Hi everyone
thanks for the input and ideas.... I have watched the videos and have a clearer idea on the utility theory.
I have read with interest your comments and will go home and rethink my [sims] life!
If I may, I will post again with some more detailed questions in a bit.
Rob
Hope you got a lot out of them.
I just finished my slides for this coming GDC where I'm talking about a formal utility-based architecture that streamlines much of what you saw.
Use of curves to calculate priority to help pick which metaboloic need to react to (and possibly how much effort would be put into an action to satisfy the need) An asymptotic curve where the priority value accelerates higher as the need increases to near survival requirement.
Frequently you will need an inertial component in the mechanism to keep competing needs from causing pingpong behavior (switching back and forthj between competitors when the priority is about the same).
