"Why Developers Shouldn't Ignore Customizable Gameplay and Tendency Sliders"

Having a robust and customizable gameplay and tendency system can make a huge difference, both for developers during testing and for fans who want to fine-tune the experience.

In sports games, especially boxing simulators, the lack of granular control over tendencies can make fighters feel generic and less realistic. Allowing users to adjust sliders for aspects like aggression, defensive awareness, stamina management, and counterpunch frequency can add depth and individuality to AI behavior.

Here’s a comprehensive list of Gameplay and Tendency sliders specifically tailored for a boxing AI system, focusing on customization and realism:

let's dive deeper.

The Importance of Customization in Boxing AI

In boxing games, especially simulations aiming for realism, fighter individuality is crucial. Having a robust slider system allows developers and players to fine-tune how boxers behave in the ring. Without it, every fight risks feeling repetitive, as fighters exhibit similar patterns and responses.

Key Aspects to Consider for Tendency Sliders

1. Offensive Tendencies:

   • Aggression vs. Caution: Controls how often a boxer takes risks to land powerful shots.

   • Power vs. Volume: Balances between throwing few heavy punches or many lighter strikes.

   • Accuracy Focus: Affects whether a fighter waits for clean shots or throws more freely.

2. Defensive Tendencies:

   • Head Movement Frequency: Governs how often the fighter uses head movement to evade shots.

   • Blocking vs. Dodging: Whether a fighter prefers to absorb shots with their guard or slip them.

   • Footwork Usage: Adjusts how mobile a fighter is when evading attacks.

3. Counterpunching Tactics:

   • Passive vs. Aggressive Counters: Determines whether a fighter counters cautiously or takes offensive opportunities.

   • Body vs. Head Counters: Sets the preference for targeting the body or head when retaliating.

4. Fatigue Management:

   • Energy Conservation: Determines how much a boxer paces themselves across rounds.

   • Recovery Prioritization: Affects how they regain stamina between rounds.

5. Situational Adjustments:

   • When Hurt: Whether a boxer becomes more defensive or fights back harder.

   • After Knockdown: Tendency to fight cautiously or go on the attack when behind.

   • Opponent Style Adaptation: How much a boxer adjusts their strategy based on their opponent's tendencies.

Balancing Complexity and Usability

One of the challenges developers face is making these sliders accessible without overwhelming users. Grouping related tendencies into broader categories while allowing advanced users to access deeper settings can strike a good balance.

Implementation Tips

• Use real-world boxing data to create realistic default profiles for different fighter archetypes.

• Allow saving and sharing of slider setups to build a community-driven collection of fighter styles.

• Consider a “smart tendency” feature that can dynamically adjust sliders based on fight performance and opponent behavior.

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Gameplay Sliders

These sliders affect the overall gameplay experience, including mechanics, physics, and fighter attributes.

1. Punch Power - Adjusts the overall force behind punches.

2. Punch Speed - Modifies the speed at which punches are thrown.

3. Punch Accuracy - Affects how often punches hit the intended target.

4. Punch Recovery Time - Alters the duration it takes for a fighter to reset after a punch.

5. Stamina Drain Rate - Controls how quickly a fighter loses stamina during attacks.

6. Stamina Recovery Rate - Modifies how fast stamina regenerates between rounds.

7. Damage Multiplier - Adjusts the impact of each landed punch.

8. Knockdown Frequency - Changes the likelihood of a knockdown from a single punch.

9. Knockout Power - Increases or decreases the potential for a single punch to end a fight.

10. Chin Durability - Adjusts resistance to head punches.

11. Body Durability - Adjusts resistance to body punches.

12. Bleeding Frequency - Modifies the likelihood of cuts and bleeding.

13. Swelling Speed - Affects how fast a fighter’s face swells up.

14. Referee Stoppage Threshold - Determines how severe injuries must be for a fight to be stopped.

15. Blocking Effectiveness - Adjusts how well a guard can absorb damage.

16. Counterpunch Window - Modifies how long after a miss or parry a counter can land.

17. Movement Speed - Controls how fast fighters move around the ring.

18. Footwork Agility - Affects quick directional changes and pivots.

19. Reaction Time - Adjusts how fast a fighter can respond to attacks.

20. Defense Efficiency - Modifies how well a fighter evades or blocks punches.

21. Clinch Frequency - Adjusts how often fighters initiate clinches when hurt.

22. Clinch Break Resistance - Modifies how difficult it is to break a clinch.

23. Fatigue Impact on Power - Determines how much power drops as stamina decreases.

24. Fatigue Impact on Speed - Adjusts how speed reduces with fatigue.

25. Fatigue Impact on Defense - Affects how stamina loss impacts defensive skills.

26. Ring Awareness - Modifies how well fighters navigate the ring and use the ropes.

27. Aggression - Adjusts how willing a fighter is to take risks and throw combinations.

28. Defensive Discipline - Affects how often a fighter prioritizes defense over offense.

29. Corner Advice Efficiency - Modifies how well fighters adapt between rounds.

30. AI Adaptability - Adjusts how quickly the AI learns and counters player strategies.

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Tendency Sliders

These sliders fine-tune AI behavior, allowing for individualized fighter profiles.

1. Punch Volume - Adjusts how often a fighter throws punches.

2. Combo Frequency - Determines how often combinations are used versus single shots.

3. Counterpunch Tendency - Affects how likely a fighter is to respond with a counter after a miss.

4. Power Punch Usage - Adjusts the frequency of hooks, uppercuts, and overhands.

5. Jab Usage - Modifies how often the jab is used for setup and spacing.

6. Body Shot Preference - Affects the focus on targeting the body versus the head.

7. Inside Fighting Tendency - Determines how often the fighter prefers to brawl in close range.

8. Outside Fighting Tendency - Adjusts preference for maintaining distance.

9. Defensive Movement - Modifies how often the fighter uses head movement or footwork to evade.

10. Guard Up Frequency - Adjusts how often the fighter keeps their guard raised.

11. Lateral Movement - Affects how often the fighter moves side to side rather than forward or backward.

12. Ring Control - Modifies the tendency to dominate the center or circle around.

13. Clinching When Hurt - Adjusts how often the AI initiates a clinch after taking a big hit.

14. Risk Taking - Determines the willingness to engage when behind on points.

15. Retreat Frequency - Adjusts how often the fighter backs away after being hit.

16. Feinting Tendency - Modifies the frequency of fake punches to set up attacks.

17. Taunting - Adjusts how often a fighter shows off or tries to provoke the opponent.

18. Punch Variety - Affects how diverse the fighter’s offensive approach is.

19. Reaction to Missed Punch - Determines whether the AI resets or immediately counters.

20. Counter After Parry - Adjusts how often a successful parry leads to an immediate counter.

21. Fainting on Defense - Modifies the use of head fakes or fake retreats.

22. Desperation Mode - Increases aggression when losing a fight in the later rounds.

23. Rope Usage - Adjusts how often the fighter leans on the ropes or corners.

24. Showboating - Controls how often the fighter performs flashy moves.

25. Low Stamina Conservation - Adjusts how cautiously the fighter behaves when stamina is low.

26. Fighting on the Back Foot - Modifies how well the fighter boxes while retreating.

27. Tendency to Switch Stances - Determines how often the fighter changes stance.

28. Recovering from Knockdown - Adjusts the AI’s willingness to get up after being knocked down.

29. Clinch Fighting - Modifies how aggressively the fighter strikes during a clinch.

30. Adaptation Frequency - Determines how quickly the AI changes strategy mid-fight.