Lost Children of Andromeda, an Ethereum NFT project, is based on Jason Michael Primrose’s self published book series. BeetsDAO has backed the project. It includes multiple NFT drops and a Discord metagame. There will also be token rewards for “read-to earn”.
Jason Michael Primrose’s book series, “Lost Children of Andromeda”, tells the story of 2052 where natural disasters are destroying the Earth. The doomsday clock for humanity predicts that there will be only 215 days before the end of time. So-called Evolutionaries must awaken and master their abilities to save humanity.
Primrose now has his story transformed into an interactive Ethereum FFT experience. This serves two main purposes. The project’s first purpose is to provide readers with interactive storytelling elements and dynamic collectibles. It also allows them to create characters that can be used in future novels and multimedia adaptations.
Primrose, on the other hand, told decrypt that he sees the Lost Children of Andromeda as a creative community to encourage emerging artists to follow their passions. Primrose sees an opportunity for people to embrace their artistic talents and raise their self-esteem in the same way as the characters in the books.
This Web3 project is a huge undertaking by a self-published author, who has been working on this story idea since childhood. The Ethereum experiment is part interactive metagame and part creative community. It also features a “read-to earn” reward system. It’s part motivational experience that draws on the author’s personal journey from conception to execution.
BeetsDAO is the engine of the NFT experience. It is a decentralized, autonomous organization (DAO ) . It started as an NFT collectors group but has since evolved into an incubator that funds and helps to build Web3 projects. A DAO is a group that has a common goal or cause. It often includes a governance token to allow the collective to vote on its moves.
Sasha Rosewood, co-founder of Primrose and BeetsDAO, spoke to decrypt about how Web3 can enhance reading experiences and how the project inspires the next generation of creators.
From words, to HTML3
Primrose was just a child when the idea for Lost Children of Andromeda was first born. This was almost 30 years ago. He’s refined and expanded the concept behind the pre-apocalyptic series of books over the years. In 2021, Primrose self-published the first book in the series as “205Z Time and Salvation”. It was made possible by two Kickstarter crowdfunding campaigns.
Primrose had previously collaborated with collaborators to imagine his sci-fi creation through artwork and music. But he was also thinking about interactive ways to make it. Primrose saw a chance for readers to purchase into the story’s future and pull them deeper into the fantasy world. This could even lead to the possibility of influencing later books.
Primrose explained to Decrypt, “I wanted to be the pioneer of what it might look like for an independent writer to exist in that space.” “Then I thought of NFTs as a cool way to reward readers who participate in the game reading.”
An NFT token is a digital token that proves ownership of a unique item. They can be artwork, profile photos, sports collectibles or video games.
When you join the Discord group, you begin the “game” of Lost Children of Andromeda. When you enter the Discord community, you will be asked questions about the superpowers that you’d like to possess. If the end of the world were near, would you help save yourself, save the planet, or help those who are unable to save themselves?
This is a personality test, but it also introduces you to the interactive metagame about Lost Children of Andromeda. Rather than take the shape of a traditional video game with graphics and controls, it’s akin to a choose-your-own-adventure text experience with various missions paired with character building and community interactions.
Participating in the community will qualify for a free NFT passport, which gives you a discount on the purchase of the Cynque–a crucial piece of the interactive game.
NFT-powered storytelling
The Cynque was launched Wednesday night for passport holders after a Discord server scavenger hunt. It is a visual asset NFT that depicts a wearable device, like a futuristic smartwatch, that plays a part in the game experience.
Each of the 1,111 Cynque Genesis NTs offers advantages in Lost Children of Andromeda. These include early access to content and unique holographic elements of each influence future features. This includes how many QB tokens (or crypto reward tokens) a holder is able to passively earn.
Passport holders can purchase Cynque NFTs for 0.2222ETH (around $405). The public sale price will rise to 0.3333ETH ($610) on June 1, after the initial passport mint window. The Cynque will be followed by DNA “Phials,” 5,555 NFTs which can be destroyed or burned to obtain an Evolutionary character.
Each Evolutionary NFT is protected by commercial rights, similar to the Bored Ape Yacht Club. This allows holders to customize and use their characters in any creative work or projects. Artifact NFTs will be available through interactive reading. QB tokens are exchangeable for artifacts and character upgrades.
It is a lot. It might seem overwhelming or ambitious to some. It could be because Lost Children of Andromeda has already laid out a comprehensive Web3 agenda. NFT projects often start with assets (such as profile photos) and then create a roadmap of plans to maintain demand.
