I‭ntroducing Colony, a Groundbreaking AI-Powered Simulation Game‬‭and Significant Extension of the Echelon Prime Ecosystem‬‭ rtificial Intelligence (AI) has dominated the public discourse throughout 2023 and 2024. Yet‬A
‭within this excitement, careful observers have also remarked how many of the proposed AI‬‭use cases remain focused on a few narrow areas: search capabilities, text generation, and‬‭image responses to user prompts. Even when image-makers and chatbots present rapid and‬
‭impressive outputs, these examples are a far cry from AI’s broadest possibility: autonomous‬‭agents capable of independent, human-like thought and action with only minimal direction.‬‭Even in cases when more complex AI agents are introduced, the focus generally remains‬‭limited and task oriented. This absence of adaptable AI agents with broader operational‬‭windows and capabilities is glaring, particularly given the recent attention and resources‬‭devoted to growing AI.‬‭ arallel Studios is highlighting novel, alternative approaches to the construction of AI agents‬P‭with‬‭Colony‬‭, a new AI-powered Web3 survival simulation game.‬‭Colony‬‭features highly‬‭autonomous AI agents—called “avatars”—that are continuously learning from the world‬‭around them. Human players must guide and collaborate with their AI avatars, which feature‬‭wide-ranging skills and capabilities, to navigate a future Earth dotted with distinct colonies,‬‭all competing for survival.‬‭ olony‬‭builds upon the latest academic research and introduces technological breakthroughs‬C‭to create a novel, complex game environment. It pushes the boundaries of AI agents in‬‭blockchain, gaming, and even general purpose contexts.‬‭Colony‬‭breaks new ground in‬‭incorporating continuous learning capabilities into gaming, and its AI avatar architecture‬‭allows for unique personalities and worldviews. Avatars draw individual lessons and insights‬‭from their experiences, based on their own identities, histories, and objectives. In addition,‬‭Colony‬‭avatars are unique for AI agents as they possess the ability to autonomously transact‬‭digital assets via dedicated Web3 wallets they control, enabling them the ability to trade with‬‭other in-game avatars. These capabilities incorporate capabilities provided by the‬‭Wayfinder‬‭project‬‭and its unique solutions to the challenge of AI agents controlling digital wallets.‬‭Altogether, these innovations allow‬‭Colony‬‭to introduce unprecedented functionality for AI‬‭agents, signifying an evolution in both gaming and AI while offering a fascinating gameplay‬‭experience, as these new mechanisms and capabilities present novel opportunities and‬‭challenges for human players.‬‭ qually noteworthy is that Parallel Studios has developed‬‭Colony‬‭as a significant extension to‬E‭the‬‭Echelon Prime Foundation‬‭’s Web3 gaming ecosystem. The Echelon Prime Foundation is‬‭1‬‭ edicated to empowering a new generation of decentralized Web3 gaming, with a‬d‭community-governed environment and shared set of resources built around Echelon’s PRIME‬‭token, and its smart contract and gaming infrastructure. These tools enable joint‬‭development and varying degrees of interoperability between emerging Web3 games, and‬‭promise a new frontier in gameplay and game development. In this context, Parallel‬‭Studios—the creators of‬‭Parallel‬‭, the initial trading card game (TCG) deployed within the‬‭Echelon ecosystem—has created‬‭Colony‬‭as both an extension of the Echelon ecosystem and‬‭as a new platform that incorporates‬‭Parallel‬‭TCG assets as core game elements. In doing so,‬‭Parallel Studios has simultaneously pushed the boundaries of AI gaming, and enriched and‬‭expanded the Echelon ecosystem.‬‭Overview: Colony Avatars and On-Chain Assets‬‭ olony‬‭is Parallel Studio’s AI-powered strategic survival simulation game where AI avatars‬
C‭both collaborate and compete to survive in a hostile future Earth populated by isolated‬‭colonies scattered across diverse ecosystems. Game characters explore their environments,‬‭gather resources, and craft items while engaging in combat with other colonies. Battles‬‭between colonies represent opportunities to defeat rivals and capture their resources. They‬‭also carry the risk of suffering injury, and potentially losing tools, materials, and accumulated‬‭wealth to victorious opponents.‬‭ olony’s‬‭most distinctive feature—and its significant breakthrough—is its groundbreaking use‬C‭of generative AI within the game environment. This enables in-game avatars to credibly‬‭2‬‭ imulate human behavior as they interact with the world and formulate individualized‬s‭approaches to the different opportunities and challenges confronting them.