Latest news with #indiegames
The Verge
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Verge
How The Roottrees are Dead ditched AI and became a hit
Robin Ward was recovering from a broken arm when he fell in love with The Roottrees are Dead, a free browser game hosted on an indie games salesfront. He reached out to its creator, Jeremy Johnston, and told him, 'This should be a bigger deal than it is.' At the same time, Ward says, he 'knew why' it couldn't be. The browser version of The Roottrees are Dead used AI-generated art for its images, a central part of the puzzle game that tasks players with investigating dozens of people and filling out its complex family tree. At the time, Steam, the biggest platform for PC games, did not allow the use of generative AI in games released using the storefront. In addition, Ward and Johnston agreed that they felt it was 'unethical to sell artwork created in this way.' Johnston had originally released the game for free, despite spending 11 months building it up from what was originally a Global Game Jam project cobbled together in less than a week in 2023. In the jam's tight time constraints, and in a time before generative AI was quite so well known, he reached out to a friend who was 'super into' using Midjourney and asked if he'd be willing to generate images based on prompts he had come up with for his puzzles. The images were far from perfect. Both Johnston and Ward point out a warped, staring image of a young girl in the original version of the game (which is still available for free) — Ward calls it 'demonic.' Other portraits have the twisted hands that were a telltale giveaway of generative AI at the time. But despite expanding the game for almost a year, adding to the story and puzzle aspects, Johnston says he 'never really thought' to replace the art. Not being an artist himself, he was focused on the photographic quality of the existing artwork, and he knew he would never be able to afford to hire models and a cameraperson to recreate it. And although he was putting a lot of work into the expanded version, he wasn't expecting the reaction it would eventually get. 'I've released other things — not games, necessarily, but things that I spent a lot of time and energy on, and then they came out and no one cared,' he says. So although he spent a lot of time on Roottrees, he did not want to invest money he was never expecting to get back. When he did release the version of Roottrees, though, it was surprisingly popular. It spread on forums and Reddit, and it received some attention in the games press. He did not charge for it, on account of the AI artwork, although he did include a donation link and says he made around $2,000-$3,000 from more than 10,000 players. And one of those players was Ward. After reaching out to Johnston, they agreed that Ward would reprogram the game and hire an illustrator to replace the AI artwork and get it ready for a Steam release. The illustrator he brought on, Henning Ludvigsen, says he used the AI art as a kind of concept sketch. Ludvigsen then did his own research into the era and style the picture was supposed to evoke, eventually making almost 40 illustrations across nearly a year of work. 'I'm not a big fan of generative AI,' he says, saying his peers in the illustration industry have seen a reduction in work, particularly concept artists. '[Companies] kind of skip that step now [using AI], which I think is not great.' When it comes to finished products, though, he still sees generative AI as 'not doing that well in general' among players. Large video game companies like Take Two Interactive have noted that players tend to not only avoid games that use AI but also react negatively to them online and in ratings, calling it a potential avenue for 'loss of players, revenues…and reputation harm.' Johnston mentions the case of Cyan Worlds, the developer behind Myst, receiving backlash for using 'AI assisted content' like texture assets in its latest game. The Roottrees are Dead seemed to skirt these issues by being transparent about its use upfront, as well as releasing for free, Johnston says. Ward also points out that 'in this case, it's the case of 'there would be no game' versus 'there is a game.'' Johnston agrees that without the use of AI-generated artwork, the initial version would never have been released, meaning the eventual full version with Ludvigsen's work in it would also never have existed. Ludvigsen himself says he 'really enjoyed' replacing the illustrations, given he's 'not a big fan of' AI art generation in general. 'I think some people would say, 'Well, I would prefer that there is no game in this case,' and I think they're entitled to their opinion,' Ward says, citing the environmental concerns and the scrapping of artists' work for training corpuses as potential arguments for that approach. 'But I ended up playing something that I really loved,' he says. The game was released on Steam in January 2025. 