gaming

“First of its kind” collaboration between Liithos and CoinZoom, built on the Hedera network, reinvents Sunday Comics for a Web3 generation

Published

2 months ago

January 27, 2023

Mega-TikTok Influencer Michael Le Partners with Liithos to create Ashfall, The TikTok Creator Series and Innovative 5-Episode Digital Collectible, Premiering Sunday, January 29

LOS ANGELES /PRNewswire/ — In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, Liithos, a AAA gaming and entertainment studio led by PlayStation veterans Michael Mumbauer (The Last of Us) and John Garvin (Days Gone) and Web3 marketplace CoinZoom have partnered with mega-influencer Michael Le (52.2 million followers on TikTok) to create an innovative narrative series to launch exclusively on TikTok. Starring Le along with TikTok influencer Slider Jesus (257k followers on Instagram), the epic adventure will introduce the world to Ashfall, the first transmedia IP announced by the Liithos team earlier this year that will launch as a comic book series in March and with a AAA video game currently in development, built on the highly respected, low-cost, and sustainable Hedera network.

Ashfall Episode 1 – First of its kind collaboration between Liithos and CoinZoom, built on the Hedera network, reinvents Sunday Comics for a Web3 generation

“Today’s superstars are elevated by millions of real fans and followers on TikTok where we find our new heroes and villains,” said Mumbauer, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Liithos. “We are looking to collaborate, integrate, and elevate multimedia experiences with superstars like Michael Le for the next generation. The Liithos TikTok Creators series is the first of many experiences Liithos is looking to launch to create easily traversable pathways between media and the evolving web space.”

Fully embracing the opportunities that Web3 opens for gamers and creators alike, this initial series creates 5 free digital collectibles, each including an “easter egg” of 3 pages of the upcoming comic for enthusiasts to collect – all featuring legendary comic book talent.

Built on the Hedera network, Liithos see this as the start of a fully actualized vision where all the benefits of decentralization, social gaming and narrative-led content collide beautifully.

“We were very particular about who we wanted to make Ashfall with.” Mumbauer continued “We believe in sustainable ecosystems and want a healthy planet, but also love innovation. Hedera allows for both. We can innovate but not at the expense of our planet. They were the only choice for us. CoinZoom brings the simplicity and user experience that opens the door to all, not just the web3 crowd – so anyone can get in at the start of this new franchise.”

Beginning January 29, the five-episode digital series can be viewed on Le’s highly-trafficked TikTok and, in a throwback to the appointment viewing of the Sunday Comics of old, will feature a new episode every Sunday. Liithos will celebrate each episode by releasing a unique free digital collectible that will be available only through CoinZoom, with collectors paying just a small processing fee. Fans who collect all five digital collectibles can return to claim a bonus sixth mystery digital collectible available only to those who’ve participated in the entire event!

Adding extra value, the digital collectibles will give fans access to a sneak preview of the upcoming Ashfall comic series. Written and drawn by a who’s who of comic talent including Garvin, who conceived and wrote the story, along with art from Marvel and DC artist Paul Pelletier (Aquaman, Guardians of the Galaxy, et al), Brett Booth (Backlash, Gunslinger), and Eisner Award winner Tony Harris (Starman, Ex Machina), the comic book series introduces fans for the first time to the Ashfall Universe, which takes place in the climate-change ravaged Pacific Northwest where Seattle has been submerged beneath the ocean for hundreds of years.

Todd Crosland, CEO and Co-Founder of CoinZoom,which is hosting the Marketplace for the collectibles, said “Our part is to bridge Web 2 to Web 3 with the easiest, fastest way to sign up, claim and trade digital assets. A simple sign-on, super-easy claim process and paying the small processing fee with Apple Pay or Google Pay opens up access to anyone to get involved. This is not just for the crypto-forward or NFT fanatics – anyone who follows Michael Le, or loves comics, or wants to get in at the beginning of the next big gaming franchise, can get their Ashfall episode in a few quick steps.” Crosland added, ” Building on Hedera has been great – we are big fans of their network and it was built for mass-scale, content-rich engagements like this.”

“Web3 opens up a new frontier for engaging content with true ownership of creative assets,” said Alex Russman, Head of the Metaverse Fund at the HBAR Foundation, supporting the growth of the Hedera ecosystem. “The Liithos team, combined with Michael Le, present unparalleled expertise and achievements in pushing boundaries to advance the Creator Economy – it is fantastic to see this activated at scale on the Hedera network.”

