Challenge your viewers to a Pétanque match!
You can now play Cochonnet with or against your Twitch audience using the new Twitch Bot feature available in online matches! The bot is controlled using Twitch Polls that appear in the chat allowing the viewers to select which type of throw they want to use and what they want to target on the boulodrome. The current implementation is designed to be fair for newcomers, as I know that the controls can be a bit tricky at first, but also good enough to make it feel like the viewers' decisions matter. It is also important to note that only the lobby host can have a Twitch Bot and it requires a Twitch Affiliate or Twitch Partner account.
Details about the Twitch Bot behaviours
Upon accepting the next throw the bot lets you choose between 3 standard throw modes:
"Pointer": the 1st classic pétanque move where you try to place your boule next to the cochonnet
"Tirer": the 2nd classic pétanque move where you try to shoot the opponent's boule away
Lob: same as "Pointer" but with a higher trajectory
and 2 silly modes that can be turned off in the settings that I'll let you discover on your own (;
Once the throw mode is selected, the viewers are prompted to select a target between the cochonnet and the 4 players that are the closest to the cochonnet.
For the "hardcore" players, there is also an "unbeatable mode" which makes the bot as precise as it can currently be.
The future of bots in Cochonnet
Twitch bot relies on my current bot technology which allows me to make automated throws for boule placements and shots. The next step for me is to implement a decision making system to have bots play on their own in a way that is more advanced and interesting than the basic binary decisions of TutoBot. This would allow me to start working on a solo mode which is a very needed feature from the current feedback I have gathered so far.
Post release, I would also like to work on a way for each player in a lobby to have their own Twitch Bot so that people can organize Twitch Bot pétanque battles or other creative events.