"The Ages" Translation: Living Alongside Jan, Multiple Jans Persevere Together
In the realm of survival management games, The Alters, developed by 11 Bit Studios, offers a unique blend of philosophical questions and science fiction. However, the game has recently faced backlash due to the undisclosed use of AI-generated content.
Players discovered AI-generated text in various aspects of the game, such as textures and language translations, including Brazilian Portuguese subtitles for in-game movies. This revelation has sparked criticism, as the developer did not disclose the use of AI-generated content, a requirement on platforms like Steam.
The controversy deepened when it was found that the AI-generated text was left visible, including the original AI prompt used to generate it. Translations, such as those for Brazilian Portuguese, contained noticeable grammatical and contextual errors, indicating a lack of professional localization.
In response, 11 Bit Studios acknowledged the use of generative AI in certain background flavor text and translations, explaining that these were meant as placeholders or last-minute translation fixes that were overlooked during the release. The studio has promised to remove the AI-generated texture and address translation issues with hotfixes and localization partner support.
Despite this response, players expressed disappointment and frustration, feeling that the undisclosed AI usage undermined the game's artistic integrity and damaged trust in the developer.
The Alters revolves around protagonist Jan, who is on a mission to find a mysterious resource called Rapidium on an alien planet. After his entire crew dies during landing, Jan is left alone and must take care of alternative versions of himself, known as the alternative Jans. These alternative Jans are sent to mine ore, produce food, or research new technologies.
One of the alternative Jans, the technician Jan, is initially reluctant about being awakened in a strange world by his doppelganger. After empathetic conversations and a shared dinner, the technician Jan warms up and joins the cause.
The game allows players to make decisions that can lead to different endings, adding a layer of complexity to the narrative. The fate of the alternative Jans at the end of the mission, and how protagonist Jan copes with encountering other versions of himself, remains unclear.
The Alters is rated for ages 16 and up (USK) and is available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game costs around 30 euros.
Despite the controversy surrounding the use of AI-generated content, The Alters offers an engaging and thought-provoking experience for players seeking a unique blend of survival management and science fiction storytelling. However, the debate over transparency and quality in the game’s text and localization continues.
1.Players discovered that the use of AI-generated content extends to game aspects such as textures, translations, and even the language of the Brazilian Portuguese subtitles in the cinematic movies, sparking concern about the transparency of AI usage in The Alters.2. As the controversy over AI-generated content persists, the game, The Alters, still presents an intriguing experience that combines survival management and science fiction storytelling, even though questions about the quality and ethics of the game's text and localization linger.
