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A bot, most prominently in the first person shooter PC game types (FPS), is a roBOTic computer controlled entity that simulates an online or LAN multiplayer human deathmatch, team deathmatch opponent or a cooperative human player. Computer game bots work via artificial intelligence routines pre-programmed to suit the game map, game rules, game type and other parameters unique to each game. Bots are not only found in FPS PC games; they are also featured in several console games.
Bots can help a PC gamer learn the gameplay environment and the game rules as well as help them practice shooting accuracy and gaming skills before going online to compete with other human players in a multiplayer environment. Some PC gamers prefer to play exclusively with bots rather than human opponents – especially in the case of those who have slow dial-up internet connections and thus may be unable to play online. In this respect, bots help create a longer interest in the game. Most bots use existing 3d models, textures and sound of the games or mods.
Some single-player games were released initially without multiplayer components and bots were created or added later on by fans and enthusiasts in the modding community.
Bots are usually written in C or C++ as stand-alone, completely independent applications or plugins or just dynamic link libraries (dll) for an existing game engine. Some authors also write some applications with which the bots' behavior, skills and other characteristics can be created or modified, such as Bot Studio for Quake III Arena.
Bots can be either static or dynamic.
Static bots are designed to follow pre-made waypoints or pathnodes for each level or map. These bots need to have a unique waypoint file for each map, or a pathnode system embedded in the map, if they are to function. For example, Quake 3 Arena bots use an AAS (area awareness system) file to move around the map, while Counter-Strike bots use a WPT (waypoint) file. Unreal Tournament's series bots use an embedded pathnode system in the map to navigate.
Dynamic bots, on the other hand, dynamically learn the levels and maps as they play. RealBot, for Counter-Strike, is an example. Some bots are designed using both static and dynamic features.
Some bots are designed to help a player advance levels in repetitive skills; however, the use of such bots is often against the rules on MMORPGs.
Botman's bot, HPB_bot for Half-Life. Elite Force bot for Star Trek: Elite Force II FrogBot, Reaper Bot (which was the very first computer bot) for Quake OpenKore and ReveMU for Ragnarok Online POD bot or the official CS bot by Turtle Rock Studios for Counter-Strike and CS: Source Rune bot for Rune ShrikeBot and SturmBot for Day of Defeat (DoD) StormTrooper Bot for Quake III Arena Tactical Ops bot for Tactical Ops: Assault on Terror Wolfbot for Return to Castle Wolfenstein. WoW!Sharp for World of Warcraft
Battlefield 1942 Battlefield 2 Battlefield Vietnam Counter-Strike: Condition Zero Counter-Strike: Source Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne Pariah Perfect Dark (in which they are known as "Simulants") Quake III Arena Red Faction Red Faction 2 Soldier of Fortune Star Trek: Voyager Elite Force Star Trek: Elite Force II Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy Starsiege: Tribes SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle Tribes 2 Unreal Unreal Tournament Unreal Tournament 2003 Unreal Tournament 2004