Deleted 11 hours ago
4 days ago(+27)(-11)
Yes, I did take a look at your game on your profile. Since you invited honesty and critique, I’ll say this: the art style resembles AI-generated work, particularly in the shading techniques and the way the characters share very similar facial features. I’m only bringing this up because you asked for feedback.
1. You can clearly see the difference in how the clothing is rendered to reflect the type of fabric and material. For example, Anduin’s robe is shaded to look smooth and soft, suggesting silk. An appropriate choice for royalty. Anselm’s armor, on the other hand, has a rougher texture with highlights that capture the metallic shine, which is also reflected in the CGs. As for Clyde’s outfit, the shading intentionally mimics rag and leather, fitting his rogue persona. This is even mentioned in the game itself, emphasizing how his clothing allows for better movement.
It’s quite easy to nitpick someone else’s work and jump to the conclusion that it’s AI-generated. For someone who claimed to be aiming for a “respectful” conversation, your comments come across as more accusatory than constructive.
4 days ago (+2)(-8)
Ok ı know as someone who has nothing to do with art cant say much to this but... how about simply wait and see for creator of this game?
ı also have a small question: lets assume creator really did use aı. since ıts a free demo even creator used aı maybe ıts for filling those places later? like maybe they just rushed few parts and they plan to fill them back while developing the game? ıt may sound like a stupid idea since anyone can say ''well then they should have fill those gaps before putting this demo on itchio'' but technically they doesnt get any gain from this demo. so even with assuming creator got help from aı they will use their style once they publish the completed version...
I know that ım stepping in sensitive topic and ı hope ı havent angered anyone as ı was only trying to say that: lets just dont fight and hope the best? ^^;; (ı actually want to tell this for all comment war here but ı literally have no idea where to put this comments since this place looks messy )
4 days ago(+31)(-5)
im going to be completely honest with you your reaching for something that isnt there.
first the armor thing, you dont render different materials the same way armor which is made of metal is not going to be drawn the same way that thinner clothing is going to be drawn this point is just lowk irrelevant and doesnt even prover anything
two it having the artstyle of " ai art" is kinda dumb because ai doesnt have its own specific way of drawing it steals from other real artists and replictes the way it art style looks. it doesnt mean everyone that draws this way uses ai
4 days ago(+8)(-44)
If you don't understand that my original comments were purely curious and never accusatory in nature, this conversation is entirely pointless. I didn't raise my suspicions because I want this game to be AI. I hope for everyone who likes it that it isn't.
I genuinely don't understand why I have to repeat so many times that I'm not accusing the developer of anything, that everything is my opinion and based in observations I have made. If they never confirm or deny that it's AI, then what am I going to do about it? Nothing. Because it was all just an inquiry.
P.S. I disagree with you on AI not having recognizable art styles.
3 days ago (+11)(-42)
Literally logged in to say @loooneify I agree with you. I do think the art must have been originally AI/an AI base with a pretty good job drawing over any of the weird inconsistencies so typical of AI art, but there are some weird spots in the air that just set my AI alarms off.
First off all, why is this guy's hair at the front here uneven when it's even in his sprite?
Secondly, I circled some parts in this guy's hair that just...weirdly blend into each other or mesh together (very characteristic of AI art). His hair split is especially throwing me off, since I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be straight, but then it does that weird split-off thing (that rightmost circle by itself).
Thirdly, there's this dude's braid. He sort of has a mullet/back hair where I think there shouldn't be (braid and all), not to mention I circled parts where the hair, again, weirdly blends into each other. The circle at the right closest to the top is the biggest sign to me, because that tiny strand of hair just somehow separates from one bunch of hair then melts into a completely different part.
Additionally, while I do genuinely hope is just me splitting hairs here (haha, pun unintended), but while livingslime's other game credits themself as the artist, this one very conspicuously credits a separate person for the stained glass art, but I don't see anything for the sprite artist(s). And hey, maybe that's covered by the "Game created by LivingSlime," but until we get clarification, that's a point of concern for me, since their art style in their other game is very different from this one.
Last thing: I know I'm making a serious accusation—I'm not saying these things to be a bitch or a hater lmao. I literally have no idea who livingslime is, I was just randomly scrolling the otome tag on itch, saw the pretty art, clicked open a new tab, but then I saw all the screenshots and felt any excitement just die out instead. If it does turn out my suspicions were wrong, then absolutely, that's my bad, and I sincerely apologize if that's the case. Until then, I'm gonna stick to my guns here.
