During the development of Aliens vs Zombies: Invasion, the studio Game Gears, part of the GDEV holding, actively used AI. In his column for App2Top, Alexander Vashchenko, CEO and AI evangelist of the studio, explained how these tools helped optimize production.
Aliens vs Zombies: Invasion
Alexander Vashchenko
Game Gears and Aliens vs Zombies: Invasion
Let me start with a brief introduction about us. Game Gears is a game studio of GDEV, which today integrates AI technologies into its DNA. We use them to speed up production, optimize game mechanics, and enhance creativity.
Our first product under the chosen paradigm was the mobile game Aliens vs Zombies: Invasion. It is a mix of several genres—tower defense, action, and strategy.
In Aliens vs Zombies: Invasion, the player controls a flying saucer. The objective is to fly around the level, using a beam to collect various items. The more you collect, the better you can upgrade the saucer. Additionally, the player must build turrets to prevent zombies from destroying the base.
Gameplay of Aliens vs Zombies: Invasion
Where AI Was Used in Creating Aliens vs Zombies: Invasion
We used and continue to use AI actively in the following areas:
- Content creation—3D and 2D assets;
- Programming—writing new modules;
- Game design—balancing the economy, generating new character abilities, new entities, and more;
- Marketing—generating AI video ads;
- Administrative processes—accounting and document management.
We also completely eliminated scriptwriters. Game designers write all in-game texts themselves using AI.
An example of AI-refined content
In our work, we primarily use:
- GPT;
- Cline together with Claude;
- Midjourney;
- Flux;
- Krea;
- Kling;
- Runway;
- Hailuo;
- Tripo AI;
- Rodin.
Besides these tools, we also use various services for 3D modeling, image processing, and video production.
In the future, we plan to integrate AI into game testing and create personalized content using generative intelligence.
Concept and model made with AI
AI Has Allowed Us to Create Games Much Faster
Completely automating development is not possible. However, AI significantly saves time. On average, generative AI has enabled us to speed up game creation by about four times.
For example, coming up with a hundred different character abilities takes a game designer at least a week. AI allows you to get a draft version in an hour. Of course, not in final quality: designers still need to refine the document.
Overall, if we talk specifically about game design (not just document writing, but also revisions and balance checks), its automation has accelerated related processes by 2.5 times.
We achieved equally impressive results by implementing AI in graphic work. The speed of creating 2D and 3D content increased by 10 to 30 times compared to manual work.
Concept and model made with AI
We usually follow this pipeline:
Midjourney → 3DAi → Rodin → Final manual processing
When it comes to analytics and marketing, we also experienced a significant increase in speed. It's harder to quantify, but the gains may be even more substantial than in the mentioned areas because:
- AI analytics allowed us to optimize game mechanics in real time, increasing player engagement;
- In marketing, AI almost entirely automated the creation of some* types of creatives (we can talk about acceleration by hundreds of times).
* Gameplay commercials showing real gameplay are still out of reach for the technology.
Creatives made with AI
We strive to apply AI as much as possible, yet we don't go to extremes. Our approach to using AI is built on a simple principle: if AI works slower than a human or makes more mistakes, it's better to leave the task to a human.
As I mentioned earlier, in creating 3D models, AI proved to be very powerful. Its use speeds up the work on them by 30 times, so we adopted the technology immediately. However, animations of models, specifically for our project due to their specificity and simplicity, are still tasks best handled by people.
We also understand that almost any AI content needs not only checking but also finishing by an experienced specialist. For example, in 3D modeling, AI successfully handles 80% of the work, but the remaining 20% requires manual refinement.
Pipeline for working on a Chinese New Year-themed banner
A Team of Enthusiasts
Such effective use of AI requires the right team. A team that is passionate about integrating generative artificial intelligence.
For this reason, when hiring new employees, we assess their neuroplasticity and their ability to adapt to new technologies: our goal is not just to use existing tools but to evolve with them.
It's crucial for new specialists to be as passionate about AI as we are, to be real enthusiasts who constantly bring new ideas and experiment with this technology.
Our enthusiasm for AI is so great that even in our free time from work, we create non-commercial videos using neural networks. Some of them gain recognition. For instance, our project Steampunk Ironman took 4th place at an AI festival, and the short film Mistake, telling a story of a zombie apocalypse, won first place in the Rendering & VFX category at the AI Filmmaking Initiative Project Odyssey.
Game Gears releases videos as the AVAI studio
The Future of AI
Drawing from my professional experience, I am firmly convinced that soon both the video game and movie industries will not be able to do without AI. They will not be able to exist for long in their current forms.
Speaking of cinema, very soon actors will be digitized, and content itself will be created quickly and inexpensively. Hollywood will have to adapt, or it will be replaced by independent AI creators and streaming platforms.
Why are billion-dollar blockbusters needed if everyone can make a blockbuster right at home? I am already creating films with similar effects and production levels. The only limit is imagination.
AI will change the entire entertainment industry. Moreover, for AI enthusiasts, the future has already begun—and it is entirely digital.