Cardano Game Development SDK for Unity

[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)

This SDK will provide Unity developers with tools for seamless integration with Cardano, including APIs, WebGL templates, and sample dApps, facilitating easy and efficient game development.

[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.”

Yes. The project relies on public APIs to interact with the Cardano Blockchain. To mitigate potential issues, we will develop integrations with multiple APIs, specifically Blockfrost and Koios.

[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

Assets will be released under the MIT License and hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/realprodiga/UnityCardanoAssets

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

This project will develop a comprehensive SDK that includes a set of drop-in assets, Unity WebGL templates, and C# scripts for seamless integration with Cardano APIs, tailored for game developers. This will include:

• 2 WebGL Templates for creating Cardano dapps that interact with Unity objects
• "Cardano Basic" - A minimal WebGL template that includes the necessary boilerplate code to connect a Cardano Wallet to your Unity App
• "Cardano Responsive" - Responsive version of Cardano Basic that resizes Unity object for various window sizes, mobile, etc.
• C# script to interact with Blockfrost API
• C# script to interact with Koios API
• 3 demo dapps that can be used as a templates for common use cases:
• Using NFTs for gated access
• Awarding in-game tokens
• Minting NFTs and Caradano Native Tokens.
• 
  

In addition to development, we will provide ongoing support through GitHub, aiding developers in leveraging the SDK for their specific needs.

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

The SDK will not only simplify development but also significantly reduce the time and resources needed to prototype and deploy Cardano-based games, fostering innovation and attracting new developers to the ecosystem. This will increase the pool of developers for Cardano, as well as provide high-quality and time-saving resources for existing developers, resulting in more and better Cardano dapps.

Additionally, this SDK will serve educational purposes, helping new developers understand blockchain applications in gaming through practical examples and real-world use cases.

[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?

I've been a professional Unity developer for over 15 years, developing on Cardano since 2021. I've developed multiple Unity games that integrate with Cardano.

This project will provide the tools I wish I had when I started working with Cardano.

These assets will save new developers months of development for creating their Cardano Dapps.

Project success will be continuously evaluated through developer feedback and usage metrics, ensuring that the SDK meets the evolving needs of the community.

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

Cardano Integration Scripts

Milestone outputs

• Blockfrost Integration Script
• Koios Integration Script

Acceptance criteria

• Blockfrost Integration Script enables Unity to interact with the Blockfrost API
• Koios Integration Script enables Unity to interact with the Koios API

Evidence of milestone completion

• Integration scripts published to GitHub
• https://github.com/realprodiga/UnityCardanoAssets
• Demonstration video published to YouTube
• https://www.youtube.com/@realprodiga

Unity WebGL Templates

Milestone outputs

• "Cardano Basic" WebGL Template
• "Cardano Responsive" WebGL Template

Acceptance criteria

• "Cardano Basic" provides an HTML page with embedded Unity Player and Wallet Connect
• "Cardano Responsive" provides a mobile-first responsive HTML/CSS/JavaScript with embedded Unity Player and Wallet Connect

Evidence of milestone completion

• WebGL Templates published to GitHub
• https://github.com/realprodiga/UnityCardanoAssets
• Demonstration video published to YouTube
• https://www.youtube.com/@realprodiga

Unity Sample dapps for common use cases

Milestone outputs

• "Gated Access" Unity Scene and Prefabs
• "Awarding Tokens" Unity Scene and Prefabs
• "Minting Tokens" Unity Scene and Prefabs

Acceptance criteria

• "Gated Access" demonstrate using NFTs for gated access
• "Awarding Tokens" demonstrates Awarding in-game tokens
• "Minting Tokens" demonstrates Minting NFTs and Caradano Native Tokens

Evidence of milestone completion

• Unity Scenes and Prefabs published to GitHub
• https://github.com/realprodiga/UnityCardanoAssets
• Demonstration video published to YouTube
• https://www.youtube.com/@realprodiga

All Assets Published on Unity Asset Store

Milestone outputs

• Assets bundled and published on Unity Asset Store

Acceptance criteria

• Asset bundle passes Unity Asset Store submission process

Evidence of milestone completion

• All assets published and available for free at https://assetstore.unity.com/

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

• Team Member: John Moreland
• Role: Lead developer
• LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnrmoreland
• Responsibilities: Develop and document all assets
• Background: I've been a professional Unity developer and project lead at a University research center for over 15 years. Developed and launched multiple Cardano Web3 games with Unity. I've been developing on Cardano since 2021. I've developed multiple Unity games and WebGL interfaces that integrate with Cardano.

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

Total Project Budget: 84,000 ADA

Development (55,000 ADA)

• 2 Cardano Integration Scripts (5,000 ADA per API)
• 2 WebGL Templates (5,000 ADA per Template)
• 3 Sample Dapps (10,000 ADA per Dapp)
• Testing (5,000)
• Documentation (5,000)

Project Management (5,000 ADA)

Publicity/Promotion (5,000 ADA)

Overhead (14,000 ADA)

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

Huge immediate value and will pay off dividends as it enables future developers to create on Cardano better and faster.

The investment in this SDK not only provides immediate benefits but also builds a foundation for scalable and sustainable development within the Cardano ecosystem, encouraging ongoing innovation.