Generative AI in THIS project

Back in April, one of my games came under scrutiny from a handful of individuals who took issue with the fact that I had used AI tools in my creative process. The mere presence of generative technology in my workflow was enough for them to delegitimize the entire project—regardless of the care, intent, and personal effort I had poured into it. In response, I wrote a post explaining my philosophy around generative AI, especially as it pertains to writing and game design. That post is included below for full transparency.

But this latest project deserves a more thorough explanation.

Unlike every other game I’ve released—each of which relies exclusively on public domain or royalty-free artwork—this one uses imagery generated by AI tools. I want to be upfront and unapologetically honest about why I made that choice. I also want to be clear about something equally important:

This is not the art want for my game.

I have long envisioned this game with professional, human-created illustrations that resonate with its themes. This project is the culmination of years of thinking, dreaming, and design. It means the world to me. I didn’t set out to build a “placeholder” game. I wanted to create something beautiful and meaningful, both in text and image.

But I found myself at a crossroads: release the game with no art at all, or use generative tools to at least suggest the kind of atmosphere I imagine. Neither option felt right. One felt empty, the other contentious. And while I did choose to also offer an Artless version for those who prefer it, I think that version is missing something essential—a visual layer that gives the world weight, context, and feeling. As someone who’s not a visual artist, I have no ability to bring that vision to life myself.

I had hoped that, by releasing several smaller games first, I might raise the funds needed to commission art from a real illustrator. That didn’t happen. As of this writing, I’ve made a total of $45 across all my releases. A friend gave me $25 for LUNGS, and two people—one friend and two strangers have paid a total of $25 for The Shadows Beneath. That’s it. Americana Mythica: Outlaws!, The Eldritch Social, and Whispers from the Deep have failed to sell any copies.

In the meantime, I’ve reached out to artists and tried to build collaborations. But every time, the same reality hits: I can’t afford to pay them a fair wage, and I would never ask them to work for free. I believe in fair pay for fair work. I respect artists too much to expect them to shoulder the financial risk of a passion project that may never earn a dollar.

Public domain art, which has served me well for previous games, wasn’t an option here either. While sites like comicbookplus.com offer a trove of old comic book scans, the legal status of much of that work is ambiguous at best. Even when the books themselves are in the public domain, the characters and trademarks often are not. I can’t financially afford a legal misstep.

So I chose generative art. Not because I wanted to. Not because it was easier. I don’t view it as a final solution. I view it as a stopgap, a way to finally share this game with the world in a form that—while imperfect—honors the vision I’ve held for so long.

Let me be clear: Every dollar earned from this project goes directly into an artist fund. My dream is to replace all the AI-generated imagery with human-made illustrations. I’m not trying to profit from generative art. I’m trying to get beyond it.

And if you’re someone who loves this game but hates that it includes AI art, I’m asking for your help. Not your forgiveness—your help. If you believe in human artistry and want to see work like this supported by real collaboration, then please consider helping me get there. I want this game to be something I can feel proud of. I want it to be a example of what community support and shared values can accomplish.

Until then, I offer you two versions of this game: one with AI-generated art, and one without. Neither makes me happy. But both are honest about where I am in my journey.

Now, as promised, here’s the original post I wrote about how I use generative AI in my writing and design process.

This is a repost from a devlog for one of my other games, which was accused of being "AI slop."

Yes, I use generative AI tools like ChatGPT in my work. However, nothing in my games is copied/pasted directly from an AI. Everything that makes it into a finished product has been shaped, rewritten, and refined by me. In every game where I've used AI tools, I’ve fully disclosed their use—both on Itch and in the book’s credits.

In all my projects, AI serves a single purpose: a tool. Just like I use spell check to fix typos or Grammarly to improve sentence clarity, I use AI to support and streamline my creative process—not to replace it. I'm the creator. I use AI as a collaborative writing partner. I ask it questions, bounce ideas off it, and use its responses to spark creativity. AI is one of many instruments I use to bring my ideas to life. No one questions the use of a dice probability calculator to check mechanics, a name generator for NPCs, or a map tool to create a quick region. I see AI tools as belonging to that same category.  

That said, I'm not blind to the problems surrounding AI. I'm deeply aware of the flood of low-effort, AI-generated garbage saturating every corner of the internet—and I want no part of it. Some projects I'm working on have taken years to develop, and I'm committed to preserving their integrity. I take this seriously.  

Ultimately, it is important to me that I stay in control. I treat every AI suggestion critically—accepting, discarding, or modifying it based on my vision and values as a creator. AI doesn't replace my voice; it enhances it. I believe that in a field where imagination is everything, any tool that helps stoke my creative fire is worth embracing.