Author: @_eat_apple_

From: @AW_Research

The Genesis Grants Voting Marathon: A Recap of the Exhilarating Race to the Top 10

Over the past week, the race for the coveted Frontinus House Genesis Grants delivered nonstop excitement and suspense. In the early voting, projects like Call the Banners, Loot Underworld and Risk of the Realms quickly emerged as front runners, claiming the top 3 spots on the first leaderboard. However, their early momentum faded down the home stretch. Call the Banners sunk from 1st to 6th in the final week. Both Loot Underworld and Risk of the Realms got surpassed by fast rising competitors and finished outside the top 5.

On the flip side, Crypts & Caverns and Loot Royale exemplified the underdog stories. Crypts & Caverns sat near the bottom of the pack in the early going before its meteoric rise to 1st place. Similarly, Loot Royale languished outside the top 2 for days. But it suddenly caught fire on September 2nd, vaulting from 3rd to 1st place in 24 hours. Both projects embodied dramatic come-from-behind victories.

Meanwhile, other early underdogs like Kist and Last Standing made steady climbs into the top 10 with consistent campaigning. Starknet.Unity's late charge highlighted the fierce competition, as it climbed from near last into 10th, only to get edged out at the bitter end.

The competition reached a fever pitch in the final 24 hours, with the 10th place project surging from just over 500 votes to over 900 votes. This demonstrated the rapidly rising threshold for breaking into the Top 10 as the voting deadline approached.

The voting saw dramatic lead changes, come-from-behind rallies, and intense last-minute jockeying by builders vying for a spot in the top 10. The rapidly shifting votes reinforced just how precarious the standings were. Early leaders could not rest on their laurels. Projects had to fight nonstop for every vote to survive. Some frontrunners burned bright early but flamed out late. Yet underdogs like Crypts & Caverns proved with perseverance, even a huge deficit could be overcome. The dramatic lead changes kept the community engaged and on the edge of their seats until the very last minute.

Frontinus House: Genesis Grants has concluded, and the community has spoken. In this article, we'll introduce you to the top ten projects chosen through community votes—visionary initiatives that are set to shape the future of Realms Autonomous World. Join us as we dive into the innovative ideas and potential of these pioneers, each contributing to the ever-evolving landscape of blockchain and decentralization.

Crypts & Caverns for Loot Survivor by cryptsncaverns - 1217 Votes

Crypts and Caverns (C&C) is a procedurally generated NFT map project created to enrich the environments of the Lootverse metaverse, with a special focus on enhancing the gameplay of Loot Survivor. C&C fills a critical gap in Lootverse by providing unpredictable and unique maps for exciting adventures.

While Loot offers items and Genesis Adventurers provides characters, Lootverse was missing randomized settings for storytelling. C&C steps in to address this, offering generative maps that expand the possibilities for in-game experiences.

C&C's on-chain maps are standardized for easy integration by any Lootverse project, with Loot Survivor being the primary focus. Games like LootMMO have already successfully incorporated C&C maps to create dungeon crawlers using Loot assets.

C&C aligns closely with Loot's ethos of openness and generativity, offering modular components for worldbuilding and turning Lootverse's potential into dynamic gaming experiences, especially within Loot Survivor.

To sum it up, Crypts and Caverns (C&C) serves as a valuable addition to the Lootverse, with a primary emphasis on enriching the gameplay experience of Loot Survivor. By offering diverse and ever-changing environments, C&C contributes to the evolution of on-chain gaming not only within the Lootverse but also in broader contexts.

To learn more about C&C, click this link.

Loot Royale by BladeDAO - 1101 Votes

Loot Royale is a groundbreaking on-chain gaming project that seamlessly merges the world of  NFTs with the adrenaline-pumping excitement of battle royale gameplay. At its core, Loot Royale offers players the unique opportunity to breathe life into their prized loot NFTs by summoning them as in-game characters using Bacalhau compute. This innovative integration of NFTs results in a dynamic and ever-evolving gaming experience, where every battle is marked by unpredictability and surprise.

