#project spellstruck

[candlelightgames]

We’re thrilled to announce PROJECT SPELLSTRUCK, a next-generation narrative game that captures the ultimate magic school experience✨

[vivalgi]

This post is primarily meant for all the doubters, naysayers and people in denial who ganged up against me when I first declared my suspicions that wannabe Malfoy revealed on @candlelightgames' Instagram post might be AI generated.

I will point out some of the most obvious signs of AI usage after the break but first I want to quote Owen Wilson: "Wow!" Usually half the AI image detectors fail to do their job, but never before have I seen such a unanimous decision - all 7 out of 7 online tools that I managed to find are saying that the Project Spellstruck's first character art is most likely AI:

Now, onto the analysis. People are still expecting clearly visible errors from generated images, such as irregular amount of fingers or something going through another object, but AI has come a long way and it's becoming harder to point out obvious signs without focusing hard. It's even able to create a vague resemblance of symmetry and repeating elements. AI generated art isn't often published "straight out of the oven" either. Artists-prompters make the AI do a lot of inpainting and add their own little touch-ups until the images are more or less presentable. A character has 16 fingers? Just mark the problematic area you want to be regenerated, maybe even make a rough sketch over it and then have the program do its job again. Even Bardick's design evolution, CL has demonstrated, looks very similar to the typical AI-assisted workflow I just described:

It's hard to put into words what makes art feel and look AI, but don't worry, doubters, I can also point out some strange elements that strongly hint at this character art being largely made by AI.

Below is the highest quality image I could get, so you can come back to it and zoom in if you want to see the clean version without my scribbles:

The coat's lapels

In the corner of the left lapel there's this triangular piece:

Whatever it's meant to be, it's a single solid object and not nearly as incoherent as what's happening on the opposite side:

The triangular shape seems to be made up of 3 disconnected sticks and the ends of the golden protruding lines that flow into that corner, become intrusions, although they don't line up very well either. Try to explain what the artist was attempting to do here. It's a very clear example of AI making up some fuzzy incoherent details. No need to find any further evidence really, but let's move on.

Occasional double vision effect around the edge of the golden hem, creating parallel running lines (a typical thing I've noticed image generators tend to do):

The pants and belt

That wobbly dotted line is the edge of his pants:

I've also traced the lines of the belt buckle, so you can see exactly how much it makes sense upon closer look. Not a lot, right? Also, the prong melts into the buckle, doesn't even go through the belt's hole and there's more fuzzy scribble around it.

Shadows

The shirt's collar creates shadows to both sides of it:

The lighting source seems to be behind the guy as the corner of the collar is further from the viewer than the shadow it casts:

Some other shadows are suspicious as well but not so obviously bad to confidently demonstrate them.

This is not an attempt to turn anyone against AI, but merely an analysis to show the most obvious signs that this dude was probably more or less generated by AI. If you like this kind of artificial art and are fine with Candlelight or any other studio/artist using it, then I won't stop you from enjoying it. If you have a hard time recognizing AI art then I truly envy you, ignorance is bliss as the saying goes. However, please don't come to proudly demonstrate your ignorance and argue with me or even worse, try to make fun of me because you think I'm wrong in saying that this character art was generated with AI. As I've now proven, it most likely is. It's too early to turn into an overprotective fangirl over a project we still know barely anything about.

[synergysilhouette]

How the mighty have fallen--but will something better come out of it?

I stopped playing "Choices" a few months ago and it's WILD to realize I haven't played "Fictif" since it stopped 3 years ago as well as "The Arcana" when it finished around the early days of "Fictif" (I think), but I feel like I'm experiencing the first nostalgic era of the digital age when it comes to mobile games; the mid to late 2010s was the best era of mobile games, it seems. Of course, after doing some digging, it's WILD to hear about the downfall of the companies that made these games. Nix Hydra (maker of "The Arcana" and "Fictif") is a rabbit hole that I can't even begin to explain, and it's content quickly became second priority when acquired by Dorian, despite Dorian saying it would still prioritize NH's content, instead taking the back seat to Dorian's own app--the app of which I liked in concept, but not execution. In any case, some members of the team from "The Arcana" and "The Last Legacy" from Fictif, as well as other games, made the indie Red Spring Studio company, with their first game "Touchstarved" (which had a Kickstarter that FAR EXCEEDED it's OG goals by 8x; one of the goals included a Nintendo Switch port). I think the game comes out at the end of this year, so I'll be excited to see how it goes. Unfortunately, their Kickstarter page has their updates limited to backers (people who helped fund the project) only, which IMO limits the exposure the game gets, but let's hope for the best.

