Introduction from our Chairman, Gary Bracey
Hello, and welcome to Terra Virtua’s monthly news blog! Gary Bracey here, Chairman at Terra Virtua, subbing in for Jawad this week.
I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to Rise Worldwide, with whom I had the pleasure of discussing the metaverse, Web 3.0, sports NFTs, and Terra Virtua’s partnership with the Hero ISL during a recent Twitter Spaces interview.
I believe that sport will play a huge role in the evolution of Web 3.0 and metaverse platforms, because it’s driven by community and by fandom. The metaverse is all about being social, and sports have connected people from all over the world. Those people might never have met each other, if not for their favourite sport – and in a similar way, the metaverse will create new friendships and new communities.
For the sports industry itself, and stakeholders such as clubs and sporting associations, Web 3.0, the metaverse, NFTs, and blockchain technology will enable a deeper and stronger sense of connection between fans and the teams and athletes they follow. We can create more engaging and immersive experiences than ever before, and this is something that everybody in and around sports can benefit from.
Ultimately, though, it comes down to you – the Terra Virtua community – and what you want. We’re here to shape the metaverse to your design, collectively. So please do tell us: What do you want out of the metaverse?
If you’d like to listen to my entire conversation with Rise Worldwide, just click the button below – and I’ll see you again very soon!
Terra Virtua News: Jawad Ashraf Discusses the Metaverse With The Fintech Times
2022 has been proclaimed “the year of the metaverse,” and our CEO Jawad Ashraf recently sat down with The Fintech Times for a special feature piece about what the metaverse is, how it will work, and what we’ll all be able to do inside it.
Terra Virtua News: We've Officially Launched Our Own Gaming Studio
Terra Virtua Studios will develop and publish high-quality games that will include elements specifically designed for the metaverse, in preparation for the next evolution in gaming. We’re partnering with AAA studio Stainless Games (the developers of Magic: The Gathering and Carmageddon), and will be expanding our existing partnerships with the play-to-earn gaming platform Nitro League and developer Big Immersive.
The partnership with Stainless Games will begin with the development of an action/puzzler game for PC and mobile devices with a seven-figure budget, in which players will build a team of exclusive Terra Virtua VFLECT characters with unique characteristics and strengths, conquering challenges, obstacles, and enemies along the way. It’s going to be epic, and we can’t wait for you to experience it!
Terra Virtua News: The World's First NFT Musical - The Wrong Man - Has Landed on Terra Virtua
Created by award-winning multi-platinum artist Ross Golan, The Wrong Man is the world’s first NFT musical. A gut-wrenching tale of a love affair gone tragically wrong, The Wrong Man explores provocative themes such as wrongful convictions, the death penalty, and the nature of justice itself.
The Wrong Man is now available in three editions (Standard, Special, and Premium), with featured perks including the full animated movie, 2D animated album artwork, and a 1 of 100 limited-edition NFT poster by legendary artist Nick Percival (whose own credits include Marvel, DC, MTV, EA, Sony, Activision, Games Workshop, Microsoft, and 2000 AD).
Terra Virtua CEO Jawad Ashraf and Ross Golan also featured in a special article on Theatre-News.com, which you can check out here.
Industry News: NFTs Are Coming to Instagram
Speaking at the tech and creative industry conference SXSW, Mark Zuckerberg officially announced Instagram’s big move on behalf of Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus. Although details have yet to be confirmed, Zuckerberg did mention that NFT minting might be on the cards for Instagram – and given that Meta is also working on metaverse infrastructure, further developments are sure to extend beyond Instagram itself.
Industry News: Young People Are Already Socialising in the Metaverse
Researchers at Zen Internet have found that 18% of people aged 16-24 are already using the metaverse to make friends, and 46% are thinking about joining their peers in the future. The metaverse also looks like a popular destination for dating, with almost 40% of young respondents specifically interested in speed dating in virtual environments.
Speaking to City A.M., our CEO Jawad Ashraf said: “Zen Internet’s research highlights how important virtual interactions will be to the younger generation’s identity. It may be too early to predict exactly what the metaverse will become, but we do know it will open up completely new shopping, work, entertainment and social experiences.”
Terra Virtua News: Hero ISL Drops New Season 2021-22 NFTs!
The Hero Indian Super League, the top division in Indian football, is the country’s first sports property to launch an NFT collectibles series for their fans – and you can find everything you need to complete your own collection right here on Terra Virtua!
We’ve been busy dropping everything from NFT trophies to Video Moments, team posters, and trading cards to celebrate the latest Hero ISL season, and Hyderabad FC’s history-making victory.
Industry News: Ukraine Launches NFT Collection Documenting the History of Russia's Invasion
Alex Bornyakov, Ukraine’s deputy minister of digital transformation, described the collection as “a museum of the Russian-Ukrainian war.” Each NFT represents an artwork based on a story from a trusted news source, with proceeds used to purchase military supplies and fund Ukraine’s media activities.
Industry News: Deloitte Building "Store of the Future" Metaverse Environment
Deloitte, one of the world’s “Big Four” consultancy firms, is preparing to showcase the metaverse’s retail potential to its clients in the Middle East. The company’s new “store of the future” metaverse project will incorporate 3D graphics and gamification, and demonstrate how augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) can be applied to the retail industry.
