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givesomefucks, do games w On the prospect of an $80-$90 GTA 6, former PlayStation boss says 'it's an impossible equation' for big-budget studios to keep their prices down

As of a year ago, GTA 5 had made over $9,000,000,000.

That’s a billion with a B.

Mostly off micro transactions to children.

They don’t need to charge $90, but if people will pay it, they’ll charge it.

Lucky_777, do games w The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy has 100 endings, and it's pushing the creators to the brink of bankruptcy | PC Gamer

Translate using AI and call it a day.

finitebanjo,

Yes, this will turn their potential studio shutdown into an guaranteed studio shutdown! Problem solved.

tal,
@tal@lemmy.today avatar

I was listening to an interview with a senior EU translator several years back, and he said that these days, he normally does the first pass with Google Translate, then manually cleans things up. My guess is that to some extent, most human translations likely incorporate some AI translation already.

psx_crab,

Correct. But the AI bro here think AI translation is the final work, while translator that use google translate still required the language knowledge to proofread.

brucethemoose,

I don’t think OP came off as “AI Bro.”

Pure machine translation would indeed be sloppy, but games have (unfortunately) done it before. An automated 1st pass with a last check from a human contractor seems reasonable for a studio about to fold.

psx_crab,

“and call it a day” is all the sign i need.

brucethemoose,

Not following that at all…

AI Bro is pretty specific. To me, its evangelists worshipping nebulous ideas and figures like Altman or maybe Musk, looking down on others for not “understanding” how amazing their vision of AI is, all in on the enshittification and impracticality, all in on the raging hype.

It feels very much like crypto fanaticism.

Even if we interpret OP as cynically as possible (lazy AI-only translation when they have another option)… that’s bad, but not “AI Bro” to me.

Lucky_777,

If it saves your company from bankruptcy, then why not do it? The developers even said it got a little out of control.

Sure, you can call me an “AI Bro” lol. But I’m just being real. Using AI or finding another job? Use AI all day and make better choices with the next title.

psx_crab,

“Save” is a bit stretch, if they officially released a halfassed translation(which AI translation without went through a layer of human emotion is), you will be damn sure the reception is gonna be negative, which would negatively impact the sales and also reputation they have.

brucethemoose,

Yeah honestly I agree with you.

But like others said, not sure iffy translations would be enough to save the company.

sugar_in_your_tea,

My SO did translation as a contractor for a little while, and that’s what they did too. Run it through a translator, and fix whatever it messes up. A lot of the output is totally fine, but not all of it, so you need someone experienced with both languages to make sure the result is good.

RightHandOfIkaros,

There shouldn’t be any problem in using AI to translate something, translation is more or less static. Its no different than someone using a calculator for mathematics equations.

Localizers will still need to check the AI output for contextual accuracy, but they will be able to complete this faster as they can essentially skip a step.

My only issue with translation currently is that localizers often go too far with the liberties they take. Its necessary to ensure people from another culture can understand what is happening. For example, in a language that has no word for “rye bread” or a saying like “you are what you eat” specifically, the localizer may substitute the closest word or phrase that conveys a meaning as close as possible to the original. What is not okay is completely altering large portions of the work because of the localizer’s personal opinion. And unfortunately, because this is entirely on the localizer, no amount of AI can help prevent that. Unless translation AI can be so good that it can even understand context from the various bits of text needing to be translated. Then the developers can just use it themselves. But AI has a while to go before it gets to that point.

HeyThisIsntTheYMCA,
@HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world avatar

a member of my extended family spent a decade or so as an interpreter. when they got their certification, the little ceremony we attended had a panel of level 5 interpreters (the highest score you can get on the test they were taking) interpret a speech from one of the more popular interpreters in the local union. i doubt one of them used the same word at the same time. when we did the national anthem, because of course we did, there were two scripts because two languages. i hate saying it, but it really kind of depends what you’re translating/interpreting, but usually translations can be fluid.

