A thrilling multiplayer game on Discord challenges you to search for items in the multiverse using an AI image generator. The surreal outcomes may signify a novel realm for AI-generated artwork
The Bureau of Multiversal Arbitration is an unconventional workplace where Maude Fletcher is competent but could improve her chat etiquette by disabling the caps lock. Dealing with Byron G Snodgrass is akin to handling a hyperactive poodle, while Phil comes off as somewhat rigid, resembling a peace lily. The trio works as arbiters overseeing a team of caseworkers responsible for scouring the multiverse for ideas, knowledge, and progress. However, in my opinion, the Bureau seems to have veered from its intended course lately.
It sounds like the BMA is a unique type of game that is played through the Discord chat app. The creators, Nadya Lev and Star St.Germain, have developed something that defies easy categorization. It is not quite a video game, experience, toy, or live-action roleplay (LARP), but has elements of all of these. Instead, it is best described as a “Discord game” that takes place within the context of the Bureau of Magical Affairs (BMA) setting.
At the center of the game is the Multiversal Search Engine, which is a meticulously controlled iteration of the Stable Diffusion AI image generator. The players receive tasks, such as locating a particular dessert, which they utilize as prompts for the image generator. They compete with other players to create the most exceptional responses, and the victorious creation, selected by all players, is displayed on a virtual fridge for everyone to view. If luck is on your side, Maude may even praise your work.
Through the game’s storyline, St.Germain and their team subtly steer players away from some of the technology’s less desirable aspects. The pursuit of generating “authentic” objects from alternative realities leaves little incentive to exploit the creative output of other artists. Moreover, the game’s prompts are selected in a way that avoids the possibility of generating gory or explicit content, which is a capability of Stable Diffusion.
To the surprise of many, St.Germain has a full-time job running the Bureau. Although the Multiversal Search Engine is automated, the non-player characters that transform a simple chatroom into a richly interactive experience, and ensure that the players remain focused and the community remains pleasant, are controlled by her and her colleagues. While many people focus on the technological advancements, the most critical aspect of this endeavor, which people may overlook for a moment, is the combination of these tools with the human brain. The curation and storytelling components of creating things necessitate a vision to unify everything. The next stage of this technology’s evolution will occur when it can enable a meaningful human vision.
Due to the fact that running the game requires significant effort, it is not feasible for it to continue indefinitely as a free experience. Moreover, the Bureau has been in operation for only a month, and the game will come to an end next week. Although the cost of AI generation is relatively small compared to other expenses, it still adds up to around $1,000 for the entire month-long operation.
