Misconceptions about video games with bots

Whenever you do an online search for ‘Games with bots in them’ you’ll mostly get First Person Shooter games. Most people associate ‘bots’ with that genre only, and nothing else. And yet, we have plenty of video games with bots, that don’t fall under the First Person Shooter genre.

In todays post, I hope to quickly highlight how crucial, and widespread, bots are to the gaming industry. Many video game genres wouldn’t be where they are now, without including bots in their games.

Video game genres with bots

The first encounter that I remember having with computer-controlled players, aka bots, was in car racing games. Renowned franchises like Need for Speed, and many others, used to be one of the main places where ‘human players’ got to play against, or alongside bots.

And when we talk about car racing games, its hard not to include games like Gas Guzzlers, which featured both racing, and vehicular combat. Even today, its easy to purchase such a game, add the bots, and have a blast, all alone. With the bots to keep you company. The conceptualization of such technology, was a good thing!

Most of the advancements in bot-technology happened before online gaming was a real thing. And, at that time, your options where: playing with bots, or having friends come over (for a split screen race), or both (mixing bots and human racers in the same race). And most played alone with bots, until your friends come over. But even then, you’d fill the other race slots with bots.

Another genre which made bots popular was sports. I’m talking about: basketball, tennis, football, etc. You had (and can still have) team mates that are controlled by bots, in sporting games. Your team could go up against an entire team of bots. And during the early years, these bots didn’t suffer from all the stigma which surrounds bots today. But when reminded, people can clearly see (now) that bots hold a special place in the gaming industry. And not just in First Person Shooter games.

Next on the list, we have; Realtime strategy games. You remember those, right? One of the most popular ones being Age of Empires.

That game allowed you to have amazing battles and alliances with bot-controlled tribal settlements. And just like you, each bot-tribe would go out and gather resources, build its own army, and fortifications. If we didn’t have bots to go up against us, back in those days, would that entire genre have taken off the way it did? Sure, you could get your mates together, and do some kind of LAN battle. But bots are what really made those games so accessible. Even to those of us who don’t have gamer friends.

Conclusion on the misconceptions surrounding video games with bots

I can keep going on and on, listing more video game genres that have/had bots in them. Some of which include; MOBAs like DOTA 2. Or even the party game genre, with games like Skelittle and Overcooked. Even Boomerang Fu (another party game) all go to demonstrate the power, and necessity of having bots in the video game industry.

So, the next time you hear the word ‘bots’ don’t cringe. Don’t just think about First Person Shooters, only. Think about all the genres, and franchises that made and refined the art of having fun, with computer-controlled-players by your side. I shall conclude by applauding all the game developers who soldier on, in making sure that our invisible companions remain present in the gaming industry.