AI Promotes Good Sportsmanship in Dawn of War

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Problem at HAND
3. The Solution: Enforcing Gentlemanly Conduct
4. Developing the Speech to Text Script
5. Interacting with DAWN of War
6. The Challenges of Scar Scripting
7. A Compromise and Alternative Approach
8. Deployment and Testing
9. Highlights of the Project
10. Lessons Learned: Censorship and Surveillance

Article

Introduction

Playing games with friends can be a fun and enjoyable experience, but sometimes, certain individuals have trouble controlling their emotions when faced with defeat. In the case of my friend, who shall remain nameless, his rage reached extreme levels during our Sessions of Dawn of War. This uncontrollable anger not only disrupted the game but also strained our friendship. Determined to rectify the situation, I embarked on a mission to Create software that would promote friendly competition and honorable sportsmanship in our gaming sessions.

The Problem at Hand

Every time my friend was about to lose a game, his frustration would escalate dramatically. The audio communication we used only allowed me to witness the violent abuse of his desk, but I could only imagine the other bodily fluids that emerged in his fit of rage. Clearly, something needed to be done to tame this wild gaming beast.

The Solution: Enforcing Gentlemanly Conduct

As a self-proclaimed good samaritan, I decided to take matters into my own hands and develop software that would ensure everyone spoke like a gentleman during our gaming sessions. The plan was simple: create a Python script that would listen to audio input, convert it into text using an AI API, and scan for words that displeased me. But the challenge was not only in detecting offensive words; I also needed to find a way to make this script Interact with the game itself.

Developing the Speech to Text Script

To accomplish my goal, I turned to the helpful AI community and found an API that could convert live speech into text. With a small investment of $10, I had a script that could print out every word spoken. However, I needed to enhance it further by creating lists of common complaints and offensive words to scan the outputted sentences.

Interacting with Dawn of War

One of the biggest challenges I faced was making the speech-to-text script interact with the game. Dawn of War utilized a scripting language called Scar, a modified version of Lua. Unfortunately, information about Scar was scarce, and the modding forum I used for reference was no longer available. After seeking assistance from the Unification mod developers and exploring the relic modding tools, I discovered how to make notifications appear in-game. However, I soon realized that conventional methods of reading data from the Python script were not viable within the limitations of Scar.

The Challenges of Scar Scripting

Scar scripting presented me with several obstacles. Since standard Lua libraries couldn't be used in Scar, conventional ways of integrating the Python script's output were futile. After endless trial and error, I stumbled upon a potential solution within Scar's capabilities: creating and assigning hotkeys to squad groups. Although it didn't work at first, I remained determined to make this project a reality.

A Compromise and Alternative Approach

Faced with the limitations of Scar, I decided to take an alternate route. Instead of creating a Dawn of War mod, I devised a method using existing hotkeys within the game to enforce penalties for foul language. Complaints or whining would result in a loss of control over units, while using bad language would lead to the deletion of selected units. The use of racial slurs, such as the n-word, would trigger an automatic account suspension, mimicking the consequences of a hate crime.

Deployment and Testing

After overcoming initial deployment hurdles, including Windows identifying the software as potentially harmful, I successfully shared the executable file with my friends. Our gaming sessions now included the implemented penalties for offensive behavior. A sound system was put in place to notify players of their infractions. The duration of the penalties lasted for 10 seconds per offense, allowing a fair chance for players to reflect on their actions.

Highlights of the Project

The implementation of the software brought amusing and noteworthy moments to our gaming sessions. The system caught my friend cursing and complaining, resulting in the deletion of his selected units. The frustration and laughter that ensued was a testament to the effectiveness of the software in promoting more civilized conduct.

Lessons Learned: Censorship and Surveillance

While my intentions were noble, attempting to control what others say proved to be an ineffective approach. It became apparent that forcing individuals to suppress their anger only led to resentment and more underhanded tactics in gameplay. This project served as a valuable lesson in understanding the futility of censorship and the unintended consequences of surveillance.

FAQs

Q: Did your friend improve his behavior after implementing the software? A: Initially, there was a noticeable change in his conduct, as he became cautious of his language in fear of losing control over his units. However, the underlying issues of anger and frustration still persisted.

Q: Did the software completely eliminate offensive language and behavior? A: While the penalties were effective in suppressing explicit language momentarily, the solution was not foolproof. Players found other ways to express their anger, resorting to alternative tactics that were within the boundaries of the game mechanics.

Q: Did this project strain your friendship further? A: Surprisingly, the project brought moments of laughter and shared experiences. In a Sense, it helped us address the issue indirectly and paved the way for open conversations about managing emotions during gaming sessions.

Q: Will You Continue working on this project to make it more effective? A: As of now, the project remains a personal experiment. However, it has sparked ideas for further exploration on enhancing sportsmanship and camaraderie in online gaming communities.