BeetsDAO’s Rosewood said, “We are not making it up as they go.” “We are trying to make it authentic and as friction-free as possible, so that it is accessible to those who would be most interested.”
The NFT’s Lost Children of Andromeda project isn’t the only one that promises different utility types for its holders. Other examples include Stoner Cats, an animated series from actress Mila Kunis that limits viewership to NFT holders, as well as Shibuya, a choose-your-own-adventure video platform that lets NFT owners vote on story decisions. Archie Comics will launch NFTs this autumn that allow owners to create characters or story ideas that could end up in comics.
Even the most prominent utility-centric NFTs may not be able to retain value. Stoner Cats NFTs, , start at $273 of ETH on secondary markets, down from nearly $800 in July’s mint price. The price of Ether Cards , which are NFTs with “superpowers ” that offer various benefits to their holders, is listed at $366, down from $500 at mint.
Despite this, the NFT market in general is still in turmoil after the recent crypto-market crash. Even the prices for the most valuable NFT collection fell during the last month.
Primrose was asked what will keep potential participants connected to the Lost Children of Andromeda experience, as they purchase and/or earn future NFTs. Primrose suggested that the hook is the “actual community members”. Primrose stated that the core of what they’re trying to empower is creativity and imagination. It is up to you how deep you go.
Primrose believes some people will be drawn to the NFT-enriched reading experience, and the opportunity to mold characters as part of a budding entertainment and book franchise. Some might be drawn in by Cynque or other NFT visual assets. Others might find the opportunity to bring their vision to life appealing if they have a creative spark.
Select community creations will eventually be collected into anthology NFTs, which will be sold with profits shared among the collaborators. Primrose plans to include the most engaging user-created characters in future main entries of his nine-book series as well as possible entertainment adaptations.
Beets is developing
BeetsDAO is the brain behind the project. It was formed around EulerBeats in early 2021. This generative music NFT project launched just as NFTs became mainstream. A DAO structure allows interested collectors to pool their crypto funds to collectively buy more NFTs and pursue business opportunities together.
Rosewood told Decrypt that “We started as a bunch random guys in Discord who wanted a nice cool, shiny object.” We bought NFTs, and then we had lots of money in the treasury. We looked around and thought, “OK, now what?”
People who wanted to build in Web3 started to experiment with the standard flat DAO structure. Rosewood stated that there were many roadblocks to getting things done. They collaborated with rapper Snoop Dogg to create an NFT project that was based on the Nyan Cat meme. However, the DAO approach proved difficult for other initiatives.
BeetsDAO evolved into what Rosewood calls a hybrid model for the DAO. After incorporating the company and raising more capital, Rosewood and Jordan Garbis founded a subsidiary where they act as leaders and incubate innovative projects. (Disclosure: Garbis was an investor at Decrypt.
Rosewood stated that the goal was to “disrupt creator/audience division”, and that Lost Children of Andromeda is an example of that collaborative spirit with the Web3 spirit. BeetsDAO made an investment in the project in a similar fashion to a seed round for a startup. They will then take a portion of NFT sales revenue and have the option to reinvest in equity.
He stated, “We only work in partnership with people we are happy to stay in bed with for the long-term.”
BeetsDAO, with its capital and connections, has recruited notable Web3 builders to help bring Lost Children of Andromeda alive. Richerd Chan, an advisor at crypto startup Manifold, is one example. He powers several prominent NFT projects. Mouse Dev, a pseudonymous developer from Anonymice, is another.
BeetsDAO also invests internally in projects like this one. The collective is also creating Labs, which is a public-facing arm that encourages experimentation and accelerates projects without creators having to give up equity or IP rights.
We’ll give resources and support to projects. Rosewood stated that we will give them all they need and then there may be investment opportunities to take our capital. Rosewood said, “But they don’t have to. If they want to take their capital and go do something else, that’s totally fine with me.”
Creativity Web3
Primrose isn’t the first to allow supporters to influence his work with the NFT project. Primrose allowed high-value backers to get their names and likeness in the book through his Kickstarter campaign. Fans can also vote for artwork and provide feedback on drafts.
He said Decrypt, “I give my ego to the people’s will.”
Primrose sees this Web3 project as a way to help others realize their creative visions. But with constant community support. This was something Primrose didn’t have when he started writing and publishing his work. Primrose admitted that he was emotional as he recounted his journey as an independent author.
“For a long while, I didn’t believe it was possible. Web3 has created a pathway,” he stated of the support for independent creators. “It is possible for people like me, especially people of color or LGBTQIA+, to have a place that allows us to thrive as long as we work together in support of one another’s excellence.”
