This project aims to develop the web3 framework and smart contracts required for the foundation of web3 dApps/gaming/interactive applications in Layer2 Ethereum (specifically focused on Loopring/Taiko).
Initially I am working on a RTS battle-strategy game called 'EVMachina', which will include multiplayer elements and competitive tournaments - focused around battling player characters (customized mech bots) in a indie retro-cyberpunk game/setting. Players will equip modular characters and items (utilizing NFTs) and compete against each other & NPC enemies. This web3 prototype is mostly focused around developing the frameworks and smart contracts required to build a variety of different interactive gaming projects or dApps. There are of course many other projects this can lead into - I have several other interactive/gaming projects in mind for the future. EVMachina is the beginning of this effort as I follow Taiko towards mainnet launch.
In parallel to this gaming project I am also working on an intro tutorial series for the community. The aim of this series will be to assist other developers in getting started in web3. There are many directions this series could end up going in, and lots of topics to cover, but the initial focus will be on the basics of smart contract development and the basics of NFT & web app development (and interfacing these two areas to work together). The initial format of this tutorial series is written (Taiko forum posts & twitter threads), but I would like to also explore a future more advanced tutorial in video format (ie youtube).
The category I selected below is 'Games' but can also be categorized as 'Education & Community Efforts' with the tutorials in mind.
Category
Games
Timeline
Early September: 'Dev Lens' tutorial series starts, Edition 1 published
-Edition 1: Deploying your first smart contract (currently being written)
September/October 2023: EVMachina game mechanics & smart contract focus
-Initial gameplay mechanics & graphics example
-player setup & movement controls
-early map/level generation
-NPC enemies
-basic combat/turn mechanics
-Early (simple) smart contract example for the player-character NFT item
-player info stored
-simple NFT player customization via smart contract (stats/visuals)
November (End of month)):
-Player-character NFT item alpha(v1) ready for minting (ahead of alpha testing)
-multiplayer test session implemented (allowing a game session to run)
-early gameplay testing & examples can occur
December (end of month) *dependant on testnet availability at this time - but this can be worked around with web2 solutions
-First alpha-tester round, multi-round alpha-tournament can take place
-community alpha testers receive player characters
-alpha testers can configure their character
-alpha-test rounds of competitive combat can be played
EVMachina Tournament Start/Launch: TBD (likely after mainnet launch, early 2024)
-prior to Taiko's mainnet launch, this will be a period for further polishing of game mechanics, and the addition of any other changes or upgrades ahead of minting the first round of player character NFTs and item NFTs. Once a final launch build is completed, tournament rounds can take place at regular intervals.
Additional: A singleplayer mode (for learning/testing/configuring your player) will also need to be implemented. This will utilize most of what the multiplayer session use, but run location sessions for an individual player + NPC enemies. The point of this singleplayer mode will be to allow players to practice the game mechanics and test/modify their player character configurations.
Additional: 'Dev Lens' tutorial editions should come out every few weeks, after the 1st edition in early September. Several of these are being written currently. Rough editions/topics:
Edition 2: Deploying your own (ERC-20) Token
Edition 3: Smart contract testing
Edition 4: Smart contract state & storage options
Additional: My developed NFT 'Dynamic Frame Template' also has several tutorials WIP, to allow developers to understand how it works, and use as the foundation for their own HTML/Web based NFTs development (as there are some large hurdles when getting into web/NFT development - this template solves a number of these issues and allows developers to get into NFT development on L2 Loopring quickly). This Template will come into the 'Dev Lens' series of tutorials later on, when NFT -> Smart Contract topics are covered. (more info on this template: https://github.com/AD-Edge/LRC-NFT-DynamicFrame)
Project Plan
I am building this project using standard computer science/industry practices. I am not currently using a kanban project management tool, but will be setting one up soon to track progress/milestones. (there are always more options for organization!)
GitHub is the main source for any code examples.
IDEs/software used are all accessible and opensource software (including for graphic design/3D work).
Twitter and the Taiko forum are the main areas for posting content and tutorials for now, but I am also considering a dedicated blog (or github site).