'The vast majority of people are like, 'I'm very happy you got rid of the AI,'' Ward says. Although some have said they prefer the more photographic quality of the generated art, Ludvigsen's work is undeniably an upgrade, from the untwisted fingers to the increased consistency in design for characters who appear in multiple photographs, which makes some puzzles more understandable. The Roottrees are Dead is now a critical and commercial success, which would not have happened without both generative AI and a human artist. Both Ward and Johnston note that the game took an unusual route to its current state. But with the increasing prevalence of AI tools, it's possible more games will end up on the same path.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Imagine Dragons Brothers' Indie Gaming Studio Is Launching With a Capture the Flag Video Game
Founded by brothers Dan and Mac Reynolds, the lead singer and manager, respectively, of the band Imagine Dragons, new indie game studio Night Street Games has taken on the challenge of making 'Last Flag,' a video game that gives you the authentic childhood experience of playing a game of capture the flag, but with added features you can only dream up in a digital world. Per the game's description, 'Set in a funk-blasted 1970s-inspired universe, 'Last Flag' transforms players into Contestants on the world's most-watched game show—hosted by the mysterious media mogul Victor Fex. When the cameras start rolling, players leap into an outdoor arena to hide their team's flag, then scramble to reveal the enemy's location by controlling radar towers and scouring the map's multitude of hidden nooks and crannies. Capture the flag. Haul it home. Defend it for one minute to win it. Whether you're celebrating your victory or vibing to the smooth sounds of defeat, you can always choose to run it back.' More from Variety 'Call of Duty: Black Ops 7' to Star Milo Ventimiglia, Kiernan Shipka and Michael Rooker; New Game Follows David Mason in Year 2035 (EXCLUSIVE) Xbox Ally Handheld Console to Launch This Year From Microsoft 'Deadpool' VR Game Starring Neil Patrick Harris Set From Meta Quest, Marvel In games that last 20 minutes or less, players compete in two teams of five (10 possible characters to choose from) in a classic game of capture the flag with several non-classical modifications. First up: in 'Last Flag,' you don't get eliminated, your character gets vacuum-tubed off to the green room, ready to join back in the fun. 'Dan and I grew up in Boy Scouts, and we've got a bunch of brothers, and we used to play capture the flag in the woods at night,' Mac Reynolds, CEO and co-founder of Night Street Games, told Variety ahead of the game's big reveal Friday out of Summer Game Fest. 'And it's kind of a quintessential childhood experience; some people played it in a P.E. class or whatever else. And we thought a lot about that experience growing up. There's been a lot of capture-the-flag game modes that have been tangential to games over the years, but nobody's ever really built something that scratches that itch of what it feels like to play capture flag, which is real hiding, real finding, the thrill of nature, being a hero, sneaking around. We started from that core place of, what does a pure capture the flag game really feel like? And it took a lot of innovations over the last couple of years, tons and tons of play tests, but today it's evolved into what is a third person, fun-first-competitive-second, 5v5 shooter that is from the ground up capture the flag.' The Reynolds brothers are infusing their musical talents into the game as well, with a soundtrack crafted by Dan Reynolds, Grammy-nominated musician and producer JT Daly and Dave Lowmiller ('Battlefield,' 'Dead Space' series) and recorded on vintage '70s instruments. And one of the 'best' songs on the soundtrack is only available to losers. 'Sound is very important for us, and one of the our defining philosophies is we want you to have moments of fun, moments of joy at every moment of the game: whenever you press a button, when you're running and all that,' Night Street Games game director Matthew Berger said. 'But that also means when you lose. And so when you lose a match, there's a song that plays. It only plays when you're on the defeat screen, and it is maybe the best song we have in the game. I mean, it's a toss up, I think, with the flag hiding song, which I do love, but it's a great song. So you have lost, which is never great, but you get to have this really cool song that the winning team doesn't get. I think that's really important.' 'Last Flag' is set to launch in 2026 on Windows PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Console platform versions of the game are currently in the works. Watch the trailer for 'Last Flag'. below. Best of Variety 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Animated Program — Can Netflix Score Big With 'Arcane,' 'Devil May Cry' and the Final Season of 'Big Mouth?'
