PvP-AI

Overview

A revival of a 1990s AI arena demo, rewritten for the Commander X16 system.

• Uses VERA, the CX16's video co-processor, for high-performance rendering.
• Features overhead-view arena battles with AI-controlled vehicles.
• Suitable as a screensaver, retro showcase, or demo scene exhibit.

Technical Highlights

• VERA FX helpers enable fast, clipped, 16-color line drawing in C.
• Optimizations result in 8.6 FPS in emulation.
• Hardware has rendering bugs at certain line angles, reducing speed to 4.0 FPS.
• AI profiles are only 13 bytes, with traits like evade, revenge, and persistence.
• Generates AI.DAT for evolving AI across generations.

How to Try It

• Download PVP-AI.* files from my Google Drive.
• Use an emulator (R48) to run it due to hardware issues.

Controls

General

• Esc: Pause/Resume
• C: Cycle Player
• Q: Quit
• J: Join game (normal)
• K: Join as preferred target (hard)
• L: Join with no health recovery in last level (very hard)

In-Game

• ↑ or gamepad back: Climb
• ↓ or gamepad forward: Dive
• → or gamepad right: Turn right
• ← or gamepad left: Turn left
• Space or gamepad button: Fire missile