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Generative Ai for Game development

A topic by Crafter445 created 32 days ago Views: 1,465 Replies: 46

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Crafter44532 days ago(+7)

Random question why are all the game Jams so against Ai like Im not trying to win anything in my submissions but i just want some feedback on my first game. Really not sure why all these game jams are so anti ai. I feel like most people would use ai to build or at least help in someway with there game. Is it because people consider it cheating and they want you to grind it out the hard way or something, i just feel we should use all the tools available to us. Happy to discuss or for someone to point out where i might be wrong. Thanks

redonihunter32 days ago(+4)

A typical jam is an event where you create a game under restrictions. Using AI would trivialize most of those restrictions.

I copied a few random quotes from rules of actual jams, telling about their AI restrictions. And not all of them forbid AI. All jams have different rules.

Use of generative AI is not allowed! We want to see what YOU can create in the allotted time, not what AI can create for you!

AI-assisted coding (autocomplete tools) is allowed. No copy-pasting large amounts of AI-generated code. No AI-generated art or music.

AI-generated assets are allowed, if you disclose their use on the game's project page. This applies even if these originally AI-generated assets are later edited by you.

Using AI as an assistive tool is OK, BUT games might be disqualified if: most/all of the game is obviously generated, entire game art assets are obviously generated, or the game audio is obviously generated.

No AI-generated art in-game, or the project page. You may use AI in design or code, but assets must be human-made. Tools that build the entire game from promps are also not allowed.

So you see, the tools of the trade, code assist done with ai, are usually not forbidden. But a jam is a contest of art and using gen ai defeats the purpose. It is not a contest of who can operate the prompt best.

Also, most jams have the implicit rule, that since you would make the game for the jam, you actually cannot submit it to other such jams. It usually is also not quite possible to conform to different jam restrictions at once. Like, make the game in a week for the jam and include topics a, b and c.

Crafter44532 days ago(+3)

I see yeah that makes sense especially for those that create a game for the purpose of the Jam like a theme ect. i just couldnt find that many that just offer feedback on the game or advice to improve it. im new to game dev so i used ai to help me build my game but my goal isn't to win a contest or anything just to receive advice for how to improve . Thanks

-X-ScornGames32 days ago (1 edit) (+2)

Nice, but i recommend you keep that to yourself as it will eventually End in ppl attacking or aviding you right away ppl arent big Fans of freespeech and freewill, They dont Care about your Reasons, for your behaviour, haha May ignorance be Bliss

DarkBloodbane32 days ago(+3)

Joining game jam and getting feedback are two different things. If you only want the latter, then find people who would give you feedback.

Most jams aren't for games made outside jam duration so if you have made your game before any jam, then don't submit it to any game jam, and instead ask for feedback directly.

redonihunter31 days ago(+2)

There are jams for about everything. Including creating games with AI, like this one here.

They are not for getting feedback for a finished game. But a lot of them are in part about the learning experience of creating a game for the jam, which would include a bit of feedback. Maybe. Depends on the participants.

Crafter44531 days ago

I see no worries thanks

Dobloxdavebazuquinha2 days ago

Hi, and if you know whether you need to have it, take a screenshot or not, I want everyone to want it.

Dobloxdavebazuquinha2 days ago

Yes or no, or whenever you want.

Eldwood32 days ago(+12)

AI is generally banned for the same reason that other forms of plagiarism are banned.

Crafter44532 days ago(+2)

I understand you're point that makes sense but i feel most people would use it even for if its debugging errors ect. Also gonna probs get harder and harder to tell whats ai and not. Or how much of it was Ai or not. Im sure there are people using it but say they are not.

redonihunter31 days ago(+6)

That's not what I read from the rules of jams.

You also imply that AI is recognised as a form of plagiarism. Which it is not. You can claim, that many view it as unethical, if you want. That would be true. But it is not recognised as a form of plagiarism.

KuroGamedev29 days ago

It is wise to research 'how' the data for these AI setups was obtained before you consider using it.

Your assessment of AI being banned and what you compared it to is reasonable.

