IGA & AI Assets

Somebody shared a link in #gamedev about the Indie Game Awards revoking Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's awards due to them admitting to using AI assets.

FAQ STATEMENT (> Game Eligibility > Why were Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and one Vanguard retracted?)

BLUE SKY POST (w/ Video)

It's sparked some debate in the channel, of course. I side w/ IGA on this one. It's their awards & they set the rules, which Sandfall Interactive knew when they submitted. This isn't saying the game isn't wonderful (I haven't played it yet, but have heard only good things about it), but Sandfall knew the rules when they submitted & only admitted to the violation after the voting had taken place.

Sure, it's just some temporary assets during game development that have been patched out, but that's still assets that could have been made by an artist. They could have just as easily used some randomized pixels in MS Paint as the placeholder, but they didn't. They wanted specifically art & used a tool that harms artists to generate it.

Honestly, I can't say too much cus I haven't made a game game since school, but I respect IGA for sticking by their guns & the transparency they've had around it.

Now, talk about burying the lead here. Second part of the statement includes "ModRetro's vile nature" and holy shit is that an understatement. This is just one link, but yeah. Terrible company & the founder can go step on legos.