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Pokémon controversy: Difference between revisions
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Additional scrutiny<ref name=MizobeAIScrutiny>[https://archive.is/o8kDN Evidence of scrutiny against Mizobe's use of ChatGPT.]</ref> was levied at game director Takuro Mizobe<ref name=PalworldCredits>[https://archive.is/HCmeJ The ''Palworld'' website, which showcases the credits for the game]</ref> for use of generative AI during the game's development,<ref name=MizobeAIDevelopment>[https://archive.is/dJXb5 Mizobe posting in 2023 about using ChatGPT to develop ''Palworld'' (Japanese: '''"パルワールドのオープニング デモの仕様、なんかいい感じ に作っておいて下さい!!"''' "Please make some good specifications for Palworld's opening demo!!")]</ref> as well as posts from the director's past praise of AI generative artwork to create [[Fakemon]] in the style of [[Ken Sugimori]]'s artwork.<ref name=PalworldAISuigmori>[https://archive.is/hnkNY Article summarizing Takuro Mizobe's past tweets about AI generative artwork, including those about using AI to generate Pokémon]</ref> This was in addition to further posts by Mizobe about the use of generative AI being used to circumvent {{wp|copyright|copyright law}}, another concern held by those on social media.<ref name=PalworldAISuigmori></ref> Mizobe has also gone on record in an interview with {{wp|WIRED}} saying that his approach to game creation is founded on merging ideas together; not dissimilar "to that of a {{wp|mashup}}" in musical terms.<ref name=PalworldWIRED>[https://archive.is/5dCyw Interview between Takuro Mizobe and WIRED.]</ref> In an interview with Automaton Media, Mizobe mentioned that ''Palworld'' cleared legal reviews prior to it's release with no objections.<ref name=PalworldLegalReviews>[https://archive.is/m2mCu Interview between ''Palworld'' director Takuro Mizobe and Automaton about the game's legal reviews.]</ref> and that ''Palworld'' was not at all similar to Pokémon. This is contradicted by a different interview with the same publication, where Mizobe noted that the developers directly referenced Pokémon as a "great predecessor", further stating that he was impressed by games like [[Pokémon Legends: Arceus]] and [[Pokémon Scarlet and Violet]].<ref name=PalworldGreatPredecessor>[https://archive.is/tPIgh Interview between ''Palworld'' director Takuro Mizobe and Automaton about the game's relation to Pokémon]</ref> | Additional scrutiny<ref name=MizobeAIScrutiny>[https://archive.is/o8kDN Evidence of scrutiny against Mizobe's use of ChatGPT.]</ref> was levied at game director Takuro Mizobe<ref name=PalworldCredits>[https://archive.is/HCmeJ The ''Palworld'' website, which showcases the credits for the game]</ref> for use of generative AI during the game's development,<ref name=MizobeAIDevelopment>[https://archive.is/dJXb5 Mizobe posting in 2023 about using ChatGPT to develop ''Palworld'' (Japanese: '''"パルワールドのオープニング デモの仕様、なんかいい感じ に作っておいて下さい!!"''' "Please make some good specifications for Palworld's opening demo!!")]</ref> as well as posts from the director's past praise of AI generative artwork to create [[Fakemon]] in the style of [[Ken Sugimori]]'s artwork.<ref name=PalworldAISuigmori>[https://archive.is/hnkNY Article summarizing Takuro Mizobe's past tweets about AI generative artwork, including those about using AI to generate Pokémon]</ref> This was in addition to further posts by Mizobe about the use of generative AI being used to circumvent {{wp|copyright|copyright law}}, another concern held by those on social media.<ref name=PalworldAISuigmori></ref> Mizobe has also gone on record in an interview with {{wp|WIRED}} saying that his approach to game creation is founded on merging ideas together; not dissimilar "to that of a {{wp|mashup}}" in musical terms.<ref name=PalworldWIRED>[https://archive.is/5dCyw Interview between Takuro Mizobe and WIRED.]</ref> In an interview with Automaton Media, Mizobe mentioned that ''Palworld'' cleared legal reviews prior to it's release with no objections.<ref name=PalworldLegalReviews>[https://archive.is/m2mCu Interview between ''Palworld'' director Takuro Mizobe and Automaton about the game's legal reviews.]</ref> and that ''Palworld'' was not at all similar to Pokémon. This is contradicted by a different interview with the same publication, where Mizobe noted that the developers directly referenced Pokémon as a "great predecessor", further stating that he was impressed by games like [[Pokémon Legends: Arceus]] and [[Pokémon Scarlet and Violet]].<ref name=PalworldGreatPredecessor>[https://archive.is/tPIgh Interview between ''Palworld'' director Takuro Mizobe and Automaton about the game's relation to Pokémon]</ref> | ||
