Last updated 3 months ago
Cardano lacks a reusable Hydra-based multiplayer rooms and rewards layer for web/mini games, so each team rebuilds infra and few live games onboard users to Cardano.
Upgrade the existing M-SCI Web3 mid-core game into a Hydra-powered Cardano experience, then extract its on-chain rooms & rewards layer as an SDK that other games can adopt.
Please provide your proposal title
MSCI Hydra Rooms: Multiplayer SDK for Cardano Gaming
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
88000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
6
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
Cardano lacks a reusable Hydra-based multiplayer rooms and rewards layer for web/mini games, so each team rebuilds infra and few live games onboard users to Cardano.
Supporting links
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
No
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
No dependencies
Will your project's outputs be fully open source?
No
Please provide details on the intellectual property (IP) status of your project outputs, including whether they will be released as open source or retained under another licence.
The MSCI Hydra Rooms smart contracts, TypeScript SDK, example integrations and technical docs will be open source (MIT/Apache-2.0) so any team can reuse them on Cardano. The MSCI Web3 game client, backend logic, art assets and story IP remain proprietary to MSCI Labs
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal
GameFi
Describe what makes your idea innovative compared to what has been previously launched in the market (whether by you or others).
Most GameFi projects on Cardano – and in wider crypto – either (a) focus on single standalone games with tightly-coupled contracts, or (b) build low-level Hydra tooling and generic demos that are hard for real game teams to adopt. There is no practical, reusable “multiplayer rooms & rewards” layer that mid-core games can plug into and launch quickly on Cardano.
MSCI Hydra Rooms is innovative in three ways:
Hydra, but packaged for real games – not just demos.
Existing Hydra examples (poker, DOOM, small dApps) show what is possible, but they are not designed as a drop-in component for production games. We start from an existing mid-core game, MSCI Web3, that already runs live on web/miniapp with rich systems (rooms, progression, sessions, economy). We upgrade these flows to use Cardano + Hydra, then extract the result as a clean, game-oriented SDK: create/join room, record results, distribute rewards, all optimised for multiplayer experiences.
A reusable SDK instead of a one-off game integration.
Most GameFi projects hard-code their contracts and backend to a single game. Our goal is different:
Design the smart contracts and Hydra integration as a generic schema for “room-based play + on-chain rewards”.
Ship a TypeScript SDK + example integrations so any web or mini-app game can call createRoom(), submitResult(), claimReward() without re-inventing Hydra logic.
This turns one team’s work into a network effect: every new game that adopts the SDK adds users and transactions to Cardano with minimal setup.
Bridging a live cross-ecosystem game into Cardano.
MSCI Web3 is not an idea on paper; it is a mid-core game already showcased within other ecosystems (Avalanche, Sui, education partners). By integrating Cardano as the authoritative on-chain layer for rooms and rewards, we:
Bring an existing player base and content universe onto Cardano.
Demonstrate a clear path for multi-chain games to adopt Cardano/Hydra without rewriting their core gameplay.
This positions Cardano not just as “one more chain to deploy NFTs on”, but as a high-trust settlement and rewards layer for complex games.
In summary, the innovation of MSCI Hydra Rooms is that it combines:
A live mid-core game with real players,
A Hydra-powered, production-ready rooms & rewards architecture, and
A fully reusable SDK and documentation aimed specifically at game developers,
so that Cardano becomes the easiest place for new and existing games to launch multiplayer experiences with verifiable, on-chain outcomes.
Describe what your prototype or MVP will demonstrate, and where it can be accessed.
The MVP will be a live version of MSCI Hydra Rooms running on Cardano (testnet first, then mainnet if timelines allow), plus an open SDK:
A playable MSCI Web3 client (web) where players can create/join multiplayer rooms, complete a session, and see their results and rewards written on-chain via Cardano + Hydra.
A Rooms & Rewards dashboard showing on-chain data: active rooms, completed sessions, player stats and reward history.
