, creating AI characters with realistic limitations and backstories would require extensive effort, surpassing the mere task of writing throwaway dialogue options. The complexity increases exponentially when multiple characters are involved.

Moreover, the input problem presents another challenge. Communicating with NPCs through text or voice commands can be cumbersome and less user-friendly than selecting options from a dialogue wheel. The need for extensive user input and the limitations of current technologies make the concept of in-depth conversations with NPCs less appealing for players.

While the idea of having meaningful interactions with NPCs in games is intriguing, it is clear that numerous obstacles stand in the way of its widespread adoption. The focus should remain on creating engaging stories, immersive environments, and purposeful gameplay rather than attempting to replicate real-life conversations. By addressing these core aspects, game developers can provide players with a truly satisfying and captivating gaming experience.

FAQ

Q: Why haven’t conversations with NPCs in games become popular?

A: Despite technological advancements, conversations with NPCs in games have failed to gain widespread popularity due to the lack of meaningful destinations and the potential to lead players astray from the main storyline.

Q: Can AI solve the issue of shallow conversations with NPCs?

A: While AI has the potential to add depth to NPC interactions, the complexity of creating realistic AI characters and the limitations of user input pose significant challenges in implementing in-depth conversations.

Q: How important are conversations with NPCs in games?

A: Conversations with NPCs serve a function in creating immersive and realistic game worlds. However, excessive dialogue that does not contribute significantly to the main storyline can detract from the overall gaming experience.

The video game industry is a rapidly growing market, with a projected value of over $200 billion by 2023. This growth is fueled by advancements in technology, which have led to more immersive gaming experiences. However, despite these advancements, conversations with non-playable characters (NPCs) in games have still not gained widespread popularity among players.

One of the key issues with conversations with NPCs is the lack of meaningful destinations. Players expect these interactions to take them on a journey and provide a sense of purpose. While creative aspects such as the use of verbs and rhymes are important, the ultimate goal is to reach a destination that feels worthwhile. This is similar to how people prefer listening to music created by real composers, as AI-generated music often lacks a sense of purpose and meaning.

In the past, games like Facade attempted to fulfill the dream of having conversations with NPCs. However, despite impressive advancements in conversational AI, these games failed to gain widespread appeal. They were seen as playable but lacking depth and excitement.

One of the challenges in creating in-depth conversations with NPCs is the need for realistic limitations and backstories. This requires extensive effort from developers, surpassing the task of writing throwaway dialogue options. The complexity increases exponentially when multiple characters are involved.

Another issue is the input problem. Communicating with NPCs through text or voice commands can be cumbersome and less user-friendly compared to selecting options from a dialogue wheel. This can make the concept of in-depth conversations less appealing for players.

Given these challenges, it is clear that meaningful interactions with NPCs in games have yet to become popular. Instead, the focus should remain on creating engaging stories, immersive environments, and purposeful gameplay. By addressing these core aspects, game developers can provide players with a truly satisfying and captivating gaming experience.