How Does The Sandbox Combine Blockchain Gaming, NFTs, DeFi, and Creator Monetization? Sebastien Borget

TL;DR

The Sandbox combines gaming, NFTs, and DeFi by letting creators monetize voxel assets and gaming experiences on the Ethereum blockchain. Co-founder and CEO Sebastian Bourget draws on more than nine years of work with games, characters, brands, and licensed IP, while the Sandbox franchise has reached more than 40 million downloads across three episodes. Read on to understand the project’s team, partnerships, token traction, and blockchain gaming strategy.

Transcript

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Key Insights

• 😤 Sandbox's success in attracting traditional investors is due to its experienced team and track record of building successful games.
• 🎮 The play-to-earn model in Sandbox enables players to earn tokens through gameplay and convert them into real-world value, driving user engagement and adoption.
• 🤐 Collaborations with major brands and IPs enhance the virtual world experience and attract broader audiences.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is The Sandbox?

The Sandbox is a community-driven platform where creators can monetize voxel assets and gaming experiences on the Ethereum blockchain. The project operates at the intersection of gaming, NFTs, and DeFi.

Q: Who is Sebastian Bourget?

Sebastian Bourget is the co-founder and CEO of The Sandbox. He is also described as an NFT and blockchain gaming advocate, a developer and pioneer in blockchain gaming, and president of the Blockchain Gaming Alliance.

Q: How successful was The Sandbox franchise?

The Sandbox franchise has three episodes and has been downloaded more than 40 million times in total. The discussion describes this as a major success preceding the blockchain-based Sandbox project.

Q: What experience does Sebastian Bourget bring to The Sandbox?

Bourget has 12 years of startup experience, including eight years in mobile gaming and two years in blockchain. He also founded Pixowl in 2011 and grew it to about 45 people.

Q: How did Pixowl use licensed characters and brands?

Pixowl licensed character IP and created city-builder games involving characters from properties such as Snoopy, Garfield, Goosebumps, and The Addams Family. Bourget says familiar stories and character backgrounds help fans and players relate to these games.

Q: What did Pixowl learn from its long-running games?

Pixowl created city-builder games that engaged some players for over five years. Bourget says one game monetized better five years after launch than it did initially, demonstrating the team’s ability to create long-term retaining games.

Q: Which companies were major landowners in The Sandbox?

Binance and WhaleShark Pro were identified as the two largest landowners in The Sandbox. WhaleShark Pro was described as one of the world’s largest NFT collectors.

Q: How was The Sandbox attracting entertainment brands and talent?

The Sandbox recruited Bertrand Levy, a former global vice president at Universal Music, as vice president of licensing and brand partnerships. The project also drew on the team’s experience creating games with licensed characters, IP, and brands.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Definition: The Sandbox is a community-driven platform where creators can monetize voxel assets and gaming experiences on the Ethereum blockchain.

• Who: Sebastian Bourget is The Sandbox co-founder and CEO and president of the Blockchain Gaming Alliance.

• Number: The Sandbox franchise has three episodes and more than 40 million total downloads.

• Number: Bourget had 12 years of startup experience, including eight years in mobile gaming and two years in blockchain.

• When: Bourget founded Pixowl in 2011 and grew it to about 45 people.

• Definition: Pixowl created city-builder games using licensed IP such as Snoopy, Garfield, Goosebumps, and The Addams Family.

• Number: Some Pixowl games engaged players for over five years, and one monetized better five years after launch than initially.

• Who: Binance and WhaleShark Pro were the two largest landowners in The Sandbox.

• Who: Bertrand Levy, formerly global vice president at Universal Music, joined as vice president of licensing and brand partnerships.

• When: Animoca Brands began its blockchain and IP licensing work in 2017 with an investment in CryptoKitties and publication of its Asian version.