ARIS: AI-Agents for story-driven games

ATTENTION: CURRENTLY ONLY AVAILABLE IN GERMAN, ENGLISH PORT WILL BE RELEASED IN A SHORT WHILE

"ARIS: Echoes of Time" is an interactive 3D single-player game developed within the scope of my individual Bachelor's thesis using Unreal Engine 5. It serves as a proof of concept for the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI)-based agents in interactive gaming. Players immerse themselves in a captivating world, exploring a lost civilization and experiencing a gripping narrative. Utilizing their AI-guided companion, ARIS, players overcome various obstacles, gather materials, and unveil the secrets of times gone by.

Watch a full demo video here (in german): ARIS Video Demo

Featuring modern UE5 graphics and a world design heavily inspired by 1980s Sci-Fi, entirely crafted from scratch, "ARIS: Echoes of Time" aims to transcend the realm of a mere tech demo, showcasing the impact of AI-driven NPC agents within fully-realized digital realms. It offers a glimpse into the future of interactive storytelling, pushing the boundaries of the medium and delving into the possibilities of AI in gaming.

How it works: AI-Dialogue features are achieved by combining Microsoft Azure Speech Services and OpenAI APIs. Contextual Information is provided to the API, so the NPC can orient himself in the game world and knows which actions to perform. The API has several actions available to perform, which Unreal Engine can then slice out into in-game actions. 

For any further question or inquiries feel free to e-mail me at: message.ocm@icloud.com

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Controls:

• Interact: Press the "E" key to interact with objects in the game world.
• Speak: Press the "F" key to converse with other characters in the game. Speak into your microphone. These are AI-driven characters, and you can ask them any kind of questions.
• Other Commands: Cutscenes can be skipped using the "Q" key. Additional commands will be displayed in the game. Follow the on-screen instructions to perform specific actions.

Minimum Requirements:

• Peripherals: Microphone for voice functions is essential.
• Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 with 8 GB dedicated VRAM.
• Processor: Intel Core i5 or equivalent AMD Ryzen processor.
• Memory: 8 GB RAM (recommended: 16 GB RAM for optimal performance).
• Storage: At least 15 GB of free space on HDD or SSD.
• Operating System: Windows 10 (64-bit).
• DirectX: Version 11 or higher.
• Internet Connection: Mandatory for AI features.

Notes:

• In the settings, you can adjust graphics quality, volume, the microphone used, and the AI model employed.