September 8, 1999 Web posted at: 1:55 p.m. EDT (1755 GMT) by Douglas F. Gray

From...

LONDON (IDG) -- French artificial intelligence developer Mathématiques Appliquées S.A. (MASA) unveiled a prototype of its forthcoming Peacemakers strategy game at the European Computer Trade Show (ECTS) held in London during the first week of September.

Using advanced artificial intelligence technology, Peacemakers is a real-time strategy game in which the goal is to politically defeat the enemy, not simply level them to the ground. The game is scored on two levels, military skill and public opinion, said MASA business developer Olivier Duizabo.

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The 2-year-old startup company bills the game as being so realistic even armies use it. Both the French and Israeli governments have purchased the software, and according to Duizabo, the company is currently also in talks with the Pentagon.

The game, which is due to be completed in September of next year, also ties in topics such as reporters on the ground being able to sway public opinion based on what they show on camera, and missions that involve civilians.

Users can choose to act as either commander-in-chief of either the antagonist or protagonist forces. Even if the peacekeeping force manages to win the battles, however, they may lose the war because of the public relations damage done by inflicting civilian casualties, said Duizabo.

Making the most of the built-in artificial intelligence technology, MASA guarantees that a player can never win by using the same strategy twice, because the computer reacts differently.

The system is set up to mimic real life reactions as much as possible. For example, a group of soldiers will stand and fight until they realize they are outnumbered, then they will regroup or retreat.

MASA is also planning on starting talks with different media and aid organizations, including the British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC) and the Red Cross, with hopes of including them in the game.

Douglas F. Gray writes for the IDG News Service in London.