Practical AI: How Sifor Games harnessed genAI tools to build its games
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A lot of talk has been made over the last couple of years about the use of AI and generative AI tools in the game development process. In fact, a few public companies have openly discussed their intentions to actively use genAI tech in the production pipeline.
In this Practical AI series, in association with Ludo, we delve into the practical applications of these tools and how they are being utilised in development right now.
Want further insights? We regularly host the Practical AI track at Pocket Gamer Connects, including at PGC San Francisco, which takes place on March 17th to 18th, 2025.
Ali Al Hamwi, the founder of Sifor Games, has been at the forefront of leveraging AI to evolve the game development process.
For many studios, the use of generative AI tech has either largely been kept out of public view or has yet to be harnessed. But Sifor has put these tools at the very heart of its business.
Creative catalyst
Speaking to PocketGamer.biz, Al Hamwi notes the significant role that AI can play for studios, especially during the early stages of game development in areas like concept generation and market analysis. By introducing AI tools like Ludo, developers can quickly explore a wide range of game ideas, identify emerging trends, and make more data-driven decisions.
“Ludo is a powerful tool that helps us brainstorm and experiment with different game mechanics.”
Ali Al Hamwi
“Ludo is a powerful tool that helps us brainstorm and experiment with different game mechanics,” Al Hamwi explains. “It allows us to mix and match ideas, analyse market trends, and ultimately create innovative game concepts.”
While AI is still in its early stages for production and post-production tasks like 3D modelling and animation, Al Hamwi believes that tech like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion hold significant potential. These tools can help generate concept art, sprites, and even 3D models, significantly accelerating the development process.
Personalising play (and pay)
It’s not just design and development which can benefit from the introduction of AI. Al Hamwi is excited about the opportunity to use the technology to personalise games for every player. From varying level design to adjust difficulty, through to creating individual monetisation options based upon the player type, AI may even have a role in publishing and post-launch support for games moving forward.
However, Al Hamwi states that AI is not a replacement for human creativity. “AI is a powerful tool, but it’s still in its early stages,” he says. “Human input is crucial to guide the creative process and ensure that the final product meets the highest standards.”
“By automating certain tasks and providing access to powerful tools, AI can enable creators to focus on what they do best: designing and developing great games.”
Ali Al Hamwi
Al Hamwi envisions a future where AI will democratise game development, empowering a new generation of creators to bring their ideas to life. Tools like Dream Machine – a platform that allows users to create games without coding – are already making significant strides in this direction.
“AI can help level the playing field for indie developers,” says Al Hamwi. “By automating certain tasks and providing access to powerful tools, AI can enable creators to focus on what they do best: designing and developing great games.”
Addressing concerns and challenges
While AI offers tremendous potential, it also raises justifiable concerns about job displacement and the ethical implications of AI-generated content. Al Hamwi believes that AI will ultimately create new opportunities rather than take them away. As AI tools become more sophisticated, new roles will emerge, such as AI trainers, prompt engineers, and ethical AI specialists.
“AI is a powerful tool, but it’s important to use it responsibly and ethically,” he states. “We need to ensure that AI is used to enhance human creativity, not replace it.”
That’s exactly what Sifor Games has been using generative AI for in its projects. Using Ludo’s tools, the team was able to rapidly test new game concepts and also quickly visualise how a new game could look. Based on this, its team of experts could then step in to continue with game development as normal, working on more practical game design considerations and visuals.
“We need to ensure that AI is used to enhance human creativity, not replace it.”
Ali Al Hamwi
Sifor has used this for all its projects, including Tetrominer, which is now available on Steam. The game has players matching and destroying Tetris blocks, with a rubik’s cube twist. The concept for the game evolved from a mashup of genres, which it tested using Ludo’s using Ludo’s game design ideation tools.
It’s a practical example of how generative AI tools have been used to take a game all the way from the conceptual stage, right through to production and release.
As the games industry evolves ever more rapidly, AI is poised to play an increasingly transformational role. While skepticism remains high in some quarters, AI is already making inroads into every aspect of design, development and publishing games, as Sifor itself has proven. As Al Hamwi says, it gives small teams like Sifor a creative and competitive edge to help it rival larger studios in a highly competitive market.
