Replace AI Art

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• 25 May, '25
  tom

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  Emily, you claimed that if they sourced non copyrighted material, you would withdraw your request. Content created with AI is currently NOT protected by any copyright. The models themselves may be, but not peoples' creations.
  
  Whether AI models SHOULD be considered copyright infringement is still up for debate, so you should withdraw your request.

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• 15 May, '25
  Polarosity

  Could even hold a contest to have some of our talented player's showcase art that could be used in game.

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• 16 May, '25
  Eric

  I honestly don't know why this should bother me or anyone. Except for maybe a graffiti artist. As you said, it was sad for you to realize that some art (or all of it) was AI made. Why didn't it bother you before?
  Because you didn't notice.
  
  So what is the problem with AI art? That no artist was paid for it?
  The relevant question should be, if art by an artist would make the game better. The simple answer is "no".
  
  On the contrary it can be easily argued, that it would be made worse, because more resources would have to be allocated to art and thus these resources will not be invested in other areas.
  
  I understand that it can be hard for an artist to make a living, but if you want to support artists you can do so at any time. But why push for this game to be made in a less efficient way, if there is no benefit in doing so?
  
  I think the idea with the contest is fun and it offers the winner the opportunity to show off their talent. There isn't really any need for more than that, I think.

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• 17 May, '25
  Emily

  Eric,
  
  It bothers me (and it is fine if it doesn't bother you, I am only expressing my own opinions that do not apply to everyone) because while they did not specify which generative AI they used to create the images it was almost certainly built using copyrighted material. If they only sourced non-copyrighted material I'm happy to withdraw my request. The reason this is an issue is because artists work hard to establish styles and create their art and to have it being used without their consent to generate new art is wrong (morally) and there is a lawsuit to determine if it is wrong (legally).
  
  A contest sounds fun, because the artists would be agreeing for their art to be used in the game. It's the theft part of Gen AI that bothers me and I like this game enough to ask them to consider making a change rather then just giving it a bad review and admitting I missed the notification on the front page about the AI art.

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• 19 May, '25
  Jessica

  I fully agree. I'm legitimately hesitant to buy this game cause it has Ai art. It just gives the impression of not caring which is really bad for a game especially. I mean the official logo is spelt wrong. If they didn't care about that, what do they care about?
  The game sold 100,000 copies at $13. That's more than enough to commission actually good art

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• 23 May, '25
  mayel

  without toutching the AI Art debate, it woud be really cool to have a contest where fan can submit art and the however-many best art peaces get added to the game instead of the IA graffity.

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• 26 May, '25
  Emily

  The models pull on copyrighted material (I don't know of any that don't, but it is possible) I was indicating that if what was fed into the AI was not copyrighted material I would withdraw the request. Or if they had permission from every artist whose art was used to train the model.
  
  Street graffiti is subject to copyright similar to other art in the US and UK and should not be fed into AI without the consent of the creator (in my opinion. The lawsuit is ongoing so it's not determined if it is legally an issue.)
  
  I'm leaving my request because there are at least five people in my friend circle I would have bought the game for as a gift on Steam, but cannot do so because I know they would be upset over the AI. Since the team is losing out on at least some sales because of this I think it is a reasonable suggestion. They are by no means obligated to implement suggestions, it is merely there as something I would like changed about the game.

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• 27 May, '25
  Jomil

  No, let the dev use whatever system they want, unless YOU wanna pay for an artist commissioned work...

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• 28 May, '25
  Emily

  Jomil,
  
  I'm not preventing the devs from doing what they want. I'm making a suggestion for what I believe would improve the game. In my opinion the game would be improved by not having AI art. It's fine if you don't feel that way. It's even fine if the devs decide not to act on my suggestion. But I am allowed to suggest it (as per this post being approved. If it were not a suggestion the devs were willing to even have discussed they could have chosen not to approve my post). That plus the upvotes tell me that I am not the only one who feels this way and that the devs are open to hearing the opinions of players. They want to hear your opinion too! It's good for them to know that not all players are against the use of AI in the art.
  
  Your opinion is not the same as mine. And that's okay. :) Both opinions are valid as they are how we perceive the world.

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• 29 May, '25
  Nick

  If I cannot spot AI art, I could not care less. Therefore I stand by the developer.

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• 31 May, '25
  Jomil

  @Emily i never said you Couldnt voice your opinion, i simply offered pushback

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• 02 Jun, '25
  Ivanzyfer

  Does the game have images created by AI?

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• 03 Jun, '25
  Emily

  @Ivanszyfer, Yes, on their Steam page near the bottom just above System Requirements they indicate that "Some phone contact icons and simple wall graffiti are generated using AI." . So it is limited in it's usage.

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• 04 Jun, '25
  Daud

  I have five friends who I would love to gift this game, but they will be upset to know this game is in crime setting. So I suppose we should have a reskin that would change the setting for the Federal Reserve Board. I don't understand why small indie studio of five people should be bothered with commissioning, reviewing and implementing art that was "inspired" to one artist from a bunch of others instead of a simple machine refinement of the most simple elements

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• 20 Jun, '25
  Finvaara

  This game is successful enough to easily justify replacing the unpleasant AI graffiti and other AI assets with the work of a real artist. That's honestly the only thing stopping me from buying the DLC to support the developers further, and the only thing stopping me from suggesting the game to my friends.

