Cardano Realms: An NFT-Based Strategic Card Game

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Cevdet Baran Oral

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Individual

[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] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

Cardano Realms: A PvP strategic card game utilizing NFTs on the Cardano blockchain, featuring collectible card sets, ADA-based trading, and a reward system to drive ecosystem engagement.

[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?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

Cardano Realms will be developed as an open-source project. The game's smart contracts, core logic, and front-end code will be publicly available on GitHub under the MIT License. This approach allows for community contributions, audits, and potential forks, fostering innovation within the Cardano ecosystem. While the game assets (artwork, sound) will remain proprietary to protect our unique visual identity, the underlying technology will be fully open source.

[METADATA] Horizons

Gaming

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Cardano Realms is an innovative, blockchain-native card game that leverages Cardano's NFT capabilities to create an engaging, strategic gaming experience. Key features include:

1. NFT-Based Cards: Each creature card is a unique NFT on the Cardano blockchain, ensuring true ownership and scarcity.
2. Strategic PvP Gameplay: Players battle each other in turn-based matches, using their NFT creature cards to attack and defend.
3. Collectible Card Sets: Cards are grouped into themed sets, encouraging collection and trading among players.
4. ADA Integration: Players can buy, sell, and trade cards using ADA, driving real economic value within the Cardano ecosystem.
5. Reward System: Completing card sets earns players exclusive badges, also minted as NFTs, adding another layer of collectibility.

Game Mechanics:

• Each player starts with a deck of 5 creature cards and 30 health points.
• Players take turns drawing cards and playing creature cards onto the battlefield.
• Creatures have attack and defense values.
• On each turn, players can attack with their creatures or use them to defend against opponent attacks.
• The game ends when one player's health reaches zero.
• Unique "Realm" cards can be played to provide temporary bonuses to all creatures on the field, adding strategic depth.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

Cardano Realms will have a significant positive impact on the Cardano ecosystem:

1. Increased Adoption: We aim to attract 500 registered players within six months, introducing many new users to the Cardano ecosystem.
2. Enhanced NFT Utilization: By minting over 100 unique NFT cards, we'll showcase Cardano's NFT capabilities at scale.
3. ADA Circulation: With a target of 10,000 ADA in trading volume, we'll drive increased usage and liquidity of ADA.
4. Community Growth: The game will foster a strong, active community of players and traders, expanding Cardano's user base.
5. Technical Innovation: As an open-source project, Cardano Realms will contribute reusable code and smart contracts to the ecosystem.

We will measure impact through:

• User acquisition and retention metrics
• NFT minting and trading volume statistics
• Community engagement metrics (Discord/Telegram activity, tournament participation)
• Contributions to and forks of our open-source repositories

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

We are two enthusiastic content creators from diverse backgrounds leading this project.

• Baran, a 21-year-old software engineering student, is a skilled full-stack developer and professional designer. He has expertise in writing scientific papers and is a Technofest finalist in financial technologies with a project on a robo financial advisor.

• Kaya, aged 20, is also a talented developer and IT student. He has published papers with TÜBİTAK on agricultural technologies and has a successful project proposal focused on developing the ecosystem in Turkey through podcasts (Idea #25611 on Fund 10). Kaya brings four years of experience in blockchain technologies.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1: Foundation and Design (Month 1)

A: Milestone outputs

• Completed game design document
• Finalized smart contract architecture
• Initial set of 50 unique card designs

B: Acceptance criteria

• Game design document approved by all team members and advisor
• Smart contract architecture reviewed and validated by blockchain expert
• 50 card designs approved by the art director and game designer

C: Evidence of milestone completion

• Game design document in PDF format
• Smart contract architecture diagram and technical specification
• High-resolution files of 50 card designs

Milestone 2: Core Development (Month 2)

A: Milestone outputs

• Functional game prototype with basic turn-based gameplay
• Implemented basic UI/UX
• Set up development and testing environments

B: Acceptance criteria

• Prototype allows for two players to engage in a full game cycle
• UI/UX implements core game functionalities and is navigable
• Development and testing environments are operational and documented

C: Evidence of milestone completion

• Video demonstration of the game prototype
• Screenshots of the implemented UI/UX
• Documentation of development and testing environment setups

Milestone 3: NFT Integration and Marketplace (Month 3)

A: Milestone outputs

• Implemented NFT minting functionality
• Developed card trading marketplace
• Integrated ADA payments

B: Acceptance criteria

• NFT minting successfully creates unique tokens for cards
• Marketplace allows listing, buying, and selling of NFT cards
• ADA payments are securely processed for marketplace transactions

C: Evidence of milestone completion

• Smart contract code for NFT minting
• Video demonstration of marketplace functionality
• Transaction logs showing successful ADA payments

Milestone 4: Closed Alpha Testing (Month 4)

