Is it wrong to assume… that blizzard is not only providing us with {{ Free Skins }} via the Trading Booth…
…but is also using this as an data-capture-opportunity regarding user preferences and styles…?
The rate we are getting new skins suggests (i) a solid production pipeline and (ii) these artists are all definitely using AI to assist them in all parts of the creation process (which is fine, that’s just how it is now…)
^IF this is true… then the “preference data” of (1) what ppl pick at the Trading Post AND (2) how people create their own mogs
^^^These would be a goldmines for an AI assisted-workflow to enhance one’s ability to create something that not only they can be proud of, but also more assured many others will also like it too. IF this isn’t being done, why not? If you don’t know how to do it ask AI how to do the process… IF you run into an issue, have AI help you through the problem …
CONCLUSION: I bring this up based on looking {{ Tier-skins vs. Mog-skins }} <— and they are NEVER close. The Mog-skins ppl come up with are a-m-a-z-i-n-g… Tier-skins are always flashy, over the top, don’t fit all the races very well… on and on…
So it appears to me that Blizzard is NOT mining “user-preferences” and adding it to their pipeline, because if they were… THEIR tier-sets would look a lot better and more like the mog-skins i see out there…
…which… seems like a massive missed opportunity for them… not only when they be blending user preferences with their style, this would create an even sturdier production pipeline, that increases the odds of a desired outcome
They do pay attention to which items are popular on the Trading Post, and which are not. I don’t know if they currently survey what is most used in Transmogs, but they COULD if they wanted. That is just raw data collection to see what is most or least utilized. They collect a ton of data on what players do in-game, what spec they play, etc. None of that is Artificial Intelligence though and it has been part of their operations for nearly 2 decades. I don’t know if the team is still called Global Insights, but that is what the team used to be called who collected and collated all that data for Dev use.
What they DO use AI for, according to Dev talks, is scaling the armor to the different body types and movements. So the artist does the concept and 3D modeling. Then they use AI type tools to scale that initial model to fit all the races. A human then has to fine tune that and approve each. I would guess changing a color tint is part of the basic art toolkit they have too, although I would not call that AI. That is just basic dyes.
Also note, the Trading Post is supposed to be the more fanciful things that don’t fit the main themes of WoW or the story line. Like, raincoats, chess sets, etc. Some are super creative and would be out of place as a raid reward (forest gnomes with mushrooms on shoulders), but are fantastic as Trading Post options.
Someday they might use more AI, but don’t encourage that! Also please remember that most of the things we use computers for, and basic data collection or computerized tools, are not AI. They are not learning models of any sort. They are just basic programs that do what they are programmed to do.
Thank for the reply.
As someone who uses AI tools both professionally and for hobbies on a daily basis, I would say… that view is antiquated.
They are all using AI image generators, even if just for ideas. You can even use AI to make 3D objects now, from a prompt ← they use this to create baselines then add on their professional expertise and make it better.
AI also does a lot of the ‘behind the hood’ functions of most modern day professional Renderers, such as Maya.
And … I’m not even suggesting any of this. All im suggesting is capture the ‘players preferences’ then run any design through a filter you create out of it.
aka… every design you make gets run through a {{ aggregated character-preference dataset }} <— pulled from real world data. You can even simplifiy it to stuff like “Time on character player” so you arent pulling in data for appearances on lesser played characters
the points is… the data is there and they clearly arent using it, insead dropping lame piece of art after another, with very few exceptions (just my opinion ofc)
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