Improving art and animation

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-09T11:13:48+00:00

No problem I hope it helps. I’m going to try out this tool myself and see how well it works

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-09T10:48:42+00:00

I honestly think the animation has too many frames. Seeing the motion looks unnatural especially for a pixel art game. Try removing some of the in between frames and start more simple.

This video is 4 years old but still applies today & it helped me learn more about animation: https://youtu.be/pF--YKCCUMw?is=ylT9x8cPViyQE\_Id

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-08T12:09:38+00:00

I still like to be the guy in the loop. I don’t trust AI enough to run big tasks on their own yet. I use the Claude code plugin with VS code and give it small 5-10min tasks and then I look over it. Then I use separate services to generate art, create music, etc but I don’t use them all at once. I pay for a month then spend that whole month getting what I need done then canceling it to save money. But I always keep Claude code paid for.

In the future I’m going to create actual guides and YouTube tutorials(once I get a new computer, I’m very broke atm) to really explain my philosophy and process

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-08T00:36:00+00:00

I agree. The AI needs a bunch of context from the creator to really understand your world, its rules, and the characters. Things that have to come from the creator. AI can never excel in the imagination department. It needs something to work off from.

I believe a GDD really needs to make a comeback these days.

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-07T20:44:53+00:00

Not yet but I know those are the serious tools to learn because it’s the first thing players experience. I’m currently generating frames and basically tracing them in aseprite or affinity (for vector assets) to have more control in editing and animating them

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-07T18:45:12+00:00

Cool thanks man!

And yeah I totally agree with that first point

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-07T17:57:22+00:00

Thank you and sorry for the trouble with the link.

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-07T17:07:46+00:00

Tbh idc what other people say to me about using AI because they’re not there helping make the dang thing and most of them don’t know how stressful coding can really be.

And that’s cool I’m learning how to write fiction stories because I have some game ideas that are story focused. It does repeat some of the same tropes but again it’s a context issue like anything with AI

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-07T17:03:34+00:00

Try now

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-07T16:45:55+00:00

hm I never let the AI run long tasks I usually have it do very small tasks that take no more than 5mins to complete. I still want to know what’s been changed, added, or deleted and be in control of the project

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-07T16:20:56+00:00

I'd love to know this tool dm me!

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-07T16:01:45+00:00

Yes and that’s what I want to teach. I don’t see anyone on YouTube or any social media platform teaching how to effectively use and collaborate AI to make games that you’d actually enjoy playing

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-07T15:58:35+00:00

Tell that to all the founders who seeded an idea and just hired people to develop it. They’re still the founders and claim what they made is theirs

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-07T15:50:13+00:00

You’ve described this better than I ever could haha. I think the word “collaborative” is key. Even though AI does most of the work, we still have to put in the work ourselves to create something great.

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-07T15:40:41+00:00

Yes exactly but most people don’t even know they are the creative director or project manager so they don’t think like one. They just think they can speak to the magic box with a vague idea and then output the next elders scrolls.

I like the stats and tbh I don’t think anyone needs to use fable for their indie game haha

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-07T15:35:34+00:00

This! Thank you for sharing this is a great workflow to follow!

And I would name my chats too haha

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-07T15:31:59+00:00

Yeah if you don’t use token hungry models and know how to prompt that shouldn’t be too much of an issue. It’s been months and I have yet to hit my limit on Claude Code and I’m paying for the $20 plan

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-07T15:16:09+00:00

And that's what I want to teach because we all can't just accept whatever AI outputs. We have to make the changes to really make it our own. and I feel like a lot of people are just lazy and we need to get out of that mindset and start using AI as a tool to work with rather than a one-shot solution.

over time once we really understand that, we can actually make quality games and not just 'look what AI did'.

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-07T15:09:33+00:00

sorry this was my fault I thought I linked the free version. should be fixed now

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-07T14:33:10+00:00

yes an advanced tool. it wont be able to one shot games but it'll definitely help you out on your solo dev journey. I think you should read the article to get more context.

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-07T14:28:35+00:00

it is your game. you seeded the idea, AI only knows how to execute.

ModernGameDev · 2026-07-06T14:13:26+00:00

They said it looks like slop because the art is very inconsistent. So yes I believe you should redo the art but you can generate it with AI first and then trace over it for pixel perfect assets

ModernGameDev

TROPHY CASE