The controversy was commented on by various professionals from all walks of the video game industry. VGC spoke to two anonymous experienced AAA game artists claiming that the model comparisons done by other users were effectively a smoking gun for a hypothetical legal battle between the companies that own the rights to Pokémon against ''Pocketpair,'' with a senior character artist adding that they would "stand in court to testify as an expert on this." ''{{wp|Keitai Denjū Telefang}}'' and ''{{wp|Monster Crown}}'' designer [https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=68358 Saiko Takaki] wrote a thread commenting on the history of Pokémon plagiarism, where she claimed that her work on ''Telefang'' was designed to not be similar to Pokémon's, with ''Palworld's'' designs "clearly adding or subtracting" from existing ones, though noted that she had no comments to make on the actual gameplay, saying it "seemed fun, which is a shame."<ref name=SaikoTakaki>[https://archive.is/jEHdh Thread by ''Telefang'' and ''Monster Crown'' designer Saiko Takaki discussing ''Palworld''.]</ref> [[The Pokémon Company International]]'s Ex-Chief Legal Officer [[Dan McGowan]], who was the head of the company's legal team between 2008 to 2020, told ''GamesRadar'' that he was "surprised it got this far", and that it "looks like the usual ripoff nonsense that I would see a thousand times a year".<ref name=PalworldExTPCLegalOfficer>[https://archive.is/pEm7N Interview between ex-Pokémon CLO Dan McGowan and GamesRadar.]</ref> | The controversy was commented on by various professionals from all walks of the video game industry. VGC spoke to two anonymous experienced AAA game artists claiming that the model comparisons done by other users were effectively a smoking gun for a hypothetical legal battle between the companies that own the rights to Pokémon against ''Pocketpair,'' with a senior character artist adding that they would "stand in court to testify as an expert on this."<ref name=PalworldPlagiarismAccusations>[https://archive.is/hidNJ Interview by VGC talking about ''Palworld's'' plagiarism accusations]</ref> ''{{wp|Keitai Denjū Telefang}}'' and ''{{wp|Monster Crown}}'' designer [https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=68358 Saiko Takaki] wrote a thread commenting on the history of Pokémon plagiarism, where she claimed that her work on ''Telefang'' was designed to not be similar to Pokémon's, with ''Palworld's'' designs "clearly adding or subtracting" from existing ones, though noted that she had no comments to make on the actual gameplay, saying it "seemed fun, which is a shame."<ref name=SaikoTakaki>[https://archive.is/jEHdh Thread by ''Telefang'' and ''Monster Crown'' designer Saiko Takaki discussing ''Palworld''.]</ref> [[The Pokémon Company International]]'s Ex-Chief Legal Officer [[Dan McGowan]], who was the head of the company's legal team between 2008 to 2020, told ''GamesRadar'' that he was "surprised it got this far", and that it "looks like the usual ripoff nonsense that I would see a thousand times a year".<ref name=PalworldExTPCLegalOfficer>[https://archive.is/pEm7N Interview between ex-Pokémon CLO Dan McGowan and GamesRadar.]</ref> | ||
On January 22nd, Mizobe claimed that the team behind ''Palworld'' were receiving threats of violence and claims of slander, calling for people to stop.<ref name=PalworldThreats>[https://archive.is/Ofa7Q Palworld director Takuro Mizobe's claims that the team were receiving threats of violence and slanderous claims.]</ref> | On January 22nd, Mizobe claimed that the team behind ''Palworld'' were receiving threats of violence and claims of slander, calling for people to stop.<ref name=PalworldThreats>[https://archive.is/Ofa7Q Palworld director Takuro Mizobe's claims that the team were receiving threats of violence and slanderous claims.]</ref> | ||
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Currently, there have been no legal measures taken against ''Pocketpair'' for the release of ''Palworld'', and no action has been taken by the company to make any changes to the game as a result of the controversy. Pals that are currently unobtainable in the game, though are fully functional with completed models, animations and parameters; such as ''"Boltmane"''and ''"Dark Mutant"'' appear especially similar to existing Pokémon, such as {{p|Luxray}} and [[Mega Evolution|Mega]] {{p|Mewtwo}} Y.<ref name=PalworldBoltmane>[https://archive.is/GyJvO A page on the Pal "Boltmane", who appears similar to Luxray]</ref><ref name=PalworldDarkMutant>[https://archive.is/wip/jrVZP A post about the pal "Dark Mutant", who appears similar to Mega Mewtwo Y.]</ref> | Currently, there have been no legal measures taken against ''Pocketpair'' for the release of ''Palworld'', and no action has been taken by the company to make any changes to the game as a result of the controversy. Pals that are currently unobtainable in the game, though are fully functional with completed models, animations and parameters; such as ''"Boltmane"'' and ''"Dark Mutant"'' appear especially similar to existing Pokémon, such as {{p|Luxray}} and [[Mega Evolution|Mega]] {{p|Mewtwo}} Y.<ref name=PalworldBoltmane>[https://archive.is/GyJvO A page on the Pal "Boltmane", who appears similar to Luxray]</ref><ref name=PalworldDarkMutant>[https://archive.is/wip/jrVZP A post about the pal "Dark Mutant", who appears similar to Mega Mewtwo Y.]</ref> | ||
==In multiple media== | ==In multiple media== | ||