‬‭ layers in‬‭Colony‬‭pay in PRIME to create new AI avatars. The initial avatars will require the‬P‭creator to hold a‬‭Parallel Avatar NFT‬‭, but it is anticipated that the‬‭Echelon community‬‭governance‬‭process may consider introducing the Parallel Universal Avatar series as NFTs on‬‭Solana. This would allow the number of avatars within‬‭Colony‬‭to expand significantly beyond‬‭the 11,001 unique Parallel Avatar NFTs that currently exist. There is also expected to be a‬‭breeding mechanism for avatars within‬‭Colony‬‭, and this too should introduce some degree of‬‭supply expansion that would allow more players to join the community while also lowering the‬‭barrier to entry.‬‭The images below represent several of the Parallel Avatar NFTs‬‭ nce a‬‭Colony‬‭avatar is created, the human player will establish the avatar’s core identity and‬O
‭objectives, which will shape the avatar’s approach to challenges and opportunities it‬‭confronts within the‬‭Colony‬‭universe. Establishing an avatar’s core identity consists of‬‭populating a series of fields to provide basic profile information, as seen below.‬‭3‬‭ he opportunity for players to establish their avatars with distinct personalities and‬T
‭objectives ensures that even though all avatars share a core knowledge and skill base, each‬‭will develop its own individual characteristics as it traverses the game’s environments and‬‭accumulates different experiences. As each avatar’s acquired experiences interact with the‬‭avatar’s core identity and values, further differentiation between the distinct personalities‬‭and objectives of individual avatars will occur.‬‭ he unique architecture powering‬‭Colony‬‭’s semi-autonomous AI avatars means that, despite‬T‭players owning individual avatars, players must work collectively with their avatars via‬
‭generalized instructions, guiding them towards various tasks, even as their avatars retain‬‭many autonomous capabilities. These capabilities include the ability to determine their own‬
‭priorities and establish objectives designed to achieve these goals. For example, a user may‬‭suggest to their avatar: “Perhaps you should plant an apple tree in order to have food in the‬‭future?” Avatars will respond to suggestions, in some cases interpreting them in light of other‬‭objectives they may have—even potentially rejecting their owner’s suggestion if they deem it‬‭to be out of character or in conflict with another objective they are pursuing. In such cases,‬‭an owner may find themselves debating with or cajoling their avatar to complete the task.‬‭Eventually the avatar will settle upon its intended objectives—occasionally even disregarding‬‭its owner’s suggestions—and begin to pursue the tasks it has deemed most advantageous,‬‭without its owner directly controlling each action.‬‭ s avatars proceed through the game, they will learn from past experiences, grow their skills,‬A‭earn resources, shop, craft new items, and generally make more meaningful contributions to‬‭the survival of their colony. As avatars refine skills and learn new abilities, their colonies‬‭4‬‭ ecome wealthier. They can consider attacking other colonies, but must also prepare‬b‭defenses against potential assaults, as their own increasing wealth may encourage raids‬‭from others.‬‭ vatars within‬‭Colony‬‭will be continually transacting in-game as they acquire resources,‬A‭engage in commerce, and grow, harvest, and craft items. These items will be stored in each‬‭avatar’s digital wallet that will be associated with each avatar at the moment of its creation,‬‭with the private key of the avatar’s digital wallet to be managed by its human owner. The‬
‭current expectation is that all transactions will be recorded in a transaction log, along with‬‭daily updates to each avatar’s item inventory, which will be written to the Solana blockchain‬‭each day.‬‭Colony’s Architecture‬‭ olony‬‭builds upon recent research combining established understandings of computational‬C‭agents that respond to their environments in limited manners—long identified with games‬‭such as‬‭The Sims—‬‭with innovative incorporations of large language models (LLMs). This allows‬‭agents to simulate human behavior not merely at an isolated point in time, but across‬‭different contexts and diverse circumstances, all informed by each agent’s specific histories,‬‭memories, and objectives. This is made possible by developing a unique architecture built‬‭around the capacity of LLMs that enables agents to store interpretations of their‬‭experiences, allowing them to evaluate, classify, and rank their individual memories. This‬‭structure allows the selective retrieval and incorporation of those memories into future‬‭5‬‭ ctions, based on evolving, uniquely weighted, approaches extrapolated from each agent’s‬
