Cheating AI

For my final year university project, I investigated whether artificial intelligence opponents could create more engaging gameplay experiences by selectively breaking the rules of the game. Rather than focusing solely on creating a stronger AI, the project explored how carefully designed cheating behaviours could influence player enjoyment, challenge, and perceived fairness.

To test this concept, I developed a top-down turn based game in Unity featuring AI opponents capable of using several cheating techniques. These behaviours included accessing information unavailable to players, changing their decisions based on player choices, and adapting their actions based on hidden game data. The challenge was not simply to make the AI more difficult, but to implement these advantages in ways that remained believable and enjoyable for players.

Alongside development, I conducted user testing and gathered feedback from participants to analyse player reactions to both disclosed and undisclosed cheating behaviours. This research provided valuable insights into how players perceive fairness in games and whether intelligently designed cheating can enhance engagement without creating frustration.

The project combined gameplay programming, artificial intelligence, user research, data analysis, and iterative design. As my largest and most ambitious project to date, it allowed me to apply both technical and academic skills while exploring a unique area of game AI design that is rarely examined in traditional game development.