6. AI Military Strategist (AI-MS)
Last updated
Last updated
"I've been playing Rise of Kingdoms for more than 5 years, even before KvK (Kingdoms vs Kingdoms) existed. Every day, more of my fellow players — some of whom I know personally and fought side by side with in every KvK — choose to leave the game." — FishFishFF, interviewed in 2024 before joining Last Odyssey
Recent studies indicate a decline in player interest in strategy games, including 4X and simulation strategy (SLG) genres. A report by Quantic Foundry, which surveyed over 1.57 million players between June 2015 and April 2024, found that 67% of players have shown less interest in strategic thinking over the past nine years.
Sensor Tower data shows traditional 4X strategy games experienced a significant decline with a -14% revenue growth rate. This represents one of the largest decreases across all strategy sub-genres, suggesting that 4X strategy games are losing popularity or struggling to maintain player interest.
These findings suggest that traditional mechanics in 4X and Strategy games may no longer captivate players as effectively as they once did, indicating a potential bottleneck in the genre's evolution.
"I've spent countless hours analyzing player feedback and data. The key is to really understand why some players stick around while others leave. What makes them stay? What pushes them away? These are the questions we need to answer." ”I feel AI perhaps might tackle these kinds of pain points.” — Aidan (Game Producer)
Heavily Extended Playtime
"I used to spend more than 10 hours every single day on Rise of Kingdoms. It became like a second job - you had to be there for territory wars, alliance events, everything. After 5 years and spending over $130,000, I realized I couldn't keep up with this schedule anymore. It was just too demanding for someone with a real life to manage." — From a former hardcore Rise of Kingdoms player
Complexity of Mechanics
"I tried Top War for a few months, but the mechanics were just too overwhelming. There were so many different systems and features to learn - troop management, base building, alliance coordination. I felt like I needed a PhD just to understand the basics.”
— From a beginner playing Top War less than 1 week and left the game already
Overwhelming Micromanagement
"It was crazy... As my Kingdom gets bigger, I'm spending more and more time just managing every little thing. It's getting super annoying, you know? Especially when you're deep into the game. I swear some days I feel more drained from this than my actual job!"
— From a current hardcore player of "Awakening of Ten Thousand Dragons”
*The above pain points were extracted from interviews with more than a dozen 4X gamers.
Because of the pain points and challenges mentioned above in maintaining player engagement and popularity. Last Odyssey is planning to introduce a groundbreaking innovation this year of 2025 —— the AI Military Strategist (AI-MS).
AIMS is an advanced AI agent designed to enhance the gaming experience for players of Last Odyssey by addressing common frustrations in 4X games. It seamlessly integrates into the game’s alliance system, offering personalized guidance, strategic planning, and automation to streamline gameplay. Whether you're a casual player or a hardcore gamer, AIMS adapts to your unique play style, making Last Odyssey gaming more accessible, engaging, and rewarding.
AIMS will take the form of a virtual "Hero", acting as a 24/7 strategist and guide for the entire alliance. This "Hero" will be a central figure within the alliance, equipped with the capability to interact with all alliance members. Players can actively "talk" to AIMS, offering feedback and engaging in discussions to train and shape its behavior. Over time, AIMS evolves to fit seamlessly into the unique gaming style and preferences of the alliance, becoming a personalized and indispensable ally.
The implementation of AI-MS will involve several key steps to ensure it aligns perfectly with the needs of Last Odyssey players:
Integration with Alliances: AI-MS will be embedded within the alliance system, functioning as a supportive strategist for alliance members. By monitoring alliance activities and member behavior, AIMS can provide tailored recommendations and strategies.
Behavioral Data Analysis: AI-MS leverages cutting-edge AI algorithms to analyze player behavior and preferences. This data enables the system to provide personalized guidance, ensuring that players receive the most relevant and effective support.
Interactive Hero Mechanic: Alliance members can interact with AI-MS through an intuitive chat or command system, enabling ongoing training and customization. For example, members might ask AI-MS to prioritize offensive strategies over resource gathering, or request scouting reports for nearby enemy activities.
Autonomous Learning: AI-MS is equipped with machine learning capabilities, allowing it to adapt to evolving gameplay environments. The more players interact with AI-MS, the smarter and more effective it becomes in optimizing strategies and enhancing gameplay.
Gradual Deployment: AI-MS will be introduced in phases, starting with core features like resource gathering assistance and strategic threat assessments. Additional functionalities, such as coordinated attack planning and P2E optimization, will be rolled out based on player feedback and testing.
AI-MS is designed to address specific pain points in 4X gaming, offering a range of innovative features to improve the overall experience:
Personalized Resource Gathering • Behavior Analysis: AI-MS monitors each player’s in-game habits, such as preferred playtimes and resource preferences. • Customized Guidance: For example, if a player prefers nighttime sessions, AI-MS identifies the most resource-rich locations available during that period, maximizing efficiency and reducing wasted effort. • Heroic Presence: AI-MS, as the alliance "Hero," provides clear, step-by-step guidance to ensure resources are gathered efficiently without overburdening players.
Strategic Threat Assessment and Offensive Planning • Continuous Monitoring: AI-MS keeps a vigilant eye on the surrounding environment, detecting potential threats to the alliance or opportunities for expansion. • Proactive Support: When a vulnerable enemy is identified, AI-MS helps players strengthen their forces in preparation for an offensive.
• Coordinated Attacks: AI-MS designs comprehensive strategies for alliance-wide attacks, including optimal troop compositions, timing, and positioning to ensure victory.
• Interactive Tactical Advice: Alliance members can consult AI-MS in real-time to tweak or adjust strategies before or during a battle.
Enhanced Play-to-Earn (P2E) Efficiency • Optimized Resource Allocation: AI-MS guides players to high-yield resources and advises on efficient gathering methods to boost in-game earnings.
• Strategic Victories: Successful offensives and optimized gameplay lead to substantial rewards, enhancing the P2E experience for alliance members.
• Community Rewards: AI-MS tracks and distributes rewards equitably among alliance members, ensuring a fair and rewarding P2E ecosystem.
Autonomous Learning and Adaptation • Continuous Improvement: AIMS learns from player interactions and outcomes, refining its strategies to better align with individual and alliance objectives.
• Adaptive Strategies: As the game environment evolves, AIMS adjusts its recommendations to ensure sustained success and engagement for players.
• Alliance-Centric Evolution: The more the alliance engages with AIMS, the better it understands the alliance’s collective goals, enabling it to provide smarter and more tailored strategies over time.