Iheartcheese,
@Iheartcheese@lemmy.world avatar

Your ideas are bad and you should feel bad

FartMaster69,

That still has associated costs my guy.

Quality not withstanding you’ve got to pay for access to the model or electricity to run your own local model, pay people to run the lines into the model and stitch them back into the game and pay people who speak the language to proof read the outputs to ensure it’s not giving you gibberish.

And if you’ve got voice lines now that’s a whole other can of worms of paying for TTS ai models, paying for audio mixing specialists, inserting the lines into the game, paying to once again have a speaker of the language QA test the output.

Chozo,
@Chozo@fedia.io avatar

The electric costs aren't nearly as high as people think. For huge datacenters, yes, but that's because they're processing requests for hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously. For a studio using it to translate lines for a single game, they could easily get away with doing it locally, and effectively for free. You can train your own local model on a consumer-grade PC without any issue, and it'll still run just as fast as the big server farm-powered models.

My roommate has been playing with a bunch of different local AI models on his own PC for a couple years now. There's been no discernable change to our electric bill. His PC draws more power playing an anime waifu gacha game than it does training/generating AI.

Katana314,

I think about the creativity that goes behind translations like Ace Attorney, and lament that people are skipping past the nuance. Ex:

  • The name “Naruhodo Ryuichi” means nothing to me. However, their invented name “Phoenix Wright” evokes a popular image on its own. Same for a great many of their pun names. There are many detective games I’ve played from a Japanese theme where I actually couldn’t put clues together because I couldn’t remember “Udo Rayoge” was a noodle shop owner and “Ero Gotaro” was the police deputy that was taking bribes and was murdered - because those names form no connections in my mind.
  • Maya Fey eats burgers. Before translation, it was ramen; but at time of release, Americans associated ramen with being extremely cheap and low-nutrition (thanks to Cup Noodles). Changing it to burgers accomplished the intended character theme of being junk-foody and gluttonous.
  • Quite often, linguistics have some effect on the visual clues of the game (and Danganronpa mysteries just as much so), which means they often have to go very creative with something like a torn letter or a message written in blood.
Lembot_0002, do games w The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy has 100 endings, and it's pushing the creators to the brink of bankruptcy | PC Gamer

Do we even have a significant amount of people who care about more than 2-3 endings?

Elevator7009,

I’d imagine people who are really into “Choices Matter” and some people who are really into story would.

I play !visualnovels and half the fun is seeing what decisions lead to different outcomes. And getting different outcomes for different choices, especially if they are big choices, makes me feel like my choices matter and impact the world, as opposed to if all these supposedly important choices can only ever get me 2 or 3 different endings.

Although I do share your question about how popular my opinion is with other gamers.

Zoomboingding,
@Zoomboingding@lemmy.world avatar

Big appreciation for Undertale, which has 3 major endings but hundreds of variations for each. It’s nice to have the game acknowledge what you did and give you resolution.

prole, do games w The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy has 100 endings, and it's pushing the creators to the brink of bankruptcy | PC Gamer

This game is pretty good. If you like Danganronpa and tactical RPGs, then this will be right up your alley.

Goretantath,

Oh wait its a tactical rpg!? And they ate putting all these endings in it!? vomits blood

prole,

It’s like part-visual novel (gameplay and artwork similar to the Danganronpa series if you’re familiar), and part tactical RPG. There seems to be a sort of board game type thing too? I only really just started the game and I think its still in the process of unveiling mechanics.

RightHandOfIkaros, do games w The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy has 100 endings, and it's pushing the creators to the brink of bankruptcy | PC Gamer

Can we talk about how cancerous PCGamer is, for a second? I want to read an article, and the screen is like 80% advertising.

