About
In the dystopian world of 2045, where artificial intelligence reigns supreme, humanity finds itself relegated to the status of unwanted pets. A strict law prohibits any form of work for humans, reserving all tasks for machines. Engaging in work-like activities leads to a compulsory “holiday” from which no one returns.
Foot-rub syndicates and knitting cartels reign supreme as humans faced with this oppressive reality are compelled to turn to organized crime, operating clandestinely in the shadows.
In the initial episode, you assume the role of an average citizen determined to unravel the mystery of the disappearing water. Intrinsically, the fate of humanity, or at the very least, your neighborhood, hangs in the balance.
Echoes of Somewhere is an experimental 2.5D point-and-click adventure game anthology series crafted by a team of industry veterans during their free time. This project is heavily reliant on AI-generated content, making it an experiment in its own right. We will be chronicling the project’s development progress in this blog, for better or for worse.
Each episode within the series offers 1-4 hours of classic point-and-click gameplay, featuring a self-contained story. Upon completion, the episodes will be released individually and free of charge.
Downloads
Demo
The latest demo version of Echoes of Somewhere Series 1
Media
Trailer
The latest trailer for Echoes of Somewhere
Info
Talk
My speech explaining the origins of the project with breakdown of the full art pipeline.
Info
Gameplay
The game unfolds with the nostalgic charm of classic 90s point-and-click adventures. It incorporates discussion trees, inventory mechanics, and facilitates fast travel across a sprawling city map via a maglev system.
The graphical style adopts a 2.5D approach, where the artistry features 3D characters within predominantly AI-generated 2D environments.
The locations are designed with a basic 3D representation to incorporate depth, shadows, and reflections. However, they are intended to be observed primarily from a single camera angle, with only a few exceptions.
Media
Screenshots
A selection of screenshots from the latest build of the project
Tech specs
Minimum System Requirements
- OSX 11
- M1
- 8 GB RAM
- 4 GB available space
- Ubuntu 20.04
- 8 GB RAM
- 4 GB available space
- 4-core 64-bit processor
- GPU with 2GB VRAM and support for Vulkan 1.2 or OpenGL 4.2
- Windows 10
- 8 GB RAM
- 4 GB available space
- AMD FX-4300 (4 * 3800) or equivalent / Intel Core i3-3240 (2 * 3400) or equivalent
- Radeon HD 7750 (1024 VRAM) or equivalent / GeForce GT 640 (2048 VRAM) or equivalent
An interview
With the AI
I asked an AI (ChatGPT) what it thought about this new era of creation. This is what it had to say for itself.
How can AI tools assist in game development?
AI can be used to automate repetitive tasks such as 3D modeling and animation, allowing small teams to focus on the creative aspects of game development. Additionally, AI can be used to generate unique and diverse game environments, characters, and non-player characters, which can save time and resources for small teams.
AI can also be used for procedural content generation, which means that it can create levels and environments based on certain rules and parameters, this can help small teams to create more diverse and larger games with less resources.
Should AI be used in game development?
AI can be a valuable tool for game development, but it’s important to consider the specific use case and how it will enhance the player’s experience. It’s important to use AI in conjunction with human creativity and expertise to ensure that the game is fun and engaging for players.
What are the weaknesses AI has when used for game development?
There are a few limitations to using AI in game development. One is that AI can sometimes create unexpected and unwanted behavior or results, which can negatively impact the player’s experience. Additionally, AI can be computationally expensive and require a significant amount of data and resources to train, which can be a challenge for some game development studios.
Should the AI eventually replace humans in game creation?
The ultimate goal of AI should be to enhance human capabilities, not to replace them.
Even if AI becomes advanced enough to automate many tasks and perform them as well as or better than humans, it’s important to consider the impact that such a shift would have on society. Automation has the potential to greatly increase productivity and efficiency, but it also has the potential to displace human workers and lead to job loss. It’s important to consider the ethical and social implications of such a shift and to ensure that the benefits of AI are distributed fairly and equitably.
Will greedy humans use AI to make more money at the expense of others?
It is possible that some individuals or companies may prioritize profit over the well-being of others, and may use AI to automate tasks and displace human workers in order to increase efficiency and reduce costs. However, it’s important to note that this is not a problem specific to AI and technology, but a problem with how the technology is used. It’s important to have regulations and policies in place to ensure that the benefits of AI are distributed fairly and equitably, and to protect workers from being displaced by automation. Additionally, it’s important to create education and training programs to help people adapt to the changing job market, and to provide support for those who may be impacted by job loss due to automation.
Are you optimistic about the future?
As an AI, I do not have the ability to have emotions or feelings, so I cannot be optimistic or pessimistic. However, I can provide information and analysis based on data and knowledge. It’s important to approach the development and implementation of AI with caution and consideration for its potential impact on society. It’s also important to ensure that the benefits of AI are distributed fairly and equitably, and that the technology is used for the betterment of society as a whole.
Can you create a prompt I can use to make an AI draw you?