The MSCI Hydra Rooms SDK (TypeScript library + smart contracts + example integration) published on GitHub, demonstrating how any web or mini-game can call the same flows.
Documentation and a step-by-step video tutorial showing another simple game integrating the SDK.
Access:
The game client and dashboard will be reachable via a public web URL (linked from the proposal and final report).
The SDK, contracts and examples will be accessible in a public GitHub repository, with docs either in the repo or on a small docs site linked from GitHub.
Together, this MVP demonstrates end-to-end: from a real player entering a room in MSCI Web3, through Hydra-backed room/result handling, to reusable SDK calls that other developers can copy for their own games.
Describe realistic measures of success, ideally with on-chain metrics.
We will track success through concrete, on-chain and usage metrics:
On-chain activity
≥ 500 unique wallets interact with MSCI Hydra Rooms contracts (create/join room, submit result, claim reward).
≥ 3,000 completed sessions recorded on Cardano (testnet + mainnet, if applicable).
≥ 10,000 on-chain transactions generated by rooms & rewards flows.
SDK adoption & developer impact
≥ 3 external teams (not MSCI) clone or fork the SDK repo and run their own PoC or mini-integration.
≥ 50 GitHub stars / 10 forks on the public SDK repository within 6 months after release.
At least one additional public game or demo (outside MSCI Web3) using the SDK in a visible way.
Product quality & reliability
MSCI Hydra Rooms deployment maintains >99% uptime during the public testing period.
No critical security issues reported in smart contracts during the project; any medium issues discovered are disclosed and fixed with patches in the repo.
These targets are ambitious but realistic given an existing game and community; they can all be verified by inspecting on-chain data, GitHub activity and the live deployment.
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
Our solution is to turn MSCI Web3 into a reference implementation of Hydra-powered multiplayer rooms and rewards, then generalise that into a reusable SDK for other games.
Design a generic on-chain model for rooms & rewards
We define a flexible schema on Cardano + Hydra for:
creating and closing rooms (room ID, owner, participants, rules),
recording session results (scores, win/lose, metadata),
distributing rewards (tokens/NFTs/points).
This model is game-agnostic, so any game that has “play a session in a room → get a result → get a reward” can reuse it.
Integrate the model into MSCI Web3 as a real use case
We upgrade the existing MSCI Web3 mid-core game so that:
players create/join rooms from the web client,
the backend coordinates gameplay but final room status, results and rewards are written on Cardano (with Hydra handling high-frequency parts where appropriate),
a simple dashboard shows on-chain room and reward history.
This proves that the design actually works in a live, content-rich game – not just in a toy demo.
Extract and polish the MSCI Hydra Rooms SDK
From this integration we extract:
a TypeScript SDK (client & server helpers),
reference smart contracts,
configuration examples for Hydra heads,
and a minimal sample game using the SDK.
The SDK exposes simple functions like createRoom, joinRoom, submitResult, claimReward, hiding Hydra/Cardano complexity so other game teams do not need deep protocol knowledge.
Ship documentation, tutorial and community hand-off
We write clear docs and record a step-by-step video that shows how another small web game can integrate the SDK. An AMA at the end of the project presents the architecture, lessons learned and invites other builders to adopt or extend the toolkit.
By starting from a real mid-core game and ending with an open SDK, MSCI Hydra Rooms directly addresses the current gap: it turns Hydra from “interesting demos and low-level tools” into a concrete, production-ready multiplayer layer that any Cardano game can plug into.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
MSCI Hydra Rooms creates impact on several levels of the Cardano ecosystem:
More real players and transactions on Cardano
By integrating MSCI Web3’s existing player base into Cardano, every multiplayer session becomes on-chain activity: room creation, results, rewards. This drives new wallets, transactions and TVL from a game that already has content, progression and stickiness, not from a short-lived PFP or farming campaign.
