Dragons: Moonbeam Ecosystem Grant Proposal
Problem
The gaming industry is ripe for innovation, but there are several challenges to successfully integrate blockchain technology into gaming. Here are the key problems the Dragons Platform aims to address:
Lack of “Fun First” Games on Blockchain: Many of the existing blockchain games are built with a primary focus on monetization and tokenomics, often at the expense of gameplay and entertainment value. This has led to a landscape where there is a scarcity of genuinely fun and engaging games that leverage blockchain technology. The absence of “fun first” games has restricted the adoption of blockchain gaming to a niche audience, rather than attracting mainstream gamers.
Complexities of Blockchain Technology: For both gamers and developers, the technical complexities of blockchain can be daunting. Traditional gamers are accustomed to simple interfaces and instant play, while blockchain games often require managing wallets, understanding gas fees, and navigating through complicated onboarding processes. This steep learning curve discourages many potential players.
High Transaction Fees: Many blockchain platforms suffer from high transaction fees, which become a significant barrier in gaming where microtransactions are common. Players may find it uneconomical to conduct transactions for in-game assets or actions if the fees are prohibitively high.
Scalability Issues: As games can have thousands to millions of players, scalability is essential. Many existing blockchain solutions cannot handle the transaction throughput necessary for a smooth gaming experience. This can lead to slow transaction times and a poor user experience.
Fragmented and Isolated Gaming Assets: In traditional gaming, assets are usually confined to the game they are part of. Blockchain promises interoperability, but currently, there are few platforms that allow assets to be used across different games or traded in a broader marketplace.
Limited Ownership and Control: In many games, players do not have real ownership of in-game assets. They are often subject to the rules and controls of the game developers. Blockchain can offer true ownership, but this hasn’t been fully realized in the gaming industry.
Primary Goal
Our project is aimed to Maintain and Grow Activity (active users, TVL) on Moonbeam.
The Dragons game aims to address the multifaceted problems outlined above by building an engaging blockchain-based gaming ecosystem on Moonbeam that puts fun and user experience at the forefront, while seamlessly integrating the revolutionary aspects of blockchain technology. The primary goals are as follows:
Develop “Fun First” Games: Prioritize the development of games that are engaging, entertaining, and fun, while intelligently incorporating blockchain elements such as tokenomics and NFTs, without compromising the core gaming experience.
Simplify the User Experience: Create a seamless and user-friendly interface that abstracts away the complexities of blockchain. This includes easy onboarding, wallet management, and transaction processes so that gamers, whether they are familiar with blockchain or not, can quickly start playing.
Economic Viability: Implement a transaction system that is cost-effective and efficient, ensuring that players can engage in microtransactions without being burdened by high fees.
Scalable Infrastructure: Develop a robust and scalable infrastructure that can handle a high volume of transactions and interactions, ensuring a smooth and responsive gaming experience.
Interoperable Gaming Assets: Create an ecosystem where gaming assets are interoperable across different games and can be traded in a broader marketplace. This not only enhances the utility of these assets but also adds a new layer of depth and community engagement.
Empower Players through Ownership and Control: Utilize blockchain to provide players with true ownership of in-game assets and a say in the governance of the game ecosystem.
Attract and Support Game Developers: Provide the tools, resources, and support necessary for game developers to easily build and launch engaging blockchain games on the Dragons Platform, thereby growing the ecosystem.
Project Description:
The game, tentatively titled “Dragon’s” is a multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) set in a mythical world inhabited by dragons. Players can own and train dragons (NFTs), explore the world, complete quests, and interact with others. The initial NFT volume will be around 30,000, and the expected price point will depend on the market dynamics at launch. We’ll be releasing a whitepaper detailing the game mechanics, tokenomics, and NFT utility soon on the website we are almost finished with. While we know this is not ideal timing for when this tranche for the grant is due, we are diligently working toward a site that all questions regarding the game will be answered thoroughly.
Dragons is a blend of traditional gaming and blockchain technology. The gameplay itself will take place off-chain and will be primarily designed for PC. This approach ensures a seamless and familiar gameplay experience for both traditional and web3 gamers.