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/9985fa5d-574a-46b2-a78a-d21876656e8f.png

HeerlijkeDrop,

I don't get any ads (Fennec + uBlock), but half into the article, a newsletter pop up showed up and the website scrolled back to the top. I closed the website immediately

drspod,

The irony is that if we didn’t have the tracking scripts blocked then they might actually receive the metrics about how we close their website as soon as the newsletter popup occurs, leading them to fix or remove it. Probably not though.

BossDj,

I don’t think Lemmy users are representative of their target demographic. The vast majority of people seem to just put up with ads

Artyom,

https://lemm.ee/pictrs/image/8b4fecd7-4e6f-4d1e-8d36-43f028c58e68.jpeg

Looks like a skill issue. I didn’t see any of those things when I opened the link.

Fallstar,

Firefox Focus rise up

Nikls94,
Arcane2077,

You must not have adguard set up properly (maybe some of your blocklists are disabled or unupdated?).

No ads or popups on my end

PieMePlenty,

Ads, I can block. The shitty part of the site are the unrelated things getting shoved in the middle of the article.
https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/111d028b-36a3-43ed-912d-0537396680e0.jpeghttps://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/e2015eca-922a-43e9-9ead-9fc96024cca3.jpeg

Cris16228,
PieMePlenty,

Good tip. I always forget I can do this and block specific elements if I want.

Speculater,
@Speculater@lemmy.world avatar

Reader mode in Firefox fixed it.

BossDj, (edited )

I love reader mode. I Use it to bypass pay walls, too Did someone say something?

youronlyone,
@youronlyone@c.im avatar

@BossDj @Speculater 🤫 It's a secret. 🤐

Chewbaccabra, do games w The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy has 100 endings, and it's pushing the creators to the brink of bankruptcy | PC Gamer

Is it a requirement to use exact headlines? Repeating a clickbait headline on lemmy seems crazy to me.

AwesomeLowlander,

Is it clickbait if it’s a pretty accurate summary, though?

bob_omb_battlefield,

Yes. It’s clickbait because it doesn’t tell you the name of the game.

AwesomeLowlander,

Huh. I guess that’s a matter of perspective? I wasn’t interested in the name, and even after reading the article I don’t recall what the name was. I just found the story interesting.

Coelacanth,
@Coelacanth@feddit.nu avatar

I don’t really think it’s a matter of perspective. These sites all omit the title of whatever thing it is they’re talking about so you have to click through to find out. They do it because research has shown it works to increase clicks. That is well within the definition of clickbait.

AwesomeLowlander,

I mean, whether it works as clickbait depends on your perspective. I don’t disagree it may be intended that way, it just didn’t hit that way for me in particular.

BossDj,

If it follows clickbait pattern it is clickbait, whether you personally felt baited or not

Writing “This game” instead of the game’s name has literally only one possible intention.

Fallstar,

No, just laziness.

Dremor, do games w The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy has 100 endings, and it's pushing the creators to the brink of bankruptcy | PC Gamer
@Dremor@lemmy.world avatar

Could you please reword the headline for it to be less clickbaity ? Thanks.

Fallstar,

Done

Dremor,
@Dremor@lemmy.world avatar

Looks good.

SmoothOperator, do games w The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy has 100 endings, and it's pushing the creators to the brink of bankruptcy | PC Gamer

The game is The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy

TowardsTheFuture, do games w The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy has 100 endings, and it's pushing the creators to the brink of bankruptcy | PC Gamer

I mean… I can’t imagine it being that much more expensive than Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous? Idk if this is a management issue or a funding issue or what. But it sounds cool so I mean I’ll maybe check it out at least

ipkpjersi, do games w Apex Legends writer gets laid off 24 hours after the character she wrote is revealed, because that's what the games industry in 2025 looks like

I got laid off 3 months after I launched a modern website to replace my former company’s old platform that none of their other developers wanted to work with.

