Gait Games

**The New Era of Children’s Media on YouTube: AI and Animated Content**

In the rapidly changing world of children’s media, YouTube has emerged as a key player, often dubbed an automated babysitter that numerous parents depend on. Its algorithm, however, has taken viewers through a roller coaster of surreal material to more organized children’s programming like “CoComelon,” “Blippi,” and “Ms. Rachel.” Yet, Google appears ready to shake things up once again by investing in AI-driven content creation, raising questions about the future of children’s entertainment on the platform.

Recent reports highlight Google’s $1 million investment in Animaj, an animation studio focused on producing AI-generated content for young viewers. This funding marks a notable milestone as it is the inaugural direct investment by YouTube into a children’s media studio. Further solidifying this investment, Animaj has been incorporated into Google’s DeepMind program, obtaining early access to Veo, a video-generation technology.

Animaj co-founder Sixte de Vauplane addressed the urgent concern of “AI slop,” a term that denotes low-quality, poorly crafted AI-generated content. He recognizes that although there is a strong demand for innovative programming for children, very few players in the industry are capable of utilizing AI responsibly and effectively. With Google’s investment, Animaj aspires to leverage AI’s potential to introduce freshness and relevance to children’s content, while being keenly aware of the risks associated with automated creation.

Historically, YouTube has had a rocky relationship with children’s content. Just a few years back, the platform faced major backlash, culminating in a $170 million settlement with the FTC over alleged breaches of children’s privacy laws. The platform struggled to regulate the surreal and sometimes predatory nature of content available to young audiences. The rollout of more normalized content helped to alleviate some concerns, but the looming threat of AI’s influence remains significant.

As Google embraces the opportunities of AI to create material, it must also confront the challenges posed by this technology throughout its platform. Other social media giants like Facebook and TikTok have also encountered scrutiny over AI-generated content, which frequently lacks depth and quality. YouTube, in particular, is now caught in the middle, responsible for moderating an increasing number of AI-generated videos while maintaining the integrity of its platform.

Ultimately, Google’s investment in Animaj is a daring move toward revolutionizing children’s entertainment through technology. The launch of AI-driven content creation may provide a preview of what the future holds for platforms like YouTube, where innovation is both a promise and a challenge. As the conversation around responsible AI usage advances, parents and guardians will be observing closely to see how this investment reshapes the media landscape for their children.

Absolute Cinema.

The post Five Things You Should Do To Run A Great Curse Of Strahd Campaign appeared first on Gamezebo.

Sundays are for lying in bed and thinking of ways to interfere with your downstairs neighbour’s space as much as their loud music interferes with yours. Crucially the method cannot be one that can be immediately turned around and used back against you. Perhaps taking up the aim of walking up and down the creaking stairs 100 times a day or investing in a door bell with a very loud and long tune.

Read more

The biggest stain on Arc Raiders is easily the use of AI voice acting. It stinks! There’s no soul to it, and it deprives actors from being able to perform their craft. But, based on some comments from CEO Patrick Söderlund, it sounds like Embark are finally starting to realise that, oh yeah, it is actually better to work with a real human being (though this doesn’t mean they’re not using AI any more).

Read more

“Popular game, but you do this instead,” is a tale as old as time, birthing efforts that range from rote to deliciously fresh. Making comparisons like that is always a gamble, as you’re immediately pointing towards the gold standard that your game has to at least be almost on par with, perhaps even better, to make any real headway. And while I haven’t played Eye of the Match, it being billed as Papers, Please, but you’re a virtual referee for football matches is certainly a pitch I can get behind.

Read more

### GDC Survey Highlights Game Developers’ Worries About Generative AI

Annually, the Game Developers Conference (GDC) releases a survey that gauges the feelings of individuals in the gaming sector. This year’s results, unveiled prior to the week-long event, demonstrate a significant change in how generative AI is viewed within the gaming community. A mere 7 percent of participants in the survey characterized generative AI as “beneficial for the industry,” reflecting a considerable drop from two years ago and indicating an increase in skepticism among developers and creatives.

#### Investor Views on AI in the Gaming Sector

Moritz Baier-Lentz from Lightspeed Venture Partners conveyed his surprise and dismay at the widespread negativity towards AI at GDC. His investment firm has stakes in various AI enterprises, including Anthropic, a significant entity in the sector. Baier-Lentz promotes a more positive perspective, suggesting that gaming has historically embraced “wonderful new technologies.” Nonetheless, the disconnection between industry leaders and developers has never been clearer, as many remain wary about AI’s involvement in gaming.

