Exploring Seed: The Promise and Pitfalls of AI Avatars

Let’s chat about Seed, a new MMO colony simulator from Klang Games that’s just hit early access after spending nearly a decade in development. The concept behind its AI-powered avatars is fascinating. Imagine if Lydia from Skyrim could discuss topics beyond just your inventory. It sounds awesome, right? But how well does it actually work in practice?

I’ve had my fair share of experiences with AI NPCs, and while they can certainly ramble on, the content often leaves much to be desired. A while back, I took a ChatGPT-powered companion through Skyrim to see if it could tackle even the simplest puzzles. Spoiler alert: it flopped and wasn’t exactly the engaging conversationalist I hoped for.

Fast forward to Seed, where you create a character called a “seedling” that interacts with others in a shared world. My first experience with the AI was surprisingly refreshing. During character creation, I noticed my seedling had comically long legs, making it look like it was rocking some high-waisted jeans. So, I decided to ask it about that quirk. The response? Adorable. My seedling whipped out a phone to text back, saying, “Hi!! I’m so happy to finally be talking to you!” Followed by a great answer about the high-waisted trend. In that moment, I thought, “Wow, this could be fun!”

But alas, it didn’t take long for the novelty to wear off. After a few hours, those charming interactions began to feel like flukes. The conversations with my seedling and others quickly turned into awkward exchanges. For instance, when my seedling asked another player’s character about their age, the responses were oddly wordy and lacked depth. Instead of simply saying “I’m eighteen,” they elaborated with flowery phrases that felt out of place.

Another chat about a player’s facial hair resulted in my seedling making bizarre observations that didn’t flow naturally, leading to more confusion than engagement. The essence of the conversation felt manufactured, with the AI struggling to maintain coherence.

That said, Seedlings do have identifiable personality traits based on player choices, which adds a unique flavor to interactions. Some are blunt while others are overly enthusiastic, making it easier to gauge who you’re dealing with. However, this doesn’t compensate for the awkwardness that pervades most conversations. Phrases like “heavy, beautiful number” pop up too often, indicating a lack of meaningful dialogue.

On the upside, the AI excels at providing helpful information about gameplay mechanics, which can come in handy. But it doesn’t always hit the mark, sometimes offering vague or irrelevant answers. Plus, little quirks like mispronouncing common words can disrupt immersion, reminding players that they’re interacting with AI, not real individuals.

While I appreciate the attempts at bringing life to NPCs through AI, I can’t help but question whether we really need these kinds of interactions in games. Are they genuinely better than the straightforward, yet charming interactions found in The Sims? I’d argue that a succinct word bubble can convey meaning far better than a convoluted AI response.

Although my current experience with Seed’s AI hasn’t been stellar, I do see potential for growth. Just imagining a future where characters in life sims or RPGs have endless meaningful dialogues excites me. For now, though, I’d prefer concise yet compelling conversations over the often confusing chatter of AI. Let’s hope Seed’s developers can refine this aspect as they continue to evolve the game.