Nightmare AI is actually bugged

[dalbozofgurth]

HI!:D

I've been doing streams of Alien Isolation for the last week or so.

I noticed something at about mission 4 where the AI, which is supposed to be aggressive, enters a recursive loop.

It took me a while to figure out that this was a bug, but basically what happens is this:

The AI hears you.

It knows you are within 0.30 of position X.

It then tries to find you, it stops, and then assumes a guarded posture.

It won't leave that area no matter how long you wait.

I was able to manipulate this to bug out some humans. They pointed their guns at my direction where I made noise. I waited 5 minutes, they didn't move. I walked around them, made noise behind them, but they were still trained on the original position I had been when I made noise 5 min earlier. They conducted a casual conversation with each other, while standing stiff and facing where I had been 5 minutes before. The ONLY thing which broke them from this loop was me attacking them (whereupon they promptly killed me).

This happened again, three or four times, with the Joe Androids. They stood still, staring in one direction, not moving untill and unless I attacked or came into view.

Now, on mission 6, it actually happened with the Alien, just prior to me entering the Doctor's office where she talks about the woman she rescued with a parasite.

I sat in the vent for 20 minutes. I have it full on record. The Alien heard me in the vent, but didn't know where I was. He walked around underneath me in a circle. Moving between 0.05 and 0.20 from me in the circle. There is NO way to hide either, because he instantly catches me 9/10 times in Nightmare mode.

I sat there, for 20 min. Had it recorded. I could hear him. He was hissing like he knew I was there. No way to move around him. I was literally stuck.

I tried mission 6 area multiple times, on all but 2 occassions he got stuck in his loop, pacing back and forth. Not attacking. Not killing (not until I moved and made a sound, at least). This final time, after 20 minutes I just had to give up.

This isn't really a nightmare a.i., this is a "stuck" a..i.. I don't think I can beat this game on Nightmare because of it, that's because in Mission 6, you have to go down two one way hallways with no ability to hide. He's always within 0.50 of a doorway after I enter the vent, and babysits the two main doors you have to use.

I love this game, and understand nightmare means you have a hard time playing, but, when the AI get stuck in a loop, that's not a real ai, that's just plain broken.

I may play this game on an easier setting, it's just 6 levels, and hours and hours of game time spent is now wasted because I got a buggy alien that won't attack, but chooses to babysit a freaking doorway until I challenge him to a fist fight. I will actually upload the file and make it visible in a few days. I've got some good videos that are queued up already. I'm just sad that this has happened.

[shponglefan]

Originally posted by dalbozofgurth:

I love this game, and understand nightmare means you have a hard time playing, but, when the AI get stuck in a loop, that's not a real ai, that's just plain broken.

I just recently played through on Normal and noticed similar things. There was once instance where I hid in a locker for a good 10 minutes and noticed the Alien fell into a perfectly repeating pattern of movement.

I think it's just a consequence of the non-randomized portion of the AI and probability of triggering such loops.

[dalbozofgurth]

Originally posted by shponglefan:

Originally posted by dalbozofgurth:

I love this game, and understand nightmare means you have a hard time playing, but, when the AI get stuck in a loop, that's not a real ai, that's just plain broken.

I just recently played through on Normal and noticed similar things. There was once instance where I hid in a locker for a good 10 minutes and noticed the Alien fell into a perfectly repeating pattern of movement.

I think it's just a consequence of the non-randomized portion of the AI and probability of triggering such loops.

It's definitely triggering a lot more often on nightmare. I may have to see if there's a console command for saving the game, or obtaining items. I don't like the idea of cheating, but the alien is freaking broken, and mission 6 makes it impossible to hide during that very linear corridor scene.

I freaking love this game, I don't want to have to cheat to beat it, but if there's no solution to the alien AI I may have to :(

[-|Nur|-]

I'm not sure how this qualifies as a bug. If the alien knows you're there then why should it leave? You kinda put yourself in a crappy situation.

[zorlag]

Originally posted by ;494632506578361888:

Originally posted by dalbozofgurth:

I love this game, and understand nightmare means you have a hard time playing, but, when the AI get stuck in a loop, that's not a real ai, that's just plain broken.

