Tech
Blog Featured | Why AI isn’t the new cryptography in gaming
To put it mildly, indie game developers are an instinctively anti-cryptocurrency and NFT bunch and now, as a seemingly natural progression, AI is the recipient of their ire. But they’re not the same, so why? Surely game developers aren’t just waiting in the wings to destroy all nascent technologies?
Cryptobros has done its best to infiltrate the gaming space to sell its merchandise, focusing on transaction opportunities rather than improving the gaming experience. Fueled by serial entrepreneurs with little to no industry experience (or love), they simply pushed their new hot currencies by offering nothing different than any other. They promised a lot and delivered little and the developers just concluded that cryptocurrencies are a scam.
Game developers have been relentlessly solicited by NFT and blockchain companies, few of which are worth their while. Big Web3 games don’t make as much money as appearances would suggest, and many are trying to save their big ideas or look for the next big thing. They were further overshadowed by some decisions by large publishers to take an even bigger slice of the pie.
As a result, developers are once bitten, twice shy of “new technology.” They simply see little in terms of supporting art or facilitating enjoyment. GDC’s 2023 State of the Industry report suggests that 75% of developers have no interest in blockchain, while 56% actively oppose it. Considering little of what gets developers and gamers up in the morning, it’s no surprise that AI has received some welcome from game developers.
I want to argue that not all AIs are equal (while some are more equal than others). Not all AI is derivative and has “room for improvement” in respect of copyright. There are some killer tools out there that simply exist to help game developers without chewing them up and spitting them out! Tools capable of saving time and money and helping to introduce new life into the sector.
The key differentiator is that many of these AI utilities were created by people who have worked in the gaming industry and LOVE it. They have identified a need, they know inside out the pitfalls and challenges of creating a game. When my co-founder and I were developing games, we always struggled with our lack of 3D skills: having characters modeled, rigged and animated with all the inherent behaviors is no walk in the park, it’s a huge cost to bear. These experiences gave birth to our idea for a tool to bring infinite static assets to life without having to deal with a relentless barrage of technical and financial barriers.
So, fellow game developers, please don’t criticize or condemn all AI in the gaming space. When we build our AI systems, we fully respect the rights of the authors of the original 3D models and attribute them appropriately. Our internal datasets and public-facing asset libraries only use 3D models with a compatible license, we always respect the required terms and attribute original authors in the models offered in our library. And we are certainly not alone in this regard for original creators and copyright holders.
Many of us on the AI crew are working to improve 3D animation, the game development process, and your pipeline, while giving you the ability to be more creative and level up your powers! And who doesn’t want to eliminate time-consuming tasks and reduce costs?