Dobloxdavebazuquinha2 days ago

NOT GENERATED BY IAAAAAAAAAAA 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬😡😡😡😡🤬🤬🤬😡😡😡😡😡🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬😡😡😡🤬🤬🤬🤬😡😡😡😡🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

Cagey Games31 days ago(+7)

Some people are scared of new tech or simply were told to hate it. Don't let others gate keep what kind of art you are allowed to look at or create.

Magicsofa31 days ago(+7)

The first response literally gave examples of jams where AI is allowed. They also gave a concrete and logical reason why it might not be allowed, which has to do with the inherent nature of restriction-based jams. Working within restrictions is consensual gatekeeping. If you don't like the restrictions, don't participate in the jam.

No Time To PlayModerator31 days ago (1 edit) (+3)

Someone on Mastodon said it better than I could:

The orphan-crushing machine is just a tool. You can also use it to mulch puppies and purée kittens.

Why are you angry? You can use it for harmless tasks like making mashed potatoes. You eat mashed potatoes don't you? Yes, admittedly it leaks machine oil into the potatoes, but they're working on that. It leaks so much less oil than it did when you tried it three months ago. In a year from now it's going to be a Michelin-starred chef.

Well, that’s typical, gatekeeping by telling people they should have to learn to cook. You don’t think people who can’t cook deserve good food?

So what if the machine is powered by slave labor? That's innovation. You're just scared you're going to be one of them. Besides, it's inevitable. Nobody is going to crush orphans by hand any more. You're going to get left behind.

Oh, well there you go with your ridiculous purity culture again.

– https://universeodon.com/@mathew/116109298247428562

(This is a personal opinion, by the way.)

redonihunter31 days ago(+4)

So, there is a machine that was built to crush orphans and people are angry about it. And people using the machine defend it against various arguments against it. And within that discussion, it turns out, that the machine also leaks oil into the product, and is powered by slave labour. The oil leakage is only worth mentioning, since apparantly the machine was also advertised for processing food.

I do not like that metaphor. It does not catch the intent and usage of generative ai. People would be angry about an orphan crusher, be it human or machine. There are humans doing potatoe mashing. So, a slave labour powered kitchen appliance, that leaks oil into the food would work better as a metaphor. Better, let's use a robot instead of a mere appliance, and it was trained by watching human cooks. It lacks a sense of taste, so the food all tastes the same or is spiced extra weird.

But real life humans are not particularily angry about multi use kitchen appliances. On the other hand, many people do not really like restaurants that just microwave the food and sell it at restaurant food price tag, even though they happily use that device at home. They prefer human made food. But no one expects the cooks to not use the tools of the trade, like knives, ovens that run on energy, or to apply knowledge other cooks established.

The anger about gen ai stems from several points, and some of them are shortsighted. So we should concentrate on the things that would stay, even if the oil leakage and slave labour are dealt with. Like the boring taste of the orphan pulp. Or that it takes away the jobs of the orphan crushers.

Because we sure will not stop using pulp. Jams are all about pulp. But most of them require the chefs to do certain aspects of the crushing manually or under restrictions. Like no using knives, or only crush the legs. Some things are even encouraged, like using the rotary propelled gratings maker, or rending in a pyrex.

black66sunshine31 days ago(+3)

I love AI and I could probably be of assistance for the games? I love games too. Lmk if anyone wants to be my friend!

Ace31 days ago(+7)

Hey, I ABSOLUTELY agree with you. It's kinda discouraging for newbies...

Of course, I see many people grinding it out on their own (apparently, it's not cool anymore to use AI?)- but I think it makes it really restrictive. Disclaimers are okay, but straight up rejecting something just because, say graphics or vc is AI is silly. Don't we end up losing hidden gems because of it?

Crafter44531 days ago(+2)

Yeah I absolutely and there are some that are okay with AI just seems like many aren't. But idk how you can make a call on if ai was used or not. Also how would you know how ai was used i think everyone uses it tbh. Especially for things like debugging. Also why not use all the resources we have available to make the best possible game. I know i certainly wont be developing with one hand behind my back.

Magicsofa30 days ago(+5)

I'm not sure I understand your suspicion that "everyone uses it." The people who dislike AI aren't going to use it. I use GDevelop, they added AI features and I turned it off immediately (by that I mean, clicked the option to hide the "ask AI" button). Now you might find a rare case of someone pretending to hate it but then using it in secret, but that is very unlikely. People who want to use it secretly will usually just not say anything.

