Development and AI Approaches
Cribbage vs Robots is a digital version of the classic card game Cribbage, adapted for single-player gameplay against artificial intelligence (AI). The goal was to improve existing Cribbage apps by addressing common frustrations, such as difficulties with handling touch-screen cards.
Challenges in Developing Cribbage AI
Cribbage is traditionally a two-player game, so creating a one-player version required the development of an AI capable of challenging the player. Designing a Cribbage AI posed unique challenges, particularly in balancing the AI’s intelligence with its ability to make mistakes. Players generally prefer to win rather than lose, and a perfect AI would diminish the game’s enjoyment. A perfect AI would also be computationally expensive, requiring significant processing power to evaluate all possible moves.
To overcome these challenges, three distinct AI approaches were developed:
- Basic Rule-Based AI: This AI follows basic strategies commonly recommended to beginner Cribbage players. It looks for opportunities in its hand during gameplay and applies basic rules to make decisions.
- Complex Rule-Based AI: This AI uses a more advanced set of rules that considers various scenarios. It closely evaluates the point values of cribs to compare potential moves.
- Simulation-Based AI: This approach runs simulations of potential outcomes for each move. Rather than evaluating all possible outcomes, it runs thousands of simulations to determine the best move based on previous decisions.
Incorporating Multiple AI Styles: The Robot Challenge
Each AI type was included in the game, creating a set of six distinct “robots” for players to challenge. The robots are based on different AIs, each with its own unpredictability level. Two robots are based on the basic rule-based AI, two on the complex rule-based AI, and two on the simulation-based AI, one being slightly more random than the other. This setup provides players various challenges and experiences when playing against the robots.
A Surprising AI: The Random Placeholder
Though not included in the final version, a fourth AI was developed during early testing. This AI was purely random—it selected a valid card to play at random each time. Despite being random, it surprisingly performed well. In the context of Cribbage, where players must choose cards for the crib and make plays from limited options, the random AI often made reasonable choices. In fact, there were only 15 possible combinations for the crib, meaning the AI had a one-in-15 chance of making a perfect decision. There were fewer options for the play portion, and the random AI frequently made logical decisions, at times even appearing clever.
Player Feedback and Expectations
Based on experience with other game developers, Cribbage vs Robots is expected to receive a wide range of feedback. Some players will find the AIs too difficult, while others may find them too easy. Some will accuse the AIs of “cheating,” even though the AIs are designed to play fairly. Additionally, players may request the inclusion of their favorite Cribbage rule variations or suggest changes to gameplay speed. Cribbage players are passionate about the game, and while these suggestions are important, the primary focus will remain on the game’s success. If the game is successful, further updates and player requests can be addressed.
Next Game in Development
While Cribbage vs Robots is still developing, attention has shifted to the next game. The new project began as a word game, but its design evolved into a hybrid trading game. Currently, the game combines both elements, though it is uncertain whether players will embrace this unusual combination. Development continues, and the future of this unique game remains to be seen.