Norilsk Incident is a new, groundbreaking NFT project that brings art, storytelling, and technology together, leveraging the Casper blockchain to introduce their exciting concept to the NFT space. Gabriel Zang, the mind behind the Norilsk Incident, along with Michael Steuer from MAKE, who supports the project's integration with Casper's technological suite, introduced this captivating project.

Gabriel gave us the origin story of the Norilsk Incident: “The project began a decade ago with a series of four novels, which recently transitioned into a comic series. The transformation aims to bridge the world of comics with NFTs, appealing to enthusiasts of both sectors.”

“Norilsk Incident narrates a multi-perspective saga of four distinct groups facing a cataclysmic event in Norilsk, a northern city struck by mysterious objects from the sky. The setup lays the groundwork for a rich, intertwined narrative which is perfect for exploration through NFTs.”

Norilsk Incident aims to make readers active participants in the narrative through NFTs and allow them to become a part of the story. The project offers the opportunity for individuals to have custom NFTs that insert them into the comic's pages, alongside options for physical prints of these customized pages.

Norilsk Incident introduces a tiered NFT collection, including "ultimate" and "genesis" NFTs with varying degrees of customization and physical deliverables, such as books, board games, and a share of Amazon royalties for a fully customized book.

Gabriel announced key dates for the NFT minting process. The most exclusive NFTs, offering the most comprehensive rewards, are set for release on March 15, with subsequent releases planned in waves to manage demand and ensure a smooth rollout. For more information on the NFT release schedule, you can check out the Norilsk Incident Whitepaper.

“The choice to launch this project on the Casper is due to the chain’s capabilities in handling diverse NFT projects.” Michael Steuer elaborated on the integration with the Casper product suite, ensuring an easy and efficient process for minting and managing NFTs.

Gabriel and his team have designed a system to ensure a smooth process for customizing NFTs and fulfilling physical deliverables. This includes a work queue visible on the project's website, providing transparency for NFT holders awaiting their customized pages.

The Casper product suite played a crucial role in enabling the Norilsk Incident project to utilize blockchain technology efficiently and innovatively.

The commitment to a seamless experience extends to the backend. cspr.market served as the primary platform for listing and selling the project's NFTs. cspr.cloud, on the other hand, played a crucial role in facilitating an accessible blockchain development environment for the Norilsk Incident team. By providing documentation and development resources, cspr.cloud enabled the Norilsk Incident team to develop, deploy, and manage their NFT project seamlessly on the Casper blockchain.

Question: How do you handle copyrights?

Answer: Gabriel explained that while the intellectual property of the Norilsk Incident, including the novels, comics, and related games, is protected under copyright, the ownership provided to NFT holders pertains specifically to their personal copies and not the original IP. This distinction allows for the creation of fan art and derivative works, encouraging community engagement and the expansion of the Norilsk Incident universe through collaborative creativity.

Question: What is the launch date and availability for the NFTs?

Answer: Gabriel clarified that initially, only two NFT types, the Ultimate and Genesis editions, will be available for purchase on the launch date. The broader range of NFTs will be displayed for potential buyers to explore and will become available for sale on April 1.

Question: How does the purchasing process work, especially with limited quantities?

Answer: The serialized and numbered system for NFT releases ensures a systematic and fair process. As NFTs are sold, more will be minted and released in batches of 100, up to a total of 500. Buyers also have the flexibility to purchase multiple NFTs for additional character replacements or as gifts.

Question: Can NFTs be traded or sold, especially after customization?

Answer: Addressing the trading and resale aspects of Norilsk Incident NFTs, Gabriel noted that once an NFT is claimed and customized, it becomes bound to the original purchaser, making each piece uniquely personal. Unclaimed NFTs can still be traded traditionally, with subsequent owners retaining the right to claim customization.

This month’s session also featured Beast League, a new mobile game leveraging the Casper blockchain for a play-and-earn experience. The game has been highlighted for its AAA quality and mobile accessibility and has the potential to revolutionize gaming on the blockchain by incorporating a play-and-earn model without compromising on fairness or performance.

The game's economy revolves around the Beast Coin, a Casper-based token, enhancing gameplay through NFT-based assets and collectibles. These in-game items do not affect player performance but offer enhanced rewards and experiences, making the gameplay both engaging and rewarding.

Beast League's open beta phase is set to commence in the upcoming week. While the exact date for the full launch remains under wraps, the team's approach aims to maximize the game's impact and reach. Keep an eye out for further announcements on this new title, as Beast League promises to be a milestone in blockchain gaming.

And that’s a wrap for this month’s X Space community call. Be sure to join the next call in April, and don’t forget to join us for the developer community call on Discord if you fancy some technical discussions about Casper.