There can be reasons not to use "everything available" - those of us who don't want to use it often cite ethical reasons around data scraping and real world resource consumption. Making the best possible game isn't worth it if I'm causing harm to others.

Medow28 days ago(+4)

You are absolutely right! Flat-out rejecting a project just because it uses AI tools risks burying "diamonds in the rough" that possess immense narrative substance. In the case of my project, a VN titled MOS (I won’t reveal the full name yet as I haven't "gifted" it to the itch.io world—though you can "catch" some details on my site), I use AI as a modern brush to visualize a complex literary universe. However, the work is far from "blind generation." Every graphic element, beyond the generation effort which isn't as short as it seems, goes through numerous iterations of AI processing followed by manual refinement in GIMP to align with my "artistic" vision (many elements actually start from my own sketches, etc.).

For an independent author "without time and/or financial resources," AI is the only way to visually support a script exceeding 1 million words in 7 languages (and yes, translated via LLMs), featuring over 1,200 visual assets. I’ll admit, as an illustrator, I range somewhere between "abysmal and decent"... but the time required to move from "Phase 1" (roughly 15-30 minutes) to "Phase 2" takes me anywhere from an hour to "far too much time" or... right back to "Phase 1." Ultimately, the essence of a Visual Novel remains the "Story" and the "Author's Presence"; technology should be a bridge, not a wall. I’ll take the risk!

By the way, does anyone have a suggestion on how a publisher (a compromise between a "minor" graphic artist and a "major" writer) could otherwise realize a VN that encompasses over 12 published novels, intended to be presented in a "more visual" form? And why not, if I’ve been a "gamer" since the dawn of video games, shouldn't I move to the next level too?

To conclude, a sort of "parable"... Jesus Christ asks a doctor to take his place and interact with his chronic patients. The doctor, as kind as he is devout, grants the request. The first patient enters with terminal cancer (stage 4 metastases). Jesus approaches him, places a hand on his head, and says: "You are now healed! Live your life 'as in heaven'!" The patient leaves and, in the waiting room, the others—noticing there’s a new doctor—ask: "How is the new guy?" He replies: "An idiot. He didn't even take my blood pressure!"

And here is a Romanian linguistic twist: In Romanian, "cancer" (the disease) is phonetically similar to "ca’n cer," which means "as in heaven."

Perhaps this text was also created with AI, or perhaps it wasn't?

Dobloxdavebazuquinha4 days ago(+1)

What do you mean I created it with AI? No, I would never create it with AI.

Medow4 days ago

Hi !

I believe there’s been a slight 'glitch' in interpreting my tone! When I said, 'What do you mean I created it with AI? No, I would never...' I was being purely ironic, mirroring the very skepticism I challenge every day.

To be absolutely clear: I am 100% pro-AI. I have been using AI tools intensively for over three years—not just in game development, but in my work in cybersecurity, economic analysis, and even for culinary recipes. It is my 'modern brush' and a vital collaborator.

However, there is a nuance that critics often miss: if you actually worked with these tools at a high level, you would realize that AI alone—without human coordination, a clear vision, and exhaustive refinement—is incapable of achieving anything truly 'significant.'

To put the scale of the effort into perspective, the current MOS lint report reflects a monumental architecture:

33,041 lines of code and 728,230 words.
141 interactive menus with an average of 5.5 choices each.
Full integration across 7 languages.

AI helped me build the bridge, but I am the one who laid every stone. As I mentioned in my forum parable: let’s not be the patient who misses the miracle of the 'healing' (the story) because they are too busy complaining that the doctor didn't use a traditional blood pressure cuff.

Medow

Dobloxdavebazuquinha2 days ago(+1)

Sorry man, it was just my imagination and yes, it was a misunderstanding. It's because this damn translation is bugged. Yes, I'm Brazilian, sorry. 😭😭😭

Dobloxdavebazuquinha2 days ago(+1)

If you do it, you don't do it, you don't do it.

Dobloxdavebazuquinha2 days ago(+1)

of ia

Medow2 days ago

Meu caro...

