11 Bit Studios talks about crafting a "child A.I." for the upcoming This War of Mine: The Little Ones. They admit that creating "humanlike behavior is really tough," and integrating childlike behaviors into the civilians-in-wartime simulator falls in line with that realization—that making video game characters behave like real people is hard.
The original This War of Mine has 12 playable characters. The Little Ones adds nine new civilians, six of which are kids. Kids' responses and behaviors in accordance with wartime events are totally different from adults. Over 3,500 elements can affect each child's behavior. And your ultimate question, as a player, becomes: Do you preserve a child's innocence, or do you open their eyes to the realities of war?
Children can't scavenge on their own, but they can collect water or take care of the wounded. And, one way or the other, they'll be forming bonds with adults, be they good or bad.
This War of Mine: The Little Ones brings its hits-home strategy to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on January 29, 2016.