However, the power of blockchain will be utilized for certain aspects of the game, primarily revolving around in-game ownership and assets. Players will be able to use wallet connect to link their blockchain wallets to the game. This will allow players to prove ownership of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) which will represent in-game items, such as dragons or dragon equipment.
These NFTs will not just be static representations; they will be integrally tied to the gameplay. For example, owning a dragon NFT will give the player control over that dragon within the game. The specifics of each NFT, like their attributes, rarity, and performance within the game, will be linked to their corresponding blockchain representation. This method provides a bridge between the virtual world of the game and real-world ownership and economy. It enables a player-driven economy where players can truly own, trade, or sell their in-game assets in a transparent and secure manner
We are currently exploring an array of service providers that offer the ability to launch the game, create user accounts and authorization, the use of SDK’s to tie the game items to the engine the game is built in (Unreal Engine 5), as well as automatically create custodial wallets for in game use. They would also offer the ability to connect an external non custodial wallet to the game as well if a native web3 user prefers that.
We will be utilizing our reach to millions of our Gods of Olympus players, to onboard players to Dragons. We are aiming to make this a web 2.5 style of useability. Extracting away as much blockchain technical know-how as possible to bring over a traditional web2 user. If we succeed in our vision of reducing the web3 learning curve and UX friction, a traditional web2 user can make a game account, fund the wallet with a credit card, and buy necessary NFT’s for in-game assets without realizing the game is being played using Moonbeams blockchain.
Company Overview
Orb Interactive, LLC is an emerging gaming company focused on revolutionizing the gaming experience through blockchain integration. We are committed to providing gamers with immersive and interactive fantasy-themed environments, while ensuring transparency and security through blockchain technology. Our partnership with Moonbeam will enable cross-chain compatibility and ease-of-use for gamers and developers alike.
Requested GLMR Grant Amount
Requested Grant Amount: 2 million GLMR
Motivation for Grant Amount / Description
The grant will be utilized for:
Developing a game client and integrating it with Moonbeam.
Creating a series of fantasy-themed NFTs representing characters, items, and dragons.
Building a marketplace for trading NFTs.
Performing security audits and optimizations.
Community engagement and marketing.
Market Fit and Interest:
Yes, we have conducted an initial market study and run a series of focus group tests with gaming some of our communities. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, showing a high degree of interest in the fusion of traditional gaming and NFT ownership as well as for the theme of the game we have chosen. We would like to run even more market studies with a much higher sample size for additional components and integration of blockchain technology into the game.
Cross-Chain Partnerships:
We are currently in early discussions with several other game developers about cross-chain collaborations. We are confident about forming strategic partnerships that will enhance the utility and interoperability of our NFTs across multiple gaming ecosystems.
Guarantee to Moonbeam Community:
We are fully committed to launching our game on the Moonbeam network. Our primary guarantee to the Moonbeam community is that the NFTs, which are a core component of our game, will be minted exclusively on Moonbeam. Also, as part of our agreement with the grant, we will regularly update the community about our development progress to maintain transparency. As a team we are more than willing to sign any legal agreements the Moonbeam team would like to draw up in regards to this grant and the launch of our gaming NFT’s on Moonbeam to eliminate any feeling of mistrust from our team about where this game will land if Moonbeam’s ecosystem fund gives us our kickstart.
Other chain considerations:
When we look at what chain we would need to launch on, it would have to be one that is EVM compatible since developers who are most familiar with Ethereum can work on smart contracts for our game.
Cross-chain interoperability we believe is the future for NFT”s and gaming. We do not believe in one chain to rule them all theory. Moonbeam’s team shares this same synergy and is already integrating multiple protocols to ensure this future. In the context of an MMORPG, this can lead the way for novel gameplanet elements such as interoperable in-game assets, cross-chain questions, and a larger ecosystem of players from various blockchain networks.
Scalability and lower transaction costs: compared to other chains like ethereum, Moonbeam provides much higher scalability and lower transaction costs, which is going to be necessary for supporting a large number of players simultaneously playing the game and making frequent in-game transactions.
