[PRE ANN] Crypto Galaxies - Blockchain Based Space Strategy Simulation and MMO

[HYPERfuture]

Welcome to Crypto Galaxies! https://cryptogalaxies.com. The domain and hosting has been donated by a long time HYPER supporter and investor.

The World's First Blockchain Based Space Simulation Strategy MMO, Based on Real Astronomical Data, Where Players Earn Real Cryptocurrency From Planet / Empire Management, Commerce, Combat (in some sectors only), and Exploration.

It's a sandbox, play as you like and how you like. Forge alliances, explore the galaxy, build corporations, initiate contact with newly discovered extra terrestrials.

Head out into uncharted space where merciless PvP combat and planet invasions are the norm, or turtle down in Federation Space and work on establishing a crypto asset generating powerhouse of an empire.

Planet ownership and resource management is partially blockchain based, meaning that in-game Star System owners' will also own a unique asset on a decentralized blockchain, to prove at all times that they own that star system.

Player owned Star Systems and in-game resources will also be freely traded between players on a decentralized blockchain based exchange that has no single point of failure and is always operational.

Setting:

Coming soon...Crypto Galaxies will have a rich universe and lore that will evolve along with its players who shape the galaxy.

The Game UI:

The first iteration of Crypto Galaxies will run on PHP in a web browser. The game works on all devices (including Android and iPhones) and looks great on iPads and tablets.

It definitely has that retro browser based game feel, but the UI is being worked on to make sure it pleases your eyes as you explore the galaxy, and manage your in-game crypto assets and resources.

The Game Mechanics:

Crypto Galaxies is a turn based web browser space simulation game. The game is designed to be a persistent sandbox simulation that has no end point.

As such, tech upgrade speeds and planetary development and progress will be significantly slow.

Even in the 4th Millenium going into space is an expensive endeavor, with whole planets' economies devoted the to the task.

The game will have a steep learning curve, it is a simulation, however full documentation will be provided on how best to survive and prosper.

Players will be able to deposit HYPER and GP to kickstart their careers by purchasing Federation Credits, upgraded ships, or vital survival gear such as Emergency Warp Drives and Escape Pods.

An auction will be held for prime galactic real estate in Federation Space (immune from attack) prior to the simulation commencing. Depending on demand, the closest 25-50 Star Systems to Sol will most likely go up for auction.

Commerce / Trade:

The game will support automatic trade routes players can set up between their worlds and other players' worlds, or NPC worlds to maximize earnings.

This means players with Systems in Federation Space (where they cannot be attacked or invaded), can run their galactic crypto generating empire on auto pilot if they choose.

Players can form corporations with other players, and even list their corporation's stocks on the decentralized exchange and pay out dividends, if they wish.

Players who choose to start with just a basic ship and their wits, can work their way up by doing small trade runs between Systems buying and selling different goods and upgrading their ship as they go. Before eventually having the funds to colonize / create a planet.

Movement:  

More details soon...

Combat:

More details soon...

Planet Colonization:

More details soon...

The Blockchain Tech:

Planet / Star System ownership in Federation Space will be represented by unique blockchain assets owned by players. An immutable record and proof of ownership, Each star system will have a unique crypto token that can only ever be owned by one player. The blockchain asset can be traded on decentralized exchanges for cryptocurrencies like HYPER at a price decided by the owner (if the owner wishes to sell their cryptocurrency generating System).

Outside of Federation Space this will not be possible, as world's will change hands often in the lawless outer lands of the Galaxy. The Federation's Galactic Blockchain does not operate in unexplored space (yet).

A form of multi-sig may be implemented, to safeguard players from having their computer / decentralized blockchain account hacked, and someone selling all their systems. Which would be disastrous!

In-game resources (Ore, Organics, Goods, Energy, and Colonists) and currency (Federation Credits) will be represented on-blockchain only when the player withdraws the funds from their game account to the decentralized exchange for trading for any other cryptocurrency including HYPER and GP, or investing in other user created in-game corporations etc. In-game they will be represented in the games database.

