I work in the architectural field. The AI discussion is something that is coming up a lot in the professional world. How much can we this used it (to lower our prices) before things go horribly wrong. What about the lost training interns will have prior to getting licensed. On the other hand, I also do medieval recreation and understand that hand stitching is accurate to the historical time period but sewing machines are faster. Additionally, I have for the last 15 years designed and made games for my family and friends to play. I do the design, graphic design, art, printing, manufacturing. I can go through and paint physically, digitally paint or use a computer to render a 3d model I made. Then use a program to assemble all the elements. However, I am also exploring the AI generated art. This does not eliminate the graphic design but can make the process faster. (If the prompts keep producing similarly styled images.) So, I see this probably very differently them most people. AI generated art probably does have a place in the industry. AS LONG AS people don’t lie about it and AI stops using copyrighted work in the process. Humans should also spend the time like your friend, Jacqueline, and curate the pieces and refine their knowledge/AI skill set. AI should not produce the final product but a component in it. Thank you and good luck on the move!
Super thoughtful comment. Definitely agree! Re: architectural AI - the game Planet Coaster has autocomplete features that are super cool for building roller coasters. It’s a super interesting idea thinking about how it plays into other areas of design!
This was a great video guys! There’s so many questions around this subject, and good arguments on both sides. I personally prefer a human artist. I’m an author as well, and there are a lot of great artists in the book space as well. My cover artist is really great.
Andrew Bosley, who did two of the games you used as examples as I'm sure you know, has some insightful thoughts on generative AI and board games. As far as I know he's pretty open to interviews so he might be fun to chat with!
Some people were put on this Earth to get scammed. There's just no other explanation for not being able to recognize the same exact faces who were pushing for NFTs and Crypto and Block Chain whatever. For not realizing that fancy new product is cheaper than the old way, because there's hundreds of investors propping it up to make it look cheaper. Like, where were you when DoorDash, when Uber, when AirBnB, when Amazon, when Walmart, when Shopping Malls jacked up the prices after they're pushed the other guys out of business?
an interesting topic, no doubt... as someone who also works in software, my two cents... I think board game publishers should be free to use AI art, or AI in general. With material and shipping costs getting so high these days, it's perfectly understandable that publishers would look to cut costs. It may be that that costs some artists some commissions, but the harsh reality is nobody is owed anything. Now, I much prefer the look of human-created art. AI art, at least nowadays, has a samey-ness to it. And I think that's something the market will sort out. If consumers much prefer human art, and won't buy games based on AI art, then publishers will respond. My one major concern is if publishers use copyrighted art without permission in training their AI generators. And I don't know how to adequately police that. Just taking the publishers' word for it doesn't seem like the best solution.
I used AI to create graphics for my home made sci-fi themed game and it looks nothing like anything that exists on market. I am creating for my friends and family but no way could I ever afford to buy graphic designers, etc. I do think though this could be disruptive to "established" game designer. I am good with mechanics and story telling... But don't have a Ravensburger budget. And if I called them out of the blue doubt they would even bother to hear my pitch. So there could be a lot of games out there made by independent individuals that could give the big guys a run for their money. Perhaps AI is a way for those games to see the light of day... Rather than disappearing unknown forever in someone's drawer or shelf
By the way 83% of graphic designers use AI... So even for the big board game folks who do higher graphic designers to work on their projects, they may not be purely human creative projects either Betty combination of human inspiration with AI assistance
To see this from a different approach - forget the art, vut how about the narratives or story. AI goes further than art. We are all focused on making sure an artist is hired. But i have really never heard of a journalist or author used for creating the written parts of a game. Is AI allowable for graphic design, like board layout and different spots on a board or card, that is design even tho most dont see it as art. I think like everything new, we qre all resistant to change, like when photography went digital and the digital darkroom became seen as evil and not photograohy. Given time, i think AI art will become the norm, just as photoshop and drawing on a digital tablet and not pencil and paper, has become.
Honestly the fate of ai art in games may be in the hands of consumers. I think companies should be forthcoming about the use of ai art, and gamers can state their preference by choosing to buy it or not. I would be willing to spend a certain amount more on a game that looks nicer with human art. I dont agree with spamming bgg with low reviews for a game you havent played because it uses ai art. I dont think that is helpful.