Lastly, Moonbeam leverages Polkadot’s shared security model, this ensures a safe environment for players and developers alike.
Other Funding Sources:
While we are pursuing this grant to accelerate our development, we also have explored initial seed funding from private investors and venture capital companies. While there is interest in the Dragons game from another web3 gaming company, we feel that their chain doesn’t make as much sense for what we are building as Moonbeam does in terms of interoperability and mass adoption. The game could live there, but we believe it will thrive on Moonbeam.
Additional grants:
We would not require additional grants, we believe that this grant will get us to the point of in game play and NFT launch to fund the remainder of the build. If for some unforeseen reason the NFT sale doesn’t go as expected, we would be in a very desirable position to secure remainder of funding from an investor to launch the game.
Unsuccessful NFT Sale:
If the initial NFT sale is less successful than anticipated, we have contingency plans in place. These include potential in-game adjustments to increase NFT demand, and an aggressive marketing and partnerships strategy to boost visibility and desirability of our NFTs. We are committed to making the game successful and ensuring early supporters and players benefit from their involvement.
Project Overview
Dragons is a fantasy-themed game that allows players to venture into mythical worlds, tame dragons, and engage in thrilling adventures. Through Moonbeam integration, in-game assets such as characters, dragons, and items will be tokenized as NFTs. This will enable players to have true ownership of their in-game assets, trade them, or use them across different games within the Moonbeam ecosystem.
The Dragons will also feature a marketplace for trading these NFTs, fostering a thriving economy within the game.
We have a proven track record of successful game launches that have gained substantial user traction. Looking at God’s of Olympus, raised significant funds through apple, android, and amazon app stores and acquired a user base exceeding 10 million players. This game launched over 7 years ago with an increasingly active player base. We have continued to grow and engage this community over time through regular updates and the integration of user feedback including the brand new open war feature, demonstrating our capacity to retain and grow our player base.
We have a team of 5 full stack blockchain developers that have been working with us on the concepts for the game and helping us to pick the best chain to implement features of the game on. 3 of these developers have worked extensively on moonbeam dapps in their work history and all had glowing feedback about the Moonbeam blockchain as well as community for the ideal chain to launch Dragons on.
1042×1216 356 KB
Team
Orb Interactive is an Independent games development studio. Our founders have a cumulative 72 years of experience across multiple disciplines in the development process and have worked on various platforms and game engines to deliver award winning game experiences.
Our founder’s previous works include RTS titles (Axis and Allies and the Kohan series, which won three RTS of the Year awards), various AAA shooters such as F.E.A.R. Extraction Point (Expansion Pack of the Year), the Section 8 series, the minimalist multiplayer shooter MINIMUM, and the mobile title Gods of Olympus, which was featured on Apple’s App Store.
1150×317 478 KB
Phillip Morales 3 - Co-Founder. Phillip has worked on several AAA titles in the role of Creative Director always striving for a high end cohesive experience while focusing on the fun factor of games
Enrique Pina 2 - Co-Founder. Enrique has worked on various AAA tiles across various disciplines which includes; Art Direction, Lead Character Art, Lead Weapons Art, Lead UX
Zac Forcher 1 - Co-Founder. Zac has worked on a variety of AAA tiles in a variety of roles but specializing in animation and visual effects.
They have worked closely together over 24 years and are able to compliment each other in a way that just propels their work forward in a constantly changing and competitive environment.
Orb Interactive, in collaboration with Aegis Interactive, co-developed the very successful mobile title Gods of Olympus which was featured on the App Store. Approaching 10 million downloads, the game boasts and average of 4.7 stars across 39K reviews on the App store and an average of 4.6 stars across 473K reviews on Google Play. The game still enjoys an active player base with new releases on a regular basis.
Our team is also composed of five full-stack blockchain developers, each bringing a depth of knowledge and expertise in Solidity, Rust, and Move programming languages. They are not just developers, but pioneers in the blockchain gaming industry with a cumulative 25 years of experience in crafting sophisticated smart contracts.
