Ubisoft’s Ghostwriter: Revolutionizing Background Chatter in Games

Key Takeaways

• Ghostwriter is a machine learning tool developed by Ubisoft to generate background chatter in their games.
• It allows narrative writers to input the character and type of interaction they want, and Ghostwriter generates variations for them to review.
• The goal of Ghostwriter is to save time for game writers so they can focus on more important aspects of game development.
• Ubisoft sees Ghostwriter as an AI tool, but the challenge now is integrating it into production.
• The production team has created a back-end tool called Ernestine to facilitate the creation of new machine learning models in Ghostwriter.

Introduction

Ubisoft, the renowned creator of popular open world games like Assassin’s Creed and Watch Dogs, has always been at the forefront of innovation in the gaming industry. Their latest development, Ghostwriter, is a machine learning tool that aims to revolutionize the way background chatter, or “barks,” is generated in their games. By automating this process, Ubisoft hopes to free up valuable time for their narrative writers, allowing them to focus on more important aspects of game development.

The Birth of Ghostwriter

Creating a realistic and immersive gaming experience requires attention to detail, and background chatter plays a crucial role in achieving this. Traditionally, narrative writers would manually write and record hundreds, if not thousands, of lines of dialogue for non-playable characters (NPCs) to create a sense of life within the game world. However, this process is time-consuming and can be a drain on resources.

Introducing Ghostwriter

Ghostwriter is Ubisoft’s solution to the labor-intensive task of generating background chatter. By leveraging machine learning algorithms, Ghostwriter can automatically generate variations of dialogue based on the input provided by narrative writers. This allows for a more efficient and streamlined process, freeing up valuable time for the creative team.

How Ghostwriter Works

Ghostwriter operates by using a combination of natural language processing and deep learning techniques. Narrative writers input the character and type of interaction they want, such as a conversation between two NPCs or a comment made by a passerby. Ghostwriter then generates multiple variations of dialogue based on this input, providing the writers with a range of options to choose from.

Challenges and Integration

While Ghostwriter holds great promise, integrating it into the production pipeline is not without its challenges. Ubisoft sees Ghostwriter as an AI tool, but ensuring its seamless integration into the game development process requires careful planning and coordination.

The Role of Ernestine

To address the challenges of integrating Ghostwriter into production, Ubisoft’s production team has developed a back-end tool called Ernestine. Ernestine facilitates the creation of new machine learning models in Ghostwriter, allowing for greater customization and adaptability. This tool streamlines the process of training and deploying new models, making it easier for narrative writers to utilize Ghostwriter effectively.

Ensuring Quality and Consistency

One of the key concerns when using a machine learning tool like Ghostwriter is maintaining quality and consistency in the generated dialogue. Ubisoft recognizes the importance of ensuring that the dialogue aligns with the game’s narrative and character development. To address this, the production team works closely with narrative writers to review and refine the output generated by Ghostwriter, ensuring that it meets the desired standards.

The Future of Ghostwriter

Ghostwriter represents a significant step forward in automating the process of generating background chatter in games. As machine learning technology continues to advance, Ubisoft envisions further improvements and enhancements to Ghostwriter. The goal is to create a tool that not only saves time for narrative writers but also enhances the overall gaming experience for players.

Expanding the Scope

While Ghostwriter is currently focused on generating background chatter, Ubisoft sees potential for its application in other areas of game development. The ability to generate dialogue and interactions between NPCs opens up possibilities for creating dynamic and immersive game worlds.

Collaboration and Feedback

Ubisoft recognizes the importance of collaboration and feedback in refining and improving Ghostwriter. By working closely with narrative writers and incorporating their insights, Ubisoft aims to continuously enhance the capabilities of Ghostwriter, making it an indispensable tool for game development.

Conclusion

Ghostwriter is a game-changing machine learning tool developed by Ubisoft to automate the generation of background chatter in their games. By leveraging the power of AI, Ghostwriter saves valuable time for narrative writers, allowing them to focus on more critical aspects of game development. While challenges remain in integrating Ghostwriter into production, Ubisoft’s development of the back-end tool Ernestine demonstrates their commitment to overcoming these obstacles. With the potential for further advancements and applications, Ghostwriter represents a significant leap forward in creating immersive and dynamic gaming experiences.