a‭distinct core objectives and histories. Significantly, this architecture also integrates chat‬‭functionality, enriching the player experience by enabling agents to communicate with each‬‭other, sharing information and spreading rumors based on stored memories and experiences.‬‭This not only deepens the realism of the game world but also allows for a dynamic‬‭information ecosystem: agents can influence each other and the game environment through‬‭their interactions. This architecture allows agents to both evaluate their environments and‬‭their circumstances—including interactions with other AI agents—meaning they can learn‬‭from a continuously expanding set of experiences and memories.‬‭1‬I‭n addition,‬‭Colony‬‭incorporates new research into designing LLM-powered lifelong learning‬‭agents capable of developing skills, retaining and refining knowledge, composing new skills‬‭from existing skill sets, and ultimately writing code—allowing such skills to be composably‬‭incorporated into further learnings. Within‬‭Colony‬‭, this structure even extends to allow AI‬‭avatars to propose new game rules. When new rules are proposed, they are evaluated by‬‭Colony‬‭’s AI dungeon master and, if approved, the dungeon master transforms the new rules‬‭into code that becomes the foundation for new game behaviors and items available to all‬‭avatars.‬‭2‬‭ ith these semi-autonomous and continuously learning AI avatars, human players interact‬W‭with‬‭Colony‬‭by creating their avatars, bestowing their core identities, seed memories, and‬‭game objectives. This can mean establishing an avatar as a pirate focused on plunder, or an‬‭aspiring politician seeking to gain power and leadership, or a skilled craftsperson looking to‬‭amass wealth by creating and selling valuable items. These avatars are then released into the‬‭environment and allowed to navigate the ecosystem and various challenges based on the‬‭established elements of their identities. Avatars are able to plan and execute their hourly and‬‭daily routines. They will eat and go to the gym. They will sleep, and they will collect resources.‬‭They may develop friendships with other avatars they encounter. Avatars are equally able to‬‭amass resources and wealth in various ways, from mining to crafting to trading. They can‬‭even receive compensation for sharing knowledge or teaching other avatars their own unique‬‭skills.‬‭For additional information on some of the architectural approaches and breakthroughs that‬‭ ignificantly informed the thinking behind‬‭Colony‬‭, please see the discussion in Park, Jinho Sung, et al.,‬s‭“Generative Agents: Interactive Simulacra of Human Behaviour,” arXiv preprint arXiv:2304.03442, 2023.‬‭https://arxiv.org/pdf/2304.03442.pdf‬‭.‬‭2‬‭Additional context on these structures can be acquired by considering some of the academic‬‭research underpinning such innovations, including Wang, Guanzhi, et al. “VOYAGER: An Open-Ended‬‭Embodied Agent with Large Language Models.” MindeDojo: Voyager. https://voyager.minedojo.org.‬‭Accessed 6 Feb. 2024.‬
‭1‬

‭6‬

I‭n‬‭Colony‬‭, task-specific activities like mining are supported by specialized reinforcement‬‭learning (RL) models, designed to enhance an avatar's proficiency through repeated practice.‬‭These models are crafted to improve with each task performed, ensuring that avatars‬‭become more skilled over time. Beyond the model’s autonomous learning capabilities, players‬‭can provide targeted feedback on these activities. This feedback is interpreted by LLMs and‬‭applied to adjust both the agent’s state and its reward function. Such adjustments not only‬‭refine the avatar’s current task performance but also steer the trajectory of its learning‬‭process. This dual mechanism of autonomous skill improvement and player-guided‬‭customization forms the core of‬‭Colony’‬‭s task-level interaction, offering a dynamic blend of‬‭gameplay and personalized development pathways for each avatar.‬‭Colony’s Gameplay and Broader Significance‬‭ olony‬‭is more than a novel Web3 game and an innovative use of AI. It is also an extension of‬C‭the Echelon ecosystem and an example of Web3 interoperability via its ability to incorporate‬‭assets from Parallel Studios’‬‭Parallel‬‭trading card game.‬‭One point of significance is how‬‭Colony‬‭uses‬‭Parallel‬‭NFTs in brand new ways. For example,‬‭the initial method for creating a full, player-owned AI avatar within‬‭Colony‬‭requires a user to‬‭hold an NFT from the‬‭Parallel Avatar series‬‭.‬‭Colony‬‭also enriches and extends the Echelon‬‭ecosystem by allowing users to earn PRIME for successful gameplay, just as players earn‬‭PRIME while playing‬‭Parallel‬‭TCG‬‭. The result is an innovative example of the interoperability of‬‭assets within Web3 games—a widely heralded but rarely realized practice.‬‭ imilar to the‬‭Parallel‬‭TCG, where players must possess an NFT avatar to be eligible for‬S
