#beta desing?

[satteen]

I love her so much

[l-1-z-a]

Recognizing stories in the player's head in The Sims 2

The last part of Will Wright's "Will Wright's Design Plunder" presentation at GDC 2001, called "Story Recognition," provides a picture of how what has been given the name "System of generating personalized player’s game reality in The Sims 2" should work. It binds together all the disparate pieces of available information and observations from players.

Here's a record of the presentation:

The presentation of this system begins at minute 58 and goes all the way to the end of the presentation.

This is what Will Wright says:

Now, the last thing I want to talk about here, real briefly, is interactive storytelling.

I've always been really happy in my little sandbox, you know, doing these open-ended games, these simulations. And I've always really avoided the idea of interactive story. But at this point, as you can see, our fans are going to basically drag me into it whether I like it or not. So I've been thinking about this quite a bit lately, how we might enable this.

What's happening right now is the simulation is going off and doing one thing, and the fans are saying, "Oh, to hell with that, I'm going to tell my story over this direction." And frequently, they're having to take these Sims that just want to, you know, pee and eat and sit in front of the TV, and they're grabbing them, "No, stand over here, I need to take this shot." And so they're like these little actors on strike, you know, that you're trying to manipulate to take the screenshots.

So, what we need to do is try to get these things more to converge, bring them back into line. We've got basically this open-ended space, you know, you go in a direction in, but it's very flat dramatically. Now, drama, you know, is linear but has this added dimension that we don't have. And so, how do we get this added dimension of drama in our open-ended space?

I think the path to this, I see, is not teaching the computer to tell a story, but rather teaching it to recognize a story. If, when you're playing these stories out in the Sims, the computer can actually get some sense of the story that's in your head, it could then start helping you a bit.

It might, at first, be just a very simple thematic recognition. It might look at the things you've bought in the Sims and the interactions you've chosen, "Oh, you tend to kiss a lot, and you buy this type of stuff, I think you're doing sort of a romantic story." Or, you buy, you know, heart heads and jars, or shackles in your dungeon, and it might say, "Oh, that looks kind of like horror." And then it looks at what you're doing, it might even drive events to resolve it later.

You know, if it's not quite sure if you're doing a horror or comedy, you might walk into a room, and then there's a chainsaw and a cream pie, and it's looking to see which one you pick up.

Now, there are a number of approaches we can take towards this. One might be language to parsing, in language parsing, this is the way computers try to understand natural language. They'll look at the string of words and from those try to build higher and higher levels of features and eventually parse it into a complete sentence. I suspect there might be something similar possible with story parsing, where you look at an event stream and look for higher and higher levels of structure coming above to build the computer's understanding.

Let's assume that, for instance, we could do this. If the computer could parse this story, then it could actually start changing the presentation of the story in something like The Sims. We could start having the camera angles change, we could have the lighting change, the music. So, if it thinks you're doing horror, the lights start to come down, the spooky music starts, you see lightning in the background, the camera gets really close in, ambient sound effects, and all this stuff.

And the next step would be probably for the computer to actually start driving the events, rather than the events being random as they are now, events that are there to support your story.

Another way to look at this is that we have users always in the game trying to confine these success landscapes. If the computer can detect what goal the user is trying to pursue in the game, then perhaps, so say that a million people are playing this game every day, and after they play it, there's some fitness test.

You can measure how long you've played, maybe you score at the end, you give it a 1 to 10, "Oh, I really liked that experience today." Then it goes back up to the server, and it compares all the results. So, at the top level, we can have the server discovering these rules of story. It's not like we're trying to engineer a story grammar, what we're trying to do is develop a system to where we have enough information for the servers at the top end to discover this. This is very much like SETI at home, where we're doing a vast parallel search, except in this case, we're really using parallel things like SETI at home.

So, I think long term this might really be practical. And of course, you can look at different players, and they're going to want to play the games in different ways. So, a mapping that might work for me won't necessarily work for you. So, at some point, you want to classify the players. It might say, "Oh, that's the type of player that really enjoys the comedy experience." So, they get this mapping, and they'll be evolving a certain mapping for that group of players. These other players, we know, elected to kill and torture their Sims, and so we're going to give them a completely different experience.

