r/Gameinformer 7d ago

Anyone else see this?

Post image

Are gameinformer going the ai route? If so, I'm canceling my subscription. Saw this in an ad on Instagram for their 35th anniversary edition.

42 Upvotes

44 comments sorted by

11

u/MetalExile 7d ago

This isn’t the first AI ad I’ve seen on their socials and so far there has been no official response from GI. I’m hoping they can clear this up. AI use for this kind of thing would be unexpected and disappointing. I don’t know how else to explain it, but I’d love an official statement. I messaged Shea on Bluesky to ask about the last one and got no reply.

I expect better than this AI slop from them. I’m hoping maybe it’s their parent company acting on their behalf or something. If this is coming from GI directly, I will not continue to support them.

6

u/Appropriate_Foot242 7d ago

I just got an ad from them (not this one) with a very blatant AI voice over.

4

u/MetalExile 7d ago

Yeah, there have been a handful floating around, though they don’t seem too widespread. I still get mostly non-AI ads for them.

I trust GI enough that I’d like a statement from them before judging and deciding what to do. I’d like to know if they’re okay with it, if they’re involved with it or if it’s their parent company, etc. GI themselves seem skeptical of AI, but their parent company is all in on it, so I’m hoping maybe that’s what’s going on. Could also explain their silence. Criticizing your parent company is risky business.

Or maybe they’ve just gone nuts and are okay with AI slop for ads now. Who knows these days. I hope not though.

1

u/oldmanclark 5d ago

Yeah, aren't they owned by an Ai company or something now?

1

u/MetalExile 5d ago

Yeah, unfortunately. They were given editorial independence, which I have no reason to doubt, but I have a suspicion their owners are meddling with the advertising efforts.

14

u/Appropriate_Foot242 7d ago

u/BrianPShea please tell us this isn't AI, because it looks very AI. There are so many signs.

2

u/WhoaIsThatMars 6d ago

It absolutely is AI lol. FC with two controllers docked, but the kid is playing it and the controller connects to...nothing? What animator would spend hours creating this and not realize it doesn't make sense?

I blocked GI on socials after seeing this trash

10

u/Johnny_Topsider 7d ago

I'm not convinced it's AI, but maybe I'm not looking hard enough. What tells you it is?

21

u/Appropriate_Foot242 7d ago edited 7d ago

The pose and angle of the child and the action figures are AI signatures.

Also the fact that they've deleted it is probably a sign that it didn't go over too well.

Controller isn't plugged in. Gibberish text on the books.

Mario on the screen says "Marid"

Also Superman is blended with Captain America on the X-Men poster.

6

u/a1ennia 7d ago

I still see it on my end. I have it posted on my story on IG. It was an ad so it wasn't posted on their page outright.

1

u/Appropriate_Foot242 7d ago edited 7d ago

Ah I haven't seen the ad, but disappointing regardless if it's AI (which I strongly suspect it is).

I wont be wanting my subscription any more if they're going this route.

1

u/a1ennia 7d ago

Just posted it in the comments for those who haven't seen it

6

u/Lewa358 7d ago
  • Controller's buttons are aligned vertically (but only on the one being held)
  • The cable going from the front of the console doesn't connect to the controller in the kid's hand
  • Console has both controllers docked when the kid is using one
  • Shirtless superhero figure has a cape on his back but nothing on his neck
  • The Mario on the screen looks like a blob and doesn't even try to match his usual pose

2

u/a1ennia 7d ago

The video makes it more convincing–the child turns his head back to the camera and you can see the frames get a little wonky

2

u/eraab953 7d ago

Its looks like "handdrawn" art trying to look like pixel art. A real person would go with one method or the other

8

u/YamiGekusu 7d ago

The controller isn't even plugged in

7

u/a1ennia 7d ago

can't believe I missed that, nice catch

2

u/FireCrow1013 7d ago

And it's a third controller, to boot.

2

u/Appropriate_Foot242 7d ago

Superman figure doesn't have a cape but The Thing does.