Their extensive experience in blockchain development has brought them to making dapps, marketplaces, smart contracts for blockchain games, and working with protocols such as layerzero to exploit the new ability of interoperability via ONFT/OFT protocols.
https://www.orbinteractive.io/
We have posted here about applying to moonbeam’s ecosystem Grant.
We are a team that knows the execution of a game from ideation to launch.
1280×720 1.3 MB
Use of Grant
Develop the 3D assets for NFT generation
Create a playable proof of concept
Security Audits and Optimizations: Ensuring the platform is secure and optimized for performance.
Community Engagement and Marketing: Building a community of gamers and promoting Dragons.
Miscellaneous: Covering unforeseen expenses or additional features based on community feedback.
Timeline and Milestones for Use of Grant
We would be starting on Dragon’s as soon as we have secured funding from the grant (if chosen). Within 60 days the 3d in game ready NFT’s will be ready for launch. The Grant will be used to fund the full game on Moonbeam.
Month 1-3: Conceptualization and design of the NFT’s. Creation of NFT assets and subsequent launch.
Month 4-6: Development of game client. Integration with Moonbeam.
Month 7-8: Setting up the marketplace. Security audits.
Month 9: Community engagement and marketing campaigns.
Month 10: Launch of the Dragons game on Moonbeam.
Why Moonbeam
Moonbeam stands out as an ideal choice for building the Dragons blockchain game, and here are the reasons why it provides a fitting environment for Dragons:
Ethereum Compatibility: Moonbeam is highly compatible with the Ethereum network. For game developers familiar with Ethereum’s tools and standards like Solidity and ERC-20/721, this makes the transition to Moonbeam seamless. This is essential for Dragons as it allows the team to focus more on game development rather than figuring out an entirely new blockchain environment.
Scalability and Performance: The Dragons game requires high performance and scalability to support its intricate game mechanics, numerous players, and in-game transactions. Moonbeam, as a parachain of Polkadot, offers increased throughput and more efficient transaction processing than traditional blockchains, which is crucial for the game’s performance.
Cross-Chain Interoperability: Dragons aims to create an ecosystem where gaming assets have utility beyond just the game. Moonbeam’s integration with the Polkadot network facilitates interoperability with other blockchains. This enables Dragons to have cross-chain assets and partnerships, potentially allowing in-game assets to be used in other games or ecosystems.
Customizability and Upgradability: Moonbeam allows for a high degree of customization, which is vital for a game like Dragons that needs to tailor blockchain parameters to fit the game’s requirements. The ability to upgrade the blockchain without hard forks means that the game can evolve over time without causing disruptions to the community.
Secure and Decentralized: As a parachain on Polkadot, Moonbeam inherits the shared security model of the Polkadot network. For Dragons, this ensures the security and integrity of in-game assets and transactions, which is critical as these assets may have significant real-world value.
Community and Governance: Moonbeam has a thriving community and a robust governance model. For Dragons, this is an opportunity to tap into an existing community of blockchain enthusiasts, and also enable the gaming community to have a say in the development and governance of the Dragons ecosystem.
Cost-Effectiveness: Transaction fees on Moonbeam are considerably lower than on networks like Ethereum. This is particularly important for a game like Dragons, where players will be engaging in many transactions, such as trading and utilizing in-game assets.
Vision of Success
Short-term success:
Specific: Launch Dragons NFTs on Moonbeam and sell a predefined number of NFTs sufficient to fund the complete development of the game.
Measurable: Achieve a full sell-out of the initial NFT offering within the first three months post-launch.
Achievable: Develop a vibrant community of active players, quantified by attaining 100,000 active users within the first three months post-launch.
Relevant: Facilitate a thriving NFT marketplace, tracked by achieving at least 5,000 unique trades per month within the first three months post-launch.
Time-bound: Secure interest for game integration from at least three other game developers within the first six months post-launch.
Long-term success:
Specific: Establish Dragons as a leading blockchain-based fantasy game.
Measurable: Maintain a high engagement rate within our community, defined by retaining at least 70% of our active users annually.
Achievable: Consistently expand the Dragons community, with a goal of growing the user base by at least 25% year over year.