3 days ago(+13)(-4)
I’m going to be honest, I’m not here to dispute your observations. But I’m newish to art and always evolving and adding bits to my style and I definitely do some of the things you pointed out above. Especially the things you mentioned with the King’s hair part moving slightly and also blending into itself. I’ve also made silly mistakes where I forget to continue a hair chunk when it interacts with another.
I’m also not very good at drawing braids and have done random lines and flyaways like you circled as well. And because I like to try out new things and pick up new things, my art is inconsistent too.
Again, I’m not here to argue about your observations but just wanted to say that even real artists who have never used AI can make these mistakes. And comments like this do scare me into not showing any of my art. :/
3 days ago(+6)(-17)
Thank you so much for commenting. I was slowly losing my sanity over here. You've noticed things I didn't even see, I was more so looking at the art in general, but your examples make total sense. People who know anything about AI art and how it operates, how it tries to shape an image, will agree that it just looks extremely suspicious. It goes beyond newbie artists figuring out how to draw certain things, because art like this doesn't come from newbies. With the skill shown in other areas of the art, those mistakes and deviations really shouldn't need to be there.
There's one more little thing I've noticed. Looking at how the sprites change/remove outfits (look to Clyde in the game's screenshots), I can only assume that the artist likely used layered images for their sprites, since it's an extremely huge waste of time to do otherwise. I'm pointing this out because if you look at Clyde's right armpit and chest area, the painting and lines change depending on whether he's naked or clothed. This is strange. It means that, if it's not because of AI and repainting, the artist drew two different torsos for these two different states of Clyde. Which seems kind of redundant.
As you can see, most of the body not obscured by the clothes remains the exact same render, such as the arms, but when it comes to where his clothes overlay his body, suddenly it looks different as if someone had to adjust the base to the removal of clothes.
Of course, all the things I and @Watermelon Merchant mention, in isolation, aren't any cause for AI suspicions. Random weird strand of hair? Happens to me all the time. But it's because all of these things are noticed together in a vacuum that I am convinced that AI has been used in one way or the other.
3 days ago(+11)(-6)
Literally explained everything you guys were so paranoid about. Maybe you would know if you actually DREW ,
Artists often draw the head on a separate layer from the body (including the neck) to make adjustments easier. They dont draw them naked and put on clothes like a barbie doll
3 days ago(+6)(-19)
Uh, artists who use layered images do actually do exactly that... It's very comparable to a dress up doll. But ok, art master. Whatever you say.
3 days ago(+14)(-4)
This makes sense but I have messed up before, drew everything on one layer and decided it was easier to just rerender the torso :/
I read the linked post below which has a lot of explanation and with the dev’s willingness to show more art studies and more work, I’m choosing to believe them. Could I be wrong? Who knows. I just think it’s really sad that this thread has destroyed their passion for writing and developing this game not even two days after release.
3 days ago(+7)(-20)
I'd hoped it was a clarification about AI use, but alas... how disappointing. If two people bringing up the potential use of AI in your game--people who aren't review bombing or leaving hateful messages, unlike the spiteful 1* rating you left on my game @superchugger--is all that's needed to cause you to quit working on a game... I believe that says it all.
3 days ago(+11)(-7)
they literally clarified and even SHOW AND DREW all ur doubts? Thats what im showing you. Dont you feel bad
3 days ago(+10)(-19)
Why should I feel bad? We were inquiring. Why on Earth let two random people halt the development of your game? Make it make sense. If one can read, then you would've seen that in no way I was wishing for the game to be AI. Their posts on twitter did not convince me that no AI was used, but hey, that's just me. One person. Among a sea of support, with plenty of people like you who have come to the game's defense. There's clearly more support than not.
3 days ago(+15)(-7)
Not everyone has confidence, high self esteem and security, they obviously have worked hard on this project from what I've seen on their twitter, and to have all that hard work be invalidated and being put under a microscope to put extra focus on their art inconsistencies that every artists has can be very soul crushing, I've been there before with irl art projects in school and it's not pleasant. I know you haven't had such experiences because it seems like not enough people has cared about your one game
2 days ago(+2)(-6)
I though you and Watermelon Merchant made pretty reasonable observations, but I'm not surprised your comments brought out the crazies. Bring on the down-votes, kiddos!