So, that's about it on this. One more thing: once you've done this, you know, assuming we could do this, which is a big "if" - I know it's a very difficult target - once you finish this, once you've done the parsing, presentation, the computer is helping you tell the story. In essence, you've made a movie at the end, what you can then share with your friends. Maybe you can even go back and edit the camera angles. Other people with the game, you should be able to send this movie, very much like Quake movies we're doing, which was a very cool idea. If you have the engine, it's a very small amount of data I have to send you to send the movie, or it could be still saved out as a JPEG or an MPEG and given around other people, posted on websites. So, really what I think this is going to end up being more like is The Truman Show, where you're Truman kind of living your life out. You know, there's boundaries, but the boundaries are as far away as we can make them, and the computer is back there, sitting there, looking at what you're doing, saying, "That might be dramatic. What if I had this happen?" And maybe trying things on you all the time. The computer might be sending NPCs into your life, you know, seeing, "Oh, I see this love story developing. I'd better make the jealous ex-girlfriend appear at the door right now," so always, you know, trying to keep the dramatic tension going.

So, that's about all I have to say on that. I just wanted to close with one more remark, and that's that in game design over the years, I found that two things really made the biggest difference that I've seen in design, and it has to do with self-confidence and determination. A lot of times, you'll come up with a really crazy idea, and you'll start telling people about it, and they'll say, "That sucks. That's horrible." And frequently, you know, that's not always the case. I've only had two games where I had that experience where most of the people I told, you know, my idea for the game, they said, "That's a horrible idea," and those two games were Sim City and The Sims. All the other games I would describe, when people say, "Oh, sounds great. Let's do it," and they were all on board. They understood it.

So, basically, you know if you have an idea like that, and you go around telling everybody, and they tell you it sucks, you know, will prevent it pragmatically. It probably does suck. But um, there's really a chance that it doesn't, that you're actually going to jump outside the box. If other people don't understand it, that's probably a good thing, and that's where the determination comes in. At that point, it's entirely up to you to have the determination to fight, to scream, to do whatever it takes to get that idea out there, and maybe, you know, maybe it'll be a success. So, thank you.

Description of the process of determining the theme of the story that the player has in his head and setting camera angles and lighting - a description of what the developers wanted to implement for The Sims 2, one of the goals about told Mike Sellers (Mike Sellers), game designer of game:

Make the environment adaptive based on the player's decisions. This is probably my favorite thing that didn't make it in: we wanted to vary the lighting, camera angles used, and music based on the kinds of objects the players purchased -- so if you bought a bunch of creepy things vs. hearts and flowers, we'd use lighting/sound/view angles corresponding more to a horror movie vs. a romance. Among other things we were able to show that the same animation of two Sims kissing looked and felt very different when set to romantic violin music vs. smoky sexy jazz music (one exec who watched the two sequences said the jazz one had a lot better resolution -- but it was literally the same video of an animation in both cases).

From this answer you can also understand the degree of readiness of this particular part of the system, which is responsible for changing lighting and camera angles, before it was hidden.

But the system itself, the system of story recognition in the player's head is still in the game, and it works. How does it show itself in this case? You can find this out at the link directly after the question you asked - "How does the system behave?":

Add to that these interviews with Will Wright:

EA SimCity 2000 Will Wright Interview

Will Wright's 5th minute answer to "What do the people get out sim games?".

And this interview:

Will Wright on Big Thinkers [March 2000]

Here's what Will Wright says in this interview:

I mean, I think there's certain areas of technology that I would like to explore, and I'm not sure what would come out of that exploration. Like, what artificial intelligence or something like that? Well, actually, I think more importantly would be um, adaptive, uh, intelligence, adaptive computing, where the game can actually measure what I'm doing, look at what I'm enjoying, what I'm not enjoying, and then reprogram itself around my activities. So, I might get this game, and I, the longer I play it, it's basically uh, rewriting itself around what I like to do. And so, you might get the same game, and after a month of play, your game and my game are totally separate. You know, we're doing totally separate activities, totally separate settings. That would be good. Yeah, and you know, so in that case, it's more like having a, you know, it's like when you're a kid and you have, you know, a really good friend that you like to play with, and together you build these shared imaginative worlds and these activities you go and do together. Um, you know, I think the computer could do that to some degree in the future.

This relates with a previous interview and it also ties in with an answer from Mike Sellers to a question about goals in developing The Sims 2.

And it looks like The Sims 2 should be like this, a perfect Will Wright game.

На русском языке (On Russian language):

[kanzuus]

The Book of Life Leosagi AU!