Players will be able to deposit HYPER and GP to their Crypto Galaxies account, to purchase Federation Credits, Ship Upgrades, and essential survival devices like Emergency Warp Drives and Escape Pods from the game itself, if needed (these can also be obtained “for free” by grinding in-game but some people may want a head start).

After launch, prime Star Systems in Federation Space may also be available for purchase for HYPER and GP, at rates yet to be decided.

Owners of Federation Star Systems will also have votes in the Federation Council, which can decide on future technological research efforts / resources to be developed and then subsequently traded on the decentralized exchange.

The above is the bare minimum blockchain technology that will interface with the Crypto Galaxies game at launch. If more developers join the team this can be expanded, with ideally full in-game blockchain integration for all in-game assets and resources at launch.

The Team:

At the moment the team consists of myself (game development, game mechanics and game design), another highly trusted team member who will process deposits and withdrawals, and many people who have expressed interest in Beta testing the game before we launch the simulation proper. Someone has also volunteered to manage an xcel spreadsheet of highest bids on the different Federation Space Systems when the auction commences.

I have been working on the game development for quite some time and continue to do so.

The game is already playable. At the moment I am focused on populating the galaxy with astronomically correct star system information, and running mathematical simulations to determine the best sustainable modes of resource generation and distribution in the final game (including mechanisms for burning these resources to maintain scarcity), developing a nice user interface for the game, generating and finding in-game art assets, among other things.

Development Timeline:

The first iteration of Crypto Galaxies will be live within 3-6 months. The game and code base is already fully operational at a basic level.

Here is what needs to be done in the next 3-6 months:

- Decide on what decentralized blockchain solution to use for trading and accounting for in-game assets. I am leaning towards Nxt, and perhaps even forking Nxt for this purpose to create a HYPERnet that can also be used for other applications as well as Crypto Galaxies. Ethereum is a possibility, but at this stage Ethereum does not support accessible decentralized trading. I am open to suggestions, ideas and proposals for collaboration on this. The pros and cons of using available platforms (or developing a new one / forking a current one for HYPER) will be explored over the coming months. Implementing "colored coins" ontop of the HYPER blockchain is also a possibility.

- Add more in-game art assets and make sure the UI is pleasing to users.

- Populate the galaxy with astronomically correct star system information.

- Decide on the final size of the galaxy (current size in the dev build is 10 000 star systems).

- Make sure the game's economic, trading and resource gathering mechanics are sustainable for long term play (more complex than it first appears).

Team Vacancies (all positions will be paid in HYPER and if HYPERnet launches, in HYPERnet). Please PM me to Apply to Join the Crypto Galaxies Team:

1.) - Experienced PHP developer

2.) - Possibly someone who wants to work with me to fork Nxt to create HYPERnet.

FAQ:

How can I support development?

You can apply for one of the team member positions (please see above).

Also, prime galactic real estate in Federation Space (meaning you cannot be attacked, and can grow your planets without worrying about being attacked / invaded) will be auctioned off for GP and HYPER, prior to the game commencing.

The closer to Sol a system is, the more valuable it is, as new players will start in Sol and need to pass through your systems (trading as they go) before they can reach unexplored space.

You can also support development by supporting HYPER: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=624651 and GoldPieces (GP): https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1053441

Will you support other cryptocurrencies for bidding on Federation Star Systems?

No, this is a HYPER project and all bids for systems must be placed with HYPER or GP. Minimum bid for systems will most likely be 1000 HYPER and 2500 GP, but this may change before the auctions commence.

The aim of the auction is to stimulate more interest in Crypto Galaxies and HYPER and GP, not to raise huge amounts of BTC.

Auction details will be revealed soon. Most likely bidders that win an auction for a system will also be given a “starter kit” of a world to help kick start their resource and credit generation in-game.

People may also be rewarded valuable star systems / planets for contributing to the development of Crypto Galaxies.

How will the funds from the auction be used?

To pay other developers who may join the project, to help generate interest and action in HYPER and GP as the gaming currencies they are. To lower the HYPER and GP in circulation. It will also help cover any applicable costs to generate the unique crypto asset each Star System owner will hold.

If the game really explodes it will also help cover server costs as the hosting is upgraded to scale with demand.

I may even burn left over GP and HYPER raised to lower total supply increasing scarcity and therefore value (to be decided).

