Polycade Limiteds was created to bring video games and culture (art, music, and more) together in new and exciting ways. At the heart of each release is a fully playable game that aims to provide a hearty nod to it’s roots along with a fresh take that exhibits the original in a new light. Because everything is more fun when there are people to share it with, we add a layer of digital and IRL events like tournaments and gallery parties, as well as an achievement system for those that would like to crawl down the rabbit hole of easter eggs!
All of our game titles are released as digital cartridges (an ERC-721 token). Owning the digital cartridge enables you to play the game as much as you want on several different platforms (see Digital Cartridges section below), and also grants you access to our tournaments. Read on for a full list of product features.
Digital Cartridges
Our digital cartridges are a method of game ownership that borrows features from physical video game cartridges as well as digital game ownership platforms like Steam or Nintendo Switch.
First, and most important, your digital cartridge enables you to play a game that is otherwise not accessibile without the digital cartridge.
The game can be played on several platforms (we aim to add more in the future!):
- Our website
- The Polycade AGS downloadable software client (Windows 10+)
- Any Polycade arcade machine (including in public places like bars)
A full list of features of our digital cartridges:
- You can play the game that your cartridge represents, such as our release title: Asteroids by Shantell Martin. See above for where to play.
- They can be sold. Your digital cartridge is stored on the blockchain (ERC-721), which guarantees you the right to sell it on markets like Coinbase and OpenSea.
- You get 10% off any physical Polycade product.
- You get to participate in tournaments related to your game.
- You participate in leaderboards & achievements.
- Your digital cartridge will evolve based on your interactions with the game.
Read more: https://polycade.ltd/digital-cartridge
Products
Digital Cartridge — Artist Edition
1,000 total available for purchase @ $50 each on release.
Features:
- Your digital cartridge represents a specific game.
- See “Digital Cartridges” above for additional features.
Arcade Token
5,000 total. One side designed by the collaborator/artist and one side for the game. This is a physical product.
Tournaments
The Launch Match
Each release has one Launch tournament.
In order to enter the Launch tournament, a player must either own a digital cartridge (40 plays in the tournament), or use a digital Arcade Token (10 plays in the tournament). Note that any of our arcade tokens can be used, the token does not need to match the game.
The prize pool for this tournament awards the top 15 high scores.
Community Tournaments
The community tournaments are a chance for players to compete in a smaller pool of entrants. In order to participate in a community tournament, you need to meet two requirements:
- Either own a digital cartridge or use our Digital Arcade Token.
- Own the community token. Each community tournament mentions a required community token. You cannot substitute an arcade token for the community token. If you don’t have the community token, you can purchase it on OpenSea.
The prize pool for these tournaments awards the top 10 high scores.
Future Tournaments
We intend to launch additional tournaments for each game once the Primary Match and Community tournaments are complete. Details of these tournaments is TBD.
Leaderboards
Aside from the tournament leaderboards, there will be always-running leaderboards for each game.
Events
We are planning 2 private gallery events around the Artist + Atari series. Owning a digital cartridge will be required for entry. If demand is greater than space available, we will refer to the collector leaderboard for priority.
Cartridge Evolution
As you interact with your copy of the game, some basic gameplay data (how many times played, highest score, etc) is recorded. These stats show as the “attribute” or “metadata” for your digital cartridge on sites like OpenSea, and can unlock achievements for you and for any player you sell your digital cartridge to.
Achievements
Reaching certain milestones will unlock achievements, which raise your standing on our collector leaderboard.
Many achievements will be based on the stats of your digital cartridges. This means that you could unlock achievements by purchasing a second hand digital cartridge that has “strong” stats. Achievements are stored on your player account, and remain unlocked even if you sell the copy of the game that earned you the achievement.
Other achievements will be based on meta-game and IRL milestones, like logging into a public Polycade machine.
Achievements are not yet implemented, and will be added at a later date.
