Tokenized lore was only the beginning, as leading Web3 game envisions a bold future
Leading gaming metaverse Alien Worlds is on a mission to develop a sci-fi franchise that empowers all players to become contributors, as the community builds, controls and governs the intellectual property (IP). The blockchain-powered game unveiled its vision for tokenized storytelling late last year, and since then has released new games, a teaser for a webcomic and expanded lore.
The recent product launches within the Alien Worlds ecosystem all emphasize the power offered by Web3. When a community has the rights to contribute, powerful things can happen to an ecosystem. The initial success seen with Alien Worlds ushers in a new era of decentralized intellectual property, or decentralized IP.
Broadly speaking, this ambition will enable community members to build their own worlds and brands within the Alien Worlds metaverse. Anybody can leverage tokens to assert ownership of creations that can be deployed in animated series, games, comic books, and more.
Fresh mythology invigorates Alien Worlds
One of the most decentralized metaversal ecosystems in the world, Alien Worlds has been continuing to decentralize its smart contracts for some time. It launched its in-game DAOs (known as Planetary Syndicates) several years ago and its vision for tokenized lore takes things further, giving writers and artists more control over their work and letting players ultimately decide what constitutes canon.
As for the original lore, produced by leading contributor Dacoco, it was deemed in need of further extension before the community continued to build it out. Celebrated sci-fi author Kevin J. Anderson extended the existing Alien Worlds storyline which then became the foundational blueprint for the game’s races, technologies, architecture, and cultures. The subsequent “Tokenized Lore” proposal, undergirded by Anderson’s foundation, was then approved by Custodians of the six Planetary Syndicates that govern much of what happens in the game.
In recent weeks, elements of Alien Worlds’ new lore have emerged in a series of blog posts that demystify the behind-the-scenes work undertaken by Anderson and thereafter developed by Dacoco’s ‘Loremasters’. Long-standing pillars of the old mythology, pale-faced creatures known as Greys, have been revitalized and transformed into a monastic subset of the new Altan race, while Little Green People have been succeeded by the enigmatic Elgems.
Alien Worlds’ native token, Trilium (TLM), sits at the core of this rich lore. According to Anderson’s treatment, Trilium is a highly bio-reactive substance that, when exposed to genetic material, causes mutations and disturbs genetic code. The Altan race discovered how to use Trilium through Triactor Technology which has allowed them to eliminate disease, decelerate aging, and grant the user abilities that unlock the secrets of the universe. Its scarcity and unique properties make it extremely valuable throughout the metaversal ecosystem.
Starblind expands collaborative story metaverse
The comprehensive imagining of Alien Worlds’ lore seeks to enrich the game’s sci-fi narrative and set the scene for endless lore-creation opportunities. Community members interested in expanding the game’s mythology further can also reference and leverage a Large Lore Model (LLM) called Lynx, an AI system that acts as a creative partner for builders and a vessel for approved canon.
With the LLM trained on Anderson’s work and subsequent additions, players can build their very own Alien Worlds games, media, and more while integrating and respecting the official lore.
While Dacoco’s creative team has carried Anderson’s torch and set about expanding the game’s mythology, outside entities have also entered the ecosystem and flexed their creative muscles. For example, web3 tech company LightningWorks won funding from the Galactic Hubs Grant Program and produced an NFT-based mini comic called Starblind. Released in January, the webcomic builds out the lore with new characters and storylines while also featuring a race conceived by Anderson. A second edition is currently in the works.
Published on Polygon, the debut tokenized Starblind comic has nine tiers of rarity and can be purchased directly via WhatsApp or Telegram. Collectors can also ‘forge’ their comic to achieve a higher tier, with Galactic Hubs previously running a Forging Contest for buyers who can forge up to an Apocalyptic-tier comic. The prize? A drill NFT, worth $500, for use in Alien Worlds’ core mining game.
Starblind acts as a showcase of what’s possible with Tokenized Lore: outside entities entering the Alien Worlds Metaverse, building upon what is in place, and enriching it for the community to enjoy. Some 1,800 copies of Starblind have been sold so far.
Mobile game Battlefleet Armageddon debuts
Starblind isn’t the only project strengthening the appeal of Alien Worlds for players. Another Galactic Hubs grant recipient, game studio Mercury Forge, has brought a mobile auto-battler game to the ecosystem. A free-to-play strategy game built on WAX, Battlefleet Armageddon compels Alien Worlds Explorers to control a fleet of spacecrafts and defeat their rivals.
Available in iOS and Android, the refactored web2 auto battler features a range of Alien Worlds NFTs whose rarity determines the accessibility of various battleship tiers. WAX tokens can also be used to acquire ship packs, boosts, and appearance upgrades.
Planetary Syndicates, meanwhile, play a vital role, granting players the opportunity to influence the game’s future trajectory. Mercury Forge says its ultimate objective is to create a financially sustainable game that can self-fund any future expansion.
The future of decentralized IP
Starblind and Battlefleet Armageddon are just the tip of the iceberg. Dacoco and the wider Alien Worlds community are determined to broaden the reach of the metaverse and transform it into an all-encompassing sci-fi franchise composed of spinoff games, comics, art, merchandise – a truly transmedia opportunity.
At the heart of this momentum is tokenized lore and decentralized IP, with a community of empowered players using blockchain and DAOs to amplify their voice and earn rewards commensurate with their contributions.
With many players around the world having already interacted with Alien Worlds to this point, the focus is now on attracting more game developers, storytellers, artists, and fans of fantasy and sci-fi to the fold, whether to create their own content, interact with the various games and NFTs, or participate in governance by seeking Custodianship with one of the Syndicates.
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