One of the standout features of Loot Royale is its utilization of on-chain map generation, where the very terrain of the game is derived from realms NFTs. This gives each round a fresh and distinctive feel, ensuring that no two games are ever quite the same. The battlefield is in constant flux, thanks to a random algorithm that dictates the shrinkage of the playing zone, ensuring that players must adapt and strategize on the fly.

Central to the game's economy is the $LORDS token, which serves multiple purposes. Players can stake $LORDS as the prize pool for each game, creating a high-stakes environment where the victor claims all. Additionally, $LORDS tokens can be used to craft in-game items, though players must be mindful of restrictions on the number of items they can carry.

What sets Loot Royale apart is its engagement of the community in designing in-game items, allowing for a dynamic and ever-evolving gaming environment. Furthermore, the project introduces a metagame through betting, enticing DeFi enthusiasts to speculate on game outcomes, adding yet another layer of excitement.

Loot Royale's target audience includes not only loot NFT holders but also realms NFT enthusiasts, Lords token holders, and players keen on exploring on-chain gaming within the StarkNet ecosystem. It's an ambitious endeavor that promises a fully on-chain, transparent, and verifiable gaming experience, where players engage in thrilling battles fueled by game theory. With only those possessing realm NFTs able to initiate a game, each round's map is a unique pixelated board abstracted from the player's NFT, adding an extra layer of personalization and immersion.

Last Standing by Grug - 1100 Votes

Last Standing is an engaging tactical game with a fully on-chain experience designed for a broad audience, including FOCG and Starknet users, catering to casual gamers of all ages and genders. It's accessible on both PC and mobile platforms, with a tech stack that includes Dojo, Cairo, Phaser, and React.

In Last Standing, players take on the role of explorers who venture into the untamed wilderness to establish outposts on a dynamic map. These outposts face unpredictable events that threaten their existence. The ultimate goal is to be the last one standing, as the owner of the surviving outpost claims a jackpot, fueled by $LORDS tokens collected from defense setup fees and game initiation.

This game is distinguished by its 2D hex tile map, reminiscent of classic board games like Catan but on a larger scale. The gameplay is designed around randomness, accessibility, and strategy, all set within the intriguing Realmverse/Lootverse. It's a fully on-chain gaming experience, bringing a unique twist to traditional gaming.

Last Standing unfolds in two main phases:

1. Preparation Phase: Players mint explorers and invest in defenses for their outposts. Each defense adds an extra layer of protection, and they're available through a unique Variable Rate Gradual Dutch Auction.

2. Main Game Phase: Once preparation concludes, explorers journey into the wilderness to establish outposts. Random events pose threats, testing players' strategic prowess. Players can also engage in trading outposts and reinforcements on a secondary market. The season culminates when only one outpost remains, claiming the accumulated $LORDS jackpot.

Future seasons promise exciting features like map customization, ongoing explorer trading, and resource farming through explorer orders' votes. The number of explorers varies each season based on previous minting activity.

Risk of the Realms by Cheelax - 1085 Votes

Risk of the Realms is an ambitious open-source on-chain gaming project that aims to bring the classic board game "Risk" into the digital realm. Set in the captivating fantasy world of Realms, this project leverages Starknet's Layer 2 blockchain technology and the Dojo game engine to redefine multiplayer turn-based strategy gaming.

Drawing inspiration from the timeless strategy of "Risk," players embark on epic conquests, engage in diplomacy, and face off in dice-roll battles. The integration of blockchain technology ensures transparent and fair gameplay, setting a new standard for gaming experiences.

The project's technical foundation is built on smart contracts coded in Cairo, running on Starknet, and seamlessly integrated with a user-friendly React and Phaser.js frontend. Moreover, Risk of the Realms is deeply intertwined with the Realms ecosystem, collaborating with creators to infuse the game with rich narratives, unique factions, and immersive events.

