Intrinsic Algorithm has entered into a consulting contract with Project Aurora Games to provide AI design and programming services for their debut space-based title.
Project Aurora entered into discussions with Intrinsic Algorithm in October of 2009 after their Founder and Creative Director, Mbambu Miller, met Dave Mark at the 2009 GameX Industry Summit in Philadelphia.
Intrinsic Algorithm is excited about assisting in the creation of Project Aurora's unique gameplay vision.
A little over a month ago, we announced that Intrinsic Algorithm was expanding its consulting to include other industry veterans. At the time, we also had to play it a little close to the proverbial vest in that the people we were bringing on were still attached to their respective studios. One of those people has now left his full-time job, however, so we are able to make the formal announcement! Borut Pfeifer has gone out on his own - in part, to do his "own thing" and, in part, to work as an AI consultant under the Intrinsic Algorithm banner.
Borut (LinkedIn) has worked in the game industry since 2000, first on online casino games and then at his own startup White Knuckle Games. Eventually he went on to work as an AI and gameplay programmer at Radical Entertainment (Scarface: The World Is Yours), and then as lead gameplay programmer on a PS3 launch title at Sony Online (Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom). He's published articles in the Game Programming Gems series, the AI Game Programming Wisdom series, on Gamasutra, and has taught technical game design at the Vancouver Film School. Most recently he was the lead AI programmer on a game collboration between Steven Spielberg and Doug Church at EALA.
Games he has worked on include:
Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom, Sony Online Entertainment (developer and publisher), Nov 2006, Platform: PS3. Credited as Lead Gameplay Programmer.
Scarface: The World Is Yours, Radical Entertainment (developer), Viviendi Universal Games (publisher), Oct 2006, Platforms: PS2, XBox, PC. Responsible for collision, AI, and gameplay programming.
Technical Articles:
"Creating Designer Tunable AI", AI Game Programming Wisdom 4, editor Steve Rabin, Charles River Media, February 2008.
"Peer-to-Peer Distributed Agent Processing", AI Game Programming Wisdom 4, editor Steve Rabin, Charles River Media, February 2008.
"Automatic Cover Finding Using Navigation Meshes", Game Programming Gems 5, editor Kim Pallister, Charles River Media, March 2005.
"Narrative Combat: Using AI to enhance tension in an Action Game", Game Programming Gems 4, editor Andrew Kirmse, Charles River Media, March 2004.
"Creating an Audio Scripting System", Game Programming Gems 4, editor Andrew Kirmse, Charles River Media, March 2004.
"AI to Control Pacing in Games", Artificial Intelligence, Interactivity, and Immersive Environments: 2nd Annual Game Development Workshop, University of Texas at Austin, August 2003.
On behalf of Laurie, the rest of the (yet undiscolosed) consultants at Intrinsic Algorithm, and myself, I would like to express how pleased we are that Borut will be working with us to provide top-quality game AI for our clients.
This has been in the works for some time, but we are finally announcing a major change in the consulting wing of Intrinsic Algorithm. Until recently, IA consulting consisted only of Dave Mark. About the time of GDC and the AI Summit, however, a number of AI programmers got together and decided that there was serious merit in joining forces to provide a combined service.
At this time, IA Consulting includes three very experienced, full-time individuals and two "advisory" consultants. More detail on what those roles entail can be found on the IA Consulting page.
Because we are in a transition period, some of these individuals are still with their companies. That is why we aren't naming names just yet. As these people transition out of their jobs to work full time for IA consulting, we will announce who they are. Here is a summary of what the IA consultants bring to the table, however.
3 x Full Time Consultants
8 shipped titles - including numerous AAA titles - 5 of which were in the position of only or lead AI programmer
13 lectures on game AI at conferences such as GDC and AIIDE
For more information on who we are, what we believe in, and how we work, please check out the consulting page. After all, doesn't everyone need help with the intrinsic algorithms in their game?
Intrinsic Algorithm has entered into a consulting contract with Project Aurora Games to provide AI design and programming services for their debut space-based title.
