thanks for taking the time to play it! Yeah I get your point, but you actually know that AI can not yet build a game from zero?
Yes, but a game jam is an event where human collaboration one of the core pillars. Almost all solo participants search other members to fill the gaps. You could have seek a programmer to form a team.
I get that some people like to work alone, I am one of thoose, I get you. But tho IA based games are not against the rules game making, and more hobbist, is a very personal craft, one that every layer you use distances you from the product. You could make that point too about Game engines, and you will be correct in doing so.
But Game engines aren’t inherently toxic to the industry, Generative IA models are. There is no way of denying that.
I am not saying this piece doesn’t show effort, passion or dedication. I will not rob you that fact. I see the vision, the time and the motivation when I play. But using this tools goes against the very essence of game jams and passion driven development in my opinion. I highly encourage you to take some time to think about what is the creative process of making a game and then take the decision you think sits better with your conclusions.
Edit:
Wow that was pretentious. At the end the message was diluted, I will make it one phrase:
Im glad you are making games, I cant ethically like the way you are making them, but you do you. Gatekeeping == bad
Hey, I appreciate your perspective, and I totally understand your point. As a musician, when I hea AI gen music, it sound like garbage most of the time.
For me, AI is just another tool—like a DAW for musicians or a game engine for developers. It doesn’t replace creativity but helps fill in the gaps, especially for solo developers who might not have expertise in every area. I've learned HTML and a bit of PHP, so I focus on my strengths—making SFX, UI, and sometimes pixel art. AI helps me bridge the gap in coding, allowing me to bring my ideas to life while I slowly learn JavaScript to better modify and refine the output. Of course an output 100% AI is just garbage, for example AI generated images with absolutely no human touch.
This game was mostly an experiment to develop a 1-bit dithering shader for a new project (Apollo 19XX). To be honest, I was a bit lazy with this one, but in Apollo 19XX, I’ve put much more effort into my skill areas, crafting each SFX and UI piece by piece. What really bothers me, though, is AI-generated 3D models—I’d rather avoid them entirely and usually try to rely on free assets instead.
Also, as a musician, I know that there are far more of us than there are coders, so finding a team isn’t always as simple as it sounds.
In the end, I think this is part of game jams: we are actually two humans that are sharing their toughts, and I think this is one of the best part. But I will for sure think more about all you've said!
Thanks for the thoughtful conversation! Hope to see more beautiful games made by you :)