ZiberBugs Playable Prototype

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

Video gaming is a huge and growing market, with billions of global participants. Many people consider play-to-earn gaming to be the "killer app" that will drive blockchain adoption among the masses. The overall popularity of gaming and the added appeal of play-to-earn means that ZiberBugs has a good chance to bring literally millions of people, crypto virgins and crypto veterans alike, to the Cardano blockchain.

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

In order to fulfill its promise and bring millions of people to Cardano, a game has to be fun to play, easy to get into, and engaging enough to spread. ZiberBugs builds on the concepts of Teamfight Tactics, one of the most popular eSports games, so it will be fun to play. It also builds on the concepts popularized by Axie Infinity such as dual-currency and breeding to give players a sustainable earning experience.

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

This project is all about reducing risk! The purpose of this prototype is to investigate and reduce various areas of risk in the overall ZiberBugs project including:

1. Establish whether the game concept is fun as-is, or needs revision to broaden appeal
2. Work out the architectural concepts of Unity development and how they apply to an autobattler
3. Establish the compatibility of 3D models generated in Blender, and the details of producing them properly for smooth integration into Unity
4. Certification that Unity can target various platforms from one codebase, including web and mobile

Once the prototype is completed, we will be able to move forward having earned a lower-risk environment. This should help us raise funds to commercialize the game.

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

The project plan involves one developer and one creative working on the following tasks in Unity, Blender and other tools. The total effort is estimated to be 96 person/days.

Programming = 33 person/days

• Create game objects, 3 days (includes bugs, hit boxes, misc game objects)
• Generated hex battlefield, 1 day
• Camera and lighting, 2 days
• Battle simulation code, 5 days
• Bridge to game logic, 1 day
• Game logic
• Generic superclass bug logic, 2 days
• Bug category logic, 3 days (i.e. common behavior for "flyers")
• Bug subclass 1, 1 day
• Bug subclass 2, 1 day
• Bug subclass 3, 1 day
• Bug subclass 4, 1 day
• Bug subclass 5, 1 day
• Bug subclass 6, 1 day
• State structure, 5 days
• State machine, 1 day
• Prototype game UI, 5 days

Creative work = 40 person/days

• All 6 bug models including model, rigging, animations, 30 days
• Symbiosis cores, 1 day
• Genetic boosters, 2 days
• Onyx pillars, 1 day
• Game UI graphics collaboration and feedback, 1 day
• Simple "level" graphics, 5 days (i.e. a 3D map of the battleground and world)

Other work = 23 person/days

• Music integration, 1 day
• Project meetings, 2 days
• Integration, Testing and Revisions, 20 days

Additional work, NOT IN SCOPE, that will subsequently drive the project towards MVP includes:

• Additional bugs
• Cinematic camera angles
• Wallet integration(s)
• Real hosted server code
• Sound effect integration
• State security and validation
• Final game UI
• Updated animations
• Blockchain integration
• Improved level graphics

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown.

This prototyping effort is relatively easy to cost. The project plan estimate is 96 person/days, or 768 person-hours. Resources will work at a blended rate of $60 USD per hour.

768 hours * $60 per hour = $46,080 USD

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

Founder Tom Metzger will be overall project manager. Tom is a veteran of the software development world and will be working with the technical and creative team to manage overall prototype delivery.

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

Founder Simon Isback will be the developer. Simon is the original visionary behind ZiberBugs, and has worked as a developer for 15 years, with 11 years in game development and 7 years working in crypto and in game design.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-isback/

Founder Fabio Persegani will be the creative resource, providing graphics and 3D models. Fabio is Stockholm based Graphic Designer with 20+ years of experience in designing for big and small businesses such as Universal Music, EMI and BrightLabs. Designs with a passion for crafting functional brand identities and content that communicate and connect with people.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabio-persegani-b5799020b/

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

Completing this prototype should allow us to attract investment in Ziber Corp. Having a playable prototype will allow us to create compelling marketing content, and it lowers the risk for potential investors both retail and VC. Consequently we do not anticipate having to apply for subsequent Catalyst grants. Having said that, we will consider it depending on how the future unfolds.

[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 have a detailed project plan that we will be reviewing at our management team meeting weekly. We plan to share our progress metrics with our various social media communities, particularly and most often with our Discord followers.

You can join our discord community here for updates: https://discord.gg/mPKwCFxBex

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

Success for this prototype would be a playable game, which will allow us to evaluate how fun the game is to play, and to make adjustments before moving ahead with MVP. Overall, the success of ZiberBugs has a good chance to attract many thousands of people from other netoworks to Cardano.

[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.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Rating

TBD