Você está 'conversando' com um avô de quase 60 anos! Além disso, com um desenvolvedor dos tempos do 'Basic', das plataformas Atari e IBM XT...

Agora que você sabe disso, garanto que a primeira impressão não é o que importa. Imagine só: por que um avô ficaria chateado com alguém que tem a idade dos seus bisnetos?

Por isso, asseguro uma coisa: em quase 20 anos de experiência em redes sociais e comunidades de desenvolvedores, eu nunca fiz — e nunca faria — um gesto de 'ban' ou denúncia por uma simples diferença de opinião. Acredito no diálogo, não na censura... Desculpe, isso seria infantilidade.

Na verdade, eu mesmo já fui vítima de práticas injustas no passado, como experiências negativas no Steam Greenlight, materiais que publiquei por mais de 20 anos sobre a 'Nova Medicina', análises políticas, blá, blá, blá... Mas, em todas as vezes, escolhi manter minha integridade e não recorrer a esse tipo de tática. Não é meu estilo 'enterrar' ninguém por um mal-entendido. Aliás, acredito que você já percebeu isso pelo fato de eu responder imediatamente, apresentando 'também o meu ponto de vista'.

Sim, eu tinha esquecido do meu status de 'vovô'! Entendo que traduções automáticas podem criar confusões, especialmente quando o contexto é técnico ou irônico. Dica de veterano: use as IAs para tradução, mas as 'personalizadas', vinculadas à sua conta naquela IA! A precisão das traduções sobe para mais de 98%... Veja só, esta tradução eu estou fazendo com o Gemini do Google e conferindo com o Copilot da Microsoft... O Grok e o Claude também funcionam, mas personalize-os!

Então, estamos bem. Tudo o que importa para mim é a construção do universo MOS e como a tecnologia (que domino há mais de 3 anos via IA, e há... uau, muitos anos... via meus esforços na 'internet') pode expandir os limites da narrativa. O Codex está aberto para todos, inclusive para você! Mas deixe-me pelo menos lançar a versão 'Alpha', espero que em maio de 2026...

Vou te 'contar' uma piada para testar a qualidade das traduções da IA... para você!

Um casal de avós, marido e mulher, em férias, passa pelo lugar onde, na juventude, eles se conheceram 'intimamente'... De forma intensa, em pé, encostados em uma cerca! Como tinham esquecido as sensações há muito tempo, aproveitando a noite e as lembranças da juventude, seus corpos recordam daquela alegria e eles resolvem fazer uma 'reconstituição ao vivo'... Vão até a cerca, segue uma sessão particularmente intensa de memórias juvenis e, no final, vem o diálogo: — Uau, meu querido, que fogoso você estava! Nem na juventude você foi tão 'animalesco'... O que aconteceu? — Minha querida, é que naquela época essa cerca não era eletrificada...

Sucesso no seu trabalho!"

Dobloxdavebazuquinha1 day ago(+1)

You make AI images so much that your profile picture is AI and mine is without a picture. I would never make AI for my own game. You make your profile pictures AI, I make my game from the BuildA mobile app, or rather, Julian Editor. Respect Coifo has a reputation for aura and ego. Your AI ego is weak and so is your aura.

Medow1 day ago (1 edit)

Meu caro...

Tanto pelo meu perfil no itch quanto pela página do MOS, é certo que sou um adepto das VNs... Visual (imagem) e Novel (romance, história e afins)...

Cada um tem sua abordagem, seu sentido e sua direção! Ter visões diferentes da realidade é imperativo... Caso contrário, não seríamos indivíduos, mas apenas uma massa 'comum' e conformista!

Você fala de 'aura' e 'ego' na internet, eu falo de uma arquitetura narrativa.

Se para você a 'aura' significa não usar ferramentas modernas, é sua escolha. Para mim, aos quase 60 anos, a 'aura' vem das... Histórias do vovô... Mesmo que pareçam ser 'memórias do futuro'!

Cada um com sua personalidade: você com seu aplicativo de celular, eu com as histórias do vovô. Sucesso na construção com o Julian Editor, de coração!

Imagine e realize-se!

P.S. A foto de perfil é apenas uma imagem. A alma do jogo está no código e na história. De qualquer forma, estamos juntos na estrada das nossas experiências!

