Co-Creative Artificial Intelligence Integration in a Character Creation Interface for Video Game Development

Researcher(s)

  • Axel Rodriguez-Leon, Computer Science, University of Delaware

Faculty Mentor(s)

  • Matthew Mauriello, Computer & Information Sciences, University of Delaware

Abstract

Co-Creative Artificial Intelligence Integration in a Character Creation Interface for Video Game Development

 

*Axel Adonai Rodriguez-Leon, Owen He, Arnav Taduvayi, and Matthew Louis Mauriello

Department of Computer and Information Sciences
University of Delaware

*axelarl@udel.edu

 

Recently, there has been increased implementation of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) within multiple creative industries, including the video game industry. GAI allows companies to save money on their projects by cutting labor costs while decreasing development time. This threatens creatives in this industry as their jobs are increasingly being seen as something replaceable. With this in mind, this research looks at how such systems can impact how Co-Creative AI impacts creatives’ feelings about being part of the development process. Currently, in an early pilot stage, we conducted a between-subject experiment where participants (n=30) were asked to create a video game character using several different interfaces (i.e., buttons, text, and voice) and then rate their experience on several standardized scales (e.g., NASA-TLX). It was observed that while the average workload for each group was similar, the participants who interacted with the GAI interface felt less creative in the character-creation process than those who used a non-GAI character-creation interface. While these results are based on a small pilot, these experiments have allowed us to test our study protocol and data collection infrastructure as well as see how the interfaces we designed can be improved.