Episode 115 - Aero Trails

In Episode 115 of COPICafe the hosts Rob and Josh delve into the intricacies of the open-world MMO game Cornucopias, set in a colorful sky realm of floating islands.

They share insights on avatar creation, crafting, and combat, while also celebrating the holiday season and teasing exciting upcoming content, such as a land favoriting feature and interactive property maps.

The discussion covers development highlights, including a new unique cyberpunk Calido Valley City area, the team’s experiences over the past year, and the significance of community engagement.

Through humor and reflections on past conventions, they emphasize the joy of teamwork and community connection, encouraging viewers to engage with their content as the game continues to evolve.

• 00:00:00 In this section, after the introduction the chat shifts to the holiday season, with the hosts sharing festive greetings and previews of upcoming content for the game, including a new land favoriting feature and highlights from the latest game build. They also delve into light banter about their drinks and holiday-themed attire while expressing excitement for the developments in Cornucopias.

• 00:05:00 In this section, the hosts discuss the imminent release of a new build related to the game, highlighting their excitement and personal actions, such as purchasing additional land plots based on their interest in specific properties. They describe a web browser map feature that will provide interactive elements and photos of individual properties, though some technical issues remain. They also mention notable features like Calido Valley City, which showcases impressive visual elements resembling urban areas from real life, alongside performance updates and other exciting content that will enhance the gaming experience.

• 00:10:00 In this section, the speakers discuss a unique cyberpunk-themed area in their project that is currently under development, highlighting the hidden details and different ambiance it brings compared to an existing financial district. They also engage with a community question about memorable moments from the past year, reflecting on their strong team and community dynamics as a source of pride. They reminisce about the joy of connecting with community members at events and the importance of family gatherings, while also acknowledging the challenges of growing their team and navigating a tough market environment over the past year. Looking ahead, they express optimism for future developments in 2025.

• 00:15:00 In this section, the speaker reflects on the accomplishments of the year, highlighting the release of the Solace worlds and the innovative introduction of jetpacks that enhanced gameplay. They recount memorable experiences from various conventions, including meeting industry figures like "Your Friend Andy" and Eric Peterson, and share nostalgic moments spent with team members, like a breakfast with Scruffy in Las Vegas and team brainstorming sessions. The speaker emphasizes the joy found in quiet moments amidst their busy schedule, as well as the importance of face-to-face interactions that foster team collaboration and creativity.

• 00:20:00 In this section, the speakers reflect on their experiences and accomplishments over the past year, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and personal connections made during events like Rare Evo. They highlight the core values of crypto related to empowering and improving lives through transparency. A fond memory from a poker tournament is shared, which led to mixed feelings for one speaker as they had to leave the team during an event but also achieved recognition by reaching the final table. The discussion transitions to a summary of their achievements in the past year, including the successful node sale and the development of node technology, showcasing substantial progress made by the team in building efficient software across multiple platforms and reducing distribution costs significantly. They also mention the completion of several major game releases, acknowledging the hard work and effort involved in each release as their team continues to grow.

• 00:25:00 In this section, the speakers discuss the anticipated release schedule for their project, indicating a shift towards fewer, but more substantial updates due to the increasing complexity of integrated systems and the longer debugging processes required. They highlight various features introduced in past releases, including an inventory system and world travel functionality, specifically mentioning the importance of the Solace areas and the new travel loop for enhancing player experience. Additionally, they touch on the launch and ongoing rewards from the COPIC stake pool, emphasizing their commitment to adding value within the blockchain ecosystem. The conversation also covers the recent addition of the base chain, which they believe is a strategic move for greater exposure to the web 3 community, marking it as a significant development for the year. Overall, the focus is on creating robust foundational systems that will enhance the overall experience in their game.

• 00:30:00 In this section, the team discusses the importance of the tokenomics document and the utility of the COPI token within their ecosystem, emphasizing the effort put into its development by team members, including Philip Black. They highlight the integration of experienced advisors to their team, enhancing their expertise in game development. Additionally, the introduction of jetpacks has significantly improved gameplay, allowing players to navigate the expansive worlds more efficiently and enjoyably. There is also mention of ongoing updates related to performance improvements, addressing issues like data efficiency and visual enhancements to enhance overall game stability and user experience.

• 00:35:00 In this section, the discussion centers around the artistic evolution of a project utilizing Unreal Engine, moving from a cartoonish style to a more realistic approach while still maintaining a balance. The team recently expanded by adding new artists, which has significantly improved the environmental and props design. They also mention a large ship sale, the Atmas, which will enhance player experience once it is integrated into the game. The hosts talk about the introduction of Aero Trails, which will play a crucial role in gameplay and exploration in the upcoming year, particularly with plans to incorporate crowd dynamics and quest systems. The section concludes with a competitive racing challenge among team members on the Aero Trails, where they share their strategies for success while encountering obstacles in real-time.

• 00:40:00 In this section, the participants discuss their experiences with a gaming challenge in which they compete to collect items. They touch upon themes of futuristic design in the game and share insights about a cowboy character named Rattlesnake, hinting at deeper storylines and foreshadowing future game content. Community questions arise regarding the artistic elements of the game, particularly concerning animal designs and whether they will reflect realistic features. As they wrap up the episode, they encourage viewers to engage with the content by liking and commenting on the video while acknowledging the balance between survival elements in the game and maintaining a family-friendly environment.

• 00:45:00 In this section, the speakers discuss the combat dynamics within the game, emphasizing that while players will face various monsters, the action will not overly focus on graphic violence or gore. They highlight the diversity of activities available to players, including farming, fishing, and raiding, which allows for various styles of gameplay. The speakers express excitement about upcoming quest systems that will introduce both simple and complex tasks, evolving seasonal themes, and narrative elements tied to the lore of the game and its characters. They reflect on the development journey over the past few years and anticipate significant advancements in gameplay as they progress towards their alpha release. Finally, they express gratitude toward their community for their support during challenging times, recognizing the positive engagement from players and hinting at promising prospects for the future of the game in both content and market maturity.

• 00:50:00 In this section, the speakers discuss the expansive world of the game, noting the upcoming release of Esperanza and Fortune, which are set to enhance the gaming experience further. They emphasize the need for players, content, and gameplay to populate this new world, projecting that 2025 will be a significant year for the game, humorously dubbed the "Year of the Corn." The segment concludes with holiday wishes and a light-hearted musical interlude.