AI Breathes New Life into Old Games
ONE OF AI’S NEAT ABILITIES is to intelligently upscale graphics, extracting extra detail from low-res images that is impossible using traditional scaling. It was only a matter time before the modders took an interest. A project by DassiD is developing a high-res graphics update for Morrowind, and modder “hidfan” is working on DoomII.
The Doom project uses tools from Nvidia’s GameWorks, and a touch of Topaz Labs’ AI Gigapixel. Graphics are upscaled eight times using two methods, merged, then downscaled by half with bicubic interpolation to remove noise, then downscaled by a half again using nearest-neighbor supersampling to retain sharpness. There are still issues, particularly with transparencies. It also requires some manual cleaning up to remove AI artifacts. DoomII has never looked so good, though.
The Morrowind update uses Enhanced Super Resolution Generative Adversarial Networks, a similar process that creates detail using several different methods (it gets complicated). The final graphics have been rendered at four times the size.
Significantly improving an old game’s graphics isn’t easy. Previously, it required access to the original resources, along with permissions. Then a new graphic pack has to be made, new textures, models, and more. A time-consuming business.
Using AI means all you need is a copy of the game to work from, little or no original content required. You don’t get all the modern bells and whistles—shadows, reflections, and so on—but you get a respectable upgrade. Retro gaming is big, and AI can breathe new life into blocky, low-res worlds relatively easily. Good work. –CL