About Liithos

Liithos is creating immersive multimedia universes with gaming at their core. The team is composed of industry veterans and talent from around the world including Days Gone creator, John Garvin, Last of Us executive, Michael Mumbauer, Fallout’s, Trammel Isaac, Thor’s Love and Thunder concept artist, Marco Iozzi and many more. Liithos first IP, Ashfall, was announced in late June 2022. The Ashfall universe currently contains a comic and game under development.

Liithos is pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve, using industry-standard tools and cutting-edge technology. Liithos is harnessing technologies like Hedera Hashgraph to bring deeper experiences to gamers and media consumers. Beyond creation, Liithos is breaking long outdated industry standards with initiatives like no crunch and fully remote opportunities.

For more information, visit https://liithos.com , or follow us on Twitter at @liithosent, or Discord at https://discord.gg/liithos.

About The HBAR Foundation

The HBAR Foundation supports the creation of Web3 communities built on the Hedera network, by empowering and funding the builders developing these communities. The Foundation’s six funds – focused on the Crypto Economy, Metaverse, Sustainability, Fintech, Privacy, and Female Founders – each support communities within those areas, and the interconnectedness enables applications to participate as part of a larger ecosystem.

The collective power of these funds enables entrepreneurs, developers, and enterprises of all sizes to tackle some of the world’s largest problems, and create and control their own economies, all built on the Hedera public network. Whether you’re building something new or migrating an existing EVM-based application and community, the HBAR Foundation is here to support you.

For additional information, please visit https://hbarfoundation.org.

About CoinZoom

CoinZoom is a trusted Web 3 fintech platform, based, audited and regulated licensed in the US, offering a range of international financial and digital asset services utilizing cash, debit and crypto payments. This includes a secure trading exchange, specializing in buying, selling, sending and spending Bitcoin, Ethereum, and over 40 top digital currencies. To support bringing the benefits of blockchain technology to millions, CoinZoom offers instant cash deposits at over 30,000 retail locations in the US. Its unique international peer-to-peer payment system, called ZoomMe, is part of its cash-to-crypto ecosystem for its customers in over almost 200 countries, allowing them to deposit cash and send it or crypto almost anywhere in the world, instantly for free – saving potentially millions of dollars in remittance fees. The CoinZoom Visa debit card, allows customers the ability to instantly convert crypto to fiat and spend it at over 53M merchants globally while earning up to 5% back in crypto on each purchase. There is also an end-to-end NFT Marketplace solution where anyone can buy NFTs with cash, debit, credit or crypto within seconds and then easily trade their digital assets on the secondary market. The CoinZoom platform was built with a multi-layered security approach, and the team’s decades of experience in financial technology security are equally important in safeguarding customer funds and personal information. CoinZoom is a U.S. registered Money Services Business with FinCen and holds a SOC2 Type I Certification, which is highly regarded as the most rigorous test for the trustworthiness of a company’s processes, best practices and diligence around securing customer data. CoinZoom is also a U.S. registered Money Transmitter, available for trading in 48 states and has subsidiaries in Australia and Ireland. CoinZoom Australia PTY LTD is registered as a Digital Currency Exchange with AUSTRAC and CoinZoom Europe Limited and is pending registration as a VASP in Ireland.

SOURCE The HBAR Foundation

https://stmdailynews.com/category/entertainment/gaming/

Blog

What is Mario Day?

Published

1 week ago

March 15, 2023

Hal Machina

Mario Day is a holiday that celebrates the video game character Mario, who is the main character in the popular Super Mario Bros. franchise. The day is celebrated on March 10th because the abbreviated form of the date, Mar. 10, looks like the name Mario.

Mario Day!

The origin of Mario Day is not entirely clear, but it is believed to have been started by Nintendo, the company that created the Super Mario Bros. franchise. The holiday was first observed in 2016, and it has since become an annual event celebrated by fans of the video game series around the world.

The historical significance of Mario Day lies in its celebration of one of the most iconic video game characters of all time. Mario has been a beloved figure in the world of gaming since his debut in 1985, and his popularity has only grown over the years. He has appeared in numerous games across various platforms and has become a cultural icon, appearing in movies, television shows, and merchandise.

