AI-driven gaming with Hilary Mason from Hidden Door
Dec 20, 2023
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Hilary Mason from Hidden Door talks about how generative AI is transforming online gaming and turning fiction into social role-playing games. They discuss fundraising challenges and the intersection of blockchain and gaming. The team's decision to implement NFTs, their sciencey background, and focus on safety and controllability in their architecture. The speaker also touches on the challenges of building and scaling a company.
Hidden Door's AI-driven narrative game engine allows players to create unique stories and immerse themselves in the worlds of books, TV shows, and movies.
Generative AI in online gaming provides accessibility and reduces development time, revolutionizing the gaming industry.
Deep dives
Hidden Door: Creating AI-driven Narrative Games
Hidden Door is a company that transforms works of fiction into playable social role playing games. With their AI-driven narrative game engine, players can immerse themselves in the worlds of books, TV shows, and movies, directing their own stories and playing with friends and family. Unlike pre-written content, Hidden Door's technology allows for a controllable story engine, where authors can set rules and collaborate with players to create unique stories. Through partnerships with writers, Hidden Door brings beloved stories to life, offering fans a new and immersive experience.
The Power of Generative AI in Gaming
Generative AI is revolutionizing the online gaming industry. Hidden Door utilizes generative AI to provide players with a tabletop role playing game experience without the need for extensive time and rule learning. This accessibility allows players to enjoy immersive gaming sessions with friends, picking up and playing for short durations. Additionally, Hidden Door's AI technology enables the rapid creation of game worlds based on novels or other content, reducing development time from months to hours or days.
Fundraising and AI in Gaming
Fundraising for a gaming and AI innovation like Hidden Door has presented both opportunities and challenges. Early in the company's journey, investors were intrigued but needed extensive explanations of the underlying technology and its potential for players. Recently, the hype around AI has surged, attracting interest but lacking deep understanding. Hidden Door's team navigated these changes, staying pragmatic and focused on their product's unique capabilities. By partnering with content creators and emphasizing controllable, bias-free AI, they have built a strong foundation for success.
Today, we’re bringing you a special mini episode led by TechCrunch senior reporter and co-host of our sister podcast, Found, Dominic Madori-Davis. During this year’s Disrupt, Dom caught up with Hilary Mason from Hidden Door, an AI-driven narrative game engine. Dom and Hilary got into how generative AI is changing online gaming, building a team of creatives, fundraising in the gaming space, and more.
Connect with Equity on X and Threads @EquityPods, and keep up with all of TechCrunch's podcasts @TechCrunchPods on TikTok.
Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products.
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