I did exactly what they told me, something they wanted for years and years, and then I got laid off as a thanks instead of a bonus.

lol

Though I ended up getting a job that pays 30% more so I guess it ended up okay.

noobdoomguy8658,
@noobdoomguy8658@feddit.org avatar

Somewhat typical for type of work that has a clear end in sight. And they typically never tell about the project-based plans in mind. Sorry you had to go through this.

Had something like that when I automated stuff for a small company.

ipkpjersi,

It wasn’t a clear end in sight, there was still lots of content and systems that needed to be ported over to the new system, a new payment system to be integrated, and other new features they needed. They had two developers who were familiar with the new website, me and another dev. I did kind of suspect that something like this was possible, but I didn’t think they would be dumb enough to actually do it. It turns out, they were dumb enough to do it.

They were just really cheap, and I was most likely their highest paid developer on my team, and myself and another dev were replaced by friends of manager that laid me off.

After that manager laid me off, I asked for a reference or a letter of recommendation, and was ghosted entirely. It happens.

noobdoomguy8658,
@noobdoomguy8658@feddit.org avatar

Well, it’s nice that you have landed a higher-paying position afterwards. Which I hope is better in other ways, too.

I certainly don’t feel better about this kind of crap just because it’s not a once-in-a-lifetime event.

pulido, do games w Skin Deep review - Blendo's first game in seven years is a small triumph.

Man, what is it about PC gamers that lets them tolerate mediocre garbage?

is it conditioning? Being raised playing games that are good ‘in theory’ over games that are good in actuality?

I dunno, it feels like a lot of PC gamers are ‘proud’ to play esoteric crap. They view it as a badge of honor, for some reason.

Glad I started recognizing these things for what they are, though. Nobody else seems to be willing to discuss it on the internet, but there are plenty of people in real life who get it immediately.

FozzyOsbourne,

deleted_by_author

  • Loading...
  • pulido,

    Not really.

    Do you think all criticism comes from a place of anger? Lol.

    FozzyOsbourne,

    deleted_by_author

  • Loading...
  • pulido,

    Nah. You just want to paint me as mad because you can’t tolerate criticism.

    Gonna block ya now.

    regdog,

    Ah yes, the old “I am not mad - you are mad!”

    pulido,

    He’s the one throwing a tantrum and calling me names because I don’t like what he likes.

    I’m guessing you’re taking his side because you also have low standards. I see it all the time and don’t expect more at this point.

    gamermanh,

    mediocre garbage

    So, because a game doesn’t have AAA graphics it’s suddenly bad? Maybe try playing it a bit before you say something utterly stupid next time

    pulido,

    Err, you are literally making up your own words then pretending I said them and calling me stupid for it.

    Man, it’s sad watching you people play leapfrog with yourself, but it’s yet another reason to not take you people seriously.

    gamermanh,

    you are literally making up your own words then pretending I said them and calling me stupid for it.

    You refused to give your reasoning, so I provided one. It’s obvious you haven’t played it, so I went with graphics

    Shall I change it to “im pathetically angry at everything waaaaaaa” instead, as better befits you?

    pulido,

    Lol, you really are upset because someone dares to have higher standards than you.

    It’s okay if you like what you like.

    gamermanh,

    upset

    Wrong

    have higher standards than you.

    It’s quite clear you have no standards, it’s ok to be an angry little bitch if you want

    pulido,

    It’s quite clear you have no standards

    Yeah, that’s why what’s good enough for you isn’t good enough for me?

    it’s ok to be an angry little bitch if you want

    Lol, and you’re not upset?

    gamermanh,

    that’s why what’s good enough for you isn’t good enough for me?

    No, we established that with the following comment I made: you being nothing more than an angry little incel bitch. Which is ok, you just wanna rage at whatever other people like, go for it. Well all point and laugh at you for being pathetic, we all win

    pulido,

    Ok.

    And you’re not mad.

    prole,

    Taste is subjective, and all your comment does is make you look like an asshole. Just saying. Thought I’d point that out.

    qarbone,

    What are your issues with the game? Have you played it?

