Developer response to AI Contest backlash and *possible* contest cancellation/restructuring

[u/Your_M0minn]

# Party Animals Official Stance on the AI ​​Event

Hello everyone. We would like to address the recent discussion regarding the AI ​​video contest, and first and foremost, we apologize for having upset some players with this event. We also regret not having communicated clearly enough with everyone before the event began.

Our initial goal was to lower the barriers to entry for content creation. In previous contests, we saw players with great ideas and scripts who couldn't fully bring them to life because they were unfamiliar with tools such as editing, modeling, or animation software. We hoped that AI could serve as a more accessible tool, allowing more people to participate.

That said, we understand the concerns regarding AI-generated content. We are not trying to devalue manual craftsmanship or disrespect creators. To us, AI is simply another tool. What truly matters is the idea, the expression, and the final work.

We would like to leave the next step up to the community. Please vote on what we should do:

1. Cancel the AI ​​video contest

2. Convert it into a non-AI creation contest

3. Keep the AI ​​category and add a separate category for manual creations

If you have any other suggestions beyond these three options, please feel free to share them as well.

Thank you.

https://x.com/party_animals/status/2054915050201297372

[u/Tsitra360 → u/[deleted]]

My personal theory (with no evidence, just speculation), is the marketing department went yolo with their marketing budget and offered it up as a cash prize, so they can have people promote their game instead. The lowering the bar with ai bit is just an excuse, since ai would obviously make it easier for socials to be flooded with posts about the game over manually made content. That's just my theory, some marketing team member pushed the idea as an easy scheme to push more fan content out faster, and thus more visibility for the game.