Introducing novice users to the world of Bitcoin and other virtual currencies is not an easy task. That being said, there are certain options to explore when trying to bring in new community members. One of the ways to successfully do that, as Spells of Genesis has proven, is by combining virtual currency (Bitcrystals) with a card game.
WHAT IS SPELLS OF GENESIS?
Spells of Genesis (SoG) is the first blockchain-based trading card game: its storyline and in-game economy are both based on blockchain technology. SoG combines the addictiveness of arcade games, with the collection and strategic aspects of trading cards.
EverdreamSoft, the company behind the upcoming game, uses bitcoin in it’s lore and to secure digital goods. You may have used the cryptocurrency (in addition to your standard debit or credit card) to buy in-game items and booster packs to improve your deck, but EverdreamSoft also plans to use the bitcoin blockchain technology to lock purchases to the person who bought it.
Bitcoin is one of the leading online digital currencies, which have grown in popularity in recent years and is under the control of no government. A blockchain is the sequence database that helps track where a bitcoin has come from and who owned it previously. By connecting in-game items to the bitcoin block chain, EverdreamSoft is essentially building a digital deck that it can never take away from you.
The game items and cards will be stored in a decentralized ledger rather than the game’s own centralized server. This creates a situation where players literally own their cards, being able to exchange the cards in real life — separate from any in-game activity.
GAMEPLAY.
The basics of the game involve collecting cards and composing a team to fight enemies using your characters’ different strengths and spells. There are two types of cards — blockchain cards and offchain — which can be obtained in-game. You can level-up and fuse your cards to make them stronger.
Some of the limited series of blockchain-based trading cards include:
- Genisis card. The Genisis card was originally set to be the first ever card and one of the most valuable and rare items in the game. Genisis card will only be available for premium grades.
- Satoshicard. A Special card to honor the Bitcoin creator. Only 200 of these cards will ever be issued, making a very valuable card.
- ShapeShiftcard. SoG, has also released a limited quantity of a unique game card inspired by ShapeShift.io. The scarce digital asset, named “ShapeShift- The Wanderer,” will have a limited quantity of 100 cards available for purchase via the ShapeShift.io exchange.
- Ethxcpcard. This is a new blockchain-based trading card issued in a very limited edition of 1,000 copies. Players can buy this card in exchange for BitCrystals, and the card price will increase as more of these cards are purchased.
COUNTERPARTY.
You will be able to trade cards and game items easily within and outside the SoG game app. The asset exist on the Counterparty platform, which utilizes the Bitcoin blockchain to track creation and transfer of digital assets. This means that you can see every single Spells of Genesis blockchain card on the network and you will always know how many there are of each one. Most SoG cards are even “locked,” making it physically impossible for the developers to print more.
Players can trade their rare cards for actual bitcoins, Bitcrystals and other Counterparty assets. Of course, the key here is that players who buy Spells of Genesis cards can link them to the actual SoG app and use them in the game. Each blockchain card has special stats and spells that make it easier to clear each level.
Counterparty also enables anyone to write specific digital agreements, or programs known as Smart Contracts, and execute them on the Bitcoin blockchain. SOG has leveraged this to add exciting new features to the game, like player vs. player and user-generated tournaments.
Having in-game smart contracts might be very interesting. Imagine a player who wants to create an event or a tournament right inside the game. He or she could write the rules of the tournament and make sure that the software willd enforce the contract and give the rewards to the right people if the conditions are met. Thus, smart contracts will enable players to create provably fair game sessions and tournaments.
SWAPBOTS.
To sell cards to the public SoG uses clever asset vending machines called Swapbots developed by Adam Levine’s Tokenly service. Swapbots are like ShapeShift but for anyone, including you and me. Literally anyone can set up a swapbot that trades any Spells of Genesis cards and other Counterparty asset(s) for any other Counteryparty asset(s) at whatever rate they choose.
You can find the official public merchant here. You might also want to browse this third-party directory that lists all the swapbots selling each Spells of Genesis card.
BITCRYSTALS (BCY) OVERVIEW.
Coincapmarket ranking: 205.
Current coin Value: $0.351678 (-17.56%).
Market Cap: $8,175,956.
24hr volume: $111,698.
Circulating Supply: 23,248,415 BCY.