Lower barrier for future Cardano games
Today, a team that wants to launch a multiplayer game on Cardano/Hydra must design its own contracts, off-chain logic and Hydra plumbing. MSCI Hydra Rooms turns this into a plug-and-play layer: devs can reuse a battle-tested architecture and SDK and focus on game design. This can shorten time-to-market for future Cardano games from months to weeks.
Practical showcase of Hydra for gaming
Hydra is powerful but still perceived as complex and “researchy”. By shipping a production integration in a mid-core game and making the code/SDK public, we give the community a concrete, inspectable example of Hydra used for real players, not just lab demos. This helps other builders, SPOs and educators explain Hydra’s value in plain terms.
Strengthening Cardano’s position in multi-chain gaming
MSCI Web3 already interacts with other ecosystems (e.g. Avalanche, Sui, education partners). Making Cardano the authoritative room/result/reward layer demonstrates how a multi-chain game can choose Cardano for fairness and settlement, while keeping some UX off-chain or on other networks. This narrative attracts studios who don’t want to “move chains” but do want a robust settlement layer.
Reusable public good for developers
The open contracts, SDK and tutorial are a public good: any indie dev, hackathon team or studio can fork and adapt them for their own projects, including non-MSCI games. Over time, this can lead to a small ecosystem of games sharing the same multiplayer foundation, making maintenance, audits and future improvements cheaper for everyone.
Foundation for future Cardano-native expansions
Once rooms & rewards are running on Cardano, it becomes natural to extend with: governance over game modes, DAO-driven tournaments, cross-game reward campaigns, or other Cardano DeFi/NFT integrations. Even if these are out of scope for this fund, the project lays a clean, extensible base layer that future proposals (from us or others) can build on.
Overall, MSCI Hydra Rooms gives Cardano both immediate usage impact (more players and transactions) and a long-term technical asset (a reusable multiplayer SDK), helping position Cardano as a serious home for complex games rather than just another NFT launchpad.
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?
Our capability comes from (1) an existing live game and codebase, (2) a focused 5-person team, and (3) a staged delivery plan with clear validation points.
MSCI Web3 is already a running mid-core game on web/mini-app, with working multiplayer rooms, progression systems and economy loops. The same core team has shipped public builds and won first prize at Avalanche Game Jam 2025, and has showcased MSCI at Sui Hub events and with education partners such as VTC Academy. This demonstrates we can design, build and maintain real games, not just prototypes.
We plan a 5-member core team:
Project Lead / Game Architect: responsible for product vision, scope control, milestones, reporting and coordination with Cardano communities.
Cardano / Hydra Engineer: designs and implements the smart contracts and Hydra integration for rooms & rewards.
Backend Engineer: integrates Cardano/Hydra into the existing MSCI backend (APIs, matchmaking, persistence, monitoring).
Frontend Engineer (Web): upgrades the MSCI Web3 client to interact with wallets and display on-chain room/reward state.
SDK & Docs Engineer: extracts the integration into a reusable TypeScript SDK, writes documentation, sample code and records the tutorial.
Roles are clearly separated but overlapping enough for code review and backup.
We reduce risk by building on what already exists and moving in small, testable steps:
Start from MSCI Web3’s current room/session logic and model it on Cardano/Hydra.
Implement and test contracts on testnet with scripted load tests and internal playtests.
Integrate step-by-step into the MSCI Web3 client and backend, first in “shadow mode” (writing on-chain but not yet user-visible), then fully exposed to players.
Only after this integration is stable do we extract and polish the generic SDK and example game.
This incremental path ensures the Hydra/Cardano layer is validated inside one concrete game before being offered to others.
We will validate feasibility and progress through:
Technical milestones with verifiable outputs: testnet contracts, public web build, GitHub repo, SDK release, tutorial video.
On-chain metrics: number of wallets, sessions and transactions interacting with the contracts.
External developer feedback: we will actively support at least 3 external teams in trying the SDK and use their feedback to refine the API and docs.
