Why Spending on AI-Generated Images Feels Off
“Nobody wants to spend money on AI-generated images,” says the producer of Blue Archive. His sentiment is clear: even he feels uneasy paying for images that come from a simple click. For character-focused games, this aversion runs deeper among players who value originality and human touch in art.
Current Challenges of AI in Game Creation
AI is far from ready to fully replace human input in game content creation. The producer shared his recent attempts to use AI in level design, specifically with the puzzle game Sokoban. The results were underwhelming—when the difficulty rose, even advanced AI models struggled to solve the puzzles.
He pointed out a critical insight: if AI can't solve puzzles effectively, designing them is an even tougher task. This issue isn’t isolated—modern AI also struggles with complex logic tasks, such as those found in Ace Attorney.
Beyond puzzles, AI’s role in animation and rigging remains limited. Attempts to use AI for motion capture resulted in characters with improperly attached bones, rendering them immobile. After months of effort, the team had to abandon this approach.
Where AI Actually Helps in Development
Despite these hurdles, AI still offers valuable support behind the scenes. The Blue Archive team uses an internal AI communication tool to manage vacation schedules, summarize meetings, and handle translations. This reduces repetitive work and streamlines team coordination.
In-game, AI contributes by speeding up animation tasks. For example, the “zoom-in” animated shots when players unlock new characters used to take two days to produce. With AI assistance, this process now takes just 30 minutes, freeing developers to focus on more creative aspects.
Looking Ahead: AI as a Support, Not a Replacement
The producer stresses that AI won't replace human creativity anytime soon. Instead, its role is to assist developers by handling time-consuming, repetitive tasks. This shift spotlights the growing importance of machine learning engineers and technical artists who build AI tools that empower creative teams.
Nexon Games’ IO Division already has a dedicated machine learning team focused on creating tools that enhance developer efficiency. The goal is to give creators more freedom to focus on what matters most: human creativity.
Final Thoughts for Creatives
If you’re a creative professional, this perspective highlights a practical approach to AI: use it to remove friction, not as a shortcut for your core creative work. Tools that organize, speed up routine tasks, and handle basic animation can boost productivity without compromising artistic quality.
For those interested in exploring AI tools and training that support creative workflows, resources like Complete AI Training offer valuable courses and insights tailored to your needs.
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