The Sandbox District will be a unique, multiplayer virtual experience in The Sandbox Metaverse, designed as an immersive digital mall. This initiative will leverage the creativity and talent of Sandbox Academy students, who will serve as level designers and game artists, to build a vibrant marketplace connecting businesses with virtual and physical audiences.
The project aims to target small, medium, and large businesses by offering them customizable virtual store spaces to lease and interact with customers in innovative ways.
Key Features of Sandbox District
Store Details
Cubicle Size: 16x16x16 meters
Levels: 2 levels per store
Number of Stores: 60 stores per floor, spread across 3 floors
Event Space: Central event area for business promotions and live events
Lease Structure
Upfront payment: $100
Lockdown period: 3 months
Total lease: 4 months for $300, inclusive of 1 free month
Each store includes:
3 NPCs assigned to their store (door, 1st floor, 2nd floor)
5 unique store assets
Customized storefront logo
12 quest lines, with the final quest generating a QR code that leads players to an online form. Upon completion, businesses can send exclusive NFTs to customers’ wallets.
Digital Coupons and Physical Store Integration
Exclusive NFTs serve as digital coupons for discounts or freebies at physical stores.
NFTs will have durations as defined by the businesses.
Physical stores will display posters with QR codes linking to The Sandbox registration page.
Additional Business Option
Businesses can opt to have their own unique experience in The Sandbox.
They will need to purchase their own LAND.
Additional payment starts at $1,000, depending on the complexity, to compensate Sandbox Academy students for designing and building their experience.
Monthly lease of $100 for maintenance and support.
Businesses with their own experiences will still retain their stores within the Sandbox District.
Affiliate Program
Open to all participants.
Referrers earn $100 for every successful business lease they bring in.
Billboard Advertising
Businesses can lease in-game billboards (maximum size: 16x16) for $30 per month.
100% of billboard profits will go to True Manila, a project supporting homeless children and families in poverty within The Philippines.Learn more about True Manila: True Manila Facebook Page
Budget Request
We request $10,000 in funding and a 2x2 LAND in The Sandbox to execute the project. The funding will be allocated in two phases:
First Half ($5,000)
Paid upfront to cover the compensation for level designers and game artists from Sandbox Academy.
Second Half ($5,000)
Paid either before or after 2 months upon completing the experience.
To cover transportation, accommodation, food, and allowance for meetings with business owners and attendance at business conventions to promote Sandbox and the Sandbox District.
Revenue Sharing and ROI
Lease Revenue: Businesses lease cubicles for $300 over 4 months.
Revenue Projection: Filling one floor (60 stores) will generate $18,000.
Profit Sharing: Sandbox DAO will receive 20% of all profits from the experience.
Example ROI:
Sandbox DAO’s $10,000 investment will be recouped within 9 months upon filling one floor.
Continued revenue from additional floors and months will go to Sandbox DAO to support other proposals.
Sandbox DAO will also benefit from increased LAND sales due to businesses purchasing LAND for their unique experiences.
Project Benefits
Business Promotion: Creates a bridge between virtual and physical markets, driving foot traffic to both the Sandbox District and physical stores.
Job Creation: Employs Sandbox Academy students as level designers and artists.
Charity Support: All billboard ad revenue supports True Manila, benefiting underprivileged communities in The Philippines.
Sandbox Ecosystem Growth: Promotes The Sandbox platform to new businesses and users through integration with physical stores and unique business experiences.
Marketing Support
We request The Sandbox’s marketing support to help promote the Sandbox District initiative. This includes:
Featuring the project on official Sandbox social media channels.
Highlighting the Sandbox District in newsletters and community updates.
Promoting the initiative at business conventions and events.
Timeline
Month 1-2: Development of the Sandbox District experience.
Month 3: Onboarding businesses and promoting the district.
Month 4: Public launch of the Sandbox District.
Call to Action
We seek the SandFam and Sandbox DAO’s support to fund this groundbreaking project, which combines digital innovation with real-world impact. Together, we can create a unique marketplace experience that benefits businesses, players, and communities alike.
What is the reach that the mall is supposed to have? (country, languages, type of business)
Who is going to seek for the business, maintain relationships…
Who will manage and technical aspect, Creation of experiences… Students formed during the TSB academy ? Will they be employed and by which company/structure?
