Vortex Gaming

NFT issues are hot in the gaming industry. NFT game issues have sparked controversy over gambling, but what is clear is that the market is responding.

'더 샌드박스(The Sandbox, 이하 TSB)' is preparing for its Korean service. The developer TSB is a sister company of Sky Mavis, the developer of 'Axie Infinity'. TSB will unveil its Alpha Season from November 29th to December 20th. The Alpha Season will feature a total of 18 metaverse experience contents in order, starting with the 'Alpha Hub', where users who access TSB can interact by talking and dancing. The key is that NFT content is expected to be released later.

TSB is a blockchain-based game 'platform'. Users can enjoy games within the platform, own virtual assets, communicate with other users, and generate revenue through transactions. The developer TSB, which has the same name as the platform, provides tools that do not require coding, allowing users to easily create content.

SoftBank invested 110 billion won in TSB's Series B. TSB is the first time SoftBank has invested in crypto assets. In addition to domestic companies such as LG Technology Ventures, Samsung Next, and Com2uS, various global companies such as Liberty City Ventures and Galaxy Interactive participated in the Series B investment.

According to the company's introduction, the TSB platform consists of a square-shaped metaverse with 408 cells in width and length. Each metaverse is called LAND. The total number of LANDs is limited to 166,464. As of the 24th, 65% of the LANDs have been sold. The total value of LAND is estimated at approximately 1.2 trillion won ($1B+). If one LAND is small, up to 16 LANDs can be combined to create an ESTATE. The market price of LAND fluctuates depending on its popularity, just like real estate.

3 billion SAND tokens have been created for metaverse interaction. SAND tokens will no longer be issued. The value of 1 SAND is 6,660 won based on the closing price of the virtual currency exchange Bithumb on the 23rd.

Users can enjoy games within LAND. You can create games using the Game Maker tool provided by the company, or play games created by other users. Games can be created in various genres such as cyberpunk, medieval fantasy, adventure, and survival.

The Social Hub is a way for TSB users to show content created by other users and the community. Users can create content using the tools provided by the company, turn it into an NFT, and sell it. Users can exhibit and trade NFT collections collected in the Social Hub.

"글로벌 NFT 게임 시장 규모? 매우 긍정적"
더 샌드박스 세바스티앙 보르제 대표

한국 시장 진출을 확정지은 것인가?

= The headquarters has determined that Korea is a major global game market and has been preparing for service since 2018. Korea is the second most important region after the United States, which is considered the home base. In fact, Korea has the second highest proportion of LAND owners and token owners after the United States. The indicators show that the Korean market is showing great interest in TSB.

Our goal is to make Korea the No. 1 market. Korea already has a high level of interest in the metaverse, and is ready for prospective players and content creators. We are also planning events to bring together Korean artists within TSB in the future.

Personally, I have visited Korea frequently since 2019 to give lectures related to blockchain and metaverse. Every time I come, I feel that interest in blockchain and metaverse is increasing. Global market interest is also increasing. A prime example is SoftBank's first investment in virtual assets through TSB.

소프트뱅크를 어떻게 설득했나?

= We don't know exactly why SoftBank made its decision. However, we conveyed our vision and experience to SoftBank. TSB has been focusing on user creative services for the past 10 years and has the know-how. We are also successfully selling LAND and coins to users. We also appealed to them by signing MOUs with strong IPs.

TSB는 기존 비디오 게임사와 어떤 게 다를까?

= First of all, TSB is an open metaverse. Existing game systems are centralized. Users have no choice but to follow company policies. Users must also follow the company's actions regarding item patches. On the other hand, TSB is decentralized and user-centered. All digital assets within TSB are fully owned by the user. Avatars, LANDs, items, etc. are all owned by the user. This is the difference between existing video games and TSB.

And users can trade their own content. Through this, you can also generate revenue. TSB can be seen as being operated entirely through the user community.

Ultimately, TSB is trying to hand over all authority to users. We are planning to give LAND decision-making power to user groups through governance (tentative name). If users have decision-making power, they can determine the direction of development of the LAND themselves. Users will fiercely consider and operate to increase the value of their content and assets.

한국 내에선 메타버스가 게임인지 플랫폼인지 논의 중이다. 우선, TSB는 자신의 서비스를 어떻게 정의하나?

= TSB is a platform. What we provide is a tool that allows users to freely create content. Through this, users can create content themselves and enjoy it like an RPG or view it like a real museum. In fact, if you enjoy TSB, you will be able to enjoy various cultures and experiences. You can find out what service we are trying to provide through the Alpha Pass, which will be held from the 29th.

Also, all 160,000 LANDs on the platform have their own individuality. These characteristics cannot be defined as a single game, so we think of it as a platform.

앞으로 글로벌 P2E(play to earn) 시장을 어떻게 전망하나?

= I am very positive. And TSB is a leader in this field. Currently, we are focusing on activating the P2E community. The number of users has increased more than three times compared to 2018. Currently, the number of subscribers is over 650,000 globally, and the number of LAND owners, whose total value is estimated at $100 million, is over 14,000.

The important thing is that this is the scale even though P2E has not yet begun in earnest. More users will participate as our service becomes more active. Creators who will play the role of architects and fashion designers within TSB will create content by demonstrating their expertise and start generating revenue.

