Cardopoly Game Expansion

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem.

We have created a functioning large scale game, which uses NFT's as game pieces. All data is live streamed in a unique visual experience, in real time. Think 500+ player board game, using CNFT's.

[GENERAL] Summarize your relevant experience.

I am a sales and marketing executive, with over 15 years business experience. My partner has been a software engineer since 2005 focusing on real-time interfaces and high quality UX. Recently created custom web3 minting/tracking/royalty distribution pipelines for CNFT projects.

[GENERAL] Requested funds in USD.

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

Proposed solution is to integrate our existing game, Cardopoly, in a much larger way into the Cardano NFT ecosystem. We aim to provide fun utility to the CNFT space, as well as push the envelope on what blockchain gaming means in the current state Cardano.

We have an existing game that has been tested, and mechanically sound. Our goal is to expand to incorporate other policy ID's and allow other projects to utilize the game environment using established technology.

We want to get our codebases, including web3 minting/tracking/distribution -- powered by Redis streams -- open sourced and published to github.

[IMPACT] Please describe how your proposed solution will address the Challenge that you have submitted it in.

This solution will provide a new and unique experience for the average NFT consumer, and also be a first of its kind integration with other Cardano NFT projects. The goal in which we are aiming to achieve, is to expand upon the tech that we have proven and established. Create a elevated presence for Cardano in the blockchain gaming community.

[IMPACT] What are the main risks that could prevent you from delivering the project successfully and please explain how you will mitigate each risk?

As we want to establish Cardano as the leader in board game blockchain utilization, we feel that we are currently in a first mover position advantage over the other blockchains. We feel that with some source funding, we can establish ourselves on behalf of the Cardano community. Our current advantage is to capture some market share of other chains, and use the game as a platform to showcase Cardano's core technology and cost effectiveness.

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed plan, including timeline and key milestones for delivering your proposal.

We aim to make a handful of platform enhancements in order to support our long term goals.

Replacing our cardano-db-sync node with a custom Carp configuration, expanding our Redis cluster, making protocol-level changes to use cbor instead of json for better real-time experience in-game -- are the main changes -- along with general efficiency improvements. These and other platform enhancements will make it possible for us to run many games in parallel, as well as open up partnership opportunities for us to allow non-Cardopoly NFT's to be used in-game. While developing the above, we would be establishing a larger brand presence using our existing game in the CNFT space.

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown.

45,000 Total

Server Costs, including Cardano Node- 5,000

Game Back End Development- 15,000

Marking/Social Brand Development-10,000

Platform / UI Enhancement- 15,000

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide details of the people who will work on the project.

We will move forward with our existing team, comprised of 5 individuals and one in house art group.

1 Operation Manager

Focusing on existing game rollout, ensuring smooth launch of each week long game. Reporting feedback to Developer team, and oversees community managers.

2 Community Managers

Maintain and grow our existing community, drive daily engagement, and create a safe environment for all Cardano dialogue.

1 Core Developer

Will be completing above platform upgrades listed in detailed plan proposal.

1 Strategy & Marketing lead

Oversee the entire team, with daily integration meetings. Oversee game play mechanics and strategy. Grow and establish partnerships with other CNFT projects, and continue to promote with content creators.

1 3D/2D Art Team

Used for UI enhancements, and game piece art

[FEASIBILITY] If you are funded, will you return to Catalyst in a later round for further funding? Please explain why / why not.

No, we don't plan to request further funding from the proposal. We plan to achieve self sustaining profitability by 2023.

[FEASIBILITY] Are you or any member of your team working on any other proposals in this Fund9?

[FEASIBILITY] Are you or your team working on any other proposals from previous Funds?

[AUDITABILITY] Please describe what you will measure to track your project's progress, and how will you measure these?

We currently provide weekly updates within our discord community. If funded, we will establish a channel superficially on the catalyst progress updates, and provide transparent timelines + goals.

[AUDITABILITY] What does success for this project look like?

Success for this project, would be to showcase Cardano's core technology in the rapidly expanding blockchain gaming market. We would provide accessibility to other Cardano gaming projects to utilize our existing technology, and also allow other CNFT communities access to our game. The overall goal is to create a fun and modern twist, on a classic table game.

[AUDITABILITY] Please provide information on whether this proposal is a continuation of a previously funded project in Catalyst or an entirely new one.

This is an entirely new proposal, and we have not yet looked to Catalyst for funding or development. We feel that support from within the Cardano community would best represent what we are trying to accomplish, sticking to our core values as a blockchain versus VC funding.