I can definitely see your points, and I for sure can agree that it would take a MONSTROUS amount of luck and screwups on MS’s side for Minetest to get anywhere close to Minecraft’s popularity and acclaim. But I do think that, while generative AI can DEFINITELY close the gap between what AAA and indie can produce, I do think that it doesn’t take much, even in the modern day to make a game that feels solid to a player. People can call pixel art a crutch all they want, but it makes for timeless graphics on a relative shoestring budget that most folks, even folks who didn’t grow up in the pixelated days of yore, still find deeply charming and appealing. And even games that go for more rounded appearances, if they lean into stylistic efforts enough, can make really solid graphics for way cheaper than the latest UE showcase game. Past that, stuff like UX and game feel can be done well through either tried and true methodologies, or inspiring reinvention of them (see every “your inventory is a/the core mechanic” indie game out there). And while I’m gonna say more budget-requiring things like voiceover can be tough to get right, even in a boomtime of indie voice-actors, I’m gonna say a lot of folks can get away without it (I will happily defend little beeps and boops accompanying text as a great way to convey character without spoken voice lines. One of my favourite gaming conventions).
All this to say that yes, there are hurdles. But indies have been surmounting their budgetary limitations to reach critical acclaim as a matter of course for years now. And will FOSS games have just as much, if not more hurdles to cross, there is real hope for a competitive landscape of truly open, communal games even before you consider the potential for AI to close the gap.
What is “mainstream” anymore is nebulous at best. All I hope for is for stuff like this to become popular enough to be self-perpetuating. For communities to pass the torch of wanting to make FOSS software on and on towards new and different endeavours. And, if stuff like Minetest continues to catch the eye of those willing to give it a platform. I think we may well have a shot at that future yet.
I can definitely see your points, and I for sure can agree that it would take a MONSTROUS amount of luck and screwups on MS’s side for Minetest to get anywhere close to Minecraft’s popularity and acclaim. But I do think that, while generative AI can DEFINITELY close the gap between what AAA and indie can produce, I do think that it doesn’t take much, even in the modern day to make a game that feels solid to a player. People can call pixel art a crutch all they want, but it makes for timeless graphics on a relative shoestring budget that most folks, even folks who didn’t grow up in the pixelated days of yore, still find deeply charming and appealing. And even games that go for more rounded appearances, if they lean into stylistic efforts enough, can make really solid graphics for way cheaper than the latest UE showcase game. Past that, stuff like UX and game feel can be done well through either tried and true methodologies, or inspiring reinvention of them (see every “your inventory is a/the core mechanic” indie game out there). And while I’m gonna say more budget-requiring things like voiceover can be tough to get right, even in a boomtime of indie voice-actors, I’m gonna say a lot of folks can get away without it (I will happily defend little beeps and boops accompanying text as a great way to convey character without spoken voice lines. One of my favourite gaming conventions).
All this to say that yes, there are hurdles. But indies have been surmounting their budgetary limitations to reach critical acclaim as a matter of course for years now. And will FOSS games have just as much, if not more hurdles to cross, there is real hope for a competitive landscape of truly open, communal games even before you consider the potential for AI to close the gap.
What is “mainstream” anymore is nebulous at best. All I hope for is for stuff like this to become popular enough to be self-perpetuating. For communities to pass the torch of wanting to make FOSS software on and on towards new and different endeavours. And, if stuff like Minetest continues to catch the eye of those willing to give it a platform. I think we may well have a shot at that future yet.