The Verge
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
8 games from the Wholesome Direct 2025 that you can play right now
The Wholesome Direct is always full of cute and charming games to keep an eye on for the future. But it's also a great place to find things to play now — and that's especially true this year. The 2025 edition of the livestream showcase included a number of games that released during the show itself. So if you like what you see, there's no wait at all. Finally, a game that combines designing your own house with going on a road trip. Camper Van: Make it Home is exactly what it sounds like. On the design side, you're able to customize a tiny home camper and make it appropriately cozy, but the developers say it will also take you on 'a journey of self-discovery.' Fireside Feelings This game seems designed entirely around comfort. You play as a cute little animal and spend your time curled up around a fire, chatting with friends, and guiding the conversation as you get pulled into a bigger story. Instants Puzzle game meets scrapbooking. Here the goal is to organize a huge cache of family photos, and as you do, discover their history and story. 'Inspired by the way elders pass down family history using pictures to support their storytelling,' the developers explain, 'this game blends narrative, puzzle, and creativity.' Omelet You Cook This game is almost worth checking out for the pun title alone. In it, you create all kinds of weird omelets on a conveyor belt to deliver to students with seemingly very weird taste buds. Also, the principal is a rooster. Seasonala Cemetery From the same team behind the similarly gothic A Mortician's Tale, this game has players exploring a chill cemetery that changes based on the time of day and season. It even has sound effects recorded from an IRL cemetery. And not only is out today, it's a completely free download. Squeakross: Home Squeak Home For those who wish Picross also had lots of adorable little mice. In addition to all of the number-based puzzle solving, Squeakross also has some collecting elements, where you can gather decorations and stickers to up the cozy factor. The Guardian of Nature This hand-drawn adventure game looks absolutely stunning, like an animated movie come to life, and it stars a little guy who can change shape to explore the natural world in various contexts. While the whole experience isn't available yet, you can play the game's first episode now. This game may give you a craving for Boss Coffee, but it also looks pretty laid-back. It's described as a 'charming idle simulation game,' and the goal is to build an empire of vending machines, where you'll have to manage staff and handle decorations.
Geek Girl Authority
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
HAPPY GAME Is Free in the Mobile Epic Game Store
The Mobile Epic Games Store is now giving away free game titles every week; all you have to do is remember to collect them. This week, solve disturbing puzzles to help a sleeping boy escape a horrific nightmare in Happy Game. Happy Game. Act quickly because this loot is only free via the Mobile Epic Games Store for a limited time. For a while now, the Epic Games Store has been giving gamers free PC titles and in-game loot every single week. Now, mobile gamers can get in on the freebie action using the Mobile Epic Games Store app. All you have to do is download the app, log into your Epic Games account (or create a new one), and get the goods. Remembering to claim your freebies is the hardest part. Luckily, Geek Girl Authority will be there to remind you every week. RELATED: Love mobile games? Check out our Mobile Game Monday adventures Happy Game Happy Game (2021) is a point-and-click psychedelic horror adventure developed and published by Amanita Design. After a little boy falls asleep, he becomes trapped in a nightmare filled with cynical smiley faces and undead bunnies. Guide the frightened child through three disturbing levels that represent his biggest fears. As you complete each puzzle, the boy becomes happier, and more about his past is revealed. From the creators of Botanicula and CHUCHEL , this dark indie game features creepy music and sounds from the Czech freak-folk band DVA. It also comes with a warning for those sensitive to flashing lights or images. There is also a mature content warning for disturbing images such as blood violence and more. In other words, Happy Game is anything but happy. RELATED: May's Most Anticipated Video Games Happy Game is free (a $5.99 value) in the Mobile Epic Games Store until May 22 at 10 am ET. Mobile Game Monday: ONCE HUMAN