While discussing Deloitte’s move with Cryptonomist, our CEO Jawad Ashraf said: “It’s great to see companies such as Deloitte demonstrating the possibilities that the metaverse can create for brands. How we are represented digitally, through social media and in virtual environments, has become a key part of our identity. It won’t be long before our identities as individuals will be expressed through personalised avatars, unique virtual environments, and digital items such as clothing or ‘skins’ in the metaverse.”
Terra Virtua News: Sherlock Holmes Makes His Official NFT Comic Book Debut
The game is afoot on the blockchain, as the world’s greatest detective is reimagined by Dynamite Entertainment in his first-ever official NFT comic book!
When Sherlock becomes the prime suspect in a murder case, his assistant Watson must unravel the mystery with Sherlock behind bars. This truly exceptional comic was created by the dynamic husband-and-wife duo John Reppion and Leah Moore (Conspiracy of Ravens, The Complete Dracula), with art by Aaron Douglas (10 Years to Death, Shock), and we’re incredibly proud to bring their vision to life in NFT form.
Industry News: London Art Gallery Displays Masterpieces by Da Vinci, Modigliani, and More as NFTs
Unit London, an art gallery located in London’s ultra-wealthy Mayfair district, dedicated over a month to six works by Italian masters Da Vinci, Caravaggio, Raphael, Modigliani, and Hayez – all displayed in virtual form as NFTs. The works were presented on screens bordered by exact physical replicas of their original frames, each of which was handcrafted in Tuscany, with officially certified NFT records uploaded to the Ethereum blockchain to create a limited-edition collection.
Titled “Eternalising Art History”, the exhibition enabled art patrons in London to physically experience masterworks currently located in museums across Italy, using Web 3.0 technology to verify their authenticity. As physical art is often too fragile for international transport, this project represents a new and exciting way to overcome one of the art world’s biggest limitations.
Industry News: Mobile Magazine Explores Working in the Metaverse
As the metaverse revolutionises every aspect of our daily lives, it’s worth considering how metaverse tech will impact the way we work. Our CEO Jawad Ashraf discussed the workplace’s next evolution with Mobile Magazine, highlighting the way that “…we can still have the feeling of togetherness, even though we’re not physically together.”
Terra Virtua News: Nick Percival Returns With Exclusive NFT Artwork
In this stunning new piece by legendary artist Nick Percival, you can marvel at a riveting blend of rich purple hues, eerie atmospheric effects, breathtaking action and fearless determination, brought to life by one of the all-time greats of horror artistry.
Having collaborated with some of the entertainment industry’s biggest names (from Marvel to DC, 2000 AD, Microsoft Game Studios, MTV, EA, Sony, Dungeons & Dragons, Activision, World of Warcraft, Games Workshop and Assassin’s Creed, to name just a few), Nick’s name is synonymous with world-class art – and he’s one of Terra Virtua’s most popular partners.
Industry News: Manchester City's Etihad Stadium Will Be the First Football Stadium in the Metaverse
Premier League football fans will soon be able to explore the Etihad Stadium (home of current League champions Manchester City) in virtual reality (VR), making the venue the first football stadium to officially enter the metaverse. The product of a collaboration with Sony and its Hawk-Eye subsidiary, the Etihad project will use cutting-edge image analysis and skeletal-tracking technologies – and it will eventually enable Man City fans to watch live football games within the metaverse!
With player meet-and-greets, exclusive merch, reimagined versions of the Etihad, stadium tours, and more on the cards, this project will help football fans connect directly with a championship-holding club, wherever they are in the world.
Industry News: Celebrity Chef Gino D'Acampo Launches New P2E Game
Play-to-earn (P2E) games are set to revolutionise the gaming landscape – and Gino D’Acampo’s new P2E project Big Town Chef will see players compete in blockchain-powered cook-off battles. Farming and trading mechanics will add extra depth to Big Town Chef, while the game also features its own $BURP token, which will enable players to access special content and rewards.
Terra Virtua News: Vampirella Enters the Mind-Warping Vampiverse
Vampirella has been a comic book fan favourite for more than half a century – and in this special and epic adventure, we meet Vampirellas of all kinds from across the multiverse. Unfortunately, something or someone is hunting them down and killing them, forcing our universe’s bloodsucking heroine into action.
We drop a new set of NFT comics from Dynamite Entertainment every week, featuring legendary characters from Vampirella to Sherlock Holmes, Tarzan, Purgatori, Red Sonja, John Carter, The BOYS, Draculina, and more. So if you’re a long-time comic fan or just curious, you’ll find a new favourite in the Terra Virtua Marketplace!
Terra Virtua News: The Lucha Masks Are Coming!
Terra Virtua partnered with Masked Republic and superstar luchadores to release a generative art NFT collection of 10,000 Lucha Masks!
Join the Lucha Masks official Discord to grab whitelisting spots while you can!
What’s Next?
Behind the scenes this month, we’ve continued to work on our soon-to-launch mobile app, as well as our metaverse platform, the Terraverse. We’ve got plenty of IP partnerships coming your way in April, alongside further announcements in the video games space – and much, much more!
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