Onboard Mainstream Gamers to Cardano Blockchain Gaming by Tavern Squad

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Gian Luca Scheper

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

Entity (Not Incorporated)

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

8

[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)

Tailor our browser game mechanics and interface to accommodate mainstream players, simplifying the gaming experience while preserving blockchain advantages.

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

As this should only act as a general concept, we do not plan to open source the outputs.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

We will develop a simplified UI/UX for our browser game "Ale & Axes". With this simplified version, we'll make sure to:

• Streamline onboarding and gameplay to lower entry barriers for mainstream gamers.
• Create F2P option.
• Provide educational resources and guides to ease the learning curve for new players.
• Retain core blockchain benefits to maintain the benefits.
• Keep the option for players to see more details regarding the Web3/Blockchain features of the game.

Once the above has been implemented, we'll launch a marketing campaign targeting mainstream gamers. 

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

• Onboarding the mainstream gaming community to Blockchain gaming and Cardano.
• Attract Gaming Studios, Gamers, and investors to Cardano.
• Strengthen Cardano's position as a Blockchain that can handle various use cases.
• Showcasing what the future of blockchain gaming could look like.

[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?

Gian Luca Scheper and the Tavern Squad team, who have profound experience in blockchain gaming development, will deliver the project. The Tavern Squad team has already built the Beta version of their browser game, Ale & Axes, on the Cardano Blockchain. The team has a history of continuous building in the space.

Additionally, the Tavern Squad team has worked with multiple well-known projects in the space, supporting them with mints, custom blockchain applications, and gamification. 

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

Adapt game design & create new UI/UX designs

• Acceptance criteria: Updated Game and UI/UX Design finished and ready to be implemented.
• Evidence of Milestone Completion: Public report about the new Game Design including parts of the new UI/UX Design.

Implement new game design & UI/UX design

• Acceptance criteria: UI/UX design has been implemented, game is F2P due to adapted game design.
• Evidence of Milestone Completion: Technical documentation, demo in the form of videos.

Provide clear onboarding resources

• Acceptance criteria: Educational and onboarding guides/videos have been created.
• Evidence of Milestone Completion: Educational/Onboarding content has been published and can be accessed by the community ahead of launch.

Internal testing with mainstream gamers

• Acceptance criteria: Have at least 5 mainstream gamers tested the new version and shared their feedback?
• Evidence of milestone completion: Public report.

Iterate based on feedback

• Acceptance criteria: Implement valuable feedback from the testing phase
• Evidence of Milestone Completion: Update report.

Launch & Marketing

• Acceptance criteria: The adapted version is live and playable
• Evidence of Milestone Completion: Visible marketing campaigns, Impact assessment report

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

Gian Luca Scheper founded the Tavern Squad team in late 2021; by now, the team consists of 8 people working on design, art, lore, voice acting, game design, and blockchain & game development. 

Luca (Founder and Designer), Patrik (Game Designer), and Tristan (Lead Developer) will be involved in this specific project.

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

• UI/UX Design: 17,500 ADA
• Game Design Adaptations: 10,000 ADA
• Development and Implementation: 32,500 ADA
• Create Onboarding resources: 20,000 ADA
• Marketing: 20,000 ADA
• Total Budget: 100,000 ADA

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

This concept:

• will provide enormous value for the Cardano ecosystem as it showcases the future of browser gaming. This could open the door for additional gaming projects to adopt the core principles of the concept to drive the adoption of the Cardano blockchain in the gaming industry.
• will encourage mainstream gamers to look into the benefits of blockchain gaming and the Cardano blockchain in general. Therefore, this investment will contribute to Cardano's growth in the evergrowing gaming industry. 
• will showcase what the future of blockchain browser games could look like. For blockchain gaming to become mainstream, we must try out new concepts that address the pain points the mainstream gaming community has raised.