Relevant: Enhance game features, expansions, and improvements based on community feedback and market trends, aiming for at least two major updates per year.
Time-bound: Achieve these objectives within a five-year timeframe post-launch.
Rationale
The Dragons Platform aims to revolutionize the gaming industry by merging the captivating world of fantasy gaming with the benefits of blockchain technology, via integration with Moonbeam. Here are the reasons that form the basis of this project:
Evolving Gaming Industry: The gaming industry is evolving rapidly, and there is a shift towards incorporating blockchain technology. Players are seeking more control over in-game assets and interoperability across games. The Dragons Platform meets these needs by creating a fantasy gaming world on the Moonbeam blockchain.
True Asset Ownership: Integrating NFTs in the Dragons game ensures true ownership for players. They can have complete control over in-game assets, such as characters and items, trade them in a marketplace, and possibly use them across different games in the future.
Secure and Decentralized: Using Moonbeam, a Polkadot parachain, ensures top-notch security and a decentralized network. This adds trust and integrity to the Dragons platform, as players can be confident about the safety of their assets and the fairness of the game.
Interoperability and Scalability: Moonbeam’s compatibility with Ethereum assets and smart contracts, coupled with the interoperability provided by Polkadot, makes it easier for Dragons to collaborate with other projects and games. Additionally, Moonbeam’s architecture is inherently scalable, which is crucial for a game that could potentially attract a massive player base.
Microeconomy and Financial Incentives: By establishing an in-game economy through the tokenization of assets, Dragons provide financial incentives for players. This could lead to an ecosystem where players can earn by trading assets, participating in battles, or creating content.
Community Engagement and Governance: Blockchain integration allows for community-based governance. Players can have a say in the development and evolution of the game, making the platform more adaptive to the community’s needs.
Innovation and Job Creation: As the Dragons platform expands, there is potential for community members and developers to create new content, characters, or even entirely new games. This not only fuels innovation but also creates opportunities within the ecosystem.
Broadening Adoption of Blockchain: By presenting a user-friendly interface and an engaging gaming experience, the Dragons platform can attract non-crypto savvy individuals to the blockchain space, contributing to the broader adoption of blockchain technology.
Dragons will bring a whole new wave of web2 to web3 players onto moonbeam. Using our massive community that love our games and ability to create fun and engaging experiences for years on end, using easy to onboard platforms to connect our game to NFT asset ownership, we plan to be the catalyst game in the blockchain space for mass adoption. With Moonbeam as the blockchain we are launching on you will take advantage of this new wave of players that come over for a true fun inspiring game on the blockchain.
Steps to Implement
Design and Conceptualization: In the initial phase, the team will design the game, define characters, plot, and in-game items. In parallel, we will identify the technical requirements for integrating with Moonbeam.
NFT Creation and Tokenization: Create and tokenize in-game assets such as characters, dragons, and items as NFTs, ensuring their compatibility with the Moonbeam blockchain.
Game Development and Integration: Develop the game client and integrate it with Moonbeam for blockchain features. This includes smart contracts for the NFT marketplace and in-game transactions.
Marketplace Setup: Develop a user-friendly marketplace within the Dragons game, enabling players to trade NFTs seamlessly.
Testing and Security Audits: Rigorous testing of the game mechanics, NFT transactions, and integration with Moonbeam. Conduct security audits to ensure the platform’s integrity.
Community Building and Marketing: You can check out our website at https://www.orbinteractive.io/ Our Dragons discord and twitter is already made, just waiting for the official launch of our social media. We will then engage with the gaming community, gather feedback, and market the game to build a robust user base. This could include beta testing for a selected group of players.
Launch: Official launch of the Dragons game on Moonbeam. Monitor for any issues and gather feedback for further improvements.
Post-Launch Support and Development: Continuous development and support post-launch, including releasing new content, features, and resolving any issues. Also, working towards integrating other fantasy-themed games into the Dragons Platform.
Expansion and Partnerships: Actively seek partnerships with other game developers and expand the ecosystem. Collaborate with gaming communities to incorporate suggestions and enhance the platform.
