[pgeorgi]

The author tells a story about being a graphic developer, so that's probably the reason for focussing on graphics.

Telling the AI people that their efforts are wasted on an arms race with little effect on the game play is a much weaker argument than 'hey, I need to revisit what _I_ am working on'.

[lloeki]

Re AI I was just recently thinking about Half-Life 1 marines AI (low tech, required hint nodes) against which I definitely had memorable experience, compared to the slew of titles that followed, with "improved" AI that looks like a game of whack a mole alternating with scripted sequences.

Guess what? I booted HL1, and that wasn't just nostalgia tinted memory. Smartly applied low tech produces fantastic results in the proper hands.

[Crito]

Something that kills me today is many modern games still have worse facial animations than Half-Life 2.