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AI Transformed Level Creation in Candy Crush Saga
The Evolution of AI in Business
King, now owned by Microsoft, has seen immense success with Candy Crush Saga, a mobile game that has generated $20 billion in revenue and amassed five billion downloads since its launch in 2012. An integral part of this success involves the integration of AI technologies to enhance player experience. Two product and research directors at King recently presented at the Game Developers Conference, shedding light on how AI has revolutionized automated level creation in Candy Crush Saga.
Director of AI Labs at King, Sahar Asadi, discussed the strategic initiatives carried out by her team over the past five years. The implementation of AI has enabled King to conduct A/B testing and high-speed AI level testing, streamlining the player experience. Asadi emphasized the importance of collaborating closely with game creators to optimize the impact of AI on business outcomes.
AI’s Role in Gameplay Testing and Level Automation
One of Asadi’s core projects at King has centered on utilizing AI for gameplay testing and level management. This initiative aimed to ensure the quality and refinement of levels before their release. Asadi highlighted the significance of creating playtesting bots to validate level quality swiftly, enabling designers to focus on more creative tasks. By leveraging AI, King has managed to maintain user interest in Candy Crush Saga for over a decade.
Anna Hernandelius, product director of Candy Crush Saga, joined Asadi to elucidate the benefits of AI in expediting the level creation process. With over 15,000 levels in Candy Crush Saga alone, AI has played a pivotal role in managing the game’s expansive content. Asadi highlighted how AI can evaluate level enjoyability and quality, empowering designers to iterate faster and enhance the player experience.
AI Innovation for Gaming and Playtesting
Asadi expressed her optimism about the future of AI in gaming and playtesting, emphasizing the rapid acceleration of AI innovation worldwide. She underscored the need for continuous innovation and strategic solutions to drive product development. Asadi’s focus on curating fun and engaging gaming experiences aligns with King’s mission to prioritize player satisfaction and creative freedom for designers.
Furthermore, Asadi detailed King’s approach to in-house AI development and research. While exploring external AI tools, King maintains a strong emphasis on building application-specific solutions tailored to its unique needs. By leveraging reinforcement learning and observing advancements like AlphaGo, King strives to create playtesting agents that emulate human gameplay to enhance overall engagement.
Empowering Designers and Players through AI
The collaborative effort within King to harness AI and deliver value for developers, designers, and players demonstrates a commitment to innovation and excellence. As King continues to tackle complex research challenges, its focus remains on building captivating game experiences while enabling designers to unleash their creativity.
King’s dedication to exploring the possibilities of AI across diverse player profiles underscores its commitment to enhancing the gaming landscape. By leveraging AI technologies effectively, King is setting a new standard for player engagement and immersive gameplay experiences.
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