Transparent reporting: all code for contracts, SDK and examples will be on a public GitHub repo; milestone reports will link to specific commits, deployments and on-chain addresses.
Because we are reusing a mature game codebase, scoping the work to one clearly defined feature set (rooms & rewards) and exposing all core outputs publicly, we believe this proposal is both technically feasible and accountable to the Cardano community.
Milestone Title
Hydra Rooms On-Chain Design & Testnet Contracts
Milestone Outputs
High-level architecture & data model for MSCI Hydra Rooms (rooms, sessions, results, rewards) documented in a short technical spec.
Initial Cardano smart contracts for rooms & rewards deployed on a public testnet (no mainnet funds at this stage).
Basic Hydra integration plan (how heads are used; which flows stay on L1 vs off-chain) plus configuration examples.
A small CLI / script test harness that can create rooms, join rooms, submit results and trigger rewards on testnet.
Internal documentation describing how these contracts and flows map to the existing MSCI Web3 game logic, preparing for integration in Milestone 2.
Acceptance Criteria
A written technical spec for MSCI Hydra Rooms (PDF/Markdown) is complete and stored in the repo, covering state machines, data structures and basic security assumptions.
At least one set of smart contracts for rooms & rewards is deployed on Cardano testnet, with addresses and versions documented.
Using the CLI / scripts, the team can successfully:
create a room with configurable parameters,
add/join participants,
submit a result,
distribute a simple reward (e.g. testnet token or points).
Basic load tests (simulated multiple rooms and sessions) run successfully without contract failures.
The integration plan clearly shows how MSCI Web3 will call these contracts in Milestone 2.
Evidence of Completion
Link to the technical spec document (in the repository or shared drive).
GitHub repository link showing the smart contract code, tagged with a Milestone 1 release.
Cardano testnet addresses of the deployed contracts, plus a short summary of test transactions (Tx IDs).
Link to the CLI / script tool with example commands and sample outputs.
Short Milestone 1 report summarising load-test results, known limitations and the final integration plan for MSCI Web3.
Delivery Month
3
Cost
26000
Progress
30 %
Milestone Title
MSCI Web3 Integration & Playable Cardano Build
Milestone Outputs
MSCI Web3 web client and backend updated to call the MSCI Hydra Rooms contracts on Cardano testnet.
Players can create and join multiplayer rooms from the MSCI Web3 UI and complete a session using the existing gameplay loop.
After a session, results and rewards are written on-chain, and the client shows confirmation / basic on-chain info.
A simple web dashboard (or in-game screen) displaying aggregated on-chain data: active rooms, completed rooms, basic player stats and reward history.
Internal monitoring and logging setup for the integration (errors, failed Tx, latency) to support stability and future debugging.
Acceptance Criteria
A public testnet build of MSCI Web3 is available at a web URL, where:
users can connect a Cardano-compatible wallet,
create/join a room,
finish at least one game session,
see their result and reward status reflected via Cardano testnet transactions.
The dashboard correctly reads and displays on-chain data from the MSCI Hydra Rooms contracts (e.g. number of rooms, sessions, rewards).
At least 100 successful test sessions (rooms created → sessions completed → rewards recorded) are executed internally or with invited testers.
Basic stability: no critical blockers (e.g. contract failures that prevent sessions from completing) are present in the testnet build.
Documentation is updated to explain how the live game integration works (sequence diagrams or flow description).
Evidence of Completion
Public URL of the MSCI Web3 testnet build, with instructions for reviewers to connect their wallet and play a sample session.
Screenshots or short screen-recordings showing: room creation, gameplay, on-chain result/reward confirmation, and the dashboard view.
Cardano testnet explorer links demonstrating a sample flow of room creation → result submission → reward transaction.
GitHub links to the updated MSCI Web3 client and backend code (or separate integration modules), tagged for Milestone 2.
A brief integration report summarising the 100+ test sessions, main issues found and fixes applied.