About the revenue sharing model. More details would be needed on the use of the 80 other percent of the revenue. eg When you write other floor revenu will go entirely to TSB DAO or only 20%?
Did you benchmark your idea besides the attempts that might have been tried in the past ?
Great idea as @KCL said, and since he had some great questions, I will add a few comments
I like the idea of utilizing the Sandbox Academy students to build a project; great initiative! But I think funding a single experience hasn’t been very successful through the DAO. As part of the previous Game Maker Fund, every IP and project required a shop within their experience. Also, many designers/studios/IPs include a shop in their experiences, would make sense for marketing and player acquisition purposes.
I’m not seeing the value of renting space on another land to promote my items. As a dev, I would want the attraction to be my experience and the shop within it.
The value would come from having an already established fan base or clients lined up for such an experience you are building. I find it very hard to acquire studios or IPs willing to rent a space on another land. However, have you considered BC3? It might be a good starting point for the students as a project to gauge their teamwork efforts and validate this project for future funding.
Hey @KCL! Thank you for your interest in this initiative. I’m glad to provide more clarity:
Reach (Country, Languages, Type of Business):
This initiative will start here in the Philippines but is designed to scale globally.
English will be the primary language for accessibility, but we can incorporate an NPC in the experience to offer localized language options based on user preference.
The primary target audience will be small to medium web2 businesses. The goal is to educate them on the benefits of transitioning to web3, specifically to The Sandbox, addressing common concerns like cost and complexity. This initiative will provide an affordable, structured onboarding process to make web3 integration accessible.
Client Relationships (Business Development and Maintenance):
I’ve partnered with key individuals to onboard and maintain relationships with businesses:
NCST Partnership: The owner of NCST, where I conducted the first Sandbox Academy workshop, will help onboard businesses in his region. As a seasoned businessman, he has extensive connections with other business owners.
Bicol Blockchain Community: The founder of this community, who is influential in his region, also has connections with a prominent mall where blockchain conventions are held annually. I was one of the keynote speakers at their last convention.
These partnerships ensure a strong pipeline of potential clients and ongoing relationship management.
Technical Management and Experience Creation:
Students trained during the Sandbox Academy workshops will play a key role in building these experiences.
I will serve as their lead game designer, overseeing quality and consistency.
These students will operate as freelancers, selecting tasks and receiving compensation upon task completion. This model provides them with hands-on experience and fair compensation.
Revenue Sharing Model:
The revenue-sharing model allocates 20% of the total profit from leased spaces to The Sandbox DAO.
The remaining 80% will be distributed as follows:
Compensation for the students and freelancers building the experiences.
My share for coordinating and managing the initiative.
For example, after the DAO recoups its ROI of $10,000, leasing 180 spaces could generate $43,200 annually for the DAO ($3,600 monthly). This revenue could significantly support other proposals within the DAO, aligning with my goal to reinvest in and empower the community.
Benchmarking:
This concept mirrors the traditional business model of physical malls, adapted to a web3 framework. The focus on affordable onboarding for small to medium businesses sets this apart, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for web2 businesses that might otherwise find web3 too expensive or daunting.
I hope this provides the clarity you were seeking. Let me know if there are additional aspects you’d like me to elaborate on. Cheers!
Hey @DrMetaverso! Thank you for your feedback and suggestions! I’ll address each of your points below:
Funding a Single Experience:
I understand that single experiences have faced challenges in securing DAO funding. That’s why I’m positioning this project as a broader initiative—a scalable ecosystem designed to onboard small to medium web2 businesses into The Sandbox.
Shops will be a central feature within the experience, allowing businesses to showcase their products and services in an interactive way. This not only supports their marketing efforts but also enhances player engagement and aligns with strategies used in the Game Maker Fund.
Value of Renting Spaces on Another Land:
This initiative primarily targets small to medium businesses that may lack the resources or expertise to purchase and develop their own land. Renting space within a shared experience provides an affordable entry point into web3 while lowering the barriers to adoption.
A key feature of the initiative is to offer businesses the option to eventually purchase their own land and publish unique experiences. This transition benefits both the businesses and The Sandbox’s land sales, making this initiative a valuable part of Sandbox’s marketing and sales strategy.