A: Milestone outputs

• Conducted closed alpha with 250 players
• Gathered and analyzed user feedback
• Implemented critical improvements based on feedback

B: Acceptance criteria

• 250 players participated in the alpha test for at least one week
• Comprehensive feedback report compiled and analyzed
• At least three critical improvements implemented based on feedback

C: Evidence of milestone completion

• Alpha test participation metrics
• Feedback analysis report
• Changelog documenting implemented improvements

Milestone 5: Polish and Optimization (Month 5)

A: Milestone outputs

• Refined gameplay based on alpha feedback
• Optimized smart contracts and server infrastructure
• Implemented reward system and badges

B: Acceptance criteria

• Gameplay refinements address top 5 user concerns from alpha
• Smart contracts and servers handle 500 concurrent users without issues
• Reward system successfully issues badges as NFTs

C: Evidence of milestone completion

• Updated game design document highlighting refinements
• Performance test results for smart contracts and servers
• Video demonstration of the reward system and badge issuance

Final Milestone: Launch and Marketing (Month 6)

A: Milestone outputs

• Launched open beta
• Executed marketing campaign
• Hosted inaugural tournament

B: Acceptance criteria

• Open beta successfully launched with at least 500 registered players
• Marketing campaign reaches 1 million impressions across platforms
• Inaugural tournament completed with at least 50 participants

C: Evidence of milestone completion

• Open beta launch metrics (user registrations, active players)
• Marketing campaign analytics report
• Tournament participation statistics and highlights video

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

->Baran Oral LinkedIn Profile GitHub Profile

-->Role: Project Lead & Game Architect Background:

--->Baran is a 21-year-old software engineering student, a skilled full-stack developer, a professional designer, and a proficient writer of scientific papers. As a Teknofest finalist in financial technologies, Baran brings a strong technical and creative skill set to the team. His expertise in software development and game design will be crucial in architecting the core game logic, smart contract integration, and overall project management of Cardano Realms.

->Kaya Yılmaz LinkedIn Profile GitHub Profile

-->Role: Blockchain Specialist & NFT Implementation Lead Background:

--->Kaya is a 20-year-old IT student and skilled developer with four years of experience in blockchain technologies. Kaya has authored papers for TÜBİTAK related to agricultural technologies and has a successful track record of project proposals, including one focused on developing ecosystems in Turkey through podcasts (Idea #25611 on Fund 10). Kaya's experience in cybersecurity, cryptology, and blockchain development will be instrumental in implementing the NFT functionality, developing the marketplace, and ensuring the security of the Cardano Realms ecosystem.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Development Costs: 6000 ADA

• Core game development: 3000 ADA
• Smart contract and NFT implementation: 2000 ADA
• UI/UX development: 1000 ADA

Design and Artwork: 2500 ADA

• Card designs (100 unique cards): 1500 ADA
• UI/UX design: 1000 ADA

Infrastructure: 1500 ADA

• Server setup and maintenance: 1000 ADA
• Testing environments: 500 ADA

Marketing and Community Building: 2000 ADA

• Social media campaigns: 800 ADA
• Influencer partnerships: 700 ADA
• Community management tools: 500 ADA

Legal and Compliance: 1000 ADA

• Legal consultation for NFT implementation: 600 ADA
• Terms of service and privacy policy development: 400 ADA

Operational Costs: 1500 ADA

• Project management tools: 500 ADA
• Team communication software: 300 ADA
• Miscellaneous expenses: 700 ADA

Contingency Fund: 500 ADA

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

The 15000 ADA investment in Cardano Realms represents exceptional value for the Cardano ecosystem:

1. User Acquisition: We aim to bring 500 new users to the Cardano ecosystem, effectively spending only 30 ADA per new user acquired.
2. NFT Showcase: By minting 100+ NFTs, we're demonstrating Cardano's NFT capabilities at scale, potentially attracting more NFT projects to the ecosystem.
3. ADA Utility: With a target of 10,000 ADA in trading volume, we're driving intermediate ADA usage, potentially increasing its value and utility.
4. Open Source Contribution: As an open-source project, we're contributing valuable code and smart contracts that can be reused by other projects, multiplying the investment's impact.
5. Community Building: The game will foster an active community, increasing overall engagement within the Cardano ecosystem.
6. Marketing Value: Successful players and valuable cards can become talking points, organically marketing Cardano to the broader gaming community.
7. Long-term Revenue: The game's economy will generate ongoing transaction fees, contributing to Cardano's sustainability.

In essence, this project not only creates a new application on Cardano but nurtures an entire ecosystem of players, collectors, and traders. The potential for user acquisition, ADA circulation, and ecosystem growth far outweighs the initial investment, making Cardano Realms an excellent value proposition for the Cardano community.