2B3D StormRiders Action Sports NFT/Play-to-Earn Game on Cardano - Pre-Production Phase

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Harris Warren

[GENERAL] Email address of main applicant

harris.warren@2b3d.com

Additional applicants

Andrew Bjarnsen

Robert Bell

Gus Buckner

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

6

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language.

No

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.” .

No dependencies.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

No

[GENERAL] If NO, please describe which outputs are not going to be open source. If YES, please write “Project will be fully open source.”

Portions of the project may be open source in the future.

[METADATA] Category of Proposal

Gaming

[METADATA] SDG rating

N/A

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

2B3D Inc is proud to introduce StormRiders, an ActionVerse that brings the excitement and thrill of action sports into the digital world. In a world where physical experiences are increasingly limited, StormRiders offers an immersive and dynamic environment for players to engage with.

ActionVerse is a new term that we are using to describe the metaverse specifically designed for action sports enthusiasts. We believe that this term better reflects the high-energy, adrenaline-fueled world of action sports that StormRiders aims to recreate.

StormRiders is not just a game, it's a community. We're partnered with MedQuest, striving to impact the real world positively by supporting veterans battling mental health conditions right within our game. It's our pledge to intertwine digital action with real-world impact.

At the heart of StormRiders is a clear and compelling purpose: to bring the thrill of action sports to a worldwide audience and foster connections between people in innovative ways. We achieve this through the use of advanced technologies like Unreal Engine and Pixel Streaming, which provide an immersive and seamless experience. The end result is an ActionVerse that merges play-to-earn gaming, NFTs, and e-commerce to forge a new digital economy.

Game Title

StormRiders: The Actionverse

https://youtu.be/i5UeVY87_r4

High Concept

An open-world action sports game set in a post-apocalyptic Earth, where players engage in skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, complete quests, and use elemental powers to save the world from a dark energy known as The Vale.

Genre

Action Sports, RPG, Open World, Play-to-Earn

Target Audience

Action sports enthusiasts, RPG gamers, cryptocurrency enthusiasts, ages 13 and up

Unique Selling Points

• Action Sports with innovative tricks and combos
• Action Sports with elemental powers
• Customization and progression
• Open-world exploration
• Time travel and learn about action sports history
• Play-to-earn cryptocurrency integration
• Ride and play with verified real pro athletes
• Action house and RPG elements
• In-game stores for brands
• Cross-platform play

Engine

Unreal Engine 5.2, Cardano (ADA) blockchain.

Platforms

PC, Consoles, VR, Mobile

The StormRiders game has been in the planning phase since January 2021. The 

• Q1 2021 Basement Game Room Demo (UE4)
• Q2 2021 Website v1
• Q3 2021 Space Station Homeroom Demo v1 (UE4)
• Q4 2021 1940’s Homeroom Demo v1 (UE4)
• Q1 2022 Website v2
• Q2 2022 Metaverse Game Audit (iHobo)
• Q3 2022 Space Station Homeroom Demo v2 (UE5)
• Q4 2022 StormRiders Design Start
• Q1 2023 Website v3, StormRiders Demo v1
• Q2 2023 StormRiders Pro Athletes Team

Next in 2023-24

• Q3 2023 Pre-Production Start
• Q4 2023 Pre-Production End / Development Start
• Q1 2024 StormRiders Development
• Q2 2024 StormRiders Trailer
• Q3/Q4 2024 StormRiders Playable Demo

The game is now ready to move into the pre-production phase. Pre-production will include the creation of storyboards and a set of prototypes. The prototypes will be tested with the community to ensure the game’s success. 

As the next phase is intensive it will be important to bring up the team to develop the art style, color palette and the game’s theme and genre.

Key elements to be nailed down during pre-production.

• Art Direction: Ensuring Artistic Consistency
• Artists play a crucial role in maintaining the art style and color palette that align with the game's theme and genre.
• Art style guide
• Mechanics and Physics: Collaboration for Seamless Integration
• Developers must establish and finalize the mechanics, physics, and model processing within the game.
• Depending on how these decisions impact the script or gameplay, input from artists, writers, and engineers may be required.
• Their collaboration ensures a smooth integration of various elements, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
• Setting Limitations: Guiding the Team
• Engineers communicate the technical limitations to the team.
• The writing team's desire for a visually grand cinematic finale may exceed the rendering capabilities of the game engine.
• Developers might propose mechanics that could potentially cause performance issues.
• This phase is crucial for defining boundaries and aligning expectations among the teams.
• Project Leadership: Balancing and Aligning Teams
• Project leads serve as mediators, harmonizing the demands of each team.
• They make final decisions, remove obstacles, and keep everyone aligned and informed.
• Acting as the central point of communication, project leads ensure a cohesive vision and collaboration across all departments.
• Script Development: Crafting the Game's Narrative
• Writers are responsible for developing the game's script, characters, and the immersive world they inhabit.
• The script influences art direction, mechanics, and the creation of environments.
• Collaboration among writers, artists, and developers ensures a cohesive and engaging storyline that enhances the overall gameplay experience.

[IMPACT] How does your proposed solution address the challenge and what benefits will this bring to the Cardano ecosystem?

StormRiders will push the envelope of the gaming use case on blockchain. By creating compelling content in the ActionVerse the cardano ecosystem will enjoy a new wave of community.

[IMPACT] How do you intend to measure the success of your project?