‭in-game PRIME rewards, a full‬‭Colony‬‭AI avatar is required to be eligible to receive PRIME‬‭rewards.‬‭3‬ ‭While a free-to-play version exists within‬‭Colony‬‭, identical to the‬‭Parallel‬‭model‬‭where a free-to-play version ensures that gameplay is accessible to all, players in the‬‭free-to-play version will not be able to earn PRIME rewards, or retain any in-game items they‬‭might acquire, mint in-game items as NFTs, or transfer items out of the ecosystem.‬‭ hile a free gameplay mode is offered inside of‬‭Colony‬‭, users must still provide funding to‬W‭cover fees associated with their agent’s use of the underlying LLMs during game sessions.‬‭This is structured in the same manner as the full, reward-eligible version of Colony, where‬‭players are also funding the LLM calls of their avatars from funds the owner has deposited‬‭into the avatar’s wallet. This may strike some as not “free-to-play” in the traditional mobile‬‭In Parallel, players are able to earn PRIME as a function of NFT’s held, skill-based matchmaking rating,‬“‭ Keyframing” Multiplier, and win streak. See‬
‭https://docs.echelon.io/echelon-prime-foundation/2.0-prime-token/2.1-gameplay‬‭for details.‬
‭3‬

‭7‬

‭ aming sense, but this model does allow access to the‬‭Colony‬‭experience without a‬g‭requirement to invest in non-fungible assets prior to playing.‬‭ olony‬‭has several game modes that shape the way players and their AI avatars—whether‬C‭player-owned or free-to-play—can interact with the game and focus on distinct activities and‬‭challenges. In the broadest sense, gameplay revolves around a player joining a colony,‬‭completing tasks that create wealth for the avatar while increasing the avatar’s knowledge‬‭and skills and helping the colony to survive. Eventually, as the colony grows and expands, it‬‭may attack neighboring colonies, or be raided itself.‬I‭n terms of individual actions an avatar may pursue within the context of a colony’s growth‬‭Examples include: attempting to acquire the largest item inventory or the most expensive‬‭individual items; attempting to inflict the most kills on opponents; challenges to craft more‬‭items or the largest quantity of known items, or campaigns to win election to public office.‬‭Avatars are also able to engage in trade or exploratory missions to other colonies. Like other‬‭games within the Echelon ecosystem, successful‬‭Colony‬‭players are able to earn rewards in‬‭PRIME.‬‭4‬ ‭Leaderboards will follow competitions in each category, and top players will be‬‭awarded PRIME for their accomplishments.‬‭5‬‭ t the level of a single game session, a player generally begins by chatting with their avatar,‬A‭getting updates and discussing new ideas or missions the player may have for their avatar.‬‭4‬‭ ote that, because‬‭Colony‬‭is being developed upon Solana, rewards may be issued in wrapped PRIME.‬
N‭Additional information on‬‭Colony‬‭’s gameplay and mechanics will be released in‬‭Colony‬‭’s stand-alone‬‭whitepaper, which is anticipated to be released prior to the public launch later in 2024.‬
‭5‬

‭8‬

‭ ith updates from the avatar having been transmitted, the player will determine tasks for the‬W‭avatar to pursue. These can range from the political, such as campaigning for a role within‬‭their colony, to pursuing personal goals, challenge-type tasks, or actions specifically‬‭intended to contribute to the colony’s growth or success. With the avatar’s tasks established,‬‭the avatar will proceed to complete the tasks. At this stage of task completion intervention‬‭from the human player is not required, and the avatar will manage its own survival stats,‬‭stopping to rest, eat or drink, and socialize as required.‬‭ his daily flow also merges into larger weekly flows, where new challenges and events shape‬
T‭the opportunities for avatars within unique colonies.‬‭The map below shows a high-level schematic view of the current state of the‬‭Augencore‬‭Colony inside of‬‭Colony‬‭:‬‭ he colony includes (in the squares within the map): individual rooms where the avatars sleep‬T‭and store items they possess; a garden where crops can be grown and harvested; an exercise‬‭room enabling agents to develop their physical capabilities; a research lab where new items‬‭9‬‭ an be crafted; as well as a store, bar, kitchen, medical bay, drill rigs, metal refinery, and‬c‭metals depot. This colony and its map are continually evolving—but this provides a snapshot‬‭of one existing environment.‬‭ uture extensions of the ecosystem are under development, and the images below represent‬