As for Pixelberry, apparently they've had issues for years, and last year they had massive layoffs and were acquired by an AI company, so...there's that. Plus it seems they're still smut-focused and even the early 2024 art was victim of AI usage, maybe before that. To recooperate their costs, PB closed out two of it's other apps, and while still generating content, is losing the trust of fans, especially since, from what I've seen on their newsletters, they're focused on more "content" for established franchises--which doesn't mean sequels or spinoffs, but often a short book. Anyway, three of their creatives have went on to found Candlelight Games: the Head of Design was once the ex-creative director at PB and helped write "Bloodbound," "Blades of Light and Shadow," "Most Wanted," and "Endless Summer"; the Head of Narrative was an ex-head of Choices and helped write "America's Most Eligible," "The Nanny Affair" (man, the switchup is CRAZY), "With Every Heartbeat," "Distant Shores," and "Ride or Die"; and the CEO was the former VP of new games, an ex-head of Choices, and ex-head of Hollywood U. As someone who became disappointed with many Choices books when the decade hit, this feels promising. The company's first project, "Project Spellstruck" (codename), is expected to start releasing this year.

Seems like the mid-2020s may have me more engaged in interactive mobile games that haven't been exciting for half a decade. Check out these stories and spread the word!

[masked-alien-lesbian]

Excerpt of Project Spellstruck

[zathra]

excerpt of the first chapter of project spellstruck 🥹🥹

[farizrz]

Link to follow

[somerandomjewelleryonthefloor]

Just found out about candlelight games a few mins ago thanks to seeing @/hssprimefan's Pinned post.

I'm excited about the project they're making, like hello? A FANTASY WORLD WITH A SCHOOL? AND YOUR CHARACTER IS RELATED TO A PERSON WHO WAS A HORRIBLE PERSO AND YOU ENROLL INTO A SCHOOL FOUNDED BY YOUR HORRIBLE RELATIVES RIVAL??? AND YOU HAVE YOUR OWN RIVAL YOU CAN POSSIBLY ROMANCE???? ANDDDDDD ITS CONCEPT ART IS BEAUTIFUL????????? SIGN ME THE FUCK UP!!!!!

I feel weird tho. Since I'm still on choices. But then again Episode sucks and PB isn't doing literally war crimes (tho AI art and AI usage is fucking abhorrent), and I can't give up HSS or TRR away.

Can't wait for when they reveal the artstyle of their game! It'll be incredibly fun!!!!!

I'm gonna make an au of HSS x (*insert Project Spellstruck actual game name here*), and you're gonna endure it, and you're all gonna love it.

[the-unconquered-queen]

YOU, CHOICES PLAYER

Are you looking forward to the upcoming projects by Candlelight Games? Do you want a space to share updates about the studio and eventually discuss the games they release?

If so, come join a community to do exactly that! Never fall behind on news and share the hype around Project Spellstruck and more! Gnaw a little bit on the bars of your enclosure in anticipation! Go a little bit feral maybe! Come be simply too seated, the community is public and open to everyone 💕

[gutsfics]

anyway other than the lis being the most basic tropes imaginable, Project Spellstruck DOES sound interesting. i love a good Child Of A Villian Forced To Deal With The Expectations Of Them Being The Child Of A Villian

if my special silly Batez was any indication

[spell-struck]

My arcana swap, Protag!Ann au "Aces High and Queens Wild" has updated! Please give it a read ❤️🩷

[abigailspinach]

[vivalgi]

Looks like Candlelight has also chosen the dark side. Another generic, distinctively glossy AI "art" piece. Hive Moderation agrees with me as well. *sigh* I guess I should have expected it 😞

Even both poll options turning out to be guys was less disappointing.

[masked-alien-lesbian]

[zathra]

'breaker of the rebellion' so mc's father who is supposedly a villain everyone fears was actually leading a rebellion.... 👀👀

[masked-alien-lesbian]

One of the LIs in Project Spellstruck of Candlelight Games

[masked-alien-lesbian]

Candlelight Games: Project Spellstruck

Magic school! Called it! 🪄

Oooo...maybe we can actually become evil? That would be a neat change of pace

Goc and multi LIs of different genders! 🎉

I will cry if it don't work on my phone! But 2025!! That's not too far away!

"Spellstruck" is a cool name though.

These are beautiful graphics!

The link to the article: