They sell us swords, give us quests, and walk into walls. Non-Player Characters (NPCs) are the extras of the video game world. Tech writer Emily Vance elevates them to the protagonist role in "I Am Error." Vance traces the evolution of NPCs from the mindless paddles of Pong to the complex, AI-driven companions of Baldur's Gate 3.
The book explores the "Uncanny Valley" and the immense difficulty of programming human-like behavior. Vance interviews developers about the tricks they use to make us feel empathy for lines of code (like the "companion cube" effect).
Crucially, the book looks forward to the integration of Generative AI, where NPCs will no longer follow scripts but generate their own dialogue and memories. Vance asks the philosophical question: If an NPC can remember you hurt it, is it still just a game? A deep dive into the ghosts in the machine.
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