Hi there! Just a 2 c. This is becoming out of hand (exaggeration)…no?
https://www.reddit.com/r/gamedev/comments/17flldy/submitted_game_has_no_ai_art_yet_steam_says_it/
Would you skip Steam? Since, they refuse game with AI, for fear of being sued.
They have gone on a AI-policing rampage, policing games in anti-AI spree…if your game has generative AI stuff in it; they won’t accept your game because of the risk of them being sued for possible copyright infringement (that you don’t have the rights to this generated AI art). Understandable, yes; We already knew…but this is continuing unabatted and Steam is having fun? refusing games that, to them, use AI. They are lucky to be this big, because it is a luxury (they can afford); otherwise, many would leave them.
This is kind of …has been going on for whole year; you may think it’s the moral good thing for them to protect theirselves…which partly true; it nonetheless forces devs to re-think…if they refuse us…then, We, have to refuse, Them. After all, no AI.
If they refuse your game, best is go direct, skip Steam, not worth anymore; Epic or direct on your website (or at worse, itch.io, googleplay…as (bad) alternatives).
If you are scared (understandably) and will remove the AI…until Steam accepts your game…ok…but what if they don’t?..I mean, you could spend an eternity trying to sift through 100000s of assets to find 1single AI made one-they could ask you to remove stuff…until they are Fully Certain there is nottthing of AI…in your game…-that could be long. I suppose that for many, it’s not a problem; because they don’t make games for Steam (no need to-deal with them); but, for others, it is a problem if you use AI and you had, hoped, to go on Steam; and your game is big(ger);-not microgame. Yes, it comes with it…we know; but, many are finding this free ‘Hassle’, thanks to Steam. If you think:: '‘If you can’t be ‘assed…to remove them, after asked…you should not make a game-or release it there…you’re Wrongg Dishonet; &sour grapes/salty’’;…Ì guess, we have a different view on AI/game dev…This Steam bs will start to pit devs against each other in some AI morale crusade. I guess, that leaves Epic and doing it Direct (it is sad, that Unity, does not make any Unity Games Store…like Epic)…I tihnk people start to really fathom abandon/skipping-Steam; yes, a lot of money there; not, if they refuse your game out right; ‘‘you have to understand, they are law-protecting theirselves’’. ‘‘Just change the assets - voilà problem fixed.’’; yeah…no.We do change things; but there is maximum about this. Devs are now (at the mercy) cowtowing to this grand company…because $$$, that’s it; they own the pc game market (quasimonoply). You saw how people all ‘went against Unity…’ with its price changes…yetnohing happening, to Steam, ironic, keeping a low profile, getting richer by the sec and ‘refusing devs’ that all want a piece of it (it’S fun/dandy when you are this–wanted)…the perfect game platform; without flaws; that All gamers love; of course. It’s starting to be Devs VS Steam…like it was Devs VS Unity…a month ago.
‘‘No, no…it’s just you (the, problem);…change your stolen AI assets if not thief…or perish/get refused (or face legal infringement lawsuit). (you/the) problem fixed (that’s all). Nobody else will go on Steam…with AI; just you (too crazy/or (too) dumb) or unvirtuous/unrighteous - on your conscience’’. Right…must be it.
Am, in no right; unvirtuous, AI copyright-infringing user.
Thanks for reading, just a 2 cents.
PS: It seems that, it is as if, AI started too quick; and we are not using lawful AI; and, we can only wait, before using it; to make use of lawful-AI (like…using AI…that uses a database…that legit belongs to the owner…and is not ‘sourced’ from every source on internet…without consent/permission; so, as to avoid copyirght legal ramifications); since Steam will refuse your game, unless you change (i.e ‘remove’) the illegit AI content that they deem could be copyright infringement; then, you have to skip Steam (and do direct selling of your game. on your website; which is worse; but what is worse…no Steam or your website…not removing AI and not having Steam?..Or remove them, and get on Steam; some will not feel it still worth it. Yes, it’s not just Steam that can have a problem with AI…being sued by someone else having problem with using AI generated stuff…that’s for sure; but what are the Chances…vs Steam refusing your game; let’s say, Steam is very likely to refuse your game; and the chances of being sued; outside; are muchh smaller; because you are basically alone; Steam is known…everyone, and your mother, and your dog…goes there. Not, your direct website. Which, of course, is not as good; for ‘visibility’; but that’S another matter (marketing…attracting them…to your website; via marketing your game).
That Steam wish to protect theirself and work with laws/be legit…is totally understandable; what is also understandable; is that many devs will be refused; this means the devs must skip/abandon Steam or go direct; because Steam has no qualms of refusing you (remember, they are protecting theiself from lawsuit); you can also protect yourself…from them, by skipping them/abandoning this company.
They may have a change of heart…if many leave. After all… it’s all down to the penny$. Not that they will infringe…but they will realize some other company decided to take (some) risks about this…and willing to protect the devs; defend them; Steam. does not want that…beause mooch and swimming/sitting in money pile/scared of losing some if lawsuit. Turbosquid did a sort of ‘insurance protection’ when you buy some 3D asset…you are protected by about 20,000-50,000$ against AI lawsuit…as buyer of the model. Of course, it would be costly, if tons of lawsuit happened; but, it’s clear, the big companies are very scared that they could lose much more; should an artist sue them…for selling very infringing AI stuff. Then, you tell yourself: ‘‘Why should I give my money to Steam…or my time…or anything…’’. ‘‘They will refuse my AI content game’’. If you hate AI and want devs to disappear, those that use so; then you are part of the problem (also); ‘‘No no, I use no AI; am ANTI-Ai…or, only, ‘Correct Legit AI’’…’'. It’s sad because probably many other games are going to be refused because of this; and they will end up on itch.io cemetery or some other (albeit, now Steam…is, also, Steam cemetery of games (that died there).
If you buy AI stuff…remember; Steam doesn’t want you. 2 c.