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• 02 Aug, '25
  Gen

  I believe there are enough of us willing to provide art to the developers to avoid AI. AI art is a major topic in many creator communities. Regardless of our feelings about it, we are offering a solution to avoid the issue altogether AND make players feel more involved in the development. My adult coloring book communities run themed challenges every week. We could add so many of our own Easter eggs this way. Have y’all never wanted to draw on your walls or cash bills? I have already colored a pinup avatar I like to imagine as my character in the game 🙃

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• 25 Aug, '25
  Zam

  I hope more AI art is added so the so called "artists" white knights leave.

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• 28 Aug, '25
  Jace

  AI generated imagery is inherently problematic simply for the fact of real artists being pushed out of their jobs and scorned for wanting employment in a field they love.
  
  Eric, having art by real people would make the game better, yes, because real people understand the desired style better than AI. The perfect suggestion was made before you even commented to remedy your entrepreneurial and coldly analytical complaint of "additional resource allocation" that would be "less efficient". I'd be more than happy to wait an extra month for a big shiny new update if it meant real people are getting support they need.
  
  Tom, AI art is inherently built upon stealing copyright material. Whether or not it should be considered infringing upon it is an obvious question.
  
  Jomil, If I'm buying the game, then yes, in the end I'm paying for commissions. That's what buying a game kinda does, right? Give the creator monetary resources to reinvest into their end product?

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• 28 Aug, '25
  Jace

  Nick, you not having the observational capacity to recognize AI generated imagery is not a good defense of it. AI slop is AI slop, whether or not you care enough to recognize it.
  
  Daud, your comparison of AI generated imagery to crime is laughable and ridiculous. Do you judge an apple by its functionality as a frying pan? Let me make it clear. Between the two, one is a wide umbrella of activities, many of which are morally and ethically good, such as burning down a Walmart, robbing a bank, or pirating a video game that uses AI generated images. The other has absolutely zero morally or ethically acceptable applications and is only lauded by lowlifes and scumbags that only care about provoking anger and being parasites in vulnerable markets like art and literature.
  
  If any of you want to try and form an actual defense for AI images, I'd love to tell you exactly how you're wrong. ;)
  
  Zam, you are the reason there is a minimum age to use most online services. Please, educate yourself.

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• 21 Sep, '25
  cl

  the real problem with the AI art is that it's ugly and breaks my immersion when i try to read the graff on the wall and realize that half of them are just meaningless smeary AI scribbles. Everyone parrot your favorite ethical talking points all you want, but at the end of the day it just looks weak sauce. The game obviously has a lot of care put into it otherwise, just a bit odd because the game shows no qualms with using free-use music, and while many of the graffiti is generated, I'm pretty sure all of the graffiti on the ceiling in the big dome room is from some kind of "1000 transparent graffiti" designer pack. I guess those are all little incidental tags and it must be harder to find pieces?
  
  IDK. I think it's an opportunity - commission a writer to come up with some cash themed graffiti pieces!

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• 27 Sep, '25
  Bubbadoo

  Daud,
  
  I'm gonna be honest here to the "I don't understand why small indie studio of five people should be bothered with commissioning, reviewing and implementing art."
  
  Uh.. how do you think small indie studios survived before AI art dude, they'd hire an artist just as any other employee. C'mon, you're making the studio sound so incapable of doing anything with that statement. AI is a controversial cost cutting choice, but it is a choice, they are just as capable to hire an artist to do the art work if that was what they wanted to do. People can be allowed on judging whether that choice makes or breaks for them just as any other choices made about the game as a whole.
  
  Your five friends are just as allowed to not desire the game due to not liking the theme just as people here are allowed to not desire the game due to incorporating AI art, and other folks are allowed to not give a shit and continue playing. No need to be so touchy about other people's opinions about it.

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• 01 Oct, '25
  Aus

  Generated art is certainly a touchy subject, but there is just, so so much wrong with Generated art.
  
  Generated Art is not art. Legitimately, it is not art. Art is an expression. A Generative Machine cannot express. The mistakes, the small flaws, the styling, gets all cut out by a Generative Machine, because it uses confidence to make the image. Those things that make it human, they no longer exist. Images made by Generative Machines do not portray the feelings a piece of art should portray, they cannot. Art allows you to peer into the mind of the artist a little when it is a hobby piece. Abstract especially, but all forms of art are effectively a slate of the artist's mind. That is what makes it human. To take the human out of art, is to take the art out of art. This is shameful for something like graffiti, which is by far one of the most expressive forms of art.
  
  (it's not a real AI and i refuse to give that term to the tech bros. Gamers had it first!)

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• 13 Oct, '25
  anonymous

  I get peoples hatred but if I wanted to make my own game and I'm all by myself because it be hard to find the artist I need for my games appeal but i hardly have enough budget to pay someone to make the art plus I didn't realize all art in this game is by ai if no one noticed then then how did one know it's made by ai and why should it matter anyway legit what I'm hearing from anti ai users "oh look they use ai! let's shame them and make them look bad so others don't buy and play their game!"
  
  and that stops all users buying the game and maybe just maybe they hire an artist but could drag them into bankruptcy i used to commissioned art works from someone and most the time it's around 200 or more dollars so I use ai to bring my ideas ,my ocs to life and its mostly for me I'm not after fame and such and maybe I want them characters in a game I make just bitching about this being made by ai is.......kind of stupid if they haven't would we have this game today??

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• 03 Nov, '25
  Finvaara

  I'm confused as to why this feedback is listed as "Under Consideration" when there has already been an official roadmap post talking about it being in progress. I was genuinely impressed that they took the feedback and began working on it.

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• 13 Nov, '25
  Finvaara

  Thank you for replacing the AI art. I like the new assets and have been delighted that I can finally share the game with people.

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