AI+游戏为何是一个很性感的加密叙事？

作者：雨中狂睡

In my understanding, the combination of Crypto x AI boils down to two main ideas:

• What can Crypto do for the AI industry?

• How can the AI industry empower Crypto?

Later, I will write another article to discuss AI + computing (computing power), but today I mainly want to talk to everyone about the sub-sectors of "AI + applications": AI + games.

Currently, the largest AI game by market value should be $PRIME. Parallel is a sci-fi themed card game similar to Hearthstone (this game has nothing to do with AI and is deployed on the Base). In the future, the team will launch another mobile game called Colony. Colony focuses on two concepts: Solana + AI Agent. It's an AI game built on mobile phones, layered with the concept of Solana (mobile), probably nothing.

Previously, Parallel completed two rounds of financing. The first round was led by Paradigm, raising $50 million, and the second round raised $35 million with Solana Ventures participating.

In addition, the AI protocol Wayfinder launched by Parallel is also worth paying attention to.

Another AI game invested in by Paradigm is AI Arena (led by Paradigm and Framework Ventures, raising $11 million).

AI Arena is a PvP fighting game. Simply put, users can train their AI characters to fight in the game. The game's battles are similar to Nintendo's "Super Smash Bros."

I think an interesting point is that AI Arena aims to improve players' ability to use AI through gamification. Additionally, AI Arena places emphasis on NFTs (AI training) assets created by players, hoping to build an IP asset market and match a bilateral market.

Currently, we can go to the official website and complete social tasks to earn points: https://hub.aiarena.io/ref/284ZA79Y

There are also two AI + game projects in the BN series. One is Xterio, which raised $45 million and launched an AI pet game. The other is Ultiverse, which raised $13.5 million and launched Bodhi Protocol. Bodhi Protocol uses large language models and Stable Diffusion models to generate various content in the game.

However, these two projects have been idle for too long, and I'm a bit skeptical about them.

For more details, you can check out Mint Ventures' article "Project Overview: AI+ Game Projects Supported by Top Institutions Ultiverse": https://mirror.xyz/mintventures.eth/-c9ZT6hvE7taPk4lcmhNnD2rE1jif9WjKIjjRmCJWEs

Both Xterio and Ultiverse belong to the platform infrastructure category of protocols. We can understand them as game distribution platforms. Xterio launched an AI game, while Ultiverse supports AI game teams to build on it with underlying infrastructure. From this perspective, Ultiverse has greater potential than Xterio.

Another platform infrastructure protocol for AI games is the first fur of $DYM Staker, $NIM. $NIM is a RollApp based on Dymension, with an EVM execution environment, Celestia as the DA layer, and Dymension as the settlement layer. Although it didn't elaborate, my understanding is that it also aims to provide convenience for AI game developers by building AI infrastructure services. Currently, the NIM Network has launched an AI game alliance, and protocols such as Avail and Ocean Protocol have confirmed their participation in the alliance.

From a macro perspective, doing AI+ games is a very attractive narrative. Developing AI is the trend, and games are one of the important application areas in the Web3 industry. I believe that more projects similar to those mentioned above (or old projects riding on the narrative) will definitely emerge in this track in the future.

How to make money?

Participate in early white-hat point activities, or buy expectations (for example, $PRIME will launch the Colony Alpha version in Q4 24 / Q1 25). In terms of token speculation in AI games, I only consider $PRIME and Avatar (NFT).