Be honest. Which were your favourite bits of the Lord of the Rings trilogy? Was it the lengthy exploration of duty, friendship and morality in the face of overwhelming odds? The elves, perhaps, with their super-evolved cultural blend of folk wisdom, technology and spirituality?

Or was it the epic violence and terrifying white knuckle action of the showpiece battles? Thought so.

In the first of a series of interviews with executive producer Mark Skaggs, EA are showcasing the AI that they claim will bring some of the emotion of the films (and books, we guess) to their forthcoming RTS battle epic.

Taking in discussion and vivid examples of emotional behaviour ranging from an understandably distressed Mumakil, through an angry Ent (with a Beckham-esque right foot), to context-sensitive behaviour in troops, this interview provides concrete proof that a little AI can bring an RTS to life. No, really.

http://gamesradar.msn.co.uk/download...sectionid=1629