Beyond the initial project, EVMachina itself can continue into the future by hosting recurring tournament events, and implementing new items and assets (not to mention minting and selling new player characters). There is also plenty of potential to get other developers or community members/projects involved. I have been active in the L2 community for many years now, and follow/invest in a lot of projects myself. I also have the option to take this in the kind of direction 'LooperLands' has been going, where the game itself is made more accessible for other developers to contribute.
And there are many other project ideas which can spin off from EVMachina. I would like to find a solid project idea to focus on a dev/tutorial series with once this initial tutorial series has progressed. And also to potentially launch larger collection(s) of NFTs and web3 related content - which can all generate further revenue and content.
Project Impact
The project impact I hope to achieve is to create a successful and engaging gaming experience -the fun/enjoyment of gaming (and competitive-community based events!) - for investors/collectors and gamers to enjoy. While the secondary goal is to bring together developers in the community and give developers (new or experienced) the entry point into web3 development. The main focus initially for tutorials is on interactive/gaming content creation as that is my main area of experience (and passion), but while also leaving the door open to work in other areas like dApps/DeFi. The game project itself I hope to also turn into an ongoing project, as once the basics are completed there are many other directions EVMachina can expand into - or related projects which can also be developed.
The target audiences are any collectors, developers, web3 enthusiasts and Taiko/Loopring/Layer2 community members interested in development or participating in fun and innovative gaming projects.
I hope to generate community interest around the game and buzz around the tutorials - helping others interested in being a developer working with smart contracts and Taiko - which I hope will contribute a large amount to the Taiko community and zkEVM project overall.
I also hope to continue growing my own projects and experience/knowledge and continue towards finding more success in the web3 space, while also connecting with and supporting community members and like-minded individuals in this ecosystem!
Team Information
Alex: Developer/etc
4+ Years experience in Web & Midrange application support for government infrastructure (Australia) (3+ Years experience here also crosses over into Automation development)
3 Years experience developing NFTs, focusing on interactive NFTs (and more recently more advanced 3D-Interactive NFTs)(examples are provided in my Taiko forum post)
12+ Years experience as a Developer/Digital Artist (with a few years of these being freelance work in web development, Android/Web app development)
2 Years experience volunteer writing articles for Blendernation (3D art news website)
Project Description
Relevant past work and project details + ongoing updates for my project can be found via the Taiko forum topic here: https://community.taiko.xyz/t/zkevm-research-prototyping-delta-edge-dev/1165
This project aims to develop the web3 framework and smart contracts required for the foundation of web3 dApps/gaming/interactive applications in Layer2 Ethereum (specifically focused on Loopring/Taiko).
Initially I am working on a RTS battle-strategy game called 'EVMachina', which will include multiplayer elements and competitive tournaments - focused around battling player characters (customized mech bots) in a indie retro-cyberpunk game/setting. Players will equip modular characters and items (utilizing NFTs) and compete against each other & NPC enemies. This web3 prototype is mostly focused around developing the frameworks and smart contracts required to build a variety of different interactive gaming projects or dApps. There are of course many other projects this can lead into - I have several other interactive/gaming projects in mind for the future. EVMachina is the beginning of this effort as I follow Taiko towards mainnet launch.
In parallel to this gaming project I am also working on an intro tutorial series for the community. The aim of this series will be to assist other developers in getting started in web3. There are many directions this series could end up going in, and lots of topics to cover, but the initial focus will be on the basics of smart contract development and the basics of NFT & web app development (and interfacing these two areas to work together). The initial format of this tutorial series is written (Taiko forum posts & twitter threads), but I would like to also explore a future more advanced tutorial in video format (ie youtube).
The category I selected below is 'Games' but can also be categorized as 'Education & Community Efforts' with the tutorials in mind.
Category
Games
Timeline
Early September: 'Dev Lens' tutorial series starts, Edition 1 published -Edition 1: Deploying your first smart contract (currently being written)
September/October 2023: EVMachina game mechanics & smart contract focus -Initial gameplay mechanics & graphics example -player setup & movement controls -early map/level generation -NPC enemies -basic combat/turn mechanics -Early (simple) smart contract example for the player-character NFT item -player info stored -simple NFT player customization via smart contract (stats/visuals)
November (End of month)): -Player-character NFT item alpha(v1) ready for minting (ahead of alpha testing) -multiplayer test session implemented (allowing a game session to run) -early gameplay testing & examples can occur
December (end of month) *dependant on testnet availability at this time - but this can be worked around with web2 solutions -First alpha-tester round, multi-round alpha-tournament can take place -community alpha testers receive player characters -alpha testers can configure their character -alpha-test rounds of competitive combat can be played
EVMachina Tournament Start/Launch: TBD (likely after mainnet launch, early 2024) -prior to Taiko's mainnet launch, this will be a period for further polishing of game mechanics, and the addition of any other changes or upgrades ahead of minting the first round of player character NFTs and item NFTs. Once a final launch build is completed, tournament rounds can take place at regular intervals.