The investor noted that one catalyst for this pessimism might be the wave of layoffs impacting the industry. After a spike in investments during the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous companies are now confronting economic challenges, resulting in workforce reductions. While some corporate leaders may regard AI as a method to optimize operations and cut labor expenses, this viewpoint sharply contrasts with the feelings of developers who directly experience these changes.

#### Financial and Environmental Issues

The debate concerning AI goes beyond job stability. The ecological ramifications of extensive AI utilization are alarming, especially regarding the considerable resources dedicated to data farms. These farms lead to a “disruptive RAM crunch,” driving up hardware costs and making PC gaming more exclusive to affluent individuals. Such developments not only influence accessibility but also provoke ethical dilemmas about the industry’s trajectory.

#### Microsoft’s AI Initiative and Project Helix

In spite of the controversies surrounding AI, Microsoft has persisted in making substantial investments in artificial intelligence technologies across its platforms. At GDC, Xbox unveiled plans for its forthcoming console, provisionally named Project Helix. However, the company approached AI with caution during the conference, strategically holding off until the conclusion of the event to reveal a significant announcement: the integration of their AI client, Copilot, into Xbox consoles later this year.

This move demonstrates a wider recognition of the mixed reactions towards AI within the gaming sector. While Microsoft acknowledges AI’s potential, it seems to be treading carefully, aware of the backlash that currently envelops the technology.

### Conclusion

As the GDC survey reveals, generative AI continues to be a divisive issue in the gaming industry, with developers voicing substantial worries regarding its ramifications. While investors and corporate executives may perceive chances for innovation and efficiency, the concerns raised by creators illustrate a deeper discomfort surrounding job security, economic inequality, and ethical considerations. The ongoing discussion about AI’s place in gaming will undoubtedly influence the industry’s future, as both developers and executives maneuver through the intricacies of adopting new technologies while addressing the community’s apprehensions.

You know, I wish there were more morally dubious protagonists in the world of video games. I know why there’s not, many people want to identify with the characters they’re embodying. But then I think about every other storytelling medium out there and how some of my favourite pieces feature people that aren’t supposedly good or heroic, and long for the same in games. So, I’m quite interested in WITCHHUNTER.exe, a throwback text adventure game that actually has quite a lot of pretty pixel art where you play as a priest that must uncover witches in a rural town while the Devil tempts you astray.

Read more

As delightful as that taste of Spring may have been, another bout of Winter weather provides many of us with one final excuse to cozy up indoors for a day. From egg escapades to unsettling visions, why not curl up with something quirky, peculiar, and otherworldly featuring a handful of indie treasures from the last week?

### Mama’s Sleeping Angels
**Developer**: itamu
Highlighted in [Noclip’s Computer Worlds on Thursday](https://kotaku.com/indie-game-computer-world-showcase-steam-demo-2000678906), *Mama’s Sleeping Angels* distorts the already eerie co-op horror extraction genre into something almost unrecognizable. As a group of one to four friends at a sleepover, your collective dream propels you into bizarre, sunless realms in search of tributes for “Mama,” a deity fashioned from porcelain. Equipped with low-polygon weaponry and flip-phone abilities, search for cursed relics to fulfill your ritual. The more powerful the curse, the more Mama appreciates it, though certain ones may come with hexes that could be perilous to bear during your journey.

### Funi Raccoon Game
**Developer**: The Crayon Eating Company
3D platformers have historically been about item collection, but in *Funi Raccoon Game*, you’re grabbing everything that’s loose. Scuttling through a vibrant void, you can undertake quests, navigate traffic, and create chaos while trying to stuff your dumpster with a selection of looted treasures. In an interview with creator Cí Malone [in one of my zines last year](https://funland.itch.io/funland-zine-no-3), the Irish developer had minimal direct interaction with the infamous trash thieves, viewing them as “mythical rare beings.” Based solely on the reputation of these creatures, as an Ontarian whose camp treats were swiped straight from the cabin by some audacious raccoons, I’d say the game is spot on.

