Boosting Cardano's Share in Web3 Gaming.

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

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

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

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

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

Our initiative aims to elevate Cardano as a key player in blockchain gaming, significantly boosting its market cap and active user wallets.

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

[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?

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

This project will not feature an open-source code repository, as it does not involve coding. However, all financial transactions—including advertising costs, overhead expenses, and measurable outcomes—will be transparently documented and made publicly available.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Our initiative is designed to propel Cardano into a prominent position within the blockchain gaming industry, unlocking substantial growth potential for both market capitalization and active user wallets.

The leading gaming blockchains in Q1 2024 by active wallets include Polygon, Ronin, Solana, BNB Chain, and Skale. These platforms have gained prominence in the gaming industry primarily through successful game titles developed on their networks, rather than through marketing campaigns aimed at the chain itself. For instance, the success of Heroes of Mavia significantly boosted BASE's user activity.

To replicate this organic growth model, our strategy focuses on a strategic marketing investment to showcase the potential of Chains of War and demonstrate our commitment to the Cardano ecosystem. With an allocated budget of 300K ADA, our plan includes:

1. Press Releases and Sponsored Articles: We will publish content on top-tier cryptocurrency media outlets like Coindesk, Cointelegraph, AMBCrypto, Decrypt, The Block, CoinMarketCap, DappRadar, and CoinGeck.

1. Influencer Partnerships: We will collaborate with influential content creators on Twitter and YouTube, including figures like Jesus Martinez, Yellowpanther, and Alex Becker, to leverage their audience and enhance engagemen.

1. CPM Campaigns: Similar to Google Ads, these campaigns will disseminate our message across a broad spectrum of cryptocurrency-focused audiences, ensuring wide reach and engagemen.

While our budget of 300K ADA may seem modest compared to the investments of industry giants like Immutable X and Gala, it's crucial to recognize the importance of starting somewhere—especially given the current lack of marketing spend in the gaming sector by Cardano. It's also worth noting that without the success of flagship titles like Gods Unchained, platforms like Immutable X would not have achieved their current status.

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

The value to the broader Cardano community lies in enhancing Cardano's media presence, a chain typically associated with meticulous research and a cautious pace. Introducing gaming into the Cardano narrative will create the perceptions of action, modernity, and practical applications.

The impact of our efforts is quantifiable. Every media and social publication will be tracked and analyzed for metrics such as reach, interactions, likes, and comments.

Results will be transparently documented on a Chains of War repository site, publicly accessible and updated regularly with significant new developments, like major publications or social media posts.

[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?

Chains of War, a PC game in development by Blue Fork bv, a publicly registered company in The Netherlands. Renowned for its integrity and a consistent history of development on Cardano during the bear market, Blue Fork is also fully transparent ("doxxed").

We are dedicated to the continued development of Chains of War, channeling the majority of our funds into its progress. Coinciding with our plans to release the first Alpha version this year, we are also crafting a strategic marketing plan. With additional funding from Catalyst, we aim to enhance our budget and further promote Cardano as an ideal platform for web3 gaming.

In summary, Blue Fork maintains official bank accounts, complies fully with tax obligations, and is committed to making a significant impact with Chains of War on the Cardano ecosystem and beyond.

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

Output:

Indexation of all relevant media outlets.

Criteria:

Collect requested price calculations/offers and expected reach for at least 5 of the top 8 largest media outlets.

Completion:

All received offers and their expected outcomes will be available in PDF and Excel. Note: Some publishers prefer not to publicize their offers. We will accommodate these requests as reasonably as possible, potentially by displaying an estimated range, subject to agreement with the publisher.

Output:

Indexation of all web3 gaming influencers open to collaborations with our message.

Criteria:

Collect requested price calculations/offers and expected reach for at least 3 of the top 10 largest web3 gaming influencers.

Completion:

All received offers and their expected outcomes will be available in PDF and Excel. Note: Some influencers prefer not to publicize their offers. We will accommodate these requests as reasonably as possible, potentially by displaying an estimated range, subject to agreement with the influencer.

Output:

Creation and publication of a Press Release across major media outlets.

Criteria:

The press release should be published by a minimum of 12 related outlets, including at least 2 from the top 5 in terms of reach.

Completion:

All publications will be compiled into PDF and Excel formats to showcase the articles and their results.

Output:

Securing large influencer deals as brand ambassadors and paid publications.

Criteria:

Finalize an influencer deal (brand ambassador) with at least one top 10 influencer and secure 3 sponsorship deals for paid publications with at least 3 different top 10 influencers.

Completion:

All posts and publications from each influencer will be compiled into PDF and Excel formats to document the content and analyze the results.

Output:

Implementation of CPM Campaigns across a broad spectrum of related outlets.

Criteria:

CPM Campaigns are transparent, with each dollar spent yielding approximately 1,000 impressions. Any remaining budget, after prioritizing our two main pillars (Media and Influencers), will be optimally utilized.

Completion:

All campaign data will be compiled into PDF and Excel formats to document their performance and results.

Output:

Comprehensive data insight on all expenditures, campaigns, and their outcomes.

Criteria:

Ensure data is publicly accessible and easy to review for any interested parties. The information should include images of articles, names of editors, cost estimates, and estimated reach.

Completion:

A detailed and insightful report will be publicly available on https://catalyst.chainsofwar.io, presenting a complete narrative of our efforts and achievements.

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

Bouke Bakker - LinkedIn

• Lead Project Management.

Michiel Schop - LinkedIn

• Former Activision Blizzard Head, Project Advisor.

Joris Gielen - LinkedIn

• Lead Marketing Efforts.

Wiebe Bakker - LinkedIn

• Lead Gaming Narrative.

Daan Hartog - LinkedIn

• Lead Copywriter / Storyteller.

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

Budget Allocation Overview for Chains of War Marketing Campaign:

Media Outlets:

• Budget: 100
• Details: This budget is allocated towards engagements with large publishers such as CoinMarketCap and Coindesk. We will collaborate with their sales teams to evaluate their offers and compare them against other publishers.

Influencers:

• Budget: 100
• Details: Unlike the media budget that deals with sales teams, influencer engagements require a more personalized approach due to the nature of individual influencers. Expenditure on influencers on other chains can range from 1 to 10 ETH per post.

CPM Campaigns:

• Budget: 0-50K Ada
• Details: Any remaining budget will be dedicated to CPM campaigns, which are cost-effective as they do not involve high initial fees. These will be executed via Bitmedia.io, often referred to as the "Google Ads of crypto," targeting their network of publishers.

Project Management:

• Budget: 50K Ada
• Details: This budget covers approximately 12 hours of work per week over 8 months, totaling 384 hours. It encompasses all project management activities including content creation, agreement finalizations, financial management, monitoring results, and the development and publication of outcomes.

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

This proposal offers exceptional value for money by ensuring that every ADA spent directly fuels targeted marketing and publicity efforts. We bypass third-party interventions, focusing our budget on potent, direct paid advertisements. This strategy maximizes the impact of each dollar, promoting Cardano in the gaming sector—a critical area where Cardano is notably absent.

By engaging directly in the gaming industry's largest market, this initiative promises to drive significant adoption and growth. For Cardano users, this means a strategic push from zero presence to a robust footprint, potentially accelerating widespread adoption and enhancing overall value within the ecosystem.