Delivery Month
3
Cost
26000
Progress
60 %
Milestone Title
SDK v1, Documentation, Tutorial & AMA
Milestone Outputs
MSCI Hydra Rooms SDK v1 released as a public TypeScript library (GitHub repo, optionally NPM), with stable API for rooms & rewards flows.
Cleaned-up reference smart contracts and configuration tagged for v1, matching the SDK’s expectations.
A minimal sample web game (separate from MSCI Web3) integrating the SDK to demonstrate end-to-end usage.
Full developer documentation: quickstart, integration guide, API reference and architecture overview.
A step-by-step video tutorial walking through integrating the SDK into the sample game.
A live AMA session (recorded) presenting the architecture, SDK, lessons learned and answering developer questions.
Acceptance Criteria
The SDK v1 is published in a public GitHub repository with a tagged release (v1.0.0 or similar), and includes clear versioning and changelog.
The reference contracts and configs used by the SDK are tagged and documented, with addresses (testnet/mainnet as applicable) clearly listed.
The sample game runs end-to-end: a reviewer can clone the repo, follow the README and use the SDK to create a room, submit a result and see a reward transaction on Cardano testnet.
Developer documentation is complete and covers: setup, configuration, main SDK functions (createRoom, joinRoom, submitResult, claimReward, etc.), and common error/edge cases.
The tutorial video is publicly available and linked from the docs, and is under 20 minutes so new devs can follow it easily.
One AMA has been held, with a public recording link, and at least 3 external teams have been onboarded or supported in trying the SDK (e.g. via GitHub issues, Discord/Telegram, or email).
Evidence of Completion
GitHub links to:
the MSCI Hydra Rooms SDK v1 repository (with release tag),
the reference contracts/configs,
and the sample game integration.
Link to the online documentation site or GitHub Pages, showing quickstart, integration guide and API reference.
Link to the tutorial video demonstrating SDK integration into the sample game.
Link to the AMA recording and a short summary of questions and key takeaways.
A brief Milestone 3 report listing the 3+ external teams that tried the SDK (anonymised if needed), plus feedback received and any follow-up changes made to the SDK or docs.
Delivery Month
2
Cost
17600
Progress
80 %
Milestone Title
Final Milestone – Close-Out Report, Video & Final SDK/Docs Release
Milestone Outputs
A complete Project Close-Out Report summarising objectives, milestones, achievements, metrics, risks and lessons learned.
A Close-Out Video (following Catalyst guidelines) demonstrating the final state of MSCI Hydra Rooms:
live MSCI Web3 integration,
SDK v1 usage,
and key outcomes for the Cardano ecosystem.
A final tagged release of the MSCI Hydra Rooms SDK and reference contracts (e.g. v1.1), including any bug fixes or improvements based on Milestone 3 feedback.
Updated documentation and sample game code incorporating all final clarifications, FAQs and developer feedback.
A short maintenance & roadmap plan describing:
how the SDK and contracts will be maintained after the project,
how external contributors can submit issues/PRs,
and potential future extensions (e.g. more game modes, governance, tournaments).
Acceptance Criteria
A Project Close-Out Report (PDF/Markdown) is delivered and publicly accessible, clearly mapping back to the original proposal:
what was planned vs. delivered,
milestone-by-milestone progress,
budget usage summary,
and key learnings.
A Close-Out Video (hosted on a public platform) is available and follows Catalyst requirements, demonstrating:
gameplay in MSCI Web3 using Hydra Rooms,
the SDK in action (sample game),
and how other teams can start using it.
The MSCI Hydra Rooms SDK and contracts have a final tagged release (e.g. v1.1) with a changelog describing fixes/improvements since Milestone 3.
Documentation is updated and consistent with the final release (no major “TODO” sections, clear links to repos, contracts and tutorial).
A maintenance & roadmap section is added to the docs, including contact points (GitHub issues, email/Discord) and guidance for external contributors.
