Writer System 3 is at present getting a boatload of backlash following its trailer add for James Pond Legacy: The Pond Is Not Enough, a brand new compilation for Swap 2 that presents a number of variations of the primary 4 titles (thanks, Kotaku).
The trailer is a parody of the opening credit for James Bond films, however the massive concern right here is that it seems to utilise generative AI all through. The entire characters have that clean, lifeless high quality that appears typical of AI-generated property, whereas considered one of them even has 4 fingers on one hand and 5 on the opposite – a correct giveaway.
Commenters are holding completely nothing again, accusing System 3 of not solely utilizing AI for the paintings, but additionally for the accompanying music theme (which, to us, sounds just like Mike Oldfield’s Nuclear in some methods). However, the writer has posted a pinned remark to the trailer, claiming that no generative AI was utilized in its creation.
“To be completely clear, no generative AI was used within the James Pond Legacy trailer or character paintings.
“The brand new 3D Pondverse characters had been created from the genuine authentic pixel graphics by way of a human-led course of involving guide redrawing, 3D rendering, Photoshop clean-up and a last paint-over. These characters seem within the introduction, menus and presentation surrounding the gathering. They don’t substitute the unique in-game graphics.”
System 3 has even offered a blog post to elucidate the artistic course of behind changing the unique pixel artwork for The Bovine Bomber to 3D, however even this does not appear to be sufficient to persuade commenters. Many have fairly rightly identified that the unique arm cannon for the character was introduced as a milk jug, but the 3D render transforms this right into a extra generic-looking weapon.
Evidently System 3 could have to both present extra clear proof to refute the claims, or just come clear. Generative AI has clearly change into so commonplace as of late that it is arduous to disregard, however judging from the reception right here (and to Shift Up’s music video for Stellar Blade: Blood Rain), players actually don’t need it.