Risk of the Realms represents an exciting fusion of traditional gaming and cutting-edge blockchain technology. It aims to bridge the classic appeal of "Risk" with the limitless possibilities offered by blockchain and Starknet.

Kist by Nicabar - 1054 Votes

Project Kist represents a vision to harness the potential of Realms Autonomous Worlds (RAW) by cultivating a vibrant LOOT developer community. It aspires to unite creators and their communities through decentralized solutions, bridging the gap between computer-run RPGs and tabletop RPGs using AI advancements.

Kist simplifies complex concepts into accessible components, recognizing the early stage of RAW's development. It focuses on creating fundamental elements, including a lock-picking mini-game, a developer tutorial, and an annual game jam event.

The core of the project revolves around "Pick," a Cairo Hillsfar lock-picking mini-game clone. "Pick" acts as a tangible example of the Entity Component System in Dojo and underscores the parallels between Cairo and Rust. It underscores the importance of crafting straightforward, educational, and enjoyable experiences for newcomers.

To adapt to the ever-evolving Cairo and Dojo, Kist adopts an open-style approach to tutorials. Through a developer blog, it chronicles the learning journey, providing valuable insights and resources for developers. This approach fosters continuous learning and knowledge-sharing within the RAW community.

Kist envisions an annual game jam, beginning with "Kist 2024," serving as a platform for innovation. It intends to expand this tradition with community-driven DAO decisions, including sponsorship prizes, quarterly mini-jams, and bounties. The ultimate aim is to push technological boundaries, inspire participation, and ignite creativity in the dynamic world of RAW.

The Loot Herald by The Loot Writers Group - 1032 Votes

The Loot Herald project is an innovative initiative that combines journalism and advocacy within the dynamic Loot ecosystem. It is led by a dedicated group known as the Loot Discord Writers' Room, comprising Loot collectors, enthusiasts, and contributors deeply interested in the storytelling aspects of the Lootverse.

The primary aim of The Loot Herald is to offer real-time, comprehensive coverage and analysis of the Loot ecosystem, with a strong focus on the pioneering work happening within BibliothecaDAO/Realms. This role acts as a bridge, connecting creators, players, investors, and the wider audience. It simplifies the onboarding process for newcomers, encourages collaboration among project teams, and enhances understanding of the ecosystem.

The target audience for The Loot Herald includes stakeholders in Loot and BibliothecaDAO/Realms, as well as game developers, artists, and the broader cryptocurrency community interested in decentralized art and collaborative storytelling.

The fusion of journalism and advocacy in the emerging field of onchain, permissionless works presents an exciting opportunity to advance the entire NFT space. The journalist/herald will curate content, conduct interviews, and provide insights into the Loot ecosystem while actively promoting BibliothecaDAO/Realms and other Loot projects.

InstaSwap by Felix Luo - 1007 Votes

InstaSwap is a groundbreaking protocol designed exclusively for ERC-1155 token exchanges on Starknet. Drawing inspiration from successful platforms like Uniswap and Niftyswap, this project offers a unique and pioneering solution within the Starknet ecosystem.

What sets InstaSwap apart is its role as the first-ever ERC-1155 token swap mechanism on Starknet. It introduces an unprecedented way for users to engage in decentralized trading on this blockchain network, catering to the needs of the ERC-1155 token community.

InstaSwap's primary target audience comprises ERC-1155 token holders, traders, and enthusiasts deeply involved in the Starknet ecosystem. By providing a tailored solution for ERC-1155 tokens within this unique blockchain framework, InstaSwap aims to meet the specific requirements of this audience while upholding the principles of decentralization.

The excitement and vision behind InstaSwap are rooted in its potential to drive innovation within the Starknet ecosystem. This project represents a fusion of cutting-edge blockchain technology and decentralized finance, offering efficient, secure, and transparent ERC-1155 token swaps. The enthusiasm surrounding InstaSwap arises from the opportunity to lead a new era of trading possibilities on Starknet.

