The Hole at the Bottom of ARC Raiders
youtu.be
Sign up for Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/peterspittechCheck out Masterful Mimicry by KingK right here:https:...

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/40224994

I just found out that Embark used genAI to replace recalling it’s voice actors. And I am devastated. It was my GOTY and now I’m boycotting it. To the point that I decided to be vocal about it.

I don’t want any AI (not talking about machine learning for the way the Arcs move, I’m talking about the voice actors being replaced) in the work of art that I think are the video games I play.

To game developers: Stop using AI in your video games!

Je viens de découvrir que Embark a utilisé de l’IA générative pour remplacer ses acteurs. Et franchement je suis tellement déçu. C’était clairement mon GOTY, et maintenant je me retrouve à boycotter tout ça, au point de carrément en faire des posts pour toucher le plus de monde possible.

Je ne veux aucune IA (et attention, je ne parle pas du machine learning utilisé pour les déplacements des Arcs) dans les oeuvres d’art que je consomme.

Aux développeurs: Arrêtez d’utiliser de l’IA dans les jeux vidéos !

  • Chef6652@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    812·
    3 months ago

    I agree, this game has an awesome tech team making a clear counter-argument to UE5 haters (I hate UE5, they used very well imho). The graphism are cool and the art is really a work of art! I love the world design, lore, color grading, design-language, weapon design, etc.

    The voice acting got through what I consider my keen 6th sense of AI-detection (which scares me tbh). But this is something that I cannot let go, I don’t want to. Even though everything else is (for a multiplayer game) top-notch imo.

    What’s the boundary if we let them do this to one aspect of the game then? What amount of AI slop are we going to accept in the future if we allow corporations to AI-creep into everything?

    I want to vote with my wallet and with my voice to support what I think isn’t the right direction.

    Even though the voice actors signed the contract: I, as a customer/fan, don’t want workers signing off their ability to work more. These voice actors won’t ever work again with Embark now, Embark don’t need another recording session from them. Ok, actors waved that opportunity away willingly. But I don’t want the whole industry to become like this.

    It’s not because the genAI trend isn’t going away that we aren’t allowed to adapt to it. My adaptation is to fight for an AI-free label.

    PS: On another front, Embark has made millions, if not more on this game. Don’t tell me they HAD to use genAI instead of paying those voice actors for reshoot to begin with.

    I love the dev behind ARC Raiders. I hate the management team that forced AI into the project (I can’t prove this claim, call that a hunch)

    • Alchalide@lemmy.worldEnglish
      101·
      3 months ago

      The reason I’ve heard they are doing it so they can pump out dialoge faster and they don’t have to let the voice actors come in for every line whenever they add a new map with new way points for example.

      • Chef6652@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
        914·
        3 months ago

        I understand that this would be costly. But imho this isn’t a good reason. There is imo only two ethic ways to solve this kind of problem:

        • Understand that the goal is too hard to handle. Abandon the voice acting on the ping system.
        • Put the means, even if this is costly*

        *: As I said, Embark is a big company, they made millions of dollars. They can afford it. It is absurd to me to allow such a big structure to “cut costs” by removing the human factors.

        • Alchalide@lemmy.worldEnglish
          82·
          3 months ago

          I’m not here to argue with you. I dont mind them using Ai. They are upfront about it. You should do whatever you think is the right thing.

          • Chef6652@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
            510·
            3 months ago

            Sorry if I sounded angry or something. My goal is to debate around this subject I feel passionate about. I’m not really sure I would call all of this “being upfront” but that may be another subject.

            I’m not an English native, so my words could be harsher that it should. Sorry again.

            And thank you for answering and participating about the whole thing. No hard feelings I hope!

        • Goodeye8@piefed.socialEnglish
          92·
          3 months ago

          Do you know the specifics of their contracts with the VA-s? Are you certain they’re not paying the VA-s for using their voice (even if it is AI generated)? What is the ethical dilemma if VA-s are getting paid whenever a new voiceline is created?

            • Goodeye8@piefed.socialEnglish
              83·
              3 months ago

              But are they also getting paid after the fact? Let’s say $50 any time a new voiceline is added to the game using their voice. Because Embark is using a tool to do the work someone would’ve done manually, they would’ve had to pay the person otherwise so I think a royalty-like payment any time the VA voice is used is completely fair. Otherwise it becomes what people are complaining about, that they’re effectively paying a one time fee for the VA voice and then use it for free for forever.

            • Chef6652@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
              56·
              3 months ago

              Marketing this as “text-to-speech” is oversimplyfying at best, dishonest at worst imho. People need to work, we can’t blame the voice actors. But in the end they still are working against themselves/their peers.

                • Chef6652@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
                  21·
                  3 months ago

                  TTS has existed for decades, machine learning for less than 20 years, genAI as we know it for less than 5.

                  Those 3 things are not the same thing. Yes the genAI they used can be included as a TTS because it is one. But only in function.

                  You are playing on words here. Most people know TTS as a crappy old thing, here this is something way more advanced.

                  Even if it was the same thing to begin with. I wouldn’t be like a company using a simple TTS capable of recreating the voice of a voice actor I like without paying them the same as if the company hired them.

          • Chef6652@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
            58·
            3 months ago

            I don’t know the details. And I agree that if every line generated with their voice is paid (at least partially) I don’t see as big of a problem as I stated.

            But call me cynical: I don’t think they were paid for generated voice lines. I would gladly be corrected on this matter though.

            • Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
              3·
              3 months ago

              That was the case with The Finals (Embark’s previous game) according to testimony by the team, and they are using the same development practices here.

      • wizblizz@lemmy.worldEnglish
        51·
        3 months ago

        If its purely for the sake of velocity, than the performers should be compensated the same as if they were in studio. This is a slippery slope.