A Steam user expressed dissatisfaction with the indie game Luminary after just 24 minutes of play, claiming that one character's voice sounded artificially generated. The player noted, "The awful AI-generated voice killed it." In response, game developer Keith Kolod clarified that the voice actor was, in fact, his wife, Mikell, who was new to voice acting. "While my wife might not be the greatest voice actress out there (that was her first time), I can assure you she is a real person and not AI haha," he stated. Mikell provided the voice for the Temple Guardian, a mystical goddess who has addressed numerous heroes throughout history. She recorded her lines at home with Keith, who noted that they had to do multiple takes, as she was nervous about her delivery and stumbled over her words. Before the update featuring her performance was released, Mikell made a request to her husband: "Ok, but I don't wanna hear if people hate my voice in reviews or on X. I did what I could." Luminary marks the debut of Kolod's two-person studio, which he founded to create an action RPG that his family could enjoy together. Keith emphasized that no AI technology was utilized in the game. While he has nothing against AI, he believes that voice acting allows him to incorporate elements of himself, his family, and friends into his creations. However, he admitted that convincing Mikell to participate in future projects might be a challenge. Would you be open to playing a game featuring AI-generated voice acting?
Informational material. 18+.