Considering BC3 as a Starting Point:
Participating in BC3 is a fantastic opportunity for Sandbox Academy students to showcase their skills and validate this initiative through player engagement metrics.
The challenge’s prize pool incentives will further motivate students to deliver high-quality experiences, strengthening their teamwork and technical abilities. BC3 will also serve as a valuable testbed for the project and a showcase for future clients and stakeholders.
Skill Enhancement through Game Jams:
In addition to BC3, the students will actively participate in Sandbox Game Jams. These events provide a platform for them to enhance their skills, gain real-world experience, and develop creative, engaging games. Participating in these competitions also helps build their confidence and portfolio, further demonstrating the value of Sandbox Academy in nurturing top talent.
Establishing a Fan Base or Client Lineup:
With partnerships already established, such as the Bicol Blockchain Community and NCST, we have a strong foundation of businesses interested in joining this project. By educating these businesses on the benefits of transitioning to web3, we’re ensuring a steady pipeline of clients ready to engage with The Sandbox.
Next Steps:
I will integrate shops as a key design feature to enhance marketing and player engagement.
Students will be prepared to participate in BC3 and Sandbox Game Jams to develop their skills and build credibility for the project.
Businesses will be offered a progression path from renting space in the shared experience to eventually owning land and publishing their unique experiences. This approach not only benefits the businesses but also aligns with The Sandbox’s growth strategy.
Thank you again for your valuable feedback. Cheers brother
Thank you for those already detailed answers and will just add one question at the moment. With my West European eyes who never travelled in the Philippine I have a difficulty to undertsand the kind of businesses that would be small enough (ie not part of the global brands) but big enough to see an opportunity of extra sales with the people currently in the TSB metaverse. Can you maybe open my eyes, educate me on that one with some examples. This could really help.
I still like the idea and I also see based on the budget requested risk is limited but could be high reward if working.
Thanks for the detailed info! I have a few more questions, please. Dealing with businesses and signing contracts, this will need to be done legally through a company you own or operate. How will this project handle business operations? Also who will be funding client acquisition and Experience/map’s maintenance + Devs beyond this proposal?
I want to address a personal matter and be completely transparent with everyone. Recently, I made the difficult decision to sell the 1x1 land that was entrusted to me by the DAO. This decision was not made lightly and was driven by pressing financial needs to support my family.
As a father and husband, my family’s well-being is my top priority, and at the time, I had no other means to provide for them. I exhausted all other options before taking this step, and it was the only viable solution in the face of an urgent situation.
I understand the responsibility that comes with being part of this community and the trust that was placed in me when I was granted this land. It was never my intention to let anyone down, and I deeply regret that I found myself in a position where I had to make this choice.
I want to emphasize that I remain fully committed to the values of the DAO and to contributing to the ecosystem. My goal is to return the value of the land to the DAO in the future. Whether through a direct financial repayment, purchasing and returning an equivalent piece of land, or any other way the community deems appropriate, I am determined to make things right.
I hope for your understanding as I navigate this challenging time. My commitment to The Sandbox and its community remains strong, and I will continue to dedicate my efforts to building meaningful projects and initiatives that benefit us all.
I want to assure the community that the game intended for this land, The Xmas!, is still active and published. It can be accessed via this link: The Xmas! on The Sandbox.
Again I sincerely apologize and I am taking full responsibility for my actions.
As you mentioned you previous received a 1x1 for an experience to be publish only to be sold 3 days later.
How do you expect the community to have faith that this isn’t going to be the case next time.
I’m all for helping the support of publication of experiences when not possible but this doesn’t feel like that.
Why was the 1x1 required in the first place if the experience could have been published to another land anyway?
Does it really require $10,000 from the DAO to do this and what example are we setting for SIP submission. Should anyone get funding and a land to build in a UGC environment.
Of course, you can’t trust him anymore. I think there’s a 200% chance he’ll do the same thing again in a moment of stress.
Yes, family is important. Yes, it has to be at the forefront. But you shouldn’t use something entrusted to you for your own benefit. I think it’s about the person himself.
In short, those who do it once will do it again. there is no need to even discuss the issue.