I just recently played through on Normal and noticed similar things. There was once instance where I hid in a locker for a good 10 minutes and noticed the Alien fell into a perfectly repeating pattern of movement.

I think it's just a consequence of the non-randomized portion of the AI and probability of triggering such loops.

Patterns can develop on those areas with limited ways to move around, just like the office portion in Chapter 6. It´s more fault of the map design than the AI. I consider that place to be the worst of all locations and living or dying can sometimes feel a bit like RNG lottery, although you might have parts to build a molotov in the security office to chase the bugger away once (at least if you are not playing Nightmare).

Best thing to do there is simply not to open the doctors message in the office (this will trigger the alien for sure) and instead loop around the other way and directly proceed to the medpack once you get out. At that point the alien will probably get active anyway, but you´re past the chokepoint.

[dalbozofgurth]

Originally posted by -|Nur|-:

I'm not sure how this qualifies as a bug. If the alien knows you're there then why should it leave? You kinda put yourself in a crappy situation.

Because it's scripted that I have to go there. I don't think you understand. The game forces me to go into the vent in order to get to that area. The Alien literally spawned outside the room and stood under the vent. Even if I left the vent in the opposite direction, and came back, he'd still respawn in the exact same spot because the game remembers where the alien should be in an area you've left/abandoned.

Originally posted by zorlag:

Originally posted by ;494632506578361888:

I just recently played through on Normal and noticed similar things. There was once instance where I hid in a locker for a good 10 minutes and noticed the Alien fell into a perfectly repeating pattern of movement.

I think it's just a consequence of the non-randomized portion of the AI and probability of triggering such loops.

Patterns can develop on those areas with limited ways to move around, just like the office portion in Chapter 6. It´s more fault of the map design than the AI. I consider that place to be the worst of all locations and living or dying can sometimes feel a bit like RNG lottery, although you might have parts to build a molotov in the security office to chase the bugger away once (at least if you are not playing Nightmare).

Best thing to do there is simply not to open the doctors message in the office (this will trigger the alien for sure) and instead loop around the other way and directly proceed to the medpack once you get out. At that point the alien will probably get active anyway, but you´re past the chokepoint.

So I don't have to listen to the doctor's message? Ok, I thought I was forced to listen to it.

Still doesn't change the bug, but you are right, I may be able to race him to the save point, kill myself, and force him to respawn elsewhere.

[-|Nur|-]

I'm not sure what you're talking about. You can finish that map just fine on Nightmare without ever getting detected by the alien.

[dalbozofgurth]

Originally posted by -|Nur|-:

I'm not sure what you're talking about. You can finish that map just fine on Nightmare without ever getting detected by the alien.

Please stop trolling. Please go away. Just don't open your mouth again. I have been doing livestreams on this and hours of video documentation of how the alien is teleported to auto know where you are even if you aren't doing anything. If you are a programmer for the game, then tell me now so I can explain how the Alien gets in a recursive loop so you can fix it. If not, then just stop posting.

The teleportation I can deal with. The problem is the alien getting in a loop where he JUST WILL NOT move away after his timer is supposed to reset.

[-|Nur|-]

If you're talking about the vent that connects the morgue to the narrow area with Lingard's office, then I'm sure the alien will eventually get where you are but so long as you don't take a coffee break while in the vent, you should get there ahead of him.

[dalbozofgurth]

Originally posted by -|Nur|-:

If you're talking about the vent that connects the morgue to the narrow area with Lingard's office, then I'm sure the alien will eventually get where you are but so long as you don't take a coffee break while in the vent, you should get there ahead of him.

What part of - on Nightmare he teleports to that section and is standing outside of the door - is not getting through your thick skull? He then walks into the room, and walks around under the vent. I only managed to get out of that vent 4 times. I ended my last stream sitting in the vent for 10 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ minutes. 10 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ MINUTES. The AI is broken, Nur. Stop trying to ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ your way through this discussion. You clearly have no grasp over the bug that I'm reporting.

[WeylandYutani]

The Game and the AI can bug around specially on higher difficulties but the agressive stance on Nightmare is intended, its made that the Alien is in the Area most of the Time. Such Loops dont happen for everyone, its more rare that this happens and its also highly connected with Save/Load your Game because that resets the Alien and can make it stuck or make it suddenly appear and dont get away. The only thing what really fixes this is the loading between Levels.

