Exploring the Sandbox: A Glimpse into the Metaverse’s Framework
The Sandbox serves as a decentralized gaming universe, supported by one of the foremost blockchain gaming developers. Animoca Brands This metaverse operates as a dynamic ecosystem fueled by user-generated content, inviting creators from various backgrounds to participate in its development. To sustain its economy, it leverages multiple tokens that facilitate transactions among different user groups—creators, curators, gamers, and landowners.
Beyond just gaming, this expansive virtual realm has penetrated several industries like real estate, music events and streaming, fashion, art, professional networking, retail, social activities, dating, automotive, and sports.
In recent years, The Sandbox has raised With nearly $400 million in backing, the question arises—what is fueling the rapid ascent of this metaverse, and how are celebrities and creators joining the movement?
Technical infrastructure
Built on the Ethereum blockchain, The Sandbox allows players to create, possess, and monetize their gaming ventures with its utility token, SAND. The platform's structure consists of several integral elements, as outlined by the company. whitepaper explains:
"To integrate blockchain technology, we utilize a conventional backend on the cloud (currently utilizing AWS) to back our web interface. We employ an S3 bucket to hold an artist's assets prior to their minting process,\" explains the company.
The major advantages provided by The Sandbox's framework lie in its security features, digital property rights, and seamless interoperability.
Key offerings for immersive gaming experiences and the creation of User Generated Content (UGC)
Three essential products define the operational characteristics of The Sandbox.
VoxEdit
VoxEdit is an accessible software tool that enables users to create, rig, and animate voxel-based NFTs.
In order to craft a gaming experience, users in The Sandbox require ASSETS, which are voxel models designed by artists using the VoxEdit tool. Each ASSET represents a user-generated content (UGC) item uploaded to the blockchain as an NFT, allowing users to sell them via The Sandbox marketplace. These models can be utilized in gameplay or traded, encompassing a wide range of objects: tools, avatars, and decorative elements.
"Once a UGC asset is minted, our backend deploys the ASSET on IPFS, making it publicly accessible. Our smart contracts catalog the asset's hash to guarantee that the owner can consistently validate their ownership of the asset—as well as the voxel model and its various renders,\" elaborates The Sandbox.
Marketplace
Marketplace is a platform where users can upload, share, and market their creations as VoxEdit-NFTs.
NFTs are transferred to decentralized storage or the IPFS network, which operates on blockchain principles, ensuring ownership and uniqueness. These creations then convert into NFT assets available for sale to buyers on The Sandbox's marketplace.
Initially, the NFTs are uploaded onto an IPFS network for decentralized storage before being registered on the blockchain to confirm ownership. After meeting these requirements, creations transform into ASSETS that can be offered for sale on the marketplace where prospective buyers can procure them.
Game Maker
Game Maker is a creative toolbox that allows gamers to design their own games without needing programming skills.
This vital creator tool fosters a self-containing economy, empowering anyone to construct 3D games without cost, using four essential tokens: SAND, LAND, ASSETS, and GAME. Additional tokens, GEM and CATALYST, are designated for NFT development within VoxEdit. Users can also monetize their created games by incorporating play-to-earn mechanics.
Economic tokens that fuel The Sandbox ecosystem
As previously noted, The Sandbox is a distributed NFT gaming metaverse anchored in the Ethereum blockchain. The platform operates with a total of six tokens: four are essential for sustaining an enclosed economy among users—SAND, LAND, ASSET, and GAME, while the other two support VoxEdit in asset creation—GEMS and CATALYSTS.
SAND token
SAND, the native token of the platform, facilitates all transactions and interactions under the ERC-20 standard for various purposes:
- Accessing the platform,
- Staking,
- Governance (DAO),
- Foundation,
- Free capture model.
LAND token
Within this virtual environment, the LAND token signifies a digital real estate parcel where users can develop gaming and other interactive experiences utilizing Game Maker and ASSETs created in VoxEdit. Each LAND token employs ERC-721 and is classified as non-fungible.
ASSET token
An ERC-1155 NFT (ASSET) is crafted by users of VoxEdit, available for trade and purchase on the marketplace. While LAND tokens denote real estate ownership, these ASSETS can represent vehicles, animals, structures, and various other items. Users retain ownership rights over the ASSETS they develop and can generate revenue from them.