Beta Re-Desing

[zombyne]

Talking about desings

It would be funny that the Twilight syndrome girls have their beta desings, All i can see is Hiyoko's gay panic hit because she is surrounded by Goth/punk girlbosses

Ok listen to me, Imagine Hiyoko in her grow spurt, a little short pig tail, Black hair and a pink/blue Kimono

NOW IMAGINE HER SURROUNDED BY THIS BITCHES

Lit Hiyoko would simp for Ibuki ngl

[marmeowz]

My beta + alpha kids desings..

[random-meme-bot]

I do have some OC stuff in the works, but I got the idea of Belle as Pomni and I needed to draw it, so here's an edit of one of the scenes of the pilot.

Original for comparasion.

A few details under the cut.

Both Tangle & Belle are using her Beta desings.

I do have the idea for a posible future edit/drawing of the mirror scene but intead of Pomni puting her hand to her face is Belle to her ears.

Amy's desing is a mixture of her modern and clasic desing, hence why the red patchs, and green button eye.

Ragata's hair was definetley the worst part to draw, I tried to do amixture between it and Amy's quills but it wasn't looking good so I ended up just using the original.

Out of the three Tangle is the one I had more fun Drawing and the one I'm more happy with the end result.

[lemonnio]

HAPPY NEW YEAR 

AVA/M COMMUNITY!!!!!!!

(I know the year is not over yet, but if I don't do it now, I will forget this or I won't have time to upload this-, and sorry for the translator English )

I am very VERY proud to be part of this beautiful community.To all my friends and acquaintances here I wish you a great start of the year. Even also to all those I don't know, everyone reading this, have a great new year!!!! (I'm not the most active person in the fandom but I think one of my goals is to contribute more to the community to make it bigger and better, and to let all the beautiful little people in this place know that they are awesome!!!)

I hope you all have a happy time and keep making all the great content I have seen all this year, you are all wonderful guys!!!!

(There’s a little draw, MT/King/Orange and Purple. It may not have been a very happy year for them, but fortunately it is over and they can see new hope for their future together. It is comforting to see a happy ending at the end of another year. )

The first version of the draw, I didn't know which one to publish, so I publish both. ( these are my beta desings of MT and Purple uwu)

[zourried]

10 mutuals you were thankful for this year and why. Go!

Let me try! I cannot promise I will succeed

@thedevilinmybrain the joy this woman brings into my life is something I never expected to feel nor find on tumblr. Jenn, I am so thankful I got to meet you this year because looking at you, talking to you and experiencing life with you feels like a “finally”. You’re a true keeper and god’s way to make peace with me. I adore you endlessly, my 11:11 wish. 🖤

@walkinginsunflowers Raine 🥺 conocerte, ser tu amiga y estar la una para la otra siempre es uno de los tesoros más bonitos que me dejó el 2022. Sabes que te quiero bastante y que podrás contar conmigo siempre para lo que necesites 🤍

@complictedfreak Lorna! We started talking bc you gave me a prompt for a fic that I will probably never finish but you are the best beta out there. Also, one of the best friends and people this site holds. I love you very much! 🥰

@anxiouslarrie Cata de mi vida 🤍 Estoy esperando que vuelva a haber promoción de pasajes a Santiago y te caigo en una porque nos merecemos acabarnos un pisco peruano entero entre las dos. Por uno, me refiero a mínimo 3. Te quiero muchísimo! Tus geniales vibras en este hellhole y en la vida intentan reflejar lo espectacular que eres pero no son suficientes. Eres energía y luz ✨

@heyangels Gillie 🤍 Your friendship is so pure, so unconditional and so beautiful as you are yourself. I am so glad I get to call you a friend. I love you so much! You are a true sunshine and I hope you know I am always here for you 😘

@btstylinson Mi Dani hermosa, preciosa 🥺 Sé que últimamente no hablamos tanto como antes porque en realidad la vida adulta nos patea. Te adoro muchoo. Fuiste la primera persona a la que consideré una amiga acá y mi corazón siempre siempre tendrá un lugar inmenso solo para ti🤍 Sabes que me tienes para lo que desees siempre🖤

@harrysmaison Vi, my love! Your friendship is such a joy! You can always count on me, always. I’m so glad I can call you my friend. I love you very much 🤍 Never stop being your funny, lovely, curious self. I am so proud of you!

