I am developing a game, and I want some assets for it. i was thinking of drawing some assets and then ask the “AI” to generate xyz based on my drawing style.
I was also considering just having a very specific prompt and using that to generate the assets I need.
I know there is a lot of skepticism about AI generated images, art etc. is there something I should know? Is it copyrighted? Can I use it as inspiration and make my own assets that are similar but not the same?
I am also just considering buying assets, but fear that it might not give me everything I need.
Any thoughts?
I mean, you can do whatever you want. But I would strongly recommend not using AI at all.
If you can’t draw (like me), then find an asset pack that’s close enough to what you want and do some minor edits to make it fit. Even a quick little doodle will have more heart and soul than an AI can ever try to poorly emulate.
Ever seen a game called “Thomas was Alone”? Every character is made of simple rectangles in different colours and sizes. You don’t need much.
This sounds like the best solution probably, I have played Thomas was Alone 😊
I’m sure it depends on where you’re located and where you plan to sell the game.
Generally, you CAN use AI to generate stuff with no trouble. Usually that stuff can’t be copyrighted unless you transform it in some way like having it generate a background and then you paint on top of it. The stores in which you sell it may require you to flag that you used AI, and some customers won’t want to buy it.
It depends on your jurisdiction, distribution platform, and the AI you use.
In the US and distributing on Steam you can use AI assets, but you do need to indicate your use of AI.
Keep a couple of things in mind though:
- Your future customers may not appreciate that you used AI and you will get downvoted reviews solely because you opted for AI
- You’ll likely have a better result making as much as you can yourself and using AI to fill in the gaps (i.e. if you have an interior scene, make the models and lay stuff out and maybe only use AI for a picture hanging on the wall or a coach fabric material–things that are inconsequential to the actual game play).
Overall, I’d say if the supplemental use of AI during development is the difference between you finishing and publishing a game and you not, then sure–go ahead and use it, but make clear to prospective buyers how it was used and be prepared for blowback.
A few thoughts as a 3D modeller that has done hired work based off provided AI concepts:
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The usability of those assets will depend on the kind of game you are making. Are they 2D? 3D? Sprites? etc AI can generate 2D pictures but cannot generate 3D models that are useful in a proper production workflow/pipeline. Every generated 3D model I’ve seen is a dogshit mess.
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Will you be the only one working with these assets? Sending untouched AI content off to another artist in the pipeline can cause extreme headaches depending on what it is.
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Things generated with AI have a very inconsistent artistic style. This is fine for rapid prototyping and quick concepts but awful for finished products.
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AI content is extremely difficult to edit and work with and may not even be editable at all.
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Legality varies by location, region, and storefront.
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Your customers will notice and you and your product will be ridiculed for using AI, especially if you use a lot of it.
Lastly, and this is going to get a bit spicy: If you care about the work you do and take even a tiny amount of pride in your work then please, for the love of the Gods, use assets made by real people. If you do not have the skills or equipment to make them yourself then there are plenty out there that are cheap, reasonably priced, or even free and royalty-free. Using AI content in a public release just screams “I am cheap and couldn’t be bothered to hire actual talent.” and indicates that you do not care about your work.
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