"In 'The Ages': Coexisting with Jan, alongside the Multiple Jans"
In the intriguing world of "The Alters," developed by 11 Bit Studios, players find themselves on a mission-driven survival management game set in a science fiction environment. The game, rated for ages 16 and up (USK), is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and costs approximately 30 euros.
At the heart of the game is protagonist Jan, who is on a mission to find a mysterious resource called Rapidium on an alien planet. Jan communicates with his contact on Earth, optimizes the mobile base, and builds more resource storage. He also takes care of the well-being of the alternative Jans, including addressing their concerns and providing emotional support. These alternative Jans have different professions, such as scientists, technicians, or doctors, and are tasked with mining ore, producing food, or researching new technologies.
However, the game has been embroiled in a controversy regarding the use of AI-generated content. Reports suggest that AI-generated text and translations can be found in the game, with AI-generated background text on screens within the game and AI-generated prompts inadvertently left visible in the final release. The game’s Brazilian Portuguese translations for licensed in-game movies and other texts were also found to be AI-generated, leading to incorrect, nonsensical, or still AI prompt-language translations.
The main point of controversy was the lack of clear disclosure that AI was used for these elements. Steam, the platform where the game was released, requires developers to disclose the use of AI-generated content, a requirement that was not met.
11 Bit Studios responded to the criticism by stating that these instances were placeholders that should have been replaced before release or were the result of last-minute localization issues. They committed to removing and replacing the AI-generated content with hotfixes and to reviewing the entire game for similar oversights.
Despite this controversy, "The Alters" continues to offer an engaging and thought-provoking experience, with its narrative incorporating philosophical questions and players having a significant influence on the game’s outcomes, leading to different endings. One of the most intriguing aspects is that Jan must confront other versions of himself who may have had a better life.
As the controversy surrounding AI-generated content in "The Alters" continues to unfold, players and the gaming community will be watching closely to see how 11 Bit Studios addresses the issue and whether they will take further steps to ensure transparency in their future projects.
When addressing the concerns of his alternative Jans in the game "The Alters", Jan encounters individuals from various professions, like scientists and technicians, who are responsible for tasks such as mining resources or researching new technologies. However, the game has been at the center of a controversy due to the use of AI-generated content, including background text and translations, which was not initially clearly disclosed to players, despite Steam's requirement for such disclosure.