Call the Banners: Onchain by BannersNFT - 986 Votes

Call the Banners, introduced by the Knights of Ser Anthony (KoSA), is a social engagement game in the Lootverse that started as a Discord-based game and has now evolved into an on-chain version called CtBOC. This transition aims to attract a global audience and promote innovation by offering an open-source, modular design for community developers.

The game is hosted on StarkNet and consists of three phases: Staging, Battle, and End. During the Staging Phase, players strategically form teams, while the Battle Phase involves warfare, treasure hunting, and complex strategies. The End Phase rewards players and introduces new narratives, creating an immersive gaming experience.

CtBOC's technical architecture is similar to Loot Survivor, with game logic in contracts deployed on StarkNet and a user-friendly web interface. The development approach involves creating a core playable version (v1) and then expanding it in subsequent versions (v2) with features from the off-chain game.

Call the Banners has core principles of being low-to-no stakes, engaging, story-inspiring, and episodic. The project's evolution into CtBOC aims to rejuvenate the gaming experience and foster a thriving community within the Realms Autonomous World ecosystem.

A Spellcrafting #play2die Game by Wollum - 984 Votes

Introducing a captivating game set in the Realms Autonomous World, centered around time-based spell crafting. Players take on the role of mages crafting potent ritual spells, facing the challenge of maintaining the spell's stability while preventing it from consuming them.

In each play session, players have a range of actions at their disposal, some with real-time durations and cooldowns. Actions include ingredient foraging, sending familiars on hunts, spell stabilization, and study. Designed for short bursts of engagement over days or weeks, it caters to mobile gamers' preferences.

The game concludes either with the player's defeat or the successful capture of a stable spell, yielding a unique spell asset. Inspired by digital pet games like Tamagotchi and spell crafting in titles like Magic: The Gathering, it's tailored for casual gamers, offering an accessible entry into the Realms Autonomous World.

Notably, the game visualizes spells as procedurally generated arcana circles, ensuring each spell's uniqueness. A competitive element is added with a leaderboard showcasing the most powerful mages.

Loot Underworld by Mataleone & Recipromancer - 954 Votes

Loot Underworld is a collaborative venture between Endless Crawler and funDAOmental, aiming to expand the Lootverse with subterranean dungeons beneath each Loot Realm. This project will introduce unique underworlds for each realm, providing a versatile foundation for various experiences within the Loot & Realms ecosystem.

Phase 1 focuses on the project's foundations, such as migrating the Endless Crawler chamber generator to Cairo, enabling Realm Lords to freely mint chambers linked to their Realms, and creating interconnected underworlds beneath each Realm. These underworlds align with realm proportions, facilitating exploration and secret connections.

Beyond Phase 1, the project plans to integrate Hyperbox for 2D/3D experiences, develop generative AI art tools for gaming assets, and create a dungeon-crawling game inspired by classics like "Eye of the Beholder." The game will utilize generative AI art and narrative systems for unique experiences.

In the broader context, the project aims to establish Endless Crawler Chambers as a new Lootverse addition, allowing connections between Realms and other Loot tokens. Multiplayer features, token upgrades, and integration with BibliothecaDAO Atlas are in the pipeline. Additionally, deterministic Loot Survivor Encounters will be added to enhance cross-chain gaming between Ethereum and Starknet.

The Top 10 Vanguard Projects: Paving the Road Ahead

The ten visionary projects chosen through the Frontinus House: Genesis Grants voting represent pioneering initiatives poised to shape the future of Realms Autonomous World. However, these ten are merely the tip of the iceberg.

The voting revealed an abundance of outstanding builders brimming with groundbreaking ideas. Although they fell just shy of the Top 10, many other ambitious projects have shown tremendous promise. Their novel concepts and enthusiastic community support convinced us that they also deserve recognition.

