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You know, my Reddit feed is starting to flood with game designers and creators (for both digital and tabletop games) using AI images and saying things along the line of "I don't have money to hire artists so I use AI". That's a lie. Art isn't expensive, never was. Commissioned art is expensive.

This is my game, Box Dungeon, which I made a few years ago. Custom art, all around. I paid the talented Lois Chng (www.instagram.com/thecheepchee...) about 2k for it which was about 80 illustrations and box design, then did everything else myself. Was it expensive? Yes. Was it worth it? Also yes.

And this is FARSWIPE, the current game I'm working on. I use stock images from the amazing Tithi Luadthong (tithiluadthong.com) which I licensed over 150 of for just $1.50 each, and some custom art for $400. Could have done without the customs, but just wanted it. Tithi's stock cost less than $250.

There are also those who says they only use generative AI for concept art because they are not artists. Get real. Bish, I am not an artist either. These are concept art I've made by photomashing and vector tracing as old as 15 years ago. One of them contains assets generated in bloody Minecraft.

So if you ever "need" generative AI for art, you either have severe creative skill issues, or am just a control freak to the point of apathy. Seriously, just pick up a pencil. Draw stickmen. Use photos. Effing MS Paint. I've NEVER found a need to use generative art for over 20 years doing this.

Seriously, if you're a creator, it should be super embarrassing to use AI. Art's not expensive. You're just a dick.