Additional: A singleplayer mode (for learning/testing/configuring your player) will also need to be implemented. This will utilize most of what the multiplayer session use, but run location sessions for an individual player + NPC enemies. The point of this singleplayer mode will be to allow players to practice the game mechanics and test/modify their player character configurations.
Additional: 'Dev Lens' tutorial editions should come out every few weeks, after the 1st edition in early September. Several of these are being written currently. Rough editions/topics: Edition 2: Deploying your own (ERC-20) Token Edition 3: Smart contract testing Edition 4: Smart contract state & storage options
Additional: My developed NFT 'Dynamic Frame Template' also has several tutorials WIP, to allow developers to understand how it works, and use as the foundation for their own HTML/Web based NFTs development (as there are some large hurdles when getting into web/NFT development - this template solves a number of these issues and allows developers to get into NFT development on L2 Loopring quickly). This Template will come into the 'Dev Lens' series of tutorials later on, when NFT -> Smart Contract topics are covered. (more info on this template: https://github.com/AD-Edge/LRC-NFT-DynamicFrame)
Project Plan
I am building this project using standard computer science/industry practices. I am not currently using a kanban project management tool, but will be setting one up soon to track progress/milestones. (there are always more options for organization!)
GitHub is the main source for any code examples.
IDEs/software used are all accessible and opensource software (including for graphic design/3D work).
Twitter and the Taiko forum are the main areas for posting content and tutorials for now, but I am also considering a dedicated blog (or github site).
Beyond the initial project, EVMachina itself can continue into the future by hosting recurring tournament events, and implementing new items and assets (not to mention minting and selling new player characters). There is also plenty of potential to get other developers or community members/projects involved. I have been active in the L2 community for many years now, and follow/invest in a lot of projects myself. I also have the option to take this in the kind of direction 'LooperLands' has been going, where the game itself is made more accessible for other developers to contribute.
And there are many other project ideas which can spin off from EVMachina. I would like to find a solid project idea to focus on a dev/tutorial series with once this initial tutorial series has progressed. And also to potentially launch larger collection(s) of NFTs and web3 related content - which can all generate further revenue and content.
Project Impact
The project impact I hope to achieve is to create a successful and engaging gaming experience -the fun/enjoyment of gaming (and competitive-community based events!) - for investors/collectors and gamers to enjoy. While the secondary goal is to bring together developers in the community and give developers (new or experienced) the entry point into web3 development. The main focus initially for tutorials is on interactive/gaming content creation as that is my main area of experience (and passion), but while also leaving the door open to work in other areas like dApps/DeFi. The game project itself I hope to also turn into an ongoing project, as once the basics are completed there are many other directions EVMachina can expand into - or related projects which can also be developed.
The target audiences are any collectors, developers, web3 enthusiasts and Taiko/Loopring/Layer2 community members interested in development or participating in fun and innovative gaming projects.
I hope to generate community interest around the game and buzz around the tutorials - helping others interested in being a developer working with smart contracts and Taiko - which I hope will contribute a large amount to the Taiko community and zkEVM project overall.
I also hope to continue growing my own projects and experience/knowledge and continue towards finding more success in the web3 space, while also connecting with and supporting community members and like-minded individuals in this ecosystem!
Team Information
Alex: Developer/etc
*Crypto enthusiast & investor for over 10 years
More detailed work experience & info:
Point of Contact
Alex.Delderfield@gmail.com
Previous Work
Relevant past work and project details listed in this project forum thread: https://community.taiko.xyz/t/zkevm-research-prototyping-delta-edge-dev/1165
Additional Information
Thankyou Taiko team for taking the time to consider this application! Please reach out to me with any questions/comments. You know where to find me!
Regards, Alex
Agreement