AI art.

[archcorenth]

If you want to sell this to the same people who bought the first games, you should probably hire artists and lose the AI tag. If you haven't noticed, everything with the tag is getting review bombed.

[qinlongfei]

Based on the released promotional images, I'm assuming the use of AI art was to have character images have more random variety (based on very similar looking goblin head images).

I'm not a huge fan on the style, but I myself will l reserve my judgement once I see how they look in the actual game play. If it doesn't stick out too much in a bad way and the game play is overall good, I'm fine with them cutting corners on the art department.

[archcorenth]

I mean whether or no you are okay with it, I was more just stating a fact, every game with the AI tag gets review bombed.

[qinlongfei]

I agree with you on principle. While I don't think AI generated art can only be used for bad things, enough of the big publishers and triple donkey developers abused them to cause most of the players to hate them on principle.

But I'm not sure having Muha complete revamp the art of this game with paid artist would be better for the game, because obviously it's going to increase the cost, and development time of the game. And while I didn't research how many copies their previous games sold (or how far along the development of this game have gone), I get the feeling the Thea games were at least niche games aimed at a pretty core base. I think doing full art revamp would at the end, do more harm than good to the project if not out right kill the entire game.

If this game is only at early concept stage, then I agree. Using proper art from paid artist would be better. But assume the promotional arts and trailer is pretty close to finished product, having a full art revamp feel like it'll cause more harm than good.

[archcorenth]

well, you say that but one of the reasons I noticed this is because Zaccaria pinball just got review bombed for AI art in the new update and you'd think they'd have a loyal niche fan base.

[qinlongfei]

Yes, as Yahtzee said it best: people are fickle, but not particularly smart.

The point I brought up about niche isn't about loyalty, but more on cost and profit (because let's be honest, Muha still need to make a profit in the end to keep making more games). My point is more on Muha games probably doesn't have wide appeal and have to sell million of copies, which is why they choose to use AI art to keep the cost down. I'm not sure which would hurt them more in the end, keep using the AI art they have now, or do a full art revamp with paid artist. Regardless, it looks like a lose-lose situation already.

We'll just have to wait and see what they do, and how good the game is in the end when it comes out.

[XenoReaver]

The Devs have stated there is a little AI artwork being used at the moment but that they are looking to have it all removed by the release of the game.

[qinlongfei]

Thanks for the clarification. Not a huge fan of this western comic book style myself, but just like I said about possible use of AI art, I'll reserve my judgement when the game come out. I don't play Muha game for the graphics.

[archcorenth]

I think the art was partially what drew me to the first game. I agree that regardless of whether this art is AI or not, it's not "my style" I'll probably get the game though. I like the idea of the kind of fairy tale fantasy world of the first two but in the future.