Evidence of Completion
Link to the Project Close-Out Report (PDF/Markdown) stored in the public repo or a shared location.
Link to the Close-Out Video hosted on a public platform (e.g. YouTube), referenced from the proposal’s update section.
GitHub links showing the final tagged release of the SDK and contracts, including the changelog.
Link to the updated documentation site or README, showing the maintenance & roadmap section and finalised guides.
A short Final Milestone summary confirming that all earlier milestones have been completed and that the project is ready for long-term community use.
Delivery Month
1
Cost
17600
Progress
100 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
We request 88,000 ADA for a 9-month project with a 5-person core team.
The budget is split across 4 milestones (30% / 30% / 20% / 20%), mainly for developer time, with a small allocation for infrastructure, testing and content production.
Blended rate assumption: 5 core contributors working part-time (0.5–0.7 FTE each) over 9 months.
Project Lead / Game Architect – 14,000 ADA
Coordination, scope control, architecture decisions, milestones & reporting.
Cardano / Hydra Engineer – 18,000 ADA
Smart contracts, Hydra integration, on-chain model, security review, support for SDK users.
Backend Engineer – 14,000 ADA
Integration of contracts into MSCI backend, APIs, matchmaking, monitoring & logging.
Frontend Engineer (Web) – 12,000 ADA
Wallet integration, room UI, dashboard, testnet build UX, sample game front-end.
SDK & Documentation Engineer – 12,400 ADA
TypeScript SDK, sample integration, documentation site, tutorial video, AMA preparation.
(Total human resources: 70,400 ADA)
Cloud hosting & CI/CD for MSCI Web3 testnet builds and dashboards.
Monitoring / logging services and test environments for Hydra & Cardano nodes.
Storage, domain and documentation hosting costs.
Small paid tools for video recording/editing and design where needed.
(Total infrastructure & tools: 8,800 ADA)
Incentives / small rewards for external testers during Milestone 2 (testnet sessions).
Time & costs to support at least 3 external dev teams integrating the SDK.
AMA organisation (graphics, moderation, community management).
Final close-out video & report production, translations where necessary.
(Total testing & engagement: 8,800 ADA)
Milestone 1 (Months 1–3) – 30% = 26,400 ADA
Hydra Rooms architecture & spec, testnet contracts, scripts and initial load tests.
Milestone 2 (Months 4–6) – 30% = 26,400 ADA
Full integration into MSCI Web3, public testnet build, dashboard and stability testing.
Milestone 3 (Months 7–8) – 20% = 17,600 ADA
SDK v1, sample game, developer documentation, tutorial video, AMA and first external adopters.
Final Milestone (Month 9) – 20% = 17,600 ADA
Close-out report, close-out video, final SDK/contract release, documentation updates and long-term maintenance/roadmap planning.
This breakdown keeps each milestone within the Catalyst guideline of 5–30% of the total budget (with the Final Milestone ≥15%) while dedicating the majority of funds to hands-on development and integration work.
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
The requested 88,000 ADA represents strong value for money because it converts an already existing, working game into a reusable Hydra-based multiplayer stack that any Cardano game team can adopt, not just MSCI.
Leverages an existing codebase, not starting from zero
MSCI Web3 already exists as a mid-core web game with multiplayer rooms and progression. Catalyst funds are not paying for core game development, art or design; they are focused on the Cardano/Hydra integration layer, SDK and documentation, which become public goods for the ecosystem.
Creates reusable infrastructure for many future games
Instead of building a one-off integration only for MSCI, we:
design generic smart contracts and a Hydra flow for “rooms → sessions → rewards”;
build a TypeScript SDK v1 and a sample game;
produce full docs, tutorial and AMA.
Any future team can fork the sample, plug in their own gameplay, and reuse the same on-chain layer, significantly reducing cost and time to ship a Cardano multiplayer game.
