About the Speaker
Adam Newnchester is a lead gameplay programmer at Insomniac Games (opens in a new tab), a renowned game development studio known for creating iconic titles such as the Ratchet & Clank series, Resistance, and Sunset Overdrive. With over 11 years of experience at Insomniac, Adam has played a pivotal role in the development of eight successful games, primarily working as an AI programmer.
During the development of Marvel's Spider-Man, Adam led the team of gameplay programmers responsible for crafting the game's combat system. This team was instrumental in creating Spider-Man's combat moves, gadgets, and enemies, as well as designing the challenging boss encounters.
Callout: Adam's extensive experience in AI programming and his leadership role in developing Marvel's Spider-Man's acclaimed combat mechanics make him an ideal presenter to share insights into the intricate AI architecture and design decisions behind this highly acclaimed game.
Step 1: Experience and Background
Adam has spent the majority of his career at Insomniac Games, contributing to numerous critically acclaimed titles:
- He has been an AI programmer for most of his tenure at Insomniac.
- His work spans a diverse range of games, from third-person shooters to open-world action-adventure titles.
- This breadth of experience has equipped him with a deep understanding of AI systems, behavior authoring, and combat mechanics across various genres.
Step 2: Role in Marvel's Spider-Man
For Marvel's Spider-Man, Adam led the gameplay programming team responsible for developing the game's combat system:
- His team worked on creating both stealth and melee combat mechanics.
- They designed Spider-Man's combat moves, gadgets, and abilities.
- They developed the AI behaviors for enemies and challenging boss encounters.
With his extensive background and crucial role in shaping Marvel's Spider-Man's gameplay experience, Adam is well-equipped to share valuable insights into the AI architecture and design decisions that brought this iconic superhero to life in an immersive and satisfying way.
Adam's presentation promises to dive deep into the AI systems that power Marvel's Spider-Man, covering topics such as behavior authoring, synced animations, combat iteration, and procedural animation techniques. Additionally, he will discuss the challenges and shortcomings faced during development, providing a candid look at the realities of game development.
With his wealth of experience and firsthand involvement in the creation of Marvel's Spider-Man, Adam's presentation offers a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights into the AI architecture and design decisions that shaped one of the most critically acclaimed superhero games of all time.