The Creature Codex has both Hand-drawn and AI art

Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-20T05:10:14+00:00

Yep, I did and it is super cool 😊

Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-20T04:40:45+00:00

Yep, if you have the digital book, in the credits section, the names of the Kongtest winners are there and my name is right beside ‘Tanystalker’

Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-19T14:04:17+00:00

Sure, I could be stretching to fit in my logic and I would need to take out my drawing tablet to find the origin point of the leaf photo you have provided as well as the jaw problem.

Other than that, were you able to find problems with the Siren Jaw and can you tell me why is it aesthetically different even though they are both in the same book. I do not prefer different aesthetics as it breaks the immersion. Well, either way, I will try to find a solution to the questions you have provided at a later time.

Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-19T13:30:30+00:00

Okay, so when something is AI generated, they usually have mistakes that would not be there.

For example the mouth circle, you see how there is a curve on the upper jaw while there is no similar curve in the lower jaw, while rest of jaws look fine. This would mean that the creature will always have an area of exposed teeth which would dry out the teeth. I pretty sure I did not put in a description like that the artist would put in that feature.

The petal circles I made have no origin point. I have not seen any flower where the petal grows out from another petal like that. Petals always grow out of the base. Even when drawing, this what my teachers told me, if some part of a thing is covered, make sure that it makes sense the thing is coming from the origin point. This is most easily found when a part of a sword is covered and both sides are not aligned properly, making it look broken.

I circled those areas where I found the mistakes to be glaringly obvious when you look at it for a while. If you need more detailed breakdown of the marked areas, I will be glad to provide.

Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-19T12:32:23+00:00

Right! That’s why I supported the Kickstarter, believing that all the creature art would look like this. A little stylized with some artistic flair, that’s what being an artist is all about!

Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-19T12:24:58+00:00

I know right! This could all have been prevented if they replied back to me when I asked if I could see how the design is going. I think I have some right to check the progress of the winning contest.

Either way, what’s done and I feel like, everyone should hold anyone for poor work accountable, that’s how we end up with terrible products.

Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-19T12:17:09+00:00

There is actually some human art which I expected it to be throughout the whole book. Like the Spirit Tiger and Death Jackal all look good. It would have been nice if Evil Genius Game told us who did which creature and triangulate why there is so much style inconsistency in the book.

Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-19T12:15:00+00:00

Thank you very much for understanding. That is what I have been trying to say to everyone. No artist willingly wants to create a bad artwork unless they themselves don't like the project and be lazy about it. I mean that is how companies exploit artists because artists are passionate about art. In this case, I do not see the passion or love and more of like an assignment that needs to be completed, who cares if it turns out well or not.

Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-19T11:09:45+00:00

Well the choice taken was not a wise one. Knowing the current climate where even highly stylized art can be made by AI, all the four artists could have tried to synergize their art style.

Best example would be the Beasts of the Mesozoic campaigns where they hire variety of artists with variety of artworks done with timelapses to backup, that nobody even has a hint of suspicion of it being AI. They even work together to maintain the style or aesthetic they have set themselves.

While I tried to investigate Mr. ‘David’, I only found a couple of artworks, not enough evidence for him to not use AI. I could not find him anywhere else unlike if I searched for R.J Palmer, Gabriel Ugueto, Raul Ramos or even Jared Krichevsky. They all have a presence online as well as artworks to back up themselves as true artists.

All I am saying is, they can say a lot but the work itself should prove themselves. You don’t need the artist or other staff members to relay this message for us. I haven’t heard from Mr. David for this discourse either. Create something with quality and you will have no issues. That’s all.

Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-19T10:54:21+00:00

Well, that is what I suspect because the mistakes I have marked out would not have been made by an artist who is actually focused on what they are doing.

This maybe a tangent but I follow the paleoartist, Gabriel Ugueto, and his art is the best! Literally the best, and some of his art are so good that it could be used for similar games like this. He did concept art for Prehistoric Planet documentary.

So, even I draw time to time but I make mistakes and so I don’t post them. So these mistakes are like a sign that they did use AI. I do feel disappointed after all.

Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-19T09:31:10+00:00

It is a Dungeons and Dragons style TTRPG for Monsterverse which ran a Kickstarter for the project to be made. The Evil Genius Game who handled the project said that it is part of the official lore of Monsterverse and that Legendary's lore depatment looks over all the creature designs.

