Artificial Intelligence modernizes ASCII game graphics to real-time, AI-generated visuals; however, latency and consistency still require enhancement in Thunder Lizard's redesign.
In the world of gaming, an intriguing transformation is underway. Jeff Schomay, a game developer, is experimenting with AI-powered rendering to breathe new life into his old-school ASCII RPG style game, Thunder Lizard.
Schomay's latest project aims to elevate Thunder Lizard with full-motion graphics, using the Stable Diffusion 1.5 model for AI-based rendering. This decision was made after careful consideration of various AI renderers, with Schomay choosing Fal.ai for its fast generation times, source image adherence, and decent look and feel.
However, the pursuit of improved visuals comes with its challenges. Achieving a 'playable' 10fps and 1ms latency AI visual enhanced game requires compromises. Pixel peepers might find the chosen AI visuals less than satisfying, and those seeking the 'need for speed' in gaming may find the performance lacklustre compared to traditional gaming engines.
Despite these limitations, Schomay considers the chosen AI visuals as playable. Players navigate a prehistoric landscape, eating smaller dinosaurs to grow, while avoiding larger ones. The ultimate goal is to become the most powerful dinosaur before a volcano destroys the landscape.
Schomay has shared screens from the AI-rendered versions of Thunder Lizard in a recent blog post, offering a glimpse into this innovative project. He is excited about the future of AI image generation in real-time and hopes for improvements in frame to frame consistency in the future.
For those interested in up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews on AI in gaming and graphics, Tom's Hardware is a reliable source. The platform has been sharing insights on this topic, including Nvidia's announcement of AI-enhanced development tools earlier this year.
Readers can follow Tom's Hardware on Google News or add it as a preferred source to stay informed about the latest developments in AI-powered gaming. As Schomay continues to push the boundaries of what's possible with AI in gaming, it's an exciting time to be a part of this evolving landscape.