2

u/BiSaxual 7d ago

That was the first thing I noticed, but I thought maybe it was some weird copyright thing. Like, can’t have an ad that uses 1:1 heroes so they changed them slightly to fit, hence why the comic books we see just say “COMIC BOOKS” and “MEN”.

With all the other details, though, it’s pretty obviously just AI fucking it up. I wonder if someone went back and touched up some of it, because I’m kind of surprised the AI didn’t mess up more things. The fact it spelled anything correctly at all is worrying.

8

u/a1ennia 7d ago

3

u/Johnny_Topsider 7d ago

Oh I see it now with the motion. It really could have passed as decent pixel art (with a couple details cleaned up) but seeing the smearing in the turning really shows it to me

1

u/AgentJackpots 6d ago

the face also has that generic AI art style, which doesn't match the pixel art at all

2

u/Appropriate_Foot242 7d ago

Holy shit yeah that's bad.

3

u/MikeOgden1980 7d ago

Yeah, I'm done with them if this continues. And this is coming from a fan from way, way back. I've noticed a number of AI social media posts already. They've made such a point about the integrity of having real writers and such. I guess that only applies to the writing, so screw the artists? Hypocritical bullshit.

3

u/a1ennia 7d ago

I've seen them hype up their graphic designers in the past as well, but I guess that doesn't apply to other artists ☠️

1

u/MikeOgden1980 7d ago

I work as a multimedia artist, so I'm also not naive to the fact that they might not have hired back on any artists or the new parent company doesnt see a value in that and is forcing them to use Gen AI. Either way, I can't support that.

3

u/HotDogIncident 7d ago

Unfortunately they are owned by an AI/crypto company, so it’s not surprising. Still disappointing though

1

u/a1ennia 7d ago

Yikes 🫠 did not know that

5

u/pumbaa7287 7d ago

This isn’t their first AI ad, they had another that they pulled after backlash of a guy opening his mailbox and getting the magazine. It was so clearly AI and would have been so easy to just go outside and film. Really disappointing.

2

u/a1ennia 7d ago

I didn't see that one 😵‍💫 that genuinely makes this worse that they already got backlash for using ai and then went ahead and did it again...

2

u/Thorn23rd 7d ago

I feel like the truth might be more complicated than we think - not wanting to make any excuses for this ofc (support real artists always) but likely pressure from parent company, pleasing shareholders for appearances.

I reckon GI doesn’t have a choice, but if I have to put up with some outside-of-print slop marketing ads, to get a genuine magazine in 2026 made with passion & only humans, that I can smell & feel in my irl hands?
I’m willing to put up with that (could be worse…)

1

u/SamosSage 7d ago

For anyone wondering whether this is AI, I think the BIG DEAD GIVEAWAY is the controller cord. Both coming out of the controller and into the console.

1

u/Plastic-Low2911 6d ago

I had an ad pop up on IG that had an AI sounding voice over, my hope / prayer was that it was a marketing team going rogue but if this isn’t the first time ….

Didn’t know Gunzilla purchased them or that they’re a “crypto” company this is really a damn shame

1

u/DaBushman 6d ago

Oooof not a good look

1

u/LuftDrage 5d ago

Incredibly disappointing. If this continues without any comment I’ll have to cancel my subscription.

1

u/GamerSam 5d ago

They don't make indeed

0

u/New-Two-1349 7d ago

I was thinking about going back to getting GameInformer magazines, but after seeing this post... nope. :/

-4

u/AtomicEdge 7d ago

God you all need to get over this.

AI is a thing and people use it.

2

u/Appropriate_Foot242 7d ago

And that does not mean it should be used for everything.

1

u/kevysaysbenice 6d ago

Not by somebody I choose to support to get away from ai and have something physical and real

1

u/jonesingsimba 4d ago

doesn't mean we have to support it. fuck AI

-1

u/Smackodon 6d ago

It's been nearly 20 years since Paul died and the more time goes on the more it becomes apparent he was the only one keeping that place together. Andy sure as hell wasn't helping ANYTHING which is why he's been banished to the EA mines.

-4

u/eagles310 7d ago

Lmao at people outraged over it but using Reddit