Therefore, in the spirit of celebrating the wealth of talent driving this ecosystem forward, we would like to highlight five exceptional runners-up ranked #11-15 in the voting. Despite narrowly missing the Top 10 threshold, these teams embody the same spirit of innovation and have their sights set firmly on the road ahead.

Mississippi - A Fully On-chain Roguelike PVP Game - 930 Votes

Mississippi is an exciting new multiplayer game set in a vast underground cavern. Players take on the role of miners competing to extract valuable resources within a time limit. The cave is procedurally generated and changes configuration each round, so players must adapt their strategies.

Gameplay involves moving through grid-based dungeons, assessing other miners, and deciding whether to fight, flee, or cooperate. Your choices influence how others react in this confrontation-driven experience. More loot can be gained by maneuvering carefully, avoiding attacks, and sharing information at the right times.

Mississippi integrates Lootverse equipment into gameplay. Players can equip loot-derived items like boots and armor for speed and protection boosts. NFT holders can use their own gear, while others can rent equipment.

This on-chain roguelike focuses on competitive multiplayer exploration and strategic decision-making. The developers also aim to build a co-creation model, where the community contributes to content like maps. Mississippi promises engaging entertainment along with new modes of collaborative decentralized game development.

URS AI - Realms + Verifiable Entropies via ZKML - 547 Votes

Entropy, the concept of unpredictability, is a fundamental aspect of our daily experiences. In our world, randomness and unexpected events make life more exciting. However, in blockchain-based autonomous systems, the emphasis often leans towards immutability and transparency, leaving little room for entropy.

The project, URS AI - Realms + Verifiable Entropies via ZKML, aims to address this imbalance by introducing logical entropies infused with AI into Ethereum-based autonomous worlds.

This project's core objective is to enhance the unpredictability and dynamism of autonomous worlds. Instead of relying solely on manual voting, AI-driven logic will be employed for decision-making. For instance, predetermined AI models will determine the likelihood of specific events, such as weather changes, rather than requiring constant voting.

To ensure transparency and verifiability, entropies generated will utilize Zero-Knowledge Machine Learning (ZKML). While AI lacks full predictability due to its inherent complexity, the process will follow predefined models, determined through community consensus or collaborative development.

In summary, URS AI - Realms + Verifiable Entropies via ZKML positions itself as a project designed to inject complexity and unpredictability into Ethereum-based autonomous worlds. It aims to strike a balance between blockchain's core principles and the excitement of unpredictability.

Starknet.unity - 430 Votes

Starknet.unity is an innovative project aimed at enhancing the integration of Unity game development with the Starknet blockchain. Developed by a team of experienced professionals, including Joel Lai, a game developer with a strong background in JavaScript, C#, and Rust, and Bill Lee, a crypto developer with extensive experience in Java, Go, Javascript, Solidity, and Cairo, this project addresses the need for a convenient bridge between Unity and Starknet.

In the realm of blockchain game development, Starknet.js has been the primary toolset for developers to interact with the Starknet blockchain. It offers a range of APIs to streamline the development process. However, there has been a notable absence of an equivalent Starknet.cs for Unity developers. Starknet.unity seeks to fill this gap by providing a Unity asset that simplifies the process of connecting Unity projects with Starknet.

The primary objective of Starknet.unity is to offer game developers a seamless and user-friendly means of incorporating Starknet functionality into their Unity projects. By leveraging this asset, developers can harness the power of Starknet without the complexities of manual integration, ultimately saving time and resources.

Joel Lai and Bill Lee bring their combined expertise in game development, blockchain technology, and comprehensive system building to Starknet.unity. With their dedication to pushing the boundaries of computer science and their passion for navigating the intricacies of complex systems, Starknet.unity is poised to become an invaluable resource for game developers looking to explore the possibilities of Starknet within their Unity projects.

