Dragon's Dogma AI learns from players

Action RPG Dragon's Dogma has some unusual features, including a kind of Internet hive mind informing your AI companions' actions.

Capcom had previously hinted that Pawns - AI-controlled party members - would be somehow shared by players.

"The game has these sections called rim stones and when you find one of those either online or offline you can find pawns from other players and you can borrow them whenever you want," producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi explained to Siliconera.

"Then, they will join your party and gain experience. You may let them go for other reasons, but they will take that experience with them and it will have an impact when other players want to use these characters."

Pawns who have seen action with another player prove more useful to you than inexperienced ones - they remember enemy weak points and successful battle tactics, and can advise players on how best to tackle enemies.

Dragon's Dogma is due on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in early 2012.