The project is considered to be successful if it provides the foundation for the StormRiders game to move into the production phase. The project will be successful if by both qualitative and quantitative measures we garner support from the cardano community for further development. Feedback from the community and the expansion of engagement on discord, youtube and twitter.

[IMPACT] Please describe your plans to share the outputs and results of your project?

1) Periodic engagement with Cardano community over multiple channels of communication Discord channels, Youtube, Twitter Spaces and others.

2) Real time implementation feedback and loop available on the website https://2b3d.com

3) Timely and on schedule delivery within the set deadlines

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability?

Our original core team have been working on game development since 2003 and have the support from many professional AAA game development advisors. The team has deep connections to the action sports industry and has relationships already established with a number of pro athletes. Harris Warren is a key member of the project and has a long history of engaging and working in the Cardano and Catalyst community.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What are the main goals for the project and how will you validate if your approach is feasible?

This proposal also lays the foundation for wider Cardano ecosystem adoption beyond blockchain users. This will potentially enrich the ecosystem with a collaborative metaverse with active participants such as traditional Web2 gamers and will provide a migration path to transition them to Web3 Gamers. The game has been in planning since 2021 and elements of the game have already been developed using Unreal Engine 5.2 and it will be powered by Cardano for the community.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed breakdown of your project’s milestones and each of the main tasks or activities to reach the milestone plus the expected timeline for the delivery.

2B3D has completed initial planning of the StormRiders game and the next phase of development is to move into pre-production. 2B3D is seeking experienced game professionals from the Cardano community and beyond to develop the concept further and produce the game design documentation that will pave the path for technical implementation and team build out. With the ramp up the game is expected to be complete with pre-production within 6 months.

Project Kickoff

Bring in the initial team to develop the Game Design Documentation and Technical Plan.

This will include hiring an Art Director, Technical Director, and Gameplay Network Engineer to fully layout the timeline to be ready to go into production.

Budget: ₳250,000

First Milestone: Concept Development

• Develop an Artistic Style Guide or Art Bible as a communication tool from the Art Director to the art team, articulating the precise aesthetic for the art assets.
• Complete a Game Concept Document that encapsulates:
• High concept
• Core gameplay mechanics and gameplay loops
• Establishment of the main storyline and lore
• Development of player classes, skills, and lore
• UI/UX Wireframes
• Demo asset list
• Prototyping in Unreal Engine 5

Budget: ₳150,000

Second Milestone: Game Design Documentation

• Create a Game Design Document (GDD)
• Finalize Play-to-earn mechanics
• Establish core gameplay mechanics and systems
• Define game modes and rules
• Determine control schemes for different platforms
• Develop player abilities and progression system, including character abilities, statistics, gear system, progression systems, and cosmetic customization
• Implement crafting and building systems
• Incorporate an auction house/in-game marketplace
• Finalize character design
• Complete the narrative/story
• Level Design, incorporating both open-world and linear layouts for skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, and procedural level design
• Implement music and sound systems
• Design the User Interface and User Experience, including HUD, in-game menus, diegetic player UI, in-game store e-commerce, in-game marketplace/auction house, character creation, game launcher (download version), etc
• Compile a comprehensive asset list
• Prototyping in Unreal Engine 5

Budget: ₳141,359

Third Milestone: Technical Planning

• Identify technical requirements and vision for StormRiders, ensuring alignment with overall project goals
• Determine key technologies and tools needed, such as server infrastructure for multiplayer, blockchain for P2E features, etc.
• Define technical architecture for scalability and performance
• Develop a schedule and budget plan
• Plan the resources required for development
• Estimate the budget for the pre-production and production phases
• Conduct a Risk Assessment to identify potential technical risks, challenges, and develop a mitigation strategy to ensure project success
• Define the team structure, roles, and responsibilities
• Establish side storylines and side quests
• Produce a Technical Design Document (TDD) that supplements the GDD
• Compile a backlog for the development teams
• Establish and maintain technical standards, processes, and workflows to optimize development efficiency and code quality
• Mentor and develop team members, promoting continuous learning and fostering a culture of innovation
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of AI technologies and their potential to enhance efficiency and streamline workflows
• Create basic prototypes for core game mechanics and systems in Unreal Engine 5

Budget: ₳27,334

As the pre-production phase concludes, the team should possess a clear understanding of the intended game design and a detailed blueprint to guide the production phase. The game design document will serve as the project's cornerstone, guiding the team through the production process while allowing creative freedom and adaptability for changes and new ideas.

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please describe the deliverables, outputs and intended outcomes of each milestone.

First Milestone Deliverable:

Comprehensive write up of the narrative, game concept and core mechanics will be provided to gitbook for community review and comment.

Second Milestone Deliverable:

The Game Design Documentation will be produced and a summary of the document will be made available. 

Third Milestone Deliverable:

The Technical Design Documentation will be produced and a summary of the document, including risks and organization will be made available.

[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

Please see above

[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

Metaverse NFT Gaming, Play-to-Earn is a growing use case that will fuel Massive adoption. The team has decades of experience building relationships and has the industry pull to bring multiple action sports celebrities, legendary superstars and brands together. By tapping into the $35 billion action sports market, we can draw new users to Cardano, enriching its ecosystem. Offering a high-quality game and e-commerce powered by Cardano is vital for attracting millions of new users to the Cardano network.

[IMPORTANT NOTE] The Applicant agreed to Fund10 rules and also that data in the Submission Form and other data provided by the project team during the course of the project will be publicly available.

I Accept