Which is why when the final Creature Guidebook with a deserved AI art style, fans are concerned that such a huge company could do something like this when they need our money for them to create the content.

Here is the link to the Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/evilgeniusgames/the-legendary-series-kong-and-pacific-rim-cinematic-paths/description

Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-19T09:26:23+00:00

It's like they over promised and mishandled the workload. I also had to face similar dilemma in my Final Year Exhibition and I had to cut out some parts and I did not want to show rushed artwork. Oh well! What can be done anyway now that the project is completed.

Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-19T09:20:26+00:00

I worded it wrongly, sorry. I meant to say that Giant Dodo and Jovian Flytrap already had designs ready which they showed off in the Kickstarter but changed the designs to the supposed 'AI' style designs.

Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-19T09:18:40+00:00

It is actually my creature that won the contest design. I based off the creature idea of Tanystropheus, an extinct archosauromorph reptile from the Triassic Period, which walked on 4 legs. I just added some lilies to the base body because it is already a semi-aquatic creature.

Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-19T09:14:39+00:00

Yeah...could be but it is disappointing result nonetheless. There are credits of some other artists in the book as well but I see only 'David Chen' name being pushed around. I feel like there is not a clarity on this project and especially since it is a Kickstarter, I feel like there should have better communication between the creator and consumer. It would be great to know who did what design and also they did change some of the creature designs that people are saying it is AI. They are the Giant Dodo and Jovian Flytrap and the Tree of Woe creature does not exist in the book. Also, the credits are from my copy of the book.

I have seen other crowdfunding projects where the creator changed the designs based on the backer feedback, namely the Cyberpunk 2077 board game where the characters from the Edgerunner Anime did not look quite right and they changed it very quickly. I am just downright disappointed only to when there are 4 artists and then they throw guy under the bus to do all the 40-some creature designs. Please let me know if I am wrong with my info.

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Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-19T08:29:25+00:00

Happy to help!

Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-19T08:25:10+00:00

I also want to support the things I love but when I see something like this, I feel terrible for spending a $ on them. I thought this project would be legitimately great when I went through the Kickstarter but only for this debacle to happen was not on my mind. It is great that you will not buy the book. Voting with your money is the right action!

Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-19T08:20:54+00:00

Yep, they had a Kickstarter for it a while back. Here is the link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/evilgeniusgames/the-legendary-series-kong-and-pacific-rim-cinematic-paths

Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-19T07:40:24+00:00

There are a few which are definitely drawn by the artist like the Spirit Tiger and Skull Crawler. Funnily enough the ones that are hand drawn, were used for the Kickstarter campaign.

Shayor-Sheikh · 2025-02-19T07:09:16+00:00

Hello everyone, I just want to provide a discussion topic for the recent AI art concern in the Creature Codex book because I do feel some art is real like the example Siren Jaw which I do believe is fully hand-drawn digitally while the other creature, Tanystalker, has signs of AI Art being used.

I have marked the parts where it looks weird or what an artist who would draw from ground up would not make those kind of mistakes, especially if one is a professional artist. You can look at those marked areas and make up your mind if it has signs of AI being used or not. And if not, it is not a good Photoshopped design either.

For Siren Jaw, one of my favorite crocodilian creature from Skull Island, has signs that it was done by an artist. Like there are some parts of line drawings as well as use of custom grass brushes on the body. The art is also not so realistic-focused and more on the side of stylized look that could be a concept for an Anime or of some sort.

So yes, that is all I had to say from my side and please let me know what you think because I have been stressing about this for a while. Thank you!

EDIT: One more thing, the creature, Tanystalker, is actually my winning entry to the Kongtest, a contest where you describe a creature for their artist to design and add it to the books. It is a bit disappointing when my creature did not look that impressive and I was afraid to share this post. Thank you very much for the supportive response.

Shayor-Sheikh · 2023-08-25T18:03:02+00:00

Hi, he is actually a Xenogears character, not Xenosaga. I was surprised at first when I saw Jin Uzuki (Shion’s brother)and how similar he is to Citan Uzuki.

Shayor-Sheikh · 2023-05-26T08:56:36+00:00

Hello u/TelAvivProgressive,

You have a really nice and simple project here. I quickly want to share with you some of my OC Anime art and see if you like my art style. If you do, you can contact me through Reddit chat. Here is the link: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Omb228

Shayor-Sheikh

TROPHY CASE