Unblock Machine
Overview
A friend Cliff Warren and myself wanted to revolutionize the Game Design Process using the power of generative AI. So we set ourselves a challenge.
Design a generative-AI storytelling tool that disrupts large game studios by enabling millions of small studios to emerge.
My contribution
Product strategy User research Branding Product design
The team
2 x product designers 1 x machine learning programmer A few brilliant advisors!
Year
2022
Approach
Over the course of a few months, we researched, tested, and refined a tool that we absolutely love. Here is a quick overview of our product and some mockups. Enjoy!
The Problem
- Game development takes over a year just for the initial concept.
- This makes game creation accessible only to big studios.
- Small studios can't afford the time and resources for quality concepts.
Our Solution
We enable anyone to create a polished game concept in a weekend with AI. This unlocks new opportunities:
- More indie developers can pitch great game ideas for funding and self publish.
- Higher concept quality raises the bar across the industry.
- Faster, cheaper ideation fosters creativity and innovation.
Key Features
Our tool improves the concept process through:
- Intuitive starting points to overcome blank page paralysis.
- AI-generated storyboards with both text and images.
- Seamless iteration by tweaking generated assets.
- Shared style guides for consistent branded assets.
- Smooth collaboration between cross-functional teams.
Hopeful Outcome
This transformation will:
- Empower more creators to make game concepts.
- Let small studios compete with established players.
- Potentially shift power away from dominant studios.
- Bring more creative variety and joy to players.
Achievements
We have gained some wisdom from this project, which we can apply to future projects. I wanted to share this with you, in case it proves useful.
Three immutable principles
We created these immutable guiding principles to assist us in designing our AI-powered tool:
- Agency - AI should empower users and foster creative flow.
- Collaboration - AI should facilitate inclusive teamwork and idea exchange.
- Multimodality - AI should intuitively respond to diverse human modes of interaction.
With these principles in mind, we are leveraging the power of generative AI to transform the creative process:
Efficient Conceptualization
- AI enables rapid ideation and iteration
- Overcomes blank page paralysis
- Accelerates workflows from concept to finished product
Augmented Human Skills
- Amplifies existing specialist skills
- Allows generalists to gain creative abilities quickly
- Expands capabilities beyond current domains
Intuitive Collaboration
- Replaces rigid interfaces with natural interactivity
- Understanding through speech, touch, audio, etc.
- Enables organic teamwork and co-creation
By empowering efficient ideation, augmenting human skills, and facilitating collaboration, we believe AI can unlock new creative possibilities that were unimaginable just a decade ago. This transformation will lead to more inclusive innovation, productivity, and joy.
I am committed to developing AI guided by human values like agency, collaboration, and multimodality. This will ensure technology serves creators and enrich society.