Chris Sorrell, co-creator of the classic video game character James Pond, has voiced strong disapproval of the upcoming James Pond Legacy: The Pond Is Not Enough collection. System 3 Software, the publisher, has faced criticism for a trailer that appeared to heavily feature AI-generated art, a claim the company initially denied.
Sorrell expressed his dismay in an interview, stating he was not consulted on the project and that its development lacks respect for the original IP. "For that to have happened there would have to have been someone with at least a scrap of respect for James Pond involved, when clearly, as their every action demonstrates, that’s very far from the case," Sorrell told Time Extension.
The original James Pond debuted on the Amiga in 1990, leading to several sequels and spin-offs, most notably RoboCod. Sorrell later went on to work on well-known titles such as MediEvil and Prototype. He laments that the series which initiated his career is being treated with such a "loveless, short-term approach," which he believes is detrimental to the industry.
System 3's defense of the collection, which included releasing production art to counter claims of AI use, was met with skepticism by Sorrell. He questioned the publisher's reasoning for creating what appeared to be AI-rendered artwork, suggesting that a developer would typically demonstrate work in progress using tools like 3D modeling software rather than replicating existing designs in programs like Illustrator. "Why do they think any developer would waste time making an Illustrator version of an already fully-realised character design?" Sorrell asked. "How about showing me a wireframe mesh inside a 3D package?"
Sorrell concluded his criticism with a pointed wish for those responsible to face consequences, hoping they "choke on an AI-generated fishbone."