TIGSource Forums

This game has been around for quite a bit, but since it seems to have flown under the radar within this particular community im bringing it up.

(http://gar.eecs.ucf.edu/images/GAR-ring-planet-thumb.jpg)

Galactic Arms Race (or GAR) is a space diablo-like, that has the nifty feature that weapon systems are procedurally generated according to player preferences (using some sort of evolutionary algorithm called cgNEAT -content-generating NeuroEvolution of Augmenting Topologies- 8) ).
Allegedly it uses AI technology for content generation.

Its compelling to see how the succesive iterations of weapons (which, visually, are particle-effects based) "evolve" into deadlier and more powerful variants (and at times, dead end useless patterns of space fireworks).

It features both singleplayer and multiplayer modes. Apparently, evolved weapons are persistent on the server side galaxy on multiplayer, which is revolutionary if one is to go by the developers claims. It would imply that you could feasibly pick up weapons online that have evolved according to past players preferences, and may be many generations old.

It started out as a research experiment in automated content generation, and it seems was an Indie Game Challenge finalist.

Rumor has it they plan to release version 1.2 on Steam sometime soon.

Extra info:
  Homepage:
   http://gar.eecs.ucf.edu/index.php?content=main (http://gar.eecs.ucf.edu/index.php?content=main)
  Indie Game Challenge finalist
   http://www.indiegamechallenge.com/finalists/galactic-arms-race/ (http://www.indiegamechallenge.com/finalists/galactic-arms-race/)
 
Informational video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOKNoZSAGGQ&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOKNoZSAGGQ&feature=related)

//disclaimer: I am yet to test the online component.

It has gotten a lot of coverage, im surprised it hasnt come up on tigs. Or maybe you guys have been keeping all the fun to yourselves, you selfish bast*rds.


Oh, and as a side note, i found the comments thread on the Slashdot article about this game amusing. It degenerated into a discussion about automated content generation in MMO games.
http://games.slashdot.org/story/09/07/08/1419242/Experimental-Video-Game-Evolves-Its-Own-Content (http://games.slashdot.org/story/09/07/08/1419242/Experimental-Video-Game-Evolves-Its-Own-Content)


 

I found and played this pre-release through the community over at AIGameDev.com. I haven't played it since actual release -- although my install states it's client 1.0.

I did enjoy it and found the weapons system well thought out and useful. It provides various tactics based on the weapon styles. Those tactics change as the game progresses and people (and enemies) get different weapons.

When I was playing, there was rarely (I think only once) anyone else on with me. But then I tend to play at odd times.

My problem is I move on from a game once I've poked, prodded and picked apart the gameplay. I'd certainly suggest checking it out if you like asteroids/captain forever style shumps.