[dalbozofgurth]

Originally posted by WeylandYutani:

The Game and the AI can bug around specially on higher difficulties but the agressive stance on Nightmare is intended, its made that the Alien is in the Area most of the Time. Such Loops dont happen for everyone, its more rare that this happens and its also highly connected with Save/Load your Game because that resets the Alien and can make it stuck or make it suddenly appear and dont get away. The only thing what really fixes this is the loading between Levels.

Yes, and I expect an aggressive AI, but, there's a difference between aggressive stance, and outright being buggy. After an hour more of playing today I used the suggested method by the user above, I did everything out of order, and I managed to manipulate teh alien into fighting the humans so I could grab some of the stuff I needed. Still, I shouldn't have to manipulate and abuse a bug in order to fight a bug. They have some serious issues with AI they need to adjust. I doubt they ever will, but they need to do it.

[-|Nur|-]

Originally posted by dalbozofgurth:

Originally posted by -|Nur|-:

If you're talking about the vent that connects the morgue to the narrow area with Lingard's office, then I'm sure the alien will eventually get where you are but so long as you don't take a coffee break while in the vent, you should get there ahead of him.

What part of - on Nightmare he teleports to that section and is standing outside of the door - is not getting through your thick skull? He then walks into the room, and walks around under the vent. I only managed to get out of that vent 4 times. I ended my last stream sitting in the vent for 10 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ minutes. 10 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ MINUTES. The AI is broken, Nur. Stop trying to ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ your way through this discussion. You clearly have no grasp over the bug that I'm reporting.

Did someone put too much salt in your food or something?
I tried to play that part five times on Nightmare just now and never got stuck in there or anything. I even started shooting with the pistol while in the vent and I could still survive the section even if the alien drops down right after you do. That sofa thing or whatever in the middle of the room, almost right underneath the vent, provides enough cover to evade the alien.

[dalbozofgurth]

Originally posted by -|Nur|-:

Originally posted by dalbozofgurth:

What part of - on Nightmare he teleports to that section and is standing outside of the door - is not getting through your thick skull? He then walks into the room, and walks around under the vent. I only managed to get out of that vent 4 times. I ended my last stream sitting in the vent for 10 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ minutes. 10 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ MINUTES. The AI is broken, Nur. Stop trying to ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ your way through this discussion. You clearly have no grasp over the bug that I'm reporting.

Did someone put too much salt in your food or something?
I tried to play that part five times on Nightmare just now and never got stuck in there or anything. I even started shooting with the pistol while in the vent and I could still survive the section even if the alien drops down right after you do. That sofa thing or whatever in the middle of the room, almost right underneath the vent, provides enough cover to evade the alien.

Dude, you are the only one in this thread telling me this bug doesn't exist. You are literally full of ♥♥♥♥ and trolling.

twitch.tv/ninjanezumi you can actually see me show you what we're talking about. I have recorded several instances of a "stuck ai", I even used the ai bug in my favor, and I pointed it out. Cover doesn't work when the nightmare ai is actually given your exact location when it bugs out. I honestly think you are lying through your ass, because I'm not the only one who has seen this bug where the ai get stuck.

ALSO, FYI, I emailed sega last night, and I actually got a response from them that they know the bug I'm describing. So please, go somewhere else to troll.

[BROOD-SkorpioN]

Originally posted by dalbozofgurth:

Originally posted by -|Nur|-:

If you're talking about the vent that connects the morgue to the narrow area with Lingard's office, then I'm sure the alien will eventually get where you are but so long as you don't take a coffee break while in the vent, you should get there ahead of him.

What part of - on Nightmare he teleports to that section and is standing outside of the door - is not getting through your thick skull?

That escalated quickly.

[dalbozofgurth]

Originally posted by BROOD-SkorpioN:

Originally posted by dalbozofgurth:

What part of - on Nightmare he teleports to that section and is standing outside of the door - is not getting through your thick skull?

That escalated quickly.

You're right, I need to stop talking to him. My blood pressure rises too quickly with people like him who clearly lie just to try to claim there isn't a bug with their favorite game.

but anyway, I finally got past that part, only though completely abusing the bug and the ai in the process.