@heyangels @complictedfreak @tommokat @luckyagain @handgf you guys 🥺 you have listened to me whineee! You’ve made me laugh until my tummy ached! I love you all and you are always so close to my heart 🤍

@braverytattoos @greeneyesfriedrice @itsnotreal @medicinehrry @thebirdtatts @uwulouis @farawaytattoo @rockysatellite @rainbowsunflower @ladychlo @rainbowparadisebht aimh gc! First gc I was in last year and I’m so glad I got to experience this with you. We have laughed so fucking much, talked so much shit and I just love every single one of you 🤍 You are all amazing

@finexbright @medicinelarrie @thechavier @larrysballetslippers @kadd-kadd you guys 🥺 thank you for putting up with me, making me laugh everyday

@curlyhairedprince @loustyles @harrehleh @larentslovechaos @fivescrews @freelouist @ishipmutualrespect @lovedangel @yorkshirelarrie peace ring gc 🥺 I will never get over our day drinking and how you guys took me into my “first tea experience” fjsjfjs I love you all so much!

@toxiclarrie @kieumy @itmustbefireproof @punklouisedit @skyneverlooksolou @birdsjustpassingby aquí tú habla’ español gc! Les quiero tanto y juro que lo que más amo de nosotres es lo rápido que seguimos el chisme, ptm fjajjdjsj por un año lleno de chismecitos porfi

Honorable mention to my mutuals I just love so much: @writtenalloveryourface28 @louishandkink @lovelikealandslide @nauticallyrics @dragmedown @tanktopzouis @timetohealit and I swear to god I could continue all day and I hate that tumblr only lets me tag 50 people at a time.

I promised to try! I just didn’t succeed. You asked for 10 and got 50, this is my personality trait.

[shinytapuashy]

Have i ever showed u guys tapu ashy beta desing?

His name almost end up as asherna

[mirai1269]

Someone new showed up in school.

A few people aren't that enthusiastic about this...

Beta!Vincent from Pumpkin's twitter with the real one.

Both desings are created by @pumpkin-spike18

[l-1-z-a]

Mike Sellers, Lead Desinger of The Sims 2

Interesting person, Mike Sellers… He was the Lead Designer of The Sims 2, not listed in the game's credits.

And one of the goals of the game design he described was this:

Add situational awareness, so Sims were more responsive to what was happening to other Sims. As I recall, we did a lot less with this than I would have liked. That actually drove some of my own AI research later.

We should look for his research about AI, as it may turn out that the ideas in these research were the original ideas for The Sims 2 that were evolved in his AI research.

Lead Designer is the lead role during game development - responsible for the overall direction of the game, its mechanics. How could we ignore that?!

Wait, but if he left EA in 2002, who was the Lead Designer of The Sims 2 before its release?

He's been answering a lot of questions on Quora about AI, game development, The Sims, etc. Here's his profile there:

Mike Sellers died of cancer in June 2022. He was 60.

[mariewhatthe]

My Fnaf 1 AU [Beta] Desings 🎊

EVERYTHING HURTS. The eyes, the hands, the back, the hair, the mouth, but it was worth it (I think)

I'll be honest with everyone, I grew up in the fandom with Pole Bear's designs, it's hard for me to see my AU with my own designs, MY OWN DESIGNS. I am, don't take me to school

[thefanartisthoho]

Look at this mf, love him

Also this is a lil AU i've been making, phoenix is a dragon from an old destroyed kingdom and miles is a soldier

(All my beta desing B) )

[toyo-nugget999]

Tried drawing Crystals beta desing with beta chikorita..

Color pallet is picked from the final sprites.

[draidachiart]

WAIT GAZ HAD A DAUGHTER? I thought it was just the twins?! Did I miss that part? It’s been a while since I read Zab The Hurkin…..

Does she have a design? Was there a specific event that made her leave?

Was it something Gaz did or Membrane’s fault?

Well in the comic i never mentioned her BUT she was planned to be in the comic but i didnt put her bcs i was having a bad time with my mental health.

Her name is Karla Membrane

This is her beta desing

My god I have to search on all my sketchebooks to find her xD

Well, somethings about the comic yall didnt know bcs this was answered on my facebook page! and all are in spanish xD

"How was Gaz with her kids"

"Weirdly lovin mother"

I didnt put these things on here bcs idk i was shy and no one asked on tumblr xD

Also it was Gaz fault that she leaves the family, Karla is the 1st born and you know what it means. She couldnt handle that and say bye bye to the family, now she live in other galaxy with her new family, she only talk to her brothers.

LITTLE EXTRA

This is Gaz ex-husband... he died as old man.

"I like you"

"Shame"

"Wanna get married?"

"Do what you want"

[mr-zok]

Beta Willow I made for practice~ I just love her desing