Mario Day is a time for fans to come together to celebrate their love of the character and the games that he stars in. It is a day of fun and nostalgia, and it reminds us of the important role that video games have played in our lives and culture.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario#Legacy

https://www.nintendo.com/store/sales-and-deals/#mar10-day

https://stmdailynews.com/category/entertainment/

gaming

Aéropostale Partners with MetaversePlus to Introduce AeroWorld, an Immersive Digital Brand Experience, with Incredible Tesla Giveaway*

Published

2 weeks ago

March 10, 2023

Daily News Staff

AeroWorld Launches with AeroPax NFT Drop on March 23 Which Provides Full Access to AeroWorld and VIP Perks, Including a Chance to Win One of Ten Teslas

LOS ANGELES /PRNewswire/ — Fashion retailer, Aéropostale and Metaverse pioneer, MetaversePlus are joining forces to bring the fashion brand to the Metaverse. Through the partnership with Authentic Brands Group (Authentic), a global brand development, marketing, and entertainment platform, and the owner of Aéropostale, MetaversePlus will design, develop and expand the brand’s presence in Web3 through NFTs, world building, as well as offering members only perks and promotions.

The roadmap, which consists of four major phases, includes immersive shopping, socializing and gaming experiences. The first phase, set to launch on March 23, will focus on AeroPax. AeroPax is a collection of one-of-a-kind NFTs, which will build community and give members exclusive perks, including access to limited-edition apparel and VIP promotions. In celebration of the launch, Aéropostale is giving 10 lucky fans the chance to win a Tesla*. The 10 winners will be chosen at random, and no purchase is necessary. Be on the lookout on Aéropostale’s social channels for a sneak peak of the AeroPax. Additionally, all AeroPax purchases include a limited-edition hoodie (one per Aeropax, plus shipping/handling fees).

“We’re excited to build an immersive and interactive experience for Aéropostale fans and anyone who craves individuality,” said Noah Loul, Co-Founder of MetaversePlus. “AeroPax is unique in that we’re creating an experience free from real-world limitations and societal standards, where people can be their most authentic selves and join forces with like-minded individuals anywhere, using NFTs and virtual experiences.”

The initial collection of 30,000 AeroPax avatars will feature each AeroPax’s unique blend of traits, styles, personalities, and abilities—including ultra-rare perks, such as the chance to be featured on one of the brand’s popular digital channels. The AeroPax will become the user’s property, act as their interactive avatar, and double as their digital access pass to virtual worlds, including the forthcoming metaverse: AeroWorld.

Phase two of the roll out will offer fans a sneak peek into AeroWorld. It will allow users the opportunity to claim unique avatar characters, access virtual and IRL experiences including events and games, and the ability to collect in-game points, which can be redeemed for exclusive AeroPax merch and other VIP perks. Details of phases three and four will be revealed soon.

“We’re thrilled to partner with MetaversePlus to build a unique Aéropostale metaverse for the brand’s fans and global community,” said Naushaba Moeen, EVP, Lifestyle at Authentic. “Through this partnership, we aim to make Aéropostale a leading brand in the Web3 space and help shape the future of of community and customer engagement in the virtual world.”

Those interested in early access to Aéropostale’s new VIP brand experience AeroWorld can sign up at aeropostale.com/aeropax.

Press kit HERE

*Disclaimer: No purchase nec. 50 US/DC., 18+. Ends 4/30/23. For Rules/eligibility visit aeropostale.com/aeropax

About Authentic Brands Group
Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) is a global brand development, marketing and entertainment platform, which owns a portfolio of more than 40 iconic and world-renowned Lifestyle, Entertainment and Media brands. Headquartered in New York City, with offices around the world, Authentic connects strong brands with best-in-class partners and a global network of operators, distributors and retailers to build long-term value in the marketplace. Its brands generate approximately $24.4 billion in global annual retail sales and have an expansive retail footprint in more than 150 countries, including 10,400-plus freestanding stores and shop-in-shops and 356,000 points of sale.