Interest from Korean and global partners is also increasing. We recently decided to collaborate with Cube Entertainment, and have already signed partnerships with over 165 brands, including Pororo, K-League, Snoop Dogg, Walking Dead, Smurfs, Care Bears, Atari, and CryptoKitties.

As understanding and interest in the NFT market gradually increases globally, the market is very positive. The upcoming year 2022 will be a unique point in the blockchain, metaverse, NFT, and P2E markets.

TSB가 경쟁 P2E 게임보다 나은 점은 무엇일까?

= Users can choose how to generate revenue themselves. And you can create content with the various partner companies that the company has collaborated with. Users can create games themselves and earn profits. Or you can create and sell cool items. Since there is only one of each item in TSB, you can increase its value by changing ownership or characteristics.

I think the existing video game market is a red ocean. In the case of gacha BM, it relies on the sales of the top 1-2% of users. From the user's perspective, they are constantly forced to collect, which leads to fatigue. Game companies pour marketing expenses to maintain top sales. In the end, the current video game market structure is one in which both game companies and users accumulate fatigue.

TSB content creators are called creators. There are already many creators preparing for new careers through TSB. Some have become TSB architects and fashion designers. There are also various other career options.

TSB has a structure where game companies and users grow together. Users work hard to earn bigger rewards and can have the rewards that come with it. The burden on game companies is reduced. Since we have the same goals, we have a stronger relationship. Creating this virtuous cycle is our important task. I think that in the distant future, free to play games will disappear and only P2E games will remain.

다 좋지만, 한국에서 현재 NFT 게임은 불법이다. 이 상황에서 TSB는 어떻게 한국 서비스를 준비하고 있나?

= We are trying to make sure that legal issues are resolved. For example, whenever we start a service in another country, we check all the legal issues in that country and proceed only after obtaining legal advice from the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Malta, etc. and confirming that there are no problems.

We are preparing to ensure that the P2E model does not cause any problems. For example, there is no gacha system or random system at all. In game content, there are no random or gacha elements in daily quests, treasure hunts, or items dropped by enemies.

I know that these are the forms that currently have the fewest legal issues. Then, we will operate appropriately according to the guidelines prepared by the Korean government and public institutions.

한국 게임사, 다른 산업 기업도 P2E에 관심을 가진다. 꽤 많은 비즈니스 미팅을 했을 텐데, 대표가 느끼는 한국 기업의 관심도는 어느 정도였나?

= I met a lot of companies. I received a lot of calls to meet during the past G-Star period, but I couldn't handle them all and postponed them. I am grateful for that interest. I think TSB is the leader in this market, so they are paying a lot of attention. And it seemed like they knew what the benefits were of being with TSB in the blockchain and P2E markets.

What is certain is that the most effective way to enter the metaverse market is to join hands with TSB. This is the same for both the company's business and the user's perspective. It is a system that allows anyone to enter our ecosystem without SDK, blockchain developers, or coding. You can participate even if you are interested in metaverse, blockchain, and P2E businesses but do not have the knowledge.

회사의 단기, 장기 비전이 궁금하다.

= TSB's vision is simple. Since our founding in 2012, our goal has been to make all players creators. I think we have given users true ownership by adding NFTs to that goal.

Starting next year, we want to provide users with things to enjoy within TSB. Play games, go to concerts, and more. We are also preparing governance to give users decision-making power.

There will come a time when the company no longer owns LAND or SAND coins. We will allow users to fully own, operate, and take care of the platform we created. I think that world will come. And when that happens, it will become a complete 'digital nation'.

We expect that in about 10 years, there will be 100 million users worldwide and 1 million jobs within TSB.

그때가 되면 회사의 역할은 무엇일까?

= We call that time 'Exit to Community'. We, who created TSB, will also become members of a completely decentralized world. I want to be a member of the ecosystem and work together, no different from other users. And we will continue to upgrade the platform and tools.

Until now, there have been centralized aspects, such as us calling other partner companies and going to receive investments. We will completely decentralize even these things and make TSB a completely public asset.

The server costs to maintain TSB are covered by transaction fees. The fee is planned to be up to 5%. And 50% of the revenue is reinvested in the TSB Foundation. This is to ensure that the user community continues to develop.

P2E 게임은 필연적으로 채굴 문제가 뒤따른다. TSB는 채굴 문제를 어떻게 대비할까?

= I think that is also part of the ecosystem. There has always been a problem with workshops in existing games as well. Fortunately, blockchain games are very transparent. Users who abuse the system can be sanctioned.

Users who simply collect (farming) resources, rather than mining that abuses the system, can become a job. For example, if there is a creator within TSB who makes weapons using iron, there may be users who only collect iron and sell it to the creator.

TSB를 기다리는 한국 유저에게 한마디 해달라.

= I feel that Korean users are showing a lot of interest in TSB. Korean users recognize SAND tokens first, study P2E, and come to us. We are so happy and grateful for that. We will meet users directly through the Alpha Season in the future.

TSB is looking for Korean creators. TSB is ready to work with creators who want P2E. If you have difficulty using the tools, we plan to provide education through a mentor-mentee system.

The Korean branch is continuing to increase in size. The headquarters will work to create a more enjoyable metaverse. The reader of this article may one day become the CEO of TSB Creator Studio. We are confident that TSB Creator will become a job.

게임파이 인벤이두현 기자
2021-11-24