BitCrystals are the in-game tokens used in Spells of Genesis, which can be used to purchase special powers and game assets. Every BitCrystal token is created on top of Bitcoin’s blockchain, giving owners the option to easily trade their tokens outside of the game. Similar to how with Pokemon cards, one is not limited to trading within the walls of a tournament or a game store, players will be able to send their tokens to anyone with a Counterwallet address.
Distribution and supply.
BitCrystals were issued in a limited supply of 100 000 000 units. 30% of the initial supply were kept by EverdreamSoft for promotion and development purposes, 70 000 000 BCY were allocated to the BitCrystals Token Sale.
At the end of each month, 50% of the card sales income in BCY are burnt and EverdreamSoft publishes a detailed report indicating their BCY incomes as well as the amount to burn. The total supply of BCY is constantly decreasing thus its value keeps increasing.
Token sale.
The Spells of Genesis team held a 30-day crowdsale journey beginning August 2015. EverdreamSoft was taken aback by the immediate success of this crowdsale, as more than 240 Bitcoin was raised within the first two hours. That line of success continued when the funding goal of US$200,000 was reached a few days later.
EverdreamSoft seized this opportunity to experiment a bit with special deals and new blockchain-based in-game cards, which ensured more funds kept coming in. When all was said and done, Spells of Genesis netted a total of 974,13 Bitcoin were raised, and 14,361,467.13 BitCrystals were distributed among backers. The remaining BitCrystals supply – 55,638,532.87 to be precise – was “burnt” at the beginning of October 2015.
Bitcrystals freeze.
In May 2017, EverdreamSoft committed to holding 18’000’000 BitCrystals, representing 60% of the total amount of the company’s holdings in BCY, in a dedicated digital wallet until June 30, 2018. The “Freeze” wallet address is: 1J59oicHWyFNoqUKSBDksiHsVpHdhE ZDcm. The commitment is signed by EverdreamSoft CEO in a legal Swiss document available at the url address.
Exchanges.
- BTC/BCY.
- BTC/BCY.
- Book of Orbs. BTC/BCY/Blockchain Cards.
- BTC/BCY/Blockchain Cards.
Wallets.
Book of Orbs.
The Book of Orbs (BoO) app was designed (in part) for storing BitCrystals and trading Spells of Genesis cards. In the app, you can browse all of the cards (including their awesome artwork) and check out the markets for each one. You can also buy Spells of Genesis cards for BitCrystals with just a few taps.
Book of Orbs actually does all of this for several different games. There are already a few other blockchain-based card games that use BoO and there are surely more to come. It’s a convenient way to manage all kinds of digital assets and blockchain cards in one place.
Counterwallet.
Counterwallet is one of the most popular wallets for BCW and other Counterparty assets. This includes far more than just Spells of Genesis cards. People already use Counterparty assets for numerous purposes and the possibilities are endless.
Linking Your Blockchain Cards to Your SoG Account.
This step is necessary so that you can actually play your Spells of Genesis cards in the game. It needs to know what blockchain cards you actually own before it can let you pwn with them. To make this connection, you need to go to the Spells of Genesis site and log in.
If you navigate to your profile, you’ll see a field for your XCP address, which is the same as your Counterparty address. Just paste in your address from Book of Orbs or Counterwallet and you’re good to go. This wallet address should look like a long bunch of nonsensical characters. Congrats, that is all there is to linking your account.
ABOUT EVERDREAMSOFT.
EverdreamSoft (EDS) is a Swiss-based company specializing in the development of online games, while exploring new technologies such as blockchain and integrating them into their projects. EDS is the creator of Moonga, a very successful online trading card game, issued in 2009. It became the top-grossing card game in Japan, along with five other countries. SoG, the game’s sequel, may also win some success in Japan and elsewhere.
The game is available on iOS, Android and WebGL (online).
IN CLOSING.
SoG is exploring “true ownership” for users, whereby all the game’s assets are stored on the blockchain. In contrast to our real world capital which is the sum of all things we own – house, car etc. – when it comes to digital worlds, we don’t seem to own anything digital. For instance, If you purchase a Windows license then it’s tied to you but you cannot transfer it.
Through blockchain users now stand to gain access to a new way of owning and trading digital assets: when you purchase SoG cards it adds to your overall capital, and the capital could be the cards you own, or it could be songs that are represented with an asset. If you want to purchase something else you should be able to liquidate a part of your assets and swap this for something else.
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