EA shows concept video of user generated game content using AI tools, and it’s a world of cardboard

EA shows concept video of user generated game content using AI tools, and it's a world of cardboard

What you need to know

  • During its Investor Day 2024 presentation, publisher Electronic Arts shared a concept video called “Imagination to Creation.”
  • In the video, two players built a game experience with AI tools by describing the world they wanted, quickly building a maze of cardboard and two characters with guns. 
  • The players then expanded the world while they were exploring it. 

As a researcher with over two decades of experience in the gaming industry, I must admit that I find Electronic Arts’ latest AI demonstration to be underwhelming at best. Having spent countless hours crafting levels and modifying games myself, I can’t help but feel a sense of disappointment when I see what appears to be a simplified, uninspiring application of AI technology.


It’s a day ending in y, which means another big company wants to take advance of AI. 

As a researcher, I’m particularly intrigued by the recent developments from Electronic Arts (EA). During their Investor Day 2024 presentation, they showcased their forward-thinking approach to AI integration, which has piqued my interest in understanding more about their vision for the future.

In his presentation, Electronic Arts (EA) CEO Andrew Wilson emphasized that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fundamental to the operations of EA, as it primarily focuses on enhancing the efficiency, expanding the reach, and transforming the nature of their games. Additionally, EA demonstrated a video titled “From Imagination to Reality,” illustrating potential applications of AI tools for creating user-generated content.

In the video, we see two individuals construct a game using basic guidelines, resulting in a cardboard-box environment, featuring characters armed with guns, and continuously growing this world as it’s being played within. Geoff Keighley, host of The Game Awards, Summer Game Fest, and Opening Night Live at Gamescom, has documented this demonstration for viewing below.

The comments on the video have shown a lack of excitement, as many Twitter users have voiced their frustration and skepticism towards the idea.

At EA’s Investor Day 2024, it was revealed that the development of the next Battlefield game is a collaborative effort among four studios. Each studio has been assigned specific roles in the creation of this forthcoming first-person shooter.

Analysis: This isn’t impressive, but *why* is that?

As I delve into this presentation, it’s crucial that I maintain impartiality. This video is geared towards potential investors, rather than exciting players or developers about a new project. EA is essentially laying out their reasons for continued financial support from the investment side.

With that in mind, it’s hard for me to overstate how utterly droll this is. Assuming for a moment that the technology can work this way without hiccups, why exactly would people use it? To create mazes of cardboard? This isn’t interesting. At all. This is a concept that would’ve been found boring hours after players built it in Halo 3’s Forge mode, but at least there, the level design would have a human touch. 

In simpler terms, EA acknowledges that this idea would utilize resources from their private collection of assets, as seen in the video where players ponder characters from Plants vs. Zombies and Apex Legends. While it’s intriguing to imagine combining characters from popular franchises like Mass Effect and Dragon Age (who doesn’t get excited at the thought?), it all depends on the creativity and hard work of talented developers.

I strongly feel that user-created content plays an intriguing role within the gaming sector, and we’ve witnessed many skilled modders being employed by studios or launching their own companies. Lately, I’m keen on simplifying this process, but nothing demonstrated today gives me the impression that AI is bringing us any nearer in a significant sense.

Read More

2024-09-18 04:09