Scripting Language: AdLib

This page is part of the History Of Game AI project curated by the AI Game Programmers Guild. Game Index -- AI Architecture Index -- Game AI Eras

This section is based on first-hand knowledge by AIGPG member, Steve Rabin.

AdLib was a custom in-house scripting language developed at WizBang! Software Productions. AdLib was used over an 8-year period on four commercial titles: Activision's HyperBlade, Microsoft Baseball 3D: 1998 edition, Microsoft Baseball 2000, and Microsoft Baseball 2001.

History

This section is based on first-hand knowledge by AIGPG member, Steve Rabin.

AdLib was designed by Rob Duisberg specifically for the game HyperBlade (1996) and was later extended for use on the Microsoft Baseball series. Towards the end of its life, it was licensed to Microsoft. Core architectural features of AdLib were embodied in the State Machine Language (1998-present) designed by Steve Rabin and later in the Skrit scripting language at Gas Powered Games (designed by Scott Bilas in 2000).

Description

This section is based on first-hand knowledge by AIGPG member, Steve Rabin.

AdLib was based on a Finite-State Machine architecture with a very tightly coupled messaging system built-in to handle events. Additionally, Adlib could spawn concurrently running tasks that were unsuitable to be handled within the state machine structure. AdLib primarily handled high-level control, calling to C++ functions for most work. Like many game scripting languages, it allowed for compiling and reloading of scripts at runtime without the need to recompile. AdLib supported logging of every event and state change, but lacked reasonable breakpoint debugging features.

Usage Example

(TO BE ADDED LATER)

Typical Uses

This section is based on first-hand knowledge by AIGPG member, Steve Rabin.

As a general purpose architecture, it was extremely flexible and was typically used to control high-level AI behavior as well as other systems such as the camera and general game flow. The regulated communication mechanism of messages allowed game objects to easily communicate with other AI agents or systems.

Similar Architectures

This section is based on first-hand knowledge by AIGPG member, Steve Rabin.

AdLib directly inspired the State Machine Language by Steve Rabin and the Skrit scripting language by Scott Bilas.

Games That Use This Architecture

This section is based on first-hand knowledge by AIGPG member, Steve Rabin.

• Activision's HyperBlade
• Microsoft Baseball 3D: 1998 edition
• Microsoft Baseball 2000
• Microsoft Baseball 2001