“There Will Never Be a Replacement for Human Ingenuity and Creativity” Mindseye Director Leslie Benzies Talks AI’s Growth While Making a Game About AI and Technology

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In the fictional universe of Build A Rocket Boy’s action-adventure game, MindsEye, technology governs every facet of life. Robots handle daily chores, drones are a common sight in Redrock City skies, and humans can opt for advanced neural implants like the MindsEye. As the team crafted MindsEye, they envisioned a future that is increasingly resembling our own reality as the game progressed. The game, MindsEye, delves into the intricate bond between humanity and technology, offering a balanced perspective on the pros and cons of relentless technological advancement.

Leslie Benzies, director of MindsEye, expressed to Game Rant that they are fascinated and curious about all types of technology, with AI being particularly captivating. He detailed that several of their concepts were conceived years ago, even before the rise of AI, like the drone companion that travels alongside protagonist Jacob Diaz, and they have been both amazed and thrilled to witness some of these ideas materialize.

Technology Affects All Elements of Life in Redrock City

Benzies described MindsEye’s association with the advancement of AI as an advantageous development for the gaming world, stating that it brings about exciting opportunities.

Years ago, we came up with innovative concepts that seemed quite advanced for their time. Now, it’s fascinating to see these technologies gradually becoming ingrained in our society, making our narrative seem even more contemporary and applicable.

Benzies and the Build a Rocket Boy team created MindsEye and its setting, Redrock City, as a futuristic vision infused with original elements of futurism and science fiction, reflecting the profound impact of technology on our lives today. In the world of Redrock, technology is seamlessly integrated into everyday life, with drones, artificial intelligence, advanced vehicles, and weaponry being commonplace. For instance, Diaz’s neural implant and its accompanying drone enhance gameplay by adding depth without unduly favoring the player.

In Redrock, technology greatly improves the daily lives of its residents, yet it’s not without its challenges. A significant source of contention is the power struggle between tech visionary Marco Silva and Mayor Shiva Vega. Benzies describes their tumultuous dynamic as “the Big Tech versus Government conundrum,” which has the potential to shape Redrock’s future. It turns out that our amnesiac hero, Diaz, unwittingly gets caught in the middle of this ongoing feud.

MindsEye Takes a More Optimistic Look at a Technological Future

Benzies agrees that technology can present risks, like fueling Silva’s economic control or Vega’s power struggle. However, he thinks that the novel, MindsEye, paints a more hopeful picture of a tech-driven future compared to typical dystopian literature. As Benzies puts it, “There are chances for amusement in this scenario. I think we’ve effectively combined a substantial storyline and well-developed characters with an engaging examination of what a potential future could be like.

Indeed, Benzies acknowledges that artificial intelligence, a subject gaining much attention due to its increasing impact in today’s world and the gaming industry, is integral to MindsEye. This wasn’t the case when the team initially started the game, but Benzies remains cautiously optimistic about AI’s future, expressing his thoughts as follows:

People have consistently developed tools to aid them in achieving remarkable feats. Whenever technology undergoes significant change, there’s often apprehension that humans might be made obsolete. This fear has been echoed with the advent of calculators, computers, and now AI…However, human ingenuity and creativity will never be surpassed by any replacement.

In a different wording, it can be said that MindsEye is not the first game to delve into the intricate bond between mankind and technology; games such as Detroit: Become Human and Cyberpunk 2077 have also explored this theme from various perspectives. However, what sets MindsEye apart is its distinct take on the ever-relevant subject, offering a fundamentally optimistic view of technology’s potential benefits and injecting humor into the narrative rather than presenting a straightforward dystopian tale.

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2025-05-27 19:39