Will there be refunds if something goes wrong?

Yes, of course if something happens and the project is not launched (or something goes terribly wrong after launch) everyone will be refunded in full their coins from the auction.

Can you add X cryptocurrency to Crypto Galaxies?

It depends, please PM me with your proposal.

What happens if the game is hacked / the game server goes down?

This is the beauty of using a decentralized blockchain platform to track players' in-game assets and resources. In the event the site was hacked, the blockchain record still exists to show who owns what.

While Ethereum and related projects are still largely inaccessible to many people, in future Crypto Galaxies may be migrated over to one of these
platforms in full (including the game interface), as a Decentralized Autonomous Simulation.

More Questions?

Fire away in the thread!

I am open to collaboration, feedback and proposals.

I will also need beta testers in a few weeks (only a select few people will be able to beta test).

All of the above is subject to change, but everything will be 100% confirmed before auctions commence for the Federation Star Systems.

[Maicol792]

Interested 

[HYPERfuture]

Interested 

Thanks for following the project I will post regular updates here as development continues and I am closer to launching.

[TeamDisaster]

If you every decide to implement storyline elements / missions, give me a shout.  I would be of no use in for the currently available positions though.  Interesting project. 

[HYPERfuture]

If you every decide to implement storyline elements / missions, give me a shout.  I would be of no use in for the currently available positions though.  Interesting project.  

Thanks TD. The storyline will evolve naturally over time with the participation of everyone in the simulation.

I am working on the background story / lore for the Universe now, if you have anything you would like to add or any ideas for it just let me know.

EDIT: If you wanted to help keep track of how the Galaxy evolves and the storyline develops on the wiki (as a kind of historian) after the game has launched that would be pretty cool.

[GameGuyLive]

Looks awesome! Sign me up for the beta
I can't help with any of the places, but hopefully I can offer some moral support!

[HYPERfuture]

Here's a screenshot of me hanging out in Alpha Centauri checking out the NPC tradng port in the dev version of the game in my ship the Babylon 5

Players will most likely have one (heavily upgradeable) main mothership they will explore / trade with and attack other players with if they do not want to play peacefully which will also be an option for those that want to hang out in the safe Federation Systems and amass crypto wealth from their planets (spaceships still aren't cheap even in the 4th Millennium), but you will also be able to have eventually millions of "fighters" to patrol your Systems and attack other players etc.

The UI and graphics still needs a lot of work (this is my work for today, making it look a little nicer but still a long way to go). When that's done, then I can focus on the trading / resource generation / planet management to make sure it's a looong (actually never ending) game. Then we can do some beta testing to see how it goes before we begin the simulation properly.
 

[Varvarin]

Good luck guys, sounds like a cool project.

Would really like to get involved in something like this, just no time for crypto with full time work.

[HYPERfuture]

Good luck guys, sounds like a cool project.

Would really like to get involved in something like this, just no time for crypto with full time work.

Thanks Varvarin. No problem, just let me know if you have time in future and would like to contribute. Every little bit helps.

I hope you at least have time to play it when we launch it 

I've just discovered some new code that might help take the project to the next level.

[HYPERfuture]

For fairness and to help balance game mechanics I think people who purchase premium System's in Federation Space (immune from attack) can only ever have 1 planet in their system, so they not get too much of an unfair advantage in the game. It just means they have one homeworld that is safe in Federation space. Systems in Uncharted Space will be able to have up to 5 planets.

I am still playing around with all the parameters to see what will work best when we launch (when we open for beta testing that will help too).

I will update the OP soon with a full list of features.

At the moment I am looking at adding:

- Casino space stations where people can gamble their hard earned Federation credits (maybe with possibility for players to purchase and invest in owning their own space station casino!

- Unique alien artifacts players can discover and trade

- Adding more resources

- Adding more ship classes (different types of ships with more strengths and weaknesses)

- Ability for players to own as many "mothership" style ships as they would like, as well as potentially millions of fighters that can be used for System patrolling / defence or harassing enemies in non-Federation space

- 3D Galaxy Map

- Making the UI a lot more pretty

- Exploring the code in more depth

Hopefully, if all goes well I will have a much nicer development screenshot to post later today. I need to check a few things with some new code I am working with at the moment. If everything checks out, I will be able to confirm the above features as well.

