Unity's AI Features: Streamlining Game Development or Facilitating Art Theft?
Octopus Tree developer Steven Buckner shares his mixed feelings about Unity's new AI features. While they have the potential to save time and eliminate the need for hiring artists, they also pose a risk of facilitating art theft.
According to Buckner, the games industry is already saturated with AI-generated art and voice actors' voices. While these technologies reduce costs and speed up development, they prioritize profit over artistic value. Buckner appreciates hand-crafted games that defy efficiency and cost-effectiveness in favor of artistry.
Buckner cites examples like Scarlet Deer Inn, which features hand-embroidered animations, and The Master's Pupil, which showcases painstakingly hand-painted landscapes and puzzles inspired by Claude Monet. These games, in Buckner's view, are worth supporting as they transcend mere profit-making.
I share Buckner's sentiment, stating that projects like these allow us to appreciate the medium's capabilities in ways we might not otherwise. Additionally, Buckner mentions Frank and Drake, a game that boasts thousands of hand-drawn and hand-rotoscoped frames of animation. The commitment these developers have to artistry deserves more recognition.
Indie games, by nature, are more experimental and prioritize innovative ideas. While they may not be perfect, they challenge the limits of cost, time, and potential payoffs often overlooked by triple-A developers.
If you're looking for something different, check out our list of the best games currently available on PC. You might also want to try some of the best free games if you're looking to save some cash.
