I say Java would be a good language for developing the AI system, and possibly link it into a C/C++ based main game (handling graphics etc), possibly including a base AI library in the C/C++.
I forget the details of the Java - C++ merger, but I think it works reasonably well...
dwarfsort - give it up for team just 18 and legal!
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I''m in the same boat as you there, in NZ...
Sam
Space Cadet''s DJ Random, Thinker, and Geek at heart.