Will post a list of confirmed game features as soon as I can (the above features are purely in development / speculation phase until I can see if it will be feasible).

[Snail2]

Looks good. When do you planning to release a beta? I'd like to try your game .

[HYPERfuture]

Looks good. When do you planning to release a beta? I'd like to try your game .

Thanks Snail It's functional now, but I don't want to open it for (private) beta until I have the mechanics balanced, and also the UI looking as nice as possible. It's important to me that it is polished.

I will add you down as interested in the Beta.

It will be more for bug testing, and to make sure I have slowed down the game enough (I'm going for something like the career progression of Eve Online, although being primarily a one man job there won't be 3D graphics unfortunately!).

After private Beta, the Galaxy will be reset and the simulation will begin properly.

I am hoping to open it for Beta testing within a month or so.

There might also be a speed run Beta, to see how things pan out when people do eventually have large empires in-game.

Thanks for following!

[HYPERfuture]

I have a highly trusted team member who will help process the deposits and withdrawals between the game and the decentralized exchange platform we end up using. Many people have also offered to help with the private Beta testing before the simulation goes live for real.

The project is coming together!

Didn't have time to fully test the new code I am looking at today unfortunately.

Will post more updates (and screenshots of the awesome new interface if everything goes well) soon.

[ranlo]

This project looks really cool, and I will help beta test it as well when it's ready for that stage, .

[HYPERfuture]

This project looks really cool, and I will help beta test it as well when it's ready for that stage, .

Thanks Ranlo. Will put you down as a Beta tester too

Hopefully I will have a big update on the confirmed features in the final game.

I just updated the team section in the OP (we now have everyone we need to launch it!):

The Team:

At the moment the team consists of myself (game development, game mechanics and game design), another highly trusted team member who will process deposits and withdrawals, and many people who have expressed interest in Beta testing the game before we launch the simulation proper. Someone has also volunteered to manage an xcel spreadsheet of highest bids on the different Federation Space Systems when the auction commences.

I have been working on the game development for quite some time and continue to do so.

The game is already playable. At the moment I am focused on integrating some new code into the code I am currently working with. This will a lot of new features and nice UI touches like a 3D galaxy map.

[Xaltotun]

Hyper, sounds fun. Watching

You mention gambling Federation credits, are you using that as a general term or do you plan on using the scifi crypto with that name?

[HYPERfuture]

Hyper, sounds fun. Watching

You mention gambling Federation credits, are you using that as a general term or do you plan on using the scifi crypto with that name?

Thanks for your interest I should have some more big news on development over the weekend.

Oh I didn't realize there was already a currency with that name. The currency in Crypto Galaxies will have a different name to any existing cryptocurrencies.

It's still early stages in planning how the currencies blockchains will work (or perhaps they will all be tradeable for HYPER and GP only), thanks for letting me know.

[Varvarin]

Just thought of something, if you need in-game music, could have a word with Cypherfunks https://soundcloud.com/thecypherfunks

[HYPERfuture]

Just thought of something, if you need in-game music, could have a word with Cypherfunks https://soundcloud.com/thecypherfunks

Thanks for the suggestion Varvarin. I will definitely keep them in mind for audio assets if we need any.

JT has also offered to do epic voiceovers (thanks JT!).

At this stage I want to keep the game light on bandwith use for both the server and the players, so there may not be much sound at all.

But a video introducing Crypto Galaxies before it launches might be pretty awesome.

[ranlo]

Just thought of something, if you need in-game music, could have a word with Cypherfunks https://soundcloud.com/thecypherfunks

Thanks for the suggestion Varvarin. I will definitely keep them in mind for audio assets if we need any.

JT has also offered to do epic voiceovers (thanks JT!).

At this stage I want to keep the game light on bandwith use for both the server and the players, so there may not be much sound at all.

But a video introducing Crypto Galaxies before it launches might be pretty awesome.

Can you do like an app that's downloaded when you visit the site (I'm thinking like Runescape), with the sound part of that? Then just call those files as needed.