Friend, Collaborator, Student, Manager: How Design of an AI-Driven Game Level Editor Affects Creators

TL;DR

This study explores how different design of an AI-assisted game level editor influences creators' perceptions and practices, revealing variability in user-AI interaction preferences and perceived value.

Contribution

It introduces a novel AI-driven game level design tool and investigates its impact on designers through mixed-methods studies, highlighting diverse user roles and perceptions.

Findings

Designers have varied preferences for AI interaction roles.

AI influences designers' creative practices.

Perceived AI value depends on user role expectations.

Abstract

Machine learning advances have afforded an increase in algorithms capable of creating art, music, stories, games, and more. However, it is not yet well-understood how machine learning algorithms might best collaborate with people to support creative expression. To investigate how practicing designers perceive the role of AI in the creative process, we developed a game level design tool for Super Mario Bros.-style games with a built-in AI level designer. In this paper we discuss our design of the Morai Maker intelligent tool through two mixed-methods studies with a total of over one-hundred participants. Our findings are as follows: (1) level designers vary in their desired interactions with, and role of, the AI, (2) the AI prompted the level designers to alter their design practices, and (3) the level designers perceived the AI as having potential value in their design practice, varying based on their desired role for the AI.