GAME token
A GAME represents an interactive experience devised by creators utilizing the Game Maker, culminating in a GAME NFT based on the ERC-1155 standard. GAME tokens necessitate a LAND token to function.
Fiat payment gateway in The Sandbox
In November 2021, The Sandbox revealed its plan to integrate Request Finance’s crypto-fiat invoicing service, a blockchain-centered financial application. This web app accommodates over 40 cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and nine fiat currencies. While transactions occur in cryptocurrency, invoices can be settled in USD or EUR.
Currently, Request oversees the entire spectrum of the platform's crypto-fiat invoicing, payroll, bookkeeping, and all transactions conducted in SAND.
In June, Mastercard announced a partnership with The Sandbox to simplify the acquisition of NFTs within the marketplace. This development allows users to purchase digital collectibles using credit cards without needing to first acquire cryptocurrency.
Creators and creations
The Sandbox promotes itself as an open metaverse welcoming participants from all walks of life. This ecosystem invites brands, agencies, studios, and independent creators, each with unique aspirations and visions.
Creators within The Sandbox comprises digital artists, asset designers, animators, diorama creators, independent game developers, and game design studios, to name a few. The metaverse aims to include more creators who seek to participate in shaping this virtual space. Additionally, The Sandbox collaborates with various professional Web3 studios to facilitate content creation within the metaverse. Over 200 renowned brands have already integrated themselves into The Sandbox environment, such as Adidas, Shaun the Sheep, South China Morning Post, Avenged Sevenfold, Roller Coaster Tycoon World, Atari, Care Bears, Blond:ish, Coin Market Cap, Bored Ape Yacht Club, Binance, Square Enix, CyberKongz, and Gucci Vault.
Celebrities and brands participating in The Sandbox
Now, let's take a closer look at a few of the famous faces and organizations that have joined this metaverse:
Paris Hilton stands out as one of the most vibrant participants in the metaverse landscape. Recently, she has
- partnered with her Malibu Mansion to deliver exclusive experiences in the metaverse. In collaboration with her 11:11 Media marketing agency, Hilton is certainly not alone among the well-known figures stepping into this digital realm. joined The Sandbox Snoop Dogg emerges as another prominent advocate for the metaverse, with the inception of his own virtual universe called
- drawing little surprise. He has also rolled out 10,000 metaverse avatars that he designed personally, with the help of The Sandbox's voxel artists. The rapper worked alongside the multi-disciplinary studio Miinded to launch these NFTs and shape his identity within the metaverse. Snoopverse The Walking Dead has also made its entrance into the metaverse.
- This was facilitated through a partnership with the Game Maker toolkit and Skybound Entertainment, the company founded by Robert Kirkman, co-creator of The Walking Dead. Music icons Richie Hawtin (Plastikman) and deadmau5 have embarked on a gaming venture called Pixelnyx. They strategically acquired LAND in The Sandbox to establish their presence in this burgeoning world.
- The charming blue characters, the Smurfs, have transported their Smurf Village into The Sandbox with the involvement of IMPS. In fact, the official licensor of the Smurfs has streamlined the download of over 175 million digital games.
- Recently, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's acclaimed reality show
- made its debut within The Sandbox, partnering with ITV Studios, the creator, producer, and distributor of a wide array of programs. Hell’s Kitchen The Sandbox appears to be a boundless metaverse with ongoing projects continuously on the horizon. It has undoubtedly established itself as one of the foremost gaming-virtual domains that strive to mirror reality while enhancing the fun factor. In recent months, we have witnessed a true surge of new initiatives and brands embracing the metaverse, and there's no indication that this trend will wane. Even amidst the crypto winter, the platform thrives, with each funding and partnership announcement underscoring its resilience.
Conclusions
The Sandbox Alpha Season 3 has kicked off, introducing fresh features to the metaverse
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Disclaimer
In line with the Trust Project guidelines The Sandbox represents a decentralized virtual gaming universe, backed by Animoca Brands, one of the leading development companies in the blockchain gaming space. This metaverse acts as a
