{"id":31440,"date":"2026-07-21T20:45:03","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T17:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/console-classics.com\/?p=31440"},"modified":"2026-07-21T20:45:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T17:45:09","slug":"the-soul-of-creation-in-retro-game-development-final-fight-md-devs-honest-take-on-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/console-classics.com\/ru\/retrogaming\/the-soul-of-creation-in-retro-game-development-final-fight-md-devs-honest-take-on-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0414\u0443\u0448\u0430 \u0442\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0447\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0430 \u0432 \u0440\u0430\u0437\u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e\u0442\u043a\u0435 \u0440\u0435\u0442\u0440\u043e-\u0438\u0433\u0440: \u0447\u0435\u0441\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u043c\u043d\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435 \u0440\u0430\u0437\u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e\u0442\u0447\u0438\u043a\u0430 Final Fight MD \u043e\u0431 \u0438\u0441\u043a\u0443\u0441\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u043c \u0438\u043d\u0442\u0435\u043b\u043b\u0435\u043a\u0442\u0435"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is there real passion in game creation when AI does it all? Retro dev Mauro Xavier weighs in on coding, art, and the soul behind Final Fight MD<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

When AI Meets Retro Dreams: A Coder\u2019s Dilemma<\/h2>\n

Is there any magic left in making games if everything\u2019s done by algorithms? That question haunted me as I delved into Mauro Xavier\u2019s reflections\u2014the indie developer behind the widely praised Final Fight MD<\/a>, an unofficial port of Capcom\u2019s classic for the Mega Drive\/Genesis. Mauro\u2019s journey isn\u2019t just about pixel-perfect brawling; it\u2019s also about navigating the murky waters of AI in creativity, and his story is one that teeters between curiosity, resistance, and self-discovery.<\/p>\n

\n Mauro Xavier
Mauro Xavier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Programming With Purpose: The Hands-On Approach<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s a certain thrill, almost electric, in wrangling code until it finally obeys\u2014something Mauro refuses to outsource to AI. For him, programming is more than a means to an end; it\u2019s a challenge he relishes every day, even when he hits obstacles too tough to tackle alone.<\/p>\n

He makes it clear: no AI writes his code. Instead, he turns to AI as a modern-day reference book, a silent partner for advice on \u201coptimization best practices,\u201d in the same way he once scoured technical tomes. But\u2014and this is crucial\u2014he never lets AI touch his own codebase. It\u2019s about pride, ownership, and knowing every story behind each line typed.<\/p>\n

\n

“I don’t think it’s cool to have an AI alter something I developed. I take pride in looking at my code\u2014whether it’s pretty or not, efficient or not\u2014and knowing what every single line does. I like knowing the story behind each command I chose to type, and the battle it took to reach that result.”
\n \u2014 Mauro Xavier<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I have to admit, at first, I thought Mauro might be clinging to nostalgia for the sake of it. Yet, the more I reflect, the more his perspective resonates. When you code by hand, every bug and fix is a memory\u2014a lesson (sometimes hard-won) that you simply can\u2019t get when a machine does the heavy lifting.<\/p>\n

Art and AI: Inspiration or Imitation?<\/h2>\n

Switching gears to the visual side, Mauro\u2019s flirtation with GenAI for artwork is a story of trial, error, and unexpected effort. He\u2019s tried using AI to upgrade his pen-and-paper sketches\u2014snapping a photo and letting the algorithm \u201cimprove\u201d the drawing. But here\u2019s the twist: instead of saving time, the process often piled more work onto his plate.<\/p>\n

\n AI-assisted art thumbnail for Final Fight
Even Mauro’s YouTube thumbnails sometimes get an AI touch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Colors needed complete overhaul. Low-res simulation? Rarely accurate. The supposed shortcut turned into a marathon, as every AI-generated asset demanded a full redo to fit the game\u2019s distinct style. And while some AI-generated images made their way into YouTube thumbnails or assets outside the game, Mauro\u2019s hands-on pixel art always took precedence for the in-game graphics.<\/p>\n

He even used GenAI for the character portraits in his project Driftin\u2019 Rage<\/a>\u2014but again, nothing survived untouched. Every portrait was reworked manually, pixel by pixel, for that authentic old-school feel.<\/p>\n

Honest Confessions: When AI Helps, and When It Hinders<\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s be real: sometimes, AI is tempting. Mauro admits to dabbling with GenAI for music\u2014tinkering with lyrics and running some CD audio tests in Final Fight MD<\/a>. The results? \u201cCool,\u201d for a moment, but ultimately uninspiring. The spark fizzled, and the experiment was left behind.<\/p>\n

When it comes to sound effects, GenAI hasn\u2019t found a foothold in Mauro\u2019s toolbox. The exception? Voicework. English isn\u2019t Mauro\u2019s native tongue, so he leaned on AI for certain spoken lines. Still, he plans to re-record many with his own voice, taking pride in his ability to shift tones and inflections\u2014a reminder that sometimes, only a human performance will do.<\/p>\n

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“If I lack inspiration or talent, I prefer to look directly at sprites and drawings from other games and try to understand the linework, how the art was made, how the movements flow, and whatever else is needed, creating a new drawing that fits the style of the game I’m developing.”
\n \u2014 Mauro Xavier<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

There\u2019s a humility and self-awareness in this approach. Rather than leaning too hard on AI, Mauro studies the masters, learning from decades of pixel art tradition.<\/p>\n

The Human Element: Where\u2019s the Joy in Automation?<\/h2>\n

After these experiments, Mauro\u2019s reflections feel especially poignant. He\u2019s not here to judge fellow devs who embrace AI; times change, and everyone\u2019s responsible for their own choices. But he draws a line at letting algorithms swallow every creative challenge.<\/p>\n