Liked the game, shame they use AI-generated images

[Rhudda]

I played one campaign as the dwarfs, then decided I wanted to play ratkin. Went to the store page to see what they get and found a notice that the devs use AI to generate images.

AI art is trained on existing art, often without asking for content.
AI uses huge amounts of water and energy, so is terrible for the environment.

For these reasons I'm sad to say that I cannot endorse this game, even though I liked it a lot. Won't even be playing more of the free version.

[SquigglyBeast]

To each their own. I would be very surprised if the vast majority of games do not use AI at some point in their development, though. This is a one-dev project, and using AI generated imagery is, IMO, entirely sensible to allow more focus on other aspects of the game whilst avoiding copyright issues.

[Your local Pyro GF]

Yeah, I share your concerns. AI-generated images do really ruin the chance of a game having a distinct art style which I really dislike. It's hard to know whether the art is really "new" or simply a generated stealing and "tweaking" someone elses art. I hope they do update it with their own art and artstyle in the future.

[Daergar]

Heh, so glad people got something new to whine about. "AI uses huge amounts of water and energy, so is terrible for the environment." might be the dumbest thing I've read today.

Please, cite me a source on how much water and energy is used to create some images for an small indie game. And oh, share something you've created for free with me while you're at it, thanks mate.

[outlawcarl]

Well I don't want to slam the developer for using it too much, AI art does indeed take up a lot of energy from a Yahoo finance article from Dec 2023

"However, due to the "large variation between image generation models," that number can also be smaller. Overall, across all models the researchers tested, generating 1,000 images took an average of 2.907 kWh, roughly the equivalent of charging a phone's battery to 24 percent per image."

Art isn't free not even AI art, the cost is just different, I would be in favour of doing a community project to replace the art in the game, but on the flip side i do want artist to have jobs so i personally think if the game gets enough traction a updated Art DLC should be the direction of travel. Cost aside human art is still just better. Ai art has a use maybe as passable filler but if it becomes a norm in the games industry I feel that would hurt it more than help it.

[Hashariin]

Lmao

[Jyggalag]

I think he should ask for a donation campaign to hire artists.
Moreover, with the DLC, they should finance artists precisely.

[i_kill_pikachus]

No one at all cares about your pathetic virtue signal.

[smits017]

Wah Wah Wah boo hoo hoo. Nobody gives a toss about the devs using AI.

[=]

[quote=outlawcarl
"However, due to the "large variation between image generation models," that number can also be smaller. Overall, across all models the researchers tested, generating 1,000 images took an average of 2.907 kWh, roughly the equivalent of charging a phone's battery to 24 percent per image."
[/quote]

So probably less energy than making the image manually?

[StepBattleBrother]

Originally posted by smits017:

Wah Wah Wah boo hoo hoo. Nobody gives a toss about the devs using AI.

The game doesn't have a unifying art style, which can be a drawback to some. Look at the commanders of the Dwarf Holds, for example. Each of them look as if they belong to a different game compared to one another.

https://perwahl.github.io/SOVLRules/docs/FactionSource/DwarfHolds.html

[Nox Umbre]

I feel the same. unless you are actively curating and crafting your own model with pieces you have the consent of the artists to use for this, AI art is theft and disrespectful to artists. and the scale it's being used at is horrendous for the environment and wasteful. it's a desire to have without wanting to create. to value the object and not the effort put into making.

a art update should the game get enough money for it would be best, but a community event peeps can submit designs for units and the favourites added to the game sounds a great fun for everyone.

[Daergar]

I'm just curious. You people DO realize that whining NOW over any "AI art" is literally closing the barn door after the horses have run away? The images have been generated, the horrible cost of 3kwh per picture or whatever nonsense you dreamed up have already been paid.

To NOT use the generated images now would thus be doubly wasteful, but please, use some more vaunted left-wing lunatic logic and refute that.

[Caffynated]

Originally posted by Squirtle, God-Emperor:

Originally posted by smits017:

Wah Wah Wah boo hoo hoo. Nobody gives a toss about the devs using AI.

The game doesn't have a unifying art style, which can be a drawback to some. Look at the commanders of the Dwarf Holds, for example. Each of them look as if they belong to a different game compared to one another.

https://perwahl.github.io/SOVLRules/docs/FactionSource/DwarfHolds.html

Are we looking at the same images? That's a pretty consistent art style.

[Frodos, Silver I]

Did not even notice its an AI. Looks great, hope they will use it more.

[Redblock]

People are whining about AI art in free game. ... this is why we can"t have nice things.