The special focuses on new technology in the games industry and particularly on artificial intelligence (AI) in computer games. Among those interviewed at the conference were game design legend Sid Meier and Europe’s most prominent game developer Peter Molyneux. As Molyneux said in an interview for the special, AI puts the magic in games: “When you mix AI with great dialogue and a great story and a great world, then something magical happens. Because then it becomes a unique entertainment product.  I think what’s fascinating for me as a player is when I try something and you know however crazy it is, and it just works.”

At 3sat/ZDF’s studios in Mainz, xaitment Group CEO, Dr. Andreas Gerber echoed these sentiments as he spoke about the important function of artificial intelligence in games and the growing trend of using AI middleware to create human-like behaviors in characters. “I think it’s a coming trend. In the past we saw that graphic engines were big and then two years ago the physics engines and now the boom with AI is starting, putting attention on development there.”

To see the entire video, titled “GDC 2010”, click here.   

The special was aired on Sunday, March 21^st and is available only in German.