I work in the architectural field. The AI discussion is something that is coming up a lot in the professional world. How much can we this used it (to lower our prices) before things go horribly wrong. What about the lost training interns will have prior to getting licensed. On the other hand, I also do medieval recreation and understand that hand stitching is accurate to the historical time period but sewing machines are faster. Additionally, I have for the last 15 years designed and made games for my family and friends to play. I do the design, graphic design, art, printing, manufacturing. I can go through and paint physically, digitally paint or use a computer to render a 3d model I made. Then use a program to assemble all the elements. However, I am also exploring the AI generated art. This does not eliminate the graphic design but can make the process faster. (If the prompts keep producing similarly styled images.) So, I see this probably very differently them most people. AI generated art probably does have a place in the industry. AS LONG AS people don’t lie about it and AI stops using copyrighted work in the process. Humans should also spend the time like your friend, Jacqueline, and curate the pieces and refine their knowledge/AI skill set. AI should not produce the final product but a component in it. Thank you and good luck on the move!
Super thoughtful comment. Definitely agree! Re: architectural AI - the game Planet Coaster has autocomplete features that are super cool for building roller coasters. It’s a super interesting idea thinking about how it plays into other areas of design!
This was a great video guys! There’s so many questions around this subject, and good arguments on both sides. I personally prefer a human artist. I’m an author as well, and there are a lot of great artists in the book space as well. My cover artist is really great.
Andrew Bosley, who did two of the games you used as examples as I'm sure you know, has some insightful thoughts on generative AI and board games. As far as I know he's pretty open to interviews so he might be fun to chat with!
Some people were put on this Earth to get scammed. There's just no other explanation for not being able to recognize the same exact faces who were pushing for NFTs and Crypto and Block Chain whatever. For not realizing that fancy new product is cheaper than the old way, because there's hundreds of investors propping it up to make it look cheaper. Like, where were you when DoorDash, when Uber, when AirBnB, when Amazon, when Walmart, when Shopping Malls jacked up the prices after they're pushed the other guys out of business?
an interesting topic, no doubt... as someone who also works in software, my two cents...
I think board game publishers should be free to use AI art, or AI in general. With material and shipping costs getting so high these days, it's perfectly understandable that publishers would look to cut costs. It may be that that costs some artists some commissions, but the harsh reality is nobody is owed anything.
Now, I much prefer the look of human-created art. AI art, at least nowadays, has a samey-ness to it. And I think that's something the market will sort out. If consumers much prefer human art, and won't buy games based on AI art, then publishers will respond.
My one major concern is if publishers use copyrighted art without permission in training their AI generators. And I don't know how to adequately police that. Just taking the publishers' word for it doesn't seem like the best solution.
I used AI to create graphics for my home made sci-fi themed game and it looks nothing like anything that exists on market. I am creating for my friends and family but no way could I ever afford to buy graphic designers, etc. I do think though this could be disruptive to "established" game designer. I am good with mechanics and story telling... But don't have a Ravensburger budget. And if I called them out of the blue doubt they would even bother to hear my pitch. So there could be a lot of games out there made by independent individuals that could give the big guys a run for their money. Perhaps AI is a way for those games to see the light of day... Rather than disappearing unknown forever in someone's drawer or shelf
By the way 83% of graphic designers use AI... So even for the big board game folks who do higher graphic designers to work on their projects, they may not be purely human creative projects either Betty combination of human inspiration with AI assistance
To see this from a different approach - forget the art, vut how about the narratives or story. AI goes further than art. We are all focused on making sure an artist is hired. But i have really never heard of a journalist or author used for creating the written parts of a game.
Is AI allowable for graphic design, like board layout and different spots on a board or card, that is design even tho most dont see it as art.
I think like everything new, we qre all resistant to change, like when photography went digital and the digital darkroom became seen as evil and not photograohy. Given time, i think AI art will become the norm, just as photoshop and drawing on a digital tablet and not pencil and paper, has become.
Honestly the fate of ai art in games may be in the hands of consumers. I think companies should be forthcoming about the use of ai art, and gamers can state their preference by choosing to buy it or not. I would be willing to spend a certain amount more on a game that looks nicer with human art. I dont agree with spamming bgg with low reviews for a game you havent played because it uses ai art. I dont think that is helpful.