Gala Games, the successful blockchain gaming platform, and Opera (NASDAQ: OPRA), one of the world’s leading browser developers, are joining forces to create carbon-neutral NFTs that will be auctioned for charity. They are also announcing plans for a new player initiative in the upcoming blockchain role playing game, Mirandus, which will redefine the traditional gaming model by giving players greater control than ever over in-game economy.
Both Gala Games and Opera have missions of empowerment. Gala Games is using NFTs to empower players by giving them true ownership of their gaming assets, while Opera empowers its users through a better web-browsing experience as well as easy access to Web3 and blockchain technologies. These missions of empowerment, combined with the focus of both Opera and Gala Games on charitable giving, are bringing the two companies together for a fruitful partnership.
Phase 1 – NFT Auction for Social Impact
In the first phase of this partnership, Gala Games will mint an exclusive series of 8 Ethereum (ERC-20) non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to be auctioned. These NFTs will be jointly branded by both Opera and Gala Games, and will have future utility in Mirandus.
100% of the proceeds from these NFT auctions will be donated to Mercy Corps Ventures, the impact investing arm of the leading global development organization Mercy Corps that invests in and accelerates tech-enabled solutions that strengthen the resilience of people and communities in frontier markets. In that spirit, the partnership in the virtual game community of Mirandus will help raise funds and awareness for contributions to real-world solutions that help people join the global economy and lift themselves out of poverty.
‘With the creation of our carbon-neutral NFTs in Mirandus, we are connecting social impact NFTs, gaming, and real-life charitable giving to illustrate new ways of partnering in the crypto sector for the greater good,‘ said Cuautemoc Luis Weber, Opera’s Head of Crypto and VP Business Development.
‘Mercy Corps Ventures is thrilled to explore innovative ways to bring attention and raise funds for accelerating global financial inclusion in frontier markets. By practising philanthropic activities in the virtual world, players can make a big impact in the real world,’ said Alpen Sheth, PhD, Senior Technologist, Blockchain, at Mercy Corps Ventures.
These exclusive NFT auctions are scheduled to begin on July 12th, 2021, and will consist of 8 unique “Grand Sanctuary” NFTs in total. NFTs will be revealed in the days leading up to the auction on the Gala Games blog.
Phase 2 – The Sanctuary
The Grand Sanctuary buildings will play an important role in the gaming experience of all newcomers to the fantasy world of Mirandus, especially those who enter the world with nothing but the clothes worn by their avatar.
The Grand Sanctuary will be a haven for newcomers that will welcome them into this strange new world. There they will find a safe bed and a nourishing meal. They will be given the tools with which they can embark upon their first adventures. They will be taught, outfitted and equipped to immediately get the most out of the game. And as the newly equipped player ventures into the wilds and begins earning, a portion of their earnings will be given back to the Sanctuary, the building that first empowered them. Part of the proceeds generated by the in-game Grand Sanctuaries will also become charitable gifts, generating a sustainable way of donating to charity through gameplay.
“The Grand Sanctuary buildings will be a pillar of support for new players, especially those who cannot start by paying for in-game NFTs,” says Jason Brink, President of Blockchain for Gala Games. “They will also establish a gaming community of encouragement and support, as well as an opportunity for Mirandus players to contribute to charity by playing.”
The goal of this collaboration is to create in Mirandus a culture of dignified and ongoing charitable giving. The Grand Sanctuary will be beneficial to all players of Mirandus while opening the door to a culture of reciprocity and giving, both in the fantasy world as in reality.
Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
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