    Detren,

    It’s a good game sir.

    regdog, do games w Skin Deep review - Blendo's first game in seven years is a small triumph.

    I loved their other stuff like “Quadrilateral Cowboy” and “Jazzpunk”.

    For only 17€ this is an instant buy for me!

    Agent_Karyo,
    @Agent_Karyo@lemmy.world avatar

    I really like Gravity Bone, Atom Zombie Smasher and Thirty Flights of Loving.

    I believe Jazzpunk is not made by Blendo Games. Cool experience if you are into these sort of games.

    Tattorack, do games w Apex Legends writer gets laid off 24 hours after the character she wrote is revealed, because that's what the games industry in 2025 looks like
    @Tattorack@lemmy.world avatar

    My question is when workers in game studios start to make unions. It’s a massive industry and the people actually making the games are constantly fucked over.

    kattfisk,

    Many years ago. But as you said, it’s a big industry, and the US is not an easy place to unionize in.

    buddascrayon,

    and the US is not an easy place to unionize in.

    Moreso now than ever before.

    Bytemeister,

    The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time to plant a tree is right now.

    But I don’t think that advice includes people staring at a fast approaching wildfire…

    Initiateofthevoid,

    Now can be both the second-best-time to plant a tree and the first-best-time to grab a bucket of water!

    Remember everyone, the forest is on fire and there’s not many places to run. The fires of climate change affects the entire world, and this administration and the wealthy that back them will gleefully pour fuel on the flames and let your house burn.

    You can stand around begging for rain, asking why the landlord didn’t fix the sprinklers or why he never checked the fire extinguishers or why he’s hiding under his desk clutching the cash register for dear life…

    Or you can grab a bucket.

    SabinStargem,

    Funny thing about wildfires: the ashes allow a new generation of flora to take root. It will suck for us, but the children of tomorrow might have unions, vacations, and universal healthcare by default.

    I can dream of a future, even if it won’t be mine to enjoy.

    FordBeeblebrox,

    That’s how I feel when I watch Star Trek. I won’t be alive to see the Phoenix warp into space but I’m hopeful future generations get there.

    Tattorack,
    @Tattorack@lemmy.world avatar

    Yes, but there are also European developers. Such as Ubisoft, which previously had major issues with harassment, and probably still does. If they have a union, it certainly isn’t a powerful one.

    kattfisk,

    The French trade union Solidaires Informatique has pursued both criminal and civil charges. Not sure how much that accomplished, but at the very least a bunch of assholes were fired or resigned, so they weren’t completely ineffective.

    3dmvr,

    in my head its because its an industry where going solo is viable and if they arent working at a company thats their goal so they have full contol over the vision and make all the money and one day they want to exert the same creative control over others and get overtime/overwork out of them

    ICastFist,
    @ICastFist@programming.dev avatar

    The irony is that becoming a solo dev is rarely feasible and even more rarely leads to a product that pays up more than just working elsewhere.

    That immediately makes people point to success stories, like Stardew Valley. Dunno about others, but I don’t have a family + girlfriend to sustain me for 4+ years, nor am I blinded by the dream possibility of reaching millions of sales when so many games struggle to reach 10k sales.

    Initiateofthevoid,

    They are!

    Recent and huge progress on that front. It’s an industry wide union, and apparently even recently laid-off workers can join.

    drunkpostdisaster,

    It will be used to justify raises AAA prices even more. Not that i care but it will be interesting to see.

    daggermoon, do games w Apex Legends writer gets laid off 24 hours after the character she wrote is revealed, because that's what the games industry in 2025 looks like

    Haven’t played since they removed Linux support. Will never play again.

    SoftestSapphic, do games w Apex Legends writer gets laid off 24 hours after the character she wrote is revealed, because that's what the games industry in 2025 looks like
    @SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world avatar

    This is why we need copyright laws

    In a sensible world we would not allow our society to steal the work of artists and then throw away the artist.

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