Oliver Twins' Wizard of Oz Tabletop Project Draws Backlash Over Generative-AI Artwork

Dizzy creators Philip and Andrew Oliver face community backlash after promotional artwork for their upcoming Wizard of Oz tabletop Kickstarter project appears to utilize generative AI.

Veteran British developers Philip and Andrew Oliver, remembered particularly for Dizzy and their long history stretching from bedroom coding through Blitz Games Studios, have found themselves at the centre of another generative-AI argument. Their upcoming Journey to the Emerald City crowdfunding project is a story-led tabletop adventure based on L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz.

Promotional material describes a package containing an illustrated book, cards, a cipher disc, stickers and a map, but the artwork shown ahead of the Kickstarter launch has attracted criticism from retro-gaming and art communities over its apparent use of generative AI. The controversy is especially notable because the Oliver Twins' legacy is strongly associated with the intensely handmade culture of the British 8-bit scene, where two people, a bedroom computer and a worrying quantity of late-night programming could produce an entire commercial game.

The pair have used generative technology in projects associated with their RichCast platform before, so this is not an entirely new direction. Journey to the Emerald City has not yet launched its Kickstarter campaign, meaning final pricing and the amount being sought are not currently known. It is therefore worth separating what is confirmed from the louder online reaction: the project exists, AI-generated imagery is being used in its promotional material, and that decision has triggered substantial criticism. Whether the audience ultimately accepts the approach will become clearer once the campaign actually opens and people are asked to move from comments to credit cards.