PillarWheel's NFT ARPG Sim Game

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

To form a game and movie studio in rural Arkansas, U.S.: we need a flagship and offerings of products and services done and seen. These are the "wheels" of the Pillarwheel DAO/Company: substantial products and services developed without funding to prove to investors we can deliver on our plans.

We will deliver a playable game that is a minimum viable product that can be seen that demonstrates the persistent world, characters, and activity.

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

Blockchain games can be a good way of introducing new users to blockchain concepts, and in a playful way. This product will help us start up our DAO/Company, whose LLC is already being formed (names are reserved, papers are being filed, lawyer secured).

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

Developing the blockchain elements is a challenge. Steven Sevic is a Unity, C#, NodeJS, and has other developer experience, but is still learning about blockchain through Atala/PRISM and Plutus programs. However, this should not impact this deliverable, for I intend to develop a SQL database and centralize my assets at first, with the future goal of transitioning them to blockchain assets and decentralizing them as other team members are included into the project.

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

Milestone 1: Setup (already in progress)

We have domains registered already, development started on: Unity, databases, .NET console server that interfaces with the databases.

Milestone 2: Cardano Integration

Mint tokens: Governance (top priority), In-Game Currency (lower priority)

Video gameplay trailer and presentation of the more polished game

Formulate partnerships for current and future developments

Milestone 3: Preparation for next phases

Form needed partnerships (in progress), and solidify them.

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown.

$4000 = CTO's developments and initial expenses

$2000 = Freelance developer

$5000 = Freelance 2d art

$7000 = Freelance 3d art

$10000 = Blockchain integration

We have contacted Blockery.io and a few other Cardano developers concerning the blockchain integration aspects of the project. Steven Sevic, project lead, was a media producer for over 20 years, a 2D and 3D graphic artist, and for several years now: in I.T. support and development. If all else fails: this could be trimmed down to a solo project, but the funds will help assist overcoming any obstacles such as needing to have the artists focus on providing their components while Steven focuses on Unity development using preexisting assets.

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

Steven Sevic • CTO • Main Game Designer

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevensevic/

CA/vCA, and have been involved in Catalyst since Fund 6.

Currently in IT support in International Education for the University of Arkansas, and as CTO of International Office Consulting. I both oversee data feeds to and from universities and the Department of Homeland Security in the United States. I have been a CA since Fund 6, and a CA/vCA since Fund 7, in Catalyst, and have been studying blockchain development for a few years.

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

This project is a Unity game, at its basics. It is an ARPG with some features not offered in current MMOs/ARPGs. I have participated in Unity training, and the video of our initial milestone should demonstrate the fundamentals of functionality even at our current stage of development. This proposal will help solidify a trajectory toward launching a playable demo to the public, or at least: our interested investors.

[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?

YouTube videos, dev blog articles, and a demo that at least shows the persistent world in action on our websites.

Blog updates will be at the following:

https://medium.com/@pillarwheel

We plan on providing detailed articles that chronicles our progress using Medium, and then also making public our Trello/Agile boards.

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

Players will be able to see various characters interacting in the persistent world using the Unity 3d engine. This demonstration game illustrates the unique features the game has in terms of mechanics, and that our starting studio can produce deliverables. Potential investors can see the results of minimum funding and the impact it has on the project.

Ultimately: Success for our team also means the success of using Cardano for its blockchain assets. We are closely following various projects in the Play-to-earn space using Cardano, and we see easy lead ins such as Twitch streaming this game alongside others to keep its community growing, and also provide the needed auditability that shows the world the project's results.

[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 a new proposal and project, however, it all builds upon a foundation we are creating that is a DAO/U.S. LLC. Developments in this project should influence and assist other projects we are building.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Rating

SDG goals:

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

SDG subgoals:

Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors

Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services

By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value

By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training

Key Performance Indicator (KPI):

Average hourly earnings of employees, by sex, age, occupation and persons with disabilities