Shattered Realms: A Loot Adventure - 371 Votes

Shattered Realms: A Loot Adventure is an exciting graphic novel project set to expand the Realms ecosystem. It's a collaboration featuring illustrator Danny Schlitz, known for work with Marvel, Disney, Sony, and more; comic publisher Adam Fortier; and writer O_Excess from BibliothecaDAO.

The graphic novel will be available in both physical and digital formats, featuring locations and characters from the Realms universe, including the Realms Atlas and Wonders. It also provides narrative hooks for other developers. The project has started, with the first chapter funded by O_Excess. We're seeking the Frontinus grant from BibliothecaDAO to continue production and involve the community in key storyline decisions.

Shattered Realms introduces blockchain and decentralized elements, including community-driven development and digital distribution through the Macroverse App. It also plans to provide unique benefits to digital comic holders, bridging the gap between the digital and physical worlds with physical claims for digital holders and expanded print distribution.

The novel aims to engage a diverse audience, from Realms and BibliothecaDAO members to the general public, fantasy literature and comic fans, writers, developers, and NFT enthusiasts. It promises to enhance the visibility of the Realms universe and support collaborative creativity.

Glyphs and Grammars: Spell Books for Adventurers - 261 Votes

The Glyphs and Grammars project aims to create text-based NFTs on StarkNet, featuring collections of 8 distinct spells resembling ancient spell books. Realms NFT holders will receive one spell book, confirmed via Herodotus. Additional spell books will be auctioned through a Variable Rate Glyph and Grammar Deterministic Auction (VRGDA), with profits shared among RealmsDAO, the contract owner, and the creator. Each spell is generated deterministically using the token ID, composed of 2 to 4 glyphs combined through grammars.

Glyphs are fundamental words of power, morphed by grammars into nouns, verbs, adjectives, or gerunds. Grammars dictate glyph combinations, allowing spell creation. The project prioritizes offering diverse glyphs and grammatical patterns for countless spell combinations.

The project aligns with Loot's principles of decomposability and composability. It embeds lore within the contract, introduces the concept of "deciphered" spells, includes eight schools of magic, and favors elegance, simplicity, and an arcane aesthetic. The project also emphasizes curated and useful spell combinations, providing a queryable on-chain database of glyphs and grammars.

Future developments include L2 distillation for spells, spell research and collection games, spell breeding, integration with Realms AW, using spells as dungeon keys, and establishing a Spells DAO with a treasury. The project targets Loot and Realms NFT holders and those interested in the fantasy of being a wizard and discovering spells.

The Road Ahead: Building Upon the Success of the Frontinus House Genesis Grants

The Frontinus House Genesis Grants voting marathon represented an exhilarating showcase of innovation within the Realms ecosystem. The competitive race to the top 10 and the outstanding quality of projects ranked 11-15 underscore the wealth of talent driving this community forward.

Notably, the 11th place project Mississippi by LXDAO, a fully on-chain roguelike PVP game, came agonizingly close to cracking the top 10, missing by just 24 votes. Its exciting gameplay ideas and enthusiastic community support make it a project to watch for future grant opportunities. We were impressed by the innovative concepts displayed even by builders who narrowly missed the Top 10 threshold this round. In an added twist, Mississippi sat in 5th place a mere 20 minutes before voting closed, but in the final frenzy of votes, it got bumped out of the Top 10, landing in the bittersweet 11th spot, underscoring just how fiercely competitive the race was down to the final seconds.

With the success of this inaugural grants initiative, Realms aims to continue supporting pioneering builders through regular cycles of grants. After productive discussions within the community, plans are already underway for the next round of Frontinus House Genesis Grants in approximately one month's time.

The Realms team is thrilled by the enthusiasm and vision displayed by participants in the first grants event. As Realm continues to evolve as an autonomous world, Genesis Grants will provide the fuel to cultivate groundbreaking ideas. We eagerly anticipate the next wave of grant proposals and voting as Realms persists in its mission of fostering decentralization, creativity, and community collaboration.