stic projectile missiles at the cat than it is to play with when its batteries die and does nothing. It is this level of interaction that people crave when they turn to on hi tech goodies looking for entertainment, and only AI can produce the required results.
             Over the past several years, video game AI has entered a sort of renaissance. Beginning as a sort of straightforward reactionary type of programming, AI systems have evolved into entities that can think and adapt, as well as be proactive about their goals. In order to create a fun and challenging game that is realistic as well, AI algorithms must be able to identify goals and create a reasoning behind achieving those goals. Due to the rapid increase in computer processing, it is now possible to devote more and more CPU cycles to the calculation and execution of that process. This has led to the creation of AI that is adaptable to many situations instead of just one. Where (in pseudo code), AI used to be like this:
             It is now able to be more like this:
             If (allies + (location - player location) + health = = good){
             One of the best examples of this kind of adaptable AI is present in the upcoming game Half Life 2, from Valve software. While not yet released, the technology demo that was shown at this years E3 (Electronic Entertainment Exposition; a yearly gathering for the top video game design studios to show off their newest stuff) demonstrated the abilities of the powerful AI programmed into it. At one point in the demo, Gordon, the protagonist of the game, is chased into a building by some enemy AI marines. In response, Gordon (who was being controlled by Gabe Newell, president of Valve) pushed a table in front of the door to prevent entrance. The AI controlled marine tried to push open the door, but found it could not.
             So far, this had been a fairly unremarkable scenario, reproducible in any number of other video games, but it was this part of the demo that simultaneous...