Meu caro, levei menos de um minuto para solicitar à IA (de um software com um renome absoluto — obviamente não posso citar o nome) a 'aclimatação para não-IA' de uma imagem da minha conta do itch.io (você a encontrará lá, acessando o meu perfil)! Você acha que teria sido melhor eu ser um vovô 'com aura'?

Medow

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Dobloxdavebazuquinha2 days ago(+1)

I'm sorry, but it was a misunderstanding. I used a mobile app called Builda, or rather Julian Editor, not IA. Please don't ban me.

Dobloxdavebazuquinha2 days ago(+1)

Yes, you're right. 🤨🤔

Crafter44531 days ago(+1)

I created my own Jam if anyone is interested lol https://itch.io/jam/ai-friendly-jam-

RATASOFTWARE.INC31 days ago(+8)

I believe that the use of generative AI reduces the quality of the game itself and the effort required to create it, in the same way that handmade products are superior to artificial products. Furthermore, I also believe that artists, creators, etc. are so opposed to the use of AI because it also takes away a lot of their work...

Daniel Brendel31 days ago(+5)

It's all answered here in one of my blog posts:

https://www.danielbrendel.com/blog/53-three-major-reasons-to-reject-vibe-coding

-X-ScornGames31 days ago(+1)

In the End its a simple question: accepting the humanrights Like freewill and freespeech or forcing ppl to follow YOUR WILL...

Victoneix30 days ago(+6)

In my opinion, if a programmer understands what the code does, they can use it. For me, if someone knows how to use AI-generated code and understands what they’re doing, they shouldn’t feel ashamed of using AI in game development. For example, if you use AI to learn a piece of logic or a code snippet, and you’re able to understand it, that’s what really matters.

But if you use AI and don’t understand how the code works or what it does, then you simply don’t know what you’re doing. I use AI to help me understand certain pieces of code, and also to learn the logic behind a game mechanic that I’ve seen.

AI didn’t come to take our jobs, but to help make our work easier. There are many people who struggle to understand code, and AI can help with that.

Smurjo28 days ago (1 edit) (+3)

The organizers of game jams are looking for genuinely creative games. AI can't make those, since it can't make anything which isn't some kind of blend of the stuff it was trained with. So the game jam organizers might as well want to save themselves the time to review games that are just another version of regurgitated content.

redonihunter28 days ago

It should of course be obvious to come up with a game idea yourself and be creative, to participate in a jam.

But if you draw images by hand or use stock images, asset packs or use gen ai, does not change the creativity of the game itself. It depends on the jam what rules apply, and some jams even are about making games with ai.

And it also depends on the jam organizer why they would not want generative ai things in their jam or how they specify that in their rules. Or what type of ai usage they do not want.

This one here is rather interesting: No AI-generated art in-game, or the project page. You may use AI in design or code, but assets must be human-made. Tools that build the entire game from promps are also not allowed.

So you would be allowed to use an ai to design the actual game! The part that should be the most creative part, in my opinion. But you would not be allowed to use ai gen assets. Or use it to create your game page description.

Sundler16 days ago (1 edit) (+3)

Why can't I just use my motorbike in the Olympics?

Eldwood16 days ago(+1)

That's not a good analogy, because a motorbike isn't "trained" on the athletic output of other people. There is nothing inherently unethical about a motorbike race.

Better analogy: why can't I just use my slave-carried palanquin in the Olympics?

redonihunter15 days ago(+1)

But it is not the reason given why most jams do not allow it. They say so in their rules.

Also a lot of jams do allow ai to some extent. If there were ethical reasons to not allow ai, those jams would forbid all ai usage.

Oh, and the actual Olympics do allow that you be carried by an enslaved creature https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equestrian_events_at_the_Summer_Olympics

Dobloxdavebazuquinha2 days ago

That's true, because you're arguing against AI when I don't use AI and shouldn't be banned, but you can rate my game which is on Game Jam.

Dobloxdavebazuquinha23 hours ago

Sorry crafter445, it's because my translation is bugged. Yes, I'm Brazilian. Sorry, I play Roblox, so that's why I made a Roblox relic, but it didn't participate in the game jam.

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