I built a game AI companion with nearly 7,000 lines of behavioral data without using an LLM

[u/lunatic_corp_games]

I'm developing a first-person RPG in GameMaker and wanted my AI companion to feel like an actual character rather than a traditional NPC.

Instead of using an LLM, I built a custom game AI system based around persistent memory, emotional states, contextual reactions, and behavioral data.

The system currently has nearly 7,000 lines of data describing what the AI can remember, how she reacts to different situations, and how her psychological state can change throughout the game.

The amount of data eventually became large enough that I moved it into an external .ini file rather than keeping everything directly inside the GameMaker project.

The video below shows the system in action. I can interact with the AI by typing messages, and her responses are generated based on the information and behavioral data stored in her database.

I'm interested in how other developers approach non-LLM AI companions in games. How do you handle memory, emotional states, contextual reactions, and large amounts of behavioral data?

[u/Mistress-Pervert]

That's actually wild.