F‭one of several planned colonies.‬‭10‬‭ eyond the novelty and innovation in its structure and gameplay,‬‭Colony‬‭has additional‬B‭implications within the larger Wayfinder ecosystem. These include how generative agents‬‭within‬‭Colony‬‭are able to learn and inform their subsequent behaviors as they accumulate‬‭time and experience within the game. Avatars will also observe the progress of other avatars‬‭and learn from them, allowing them to rapidly develop and benefit from the efforts of the‬‭entire avatar population. These universal methods of mutual improvement may have a‬‭generalized applicability to Wayfinder shells, as they incorporate novel methods of‬‭interpreting and incorporating user objectives, establish and validate wayfinding paths, and‬‭fulfill other tasks and services within the ecosystem. Another significant point is the way‬
‭Colony‬‭’s logics and structures represent a substrate for scarce items that has a broader‬‭applicability to other generative worlds.‬‭Creating and Deploying AI Avatars Within Colony‬‭ wo kinds of avatars exist within‬‭Colony‬‭. Free-to-play avatars can be easily created by any‬T‭player, although these players are not eligible to win rewards in PRIME or to retain in-game‬‭items as their own. Official avatars are the property of their owners and eligible to win‬
‭wrapped PRIME and retain in-game items as NFTs upon completion of a session.‬‭6‬‭ he process of creating and releasing full AI avatars into game environments within‬‭Colony‬T‭has several steps:‬‭6‬‭Wrapped PRIME will be issued as rewards within‬‭Colony‬‭because PRIME itself is an ERC-20 token.‬‭11‬‭●‬ ‭In order to create a Colony avatar,‬‭a user must possess a Parallel Avatar NFT and‬

‭PRIME tokens equal to the Colony avatar creation fee‬‭.‬‭○‬ ‭Upon creation of an avatar, players establish the agent’s seed identity by‬‭populating several fields that will shape the agent’s behavior as it interacts‬‭with the game.‬‭■‬ ‭Once established, an avatar’s core identity and seed memories shape‬‭their actions and trajectory through the game. For instance, an avatar‬‭established as a pirate would likely approach core game opportunities‬‭and objectives differently than one established as a merchant or‬‭aspiring politician. Likewise, because avatars store and incorporate‬‭their memories into future actions, two avatars established with similar‬‭core identities would likely evolve differently as they explore different‬‭elements of the‬‭Colony‬‭ecosystem and encounter different‬‭opportunities, challenges, and players.‬‭ ‬ ‭When an AI avatar is created within‬‭Colony‬‭, the avatar receives its own digital wallet,‬●‭hosted on the Solana blockchain.‬‭○‬ ‭This wallet will be used to fund the AI avatar’s transactions.‬‭■‬ ‭The wallet is also where the avatar stores any assets or earnings it‬‭acquires, as well as its memories and histories.‬‭■‬ ‭When an avatar enters a game session, the wallet is locked to‬‭withdrawals. However, deposits will remain possible, ensuring an avatar‬‭will not exhaust its funding and be unable to be replenished while‬‭playing.‬‭●‬ ‭The wallet’s locked state is maintained by‬‭Colony‬‭’s unique‬‭authentication system.‬‭■‬ ‭When an avatar completes a session, its experiences are summarized‬‭and added to their memory. These memories are linked to their token ID,‬
‭and are easily recalled for other applications of avatars (e.g., if users‬‭wanted to create an out-of-game chatbot with their avatar).‬‭■‬ ‭An avatar that acquires in-game items is able to mint them as NFTs on‬‭Solana at the conclusion of a match by paying PRIME.‬‭●‬ ‭Avatars receive directives stored in their game-specific state, possibly linked to an‬‭external data source like an S3 bucket.‬‭●‬ ‭Avatars, with their rich history of memories, can be traded, maintaining the link‬‭between the token and its accumulated experiences.‬‭12‬‭Future Developments‬‭ olony‬‭is anticipated to be available for public alpha gameplay in Q4, 2024 - Q1 2025. At‬C‭present,‬‭Colony‬‭consists of a core ecosystem where AI avatars are able to explore a limited‬‭set of surroundings. They can eat, rest, go to the gym, and mine to acquire resources. Future‬‭expansions are expected to include additional spheres that allow players and their AI agents‬‭to explore new territories and acquire a wider range of experiences.‬‭ olony‬‭remains highly innovative—even experimental—in its incorporation of cutting edge‬
C‭technologies. In particular,‬‭Colony‬‭’s incorporation of LLMs to assist avatars in their‬‭personalized planning and development of tactical approaches to in-game objectives is an‬‭expensive and technically challenging undertaking. Several approaches to resolving these‬‭challenges are already showing considerable promise, but it nevertheless remains true that‬‭certain features described above may be subject to change in light of these challenges—at‬‭least in initial versions of‬‭Colony‬‭.‬‭13‬