Authentic is committed to transforming brands by delivering powerful storytelling, compelling content, innovative business models and immersive experiences. It creates and activates original marketing strategies to drive the success of its brands across all consumer touchpoints, platforms and emerging media. Authentic’s brand portfolio includes Marilyn Monroe®, Elvis Presley®, Muhammad Ali®, Shaquille O’Neal®, David Beckham®, Dr. J®, Greg Norman®, Neil Lane®, Thalia®, Sports Illustrated®, Reebok®, Eddie Bauer®, Spyder®, Volcom®, Airwalk®, Nautica®, Izod®, Brooks Brothers®, Barneys New York®, Judith Leiber®, Ted Baker®, Hervé Léger®, Frye®, Juicy Couture®, Vince Camuto®, Lucky Brand®, Aéropostale®, Forever 21®, Nine West®, Jones New York®, Tretorn®, Prince®, Van Heusen®, Arrow®, Hickey Freeman®, Hart Schaffner Marx® and Thomasville®.

For more information, visit authentic.com.
Follow Authentic on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.

About Aéropostale

Aéropostale is a specialty retailer of casual apparel and accessories for men and women ages 18-22. Through the brand’s Oneness ethos, Aéropostale embraces acceptance, empathy and respect to promote a sense of unity among its loyal customers and in communities around the world. Aéropostale offers a selection of high-quality denim and fashion essentials at compelling values in an innovative and exciting store environment. With over 1,000 locations worldwide, Aéropostale currently operates stores in key territories around the world, including the United States, Mexico, Latin America, South America and the Middle East.

Shop the collection on aeropostale.com.
Follow @aeropostale on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Follow @aeropaxnft on Instagram and Twitter.

About MetaversePlus

Based in Beverly Hills, CA, and founded in 2021, MetaversePlus is a Web3 development company built to empower global brands and organizations to enter the Metaverse today. Created to help leaders keep pace with technology, MetaversePlus acts as an extension of the team to handle all elements of development and execution, from building immersive experiences to project management to unlock new revenue streams. For more information, visit metaverseplus.com.

SOURCE Aéropostale; MetaversePlus

gaming

LifeForce Games Democratizes Game Development with User-friendly, Custom Game Generator

Published

2 weeks ago

March 9, 2023

Daily News Staff

SAN DIEGO /PRNewswire/ — LifeForce Games, the Web3 game development studio, announces the next level of gaming with its soon-to-launch Game Generator. In anticipation of their upcoming attendance at GDC (Game Developers Conference), Co-CEOs Cathy Carroll and Ryan Inman are excited to announce that their relatively small team at LifeForce Games has cracked the code of the next level of gaming and content creation.

LifeForce Games democratizes game development with user-friendly, custom game generator

“As gamers, we’ve all had dreams of building our own games, especially ones we could play with our friends. With our no-code drag-and-drop Game Generator, any gamer, no matter their skill level or age, will be able to realize their dream of creating their own game. This is groundbreaking tech and we can’t wait to see what gamers create!” said Co-CEO Ryan Inman, aka Boomer.

Alongside the Game Generator are their already Steam-listed games, Forge Horizon, a third-person shooter, and Spark Defense, the first-of-its-kind MOBA Defense, which will both be available this year. Forge Horizon and Spark Defense were built to represent what can be created using the Game Generator.

“When we first launched, our ambition was to create a seamless and accessible environment for users to create games and share experiences,” said Co-CEO Cathy Caroll, “Our Game Generator is the realization of that ambition.”

Starting in March, the studio will begin the launch of LFG Game Nights where gamers can jump in and test out Spark Defense and Forge Horizon. Gamers will battle for leaderboard bragging rights and in-game collectibles, all in preparation for the alpha launch of the Game Generator where they will then be able to try their hand at creating their own games.

Ultimately the studio’s goal is to have a variety of games, game modes, and play styles available for gamers to try their hand at building. Serious builders will also have the opportunity to create battle passes and utilize in-game customizations to make their own brand-specific community games, making this an ideal fit for gamers, content creators, and streamers wanting a place to engage their community.

To explore how not only gaming communities, but also brands can potentially get involved with this one-of-a-kind project, interested parties can reach out to Satsuma and Boomer to arrange a meeting at GDC at [email protected]

Spark Defense can be wishlisted here:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2218100/Spark_Defense/

Forge Horizon can be wishlisted here:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2243590/Forge_Horizon/

About LifeForce Games
LifeForce Games is a game development studio founded by Ryan Inman aka Boomer andCatherine Carroll aka Satsuma, the founders of the largest metaverse developer worldwide, LandVault. The LFG team consists of gaming, media, and technology veterans, including senior team members from Daybreak, Amazon, Disney, HarperCollins, Sony Playstation and Sony Online Entertainment.

For more information, visit https://lifeforce.games

SOURCE LifeForce Games