### Glasses Cleaning Simulator
**Developer**: VOLE.wtf
Relish the satisfaction of cleaning something, yet desire a more low-key task than vigorously scrubbing the side of a building? *Glasses Cleaning Simulator* offers the chance to wipe down something smaller while still maintaining the irritation involved. Available free on your browser, this game incorporates a meter to gauge your smudged eyewear. As anyone who wears glasses knows, there isn’t a terry cloth on the planet that can make this task easy, with each swipe and circle seemingly undoing two steps for every one you manage to take forward.

### Oeuf
**Developer**: increpare games
Increpare, the renowned puzzle creator of *Stephen’s Sausage Roll*, returns with breakfast-themed challenges, tackling a punishing platformer this time. Climbing a fortress in soggy conditions, you must guide the egg through treacherous architecture and snares. While not a delicate little egg, its off-kilter weight will be sufficiently challenging in this nest.

### Haunted Lands
**Developer**: alevgor
Finally, two notoriously difficult retro gaming styles merge in *Haunted Lands*. The relentless monster bashing and sidescrolling thrills of *Castlevania*, combined with the unforgiving nature and vibrant color schemes of EGA classics like *Duke Nukem* and *Monster Bash*, create a formidable demon-slaying experience. Select from six unusual heroes, each possessing unique combat styles and supernatural traits, to navigate a gauntlet emerging from the most daunting vintage crypts.

Marathon has entered its second week of existence, even if it somehow feels like it’s already been around forever (perhaps that’s the discourse I’m remembering now that I think about it), and Bungie have been ticking away at updates bit by bit. Just this week an update was introduced that made UESC enemies a tad weaker, and now Bungie have outlined what you can expect from update 1.0.5 which is coming to the shooter next week.

Read more

**Title: Examining the Debate Around 1348 Ex Voto: An In-Depth Analysis of Financing and Representation in Gaming**

Launched on March 12, 2023, *1348 Ex Voto*, created by Sedleo and published by Dear Villagers, has generated significant controversy within gaming communities. Despite achieving a Metacritic score of 54 and an alarmingly low user rating of 1.1, the public’s response may stem from a backlash against the incorporation of lesbian romance within its storyline. This backlash has ignited conversations concerning funding sources, particularly with regard to the game receiving around €656,131 in government subsidies from the Italian Ministry of Culture’s Video Games Tax Relief program.

Set in 14th-century medieval Italy, the game has been unjustly categorized by some critics as a medium for “propaganda” due to its portrayal of LGBTQ+ themes. This claim has prompted intense examination on social media, where certain users assert that taxpayer money is being utilized to further a “woke” agenda, connecting the funding to the game’s content without credible evidence.

Those critiquing the funding of the game frequently disregard the specific requirements needed to qualify for the Italian Video Games Tax Relief program. To be eligible, a game must achieve at least 70 points across various categories like cultural heritage, originality, and linguistic diversity. These standards are broad and do not focus specifically on themes of sexual orientation. Consequently, the association between the funding and the game’s LGBTQ+ aspects remains highly speculative.

Additionally, the depiction of LGBTQ+ representation in *1348 Ex Voto* has been deemed minimal. Commentary from gaming analysts has pointed out that the game does not prominently feature explicit or extensive portrayals of lesbian relationships, casting doubt on the validity of claims regarding the game being excessively “woke.”

Moreover, the criticism directed at *1348 Ex Voto* is not an isolated issue within gaming discussions. Similar funding has been awarded to various other games, some of which have only vague connections to Italian culture and heritage. For example, *TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3* and *Star Wars Outlaws* received notable tax relief despite their lack of intrinsic ties to Italian culture, raising questions about the coherence and direction of the funding criteria itself.

The primary objective for the Italian government in offering such financial assistance is not to endorse particular ideological narratives, but rather to support the growth of the nation’s video game industry. By investing in local game developers, the government seeks to foster job creation and economic advancement in the tech sector, ultimately benefitting the national economy through higher taxation and employment rates.

In summary, while *1348 Ex Voto* has become a point of contention for certain online groups, this narrative seems to arise from a broader discussion surrounding representation in media rather than any significant misuse of taxpayers’ money. The game’s financial support is in harmony with governmental approaches to promoting cultural output and invigorating local economies, challenging critics to reevaluate their perceptions regarding the ties between video games, funding, and representation. The concerns raised by critics remind us of the ongoing conversations about inclusivity in entertainment, underscoring the importance of well-informed discussions rather than impulsive reactions.