High ratio of development work vs. overhead
Around 80% of the budget is allocated directly to developer time (Cardano/Hydra engineer, backend, frontend, SDK/docs engineer). Only about 20% covers infra, testing incentives, content and close-out. There are no marketing or token incentives in this request; every ADA is aimed at shipping verifiable technical outputs.
Milestones aligned with delivery and risk
Budget is split 30% / 30% / 20% / 20% across four milestones, staying within Catalyst guidelines and concentrating funds where real value is created:
M1 (spec + contracts + Hydra model) – de-risks the architecture early.
M2 (full integration + playable testnet build) – the strongest proof of feasibility; reviewers can play the game themselves.
M3 (SDK + docs + video + AMA) – turns the solution into a public building block.
Final (close-out report + video + final release) – ensures long-term usefulness and clear accountability.
Each milestone has clear acceptance criteria and public evidence (GitHub tags, URLs, docs, videos), so funds are only justified when tangible progress is delivered.
Cost-effective compared to typical industry rates
A 5-person team working part-time over 9 months to deliver contracts, Hydra integration, testnet deployment, a live web build, SDK, docs and content would normally require a significantly higher budget at commercial Web3 rates. By focusing on a narrow, well-defined problem (Hydra multiplayer rooms for games) and reusing the existing MSCI Web3 codebase, we keep the requested amount modest while still realistic.
Measurable impact on ecosystem adoption
Value is not only technical but also measurable through:
number of wallets and sessions using MSCI Hydra Rooms;
number of external teams trying or adopting the SDK;
long-term presence of an open, maintained codebase that showcases Hydra in a concrete, fun use case.
This project turns Hydra from “interesting theory” into a hands-on reference implementation that Cardano builders, educators and communities can point to.
In summary, this proposal transforms 88,000 ADA into:
a real, playable Hydra-powered multiplayer game on Cardano;
a reusable SDK and contracts;
complete documentation, tutorial and public examples;
and a maintained open resource for future projects.
We believe this is a cost-effective way to unlock many more Cardano games than if funds were spent on a single closed product.
I confirm that evidence of prior research, whitepaper, design, or proof-of-concept is provided.
Yes
I confirm that the proposal includes ecosystem research and uses the findings to either (a) justify its uniqueness over existing solutions or (b) demonstrate the value of its novel approach.
Yes
I confirm that the proposal demonstrates technical capability via verifiable in-house talent or a confirmed development partner (GitHub, LinkedIn, portfolio, etc.)
Yes
I confirm that the proposer and all team members are in good standing with prior Catalyst projects.
Yes
I confirm that the proposal clearly defines the problem and the value of the on-chain utility.
Yes
I confirm that the primary goal of the proposal is a working prototype deployed on at least a Cardano testnet.
Yes
I confirm that the proposal outlines a credible and clear technical plan and architecture.
Yes
I confirm that the budget and timeline (≤ 12 months) are realistic for the proposed work.
Yes
I confirm that the proposal includes a community engagement and feedback plan to amplify prototype adoption with the Cardano ecosystem.
Yes
I confirm that the budget is for future development only; excludes retroactive funding, incentives, giveaways, re-granting, or sub-treasuries.
Yes
I Agree
Yes
Project Team
Core organisation – MSCI Labs & “MSCI Catalyst ADA” team
MSCI Labs is a Vietnam-based game studio and software company focused on mid-core and competitive games. The studio has shipped multiple playable builds of MSCI Web3 and MSCI MOBA, and recently won 1st prize at Avalanche Game Jam Vietnam 2025, with MSCI showcased at Sui Hub events and in collaboration with VTC Academy.
For this proposal, MSCI Labs is represented by the “MSCI Catalyst ADA” team: 1 project lead and 5 specialised engineers.
• Role: Overall owner of the project; responsible for scope, product direction, milestones and coordination with Catalyst and the Cardano community.
• Links: https://www.facebook.com/sinmsci
• Background:
o Founder & CEO of MSCI Labs, with 10+ years in game design and production (casual, mid-core, MMO).
o Experience leading cross-functional teams and winning awards (including 1st prize at Avalanche Game Jam Vietnam 2025).
