The fact of the matter is that we are really good engineers, but very few of us here at PADT are great artists. So we have been using AI generated content in a variety of ways to create content to up our marketing game. And our annual open house, Nerdtoberfest, has become our proving ground for trying out new tools.
Last year we used genAI to make a robot in lederhosen and generated his cyber-canine sidekick, Rupert. They became our mascot for the event, creating some great visuals and a giveaway.
So this year, we needed to up our game. And we decided to use a bear instead of a robot… because, why not?
Meet Bertold, The 2026 Nerdtoberfest AI Generated Mascot
We used Adobe Firefly with the Google NanoBana .
Again, we use the lederhosen to push the German/Octoberfest theme. A few prompts later we had this great image of him waiting for all of you to join us:
With a few more variations, we had what we needed to update our www.padtinc.com/nerdtoberfest page.
Time To Put Bertold in Motion with an AI Generated Video
We wanted to get our message across a bit more, so we went ahead and used Adobe Firefly again, this time using the video feature. Last year we used the tools to make the flag wave and have the Robot wave. We needed to go a step further for this year.
We started with the above image, gave it a script, and asked it to move Bertold around a bit while he asked people to join us. The result, with a little editing to stitch together 10 second bits came out pretty cool.
Adding Depth to Bertold with an AI Generated 3D Model
Another area that has improved in the last year is going from 2D images to full 3D models. PADT’s Andrew Smith used the latest models in ChatGPT to build a fully rendered 3D image that we could 3D print on our Stratasys J35 Polyjet full color 3D printer.
You will need to come to Nerdtoberfest to see the printed results.
Bertold Adds Substance: 3D Printing on a Stratasys J850 Full Color Polyjet Printer
We can’t just can’t leave Bertold as a virtual bear, we saved the AI generated rendering as polygonal model with color data, and used our additive manufacturing skills to 3D Print multiple Bertolds. We are PADT, we can’t NOT print something in 3D if given the opportunity. Since we did this last year, the tools are much better and we didn’t really have to do much to the file that the previous step created. Just scale it to be 5 inches high and then send to the Stratasy J850.
Here is what one of the models looks like about half way through the build.
And then ready for removal:
The surface texture in the AI generated 3D model came through on the print:
Now that we can hold him in our hand and play with him on our desk, we like Bertold even more:
New for 2026 – AI Generated Video Game: The Road to Nerdtoberfest
Our big new use of AI Generated marketing content for this year’s Nerdtoberfest was to use the latest ChatGPT model to create a standalone video game.
Here is what Andrew had to say about the process:
After seeing some of the things people made with ChatGPT6 Astra, I wanted to play around with some of the new capabilities. The goal was straightforward. Help the bear reach Nerdtoberfest by changing lanes, jumping over gears, and dodging obstacles. I added PADT branding, event details, and a registration link at the finish.
I first tried using a higher end graphic of our bear mascot which was converted to a 3D model with color and texture. The poses were sitting, standing, running, and cheering. Inspection revealed that these were fixed poses rather than animated characters. Our first approach added movement to the running pose. We then tried a lightweight animation rig to move the arms and legs, but the result still looked awkward.
Rather than keep going down this route, I decided to go down a more retro low-poly style inspired by Nintendo 64-era games. The new character retained recognizable details like an alpine hat, blue and white shirt, and green lederhosen but used articulated limbs designed for movement. Pixelated rendering and a stylized desert course completed the look.
Playing the prototypes helped identify what needed adjusting. Spools initially counted as collisions even during a jump, so we corrected that rule and made them smaller. Tall boxes became obstacles that required dodging.
We then shortened the run to about 23 seconds and tightened the obstacle spacing. Alternating jump rows and lane changes made the course more demanding, while timing checks confirmed there was enough room to land between jumps.
We created a single downloadable HTML file with the game code, graphics, and logo embedded, allowing offline play without installation. The process showed how much a game can improve through iteration. The original idea stayed the same, but testing and feedback shaped the character, visual style, obstacle rules, and pacing into a more focused experience.
here is the result, ready for you to play:
Making a Difference with AI Generated Content
The truth is we do these things because it is a fun way to pull AI tools into our day. Most of the time we use it like most companies – to summarize things, help us right, edit content, do research, write code, and automate processes. Being creative is a nice break.
It is also an example of how we can uplevel our marketing content to reach more people very quickly, without calling in experts or a lot of back and forth.
Learn more about Nerdtoberfest and register at:
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