Summery
Activision is facing backlash from the gaming community for using AI Art in promotional ads for potential mobile games, including Guitar Hero, Crash Bandicoot, and Call of Duty. The ads featured glaring errors, such as a rock band without a drummer, leading to widespread criticism from fans who feel that AI-generated visuals undermine the passion for these franchises. Despite the intention to gauge interest in new titles, the campaign has backfired, uniting both supporters and critics of AI art in their disapproval of the poor quality of the advertisements.
Activision has recently come under fire from the gaming community for utilizing AI Art in promotional ads for potential new mobile games, including titles from popular franchises such as Guitar Hero, Crash Bandicoot, and Call of Duty. The ads, shared on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, have sparked significant criticism from fans.
Overview of the Controversy
The controversy began with an advertisement for Guitar Hero, which featured the tagline “Play your way — Guitar Hero goes mobile.” The accompanying image, generated by AI, drew immediate attention due to several glaring errors. Notably, the ad depicted a rock band with four guitarists but no drummer—an unusual choice for a typical band lineup. Additionally, inconsistencies in the colors of the frets compared to the actual game’s user interface were evident, alongside bizarre visual glitches where amplifiers appeared to be melting.
Fan Reactions
The response from fans was overwhelmingly negative. Comments ranged from disappointment to outright anger. One fan expressed frustration over the misuse of AI-generated art, stating, “Please don’t abuse A.I. art; there are people who are passionate about GH, and we want good art.” Another commenter labeled the ad as “shameless and disgusting,” while a third remarked, “I haven’t seen AI art this bad since the early days.”
Other Ads and Intentions
In addition to the Guitar Hero ad, Activision also promoted a new mobile game titled Crash Bandicoot: Brawl and Call of Duty: Zombie Defender. Each ad included a brief game description and a link to a survey hosted on Geeklab. However, it appears that none of these games currently exist; the ads were primarily designed to gauge interest among fans.
Backfiring Campaign
While Activision aimed to assess market interest through these ads, the campaign seems to have backfired. Both supporters and critics of AI art have united in their critique of the poor quality of visuals used in the promotions.
Conclusion
As of now, Activision has not responded to inquiries regarding the controversial ads. The gaming community continues to express its concerns about the implications of using AI art in marketing strategies. As the conversation around AI-generated content evolves, it raises important questions about creativity and authenticity in the gaming industry.
For those interested in following this story further, updates will be provided once Activision issues a statement regarding their use of AI-generated advertisements.
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