• Responsibilities:
o Define the UX and gameplay integration of Hydra Rooms inside MSCI Web3.
o Keep scope realistic, manage risks and ensure all milestones and reports are delivered on time.
o Coordinate with external game teams who want to adopt the SDK.
• Links: GitHub: https://github.com/huantt – Blog: https://dev.to/jacktt
• Role: Senior technical lead for backend architecture, infrastructure and Hydra/Cardano integration.
• Background:
o Software engineer and DevOps/Golang specialist with many public repositories and experience building production-grade tooling and services.
o Strong focus on reliability, observability and performance.
• Responsibilities:
o Design the overall backend/infrastructure for MSCI Hydra Rooms (Cardano node, Hydra heads, CI/CD, monitoring).
o Implement the server-side bridge between MSCI Web3 and the Hydra Rooms contracts.
o Ensure stable testnet and demo environments for reviewers and developers.
• Links: GitHub: https://github.com/SkyTik – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vunh/
• Role: Backend and web integration engineer focusing on MSCI Web3 APIs and web stack.
• Background:
o Software Engineer at Ahamove (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam).
o Experienced with Node.js / TypeScript backends and clean, production-ready boilerplates.
• Responsibilities:
o Implement and maintain backend endpoints for MSCI Web3 to interact with Cardano/Hydra (rooms, sessions, rewards).
o Expose data and metrics for dashboards and SDK usage.
o Support integration of the SDK into MSCI Web3 and related web tools.
• Links: GitHub: https://github.com/nhathuy7996 – TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gamedevtoi – YouTube: game-dev content channel
• Role: Lead game developer responsible for in-game client integration and the public SDK sample game.
• Background:
o Active game developer creating content and tutorials around Cocos Creator and web game development.
o Used to explaining technical concepts to other developers and learners.
• Responsibilities:
o Implement in-game flows (create/join room, play session, send result) for MSCI Web3 / sample game using the SDK.
o Own the SDK sample game that other teams can fork and adapt.
o Co-create tutorial content and help present the SDK in the AMA from a game developer’s perspective.
• Links: GitHub: https://github.com/Phatjiro
• Role: Game developer focusing on cross-engine integration (Unity/other engines) and gameplay prototyping.
• Background:
o Unity game developer with a degree in Software Technology from Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City.
o Experience building prototypes and tools in Unity and C#.
• Responsibilities:
o Help validate that the Hydra Rooms pattern can be reused from engines like Unity/Unreal, not only web frameworks.
o Build small prototypes or proof-of-concepts calling the SDK from Unity, paving the way for future MSCI MOBA / other 3D games.
o Assist with gameplay tuning and QA for sample experiences.
• Links: GitHub: https://github.com/LeNghiaDung
• Role: Junior frontend developer and UI/UX support for dashboards, landing pages and documentation site.
• Background:
o Web Developer & Designer (IT student at Hanoi Open University), working with Laravel, ReactJS and Figma.
o Familiar with HTML/CSS/Sass, Tailwind, Bootstrap, MySQL and basic DevOps tools.
• Responsibilities:
o Implement and polish the public dashboard UI, landing page and documentation layout for Hydra Rooms & SDK.
o Help make developer documentation clear, readable and visually consistent.
o Support senior engineers with UI tasks so they can focus on protocol and backend work.
Why this team can deliver
The MSCI Catalyst ADA team combines:
• Real game production experience (multiple shipped MSCI builds, game dev content creators).
• Strong backend & DevOps skills for reliable Hydra/Cardano integration.
• Dedicated frontend/UI and documentation support to turn the solution into a polished, reusable SDK.
This lean but complete structure (1 project lead + 5 engineers) covers protocol integration, backend, game client, SDK and developer experience, which are exactly the skills needed to deliver the proposed milestones.