Behind the Code EP11: Syndicate of Vigilantes

Combining Augmented Reality (AR) and first-person shooter (FPS) elements, the game merges digital entertainment with real-world benefits. Players engage in missions to discover hidden AR treasures, unlocking Web3 rewards, in-game assets, and RWA prizes while competing in PvE and PvP battles.

Let’s get into the interview.

Hi, thanks for accepting this interview! Could you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background? How many people are on your team? How did you first get involved in the crypto world, and how did you discover Alephium?

I'm Cas, living in the Netherlands with my girlfriend and our beautiful daughter. I've been involved in the crypto space since 2016, starting out as an enthusiast and evolving into someone who wants to contribute beyond just investing. This drive led me to join Hans, the CEO and founder of our company, in creating an innovative AR game. My role is Chief Operating Officer, where I handle business development.

We have a tight-knit core team, supported by talented developers and game designers. Thanks to our publishing partner, we have all necessary expertise in-house, covering everything from marketing to blockchain development.

We were introduced to Alephium by Raj, a true OG in the Alephium community, and we instantly clicked. This led us to explore potential partnership opportunities with them.

What inspired you to develop this project? Are you aiming to bring a Pokémon Go-like experience into the crypto world?

The funny story here is Hans had the idea for this game - which he had since even before Pokemon Go. He initially pitched it to me as a traditional web2 game. I was immediately in love with the concept, but I knew we could elevate it by making it a web3 game, thereby giving players the advantage of owning their in-game asset

When people think of AR gaming, Pokémon Go often comes to mind first. While both games encourage players to step outside to play, our game diverges significantly in gameplay mechanics. We blend AR with first-person shooter (FPS) elements, set within a stunning Art Deco aesthetic. If you can imagine merging Pokémon Go with the intensity of "John Wick," you'll get something close to our game, "Syndicate of Vigilantes."

I believe this mix significantly enhances player engagement. In our game, safety is never guaranteed; you're always on alert for various enemies, making each outing an adrenaline-pumping experience.

Can you give an overview of how the game works? Are there any rewards and prizes to win? Can you explain how AR/VR games like yours use blockchain technology and how it enhances the overall gaming experience?

We're kicking things off with the Early Access release, which features the PVE mode of our game. In this phase, you'll be recruited as a Vigilante by the Syndicate and sent on missions to locate and safely retrieve artifacts. Successfully completing these missions will earn you rewards. Early Access is structured as a play-to-airdrop game, where participants can earn our native $VIGI token.

What's exciting is that in-game assets, which can give you an edge (like an invisibility cloak to avoid detection by enemy drones), are NFTs. This means players truly own these assets and can sell them if they choose. Moreover, the $VIGI token not only serves as a reward but also grants governance rights, allowing our community to influence the game's future direction.

What inspired you to start building on Alephium? Are there any standout features that GameFi projects like yours can use or benefit from on Alephium?

I'm not very technical, but the Alephium community and team warmly welcomed us. They convincingly demonstrated their enthusiasm for us to join the Alephium ecosystem, highlighting how their technology is well-suited for developing consumer-friendly applications like games.

Their excitement about our game seemed truly authentic, and they've been incredibly supportive in various ways.And ofcourse the Alephium tech-stack is awesome from what the devs told me :)

Can you share details about the roadmap and what's happening behind the scenes? What can we expect from your game in the near future?

As always, there's much happening behind the scenes. While not everything is ready for public disclosure, the release of our Early Access marks a significant milestone for us. Following this, we'll begin preparations for our token launch, another pivotal moment for our project.

Additionally, we're on the verge of publicly announcing our publishing deal, which has not yet been widely communicated to the crypto community.

Do you have any advice or words of wisdom for those new to the crypto space? What should they keep in mind as they explore this fast-changing industry?

My primary advice would be to stay vigilant! The crypto world is still akin to the Wild West, where not everyone has good intentions. Always conduct your own research and proceed with caution. Having started back in 2016, I've fallen victim to scams multiple times, and it's a terrible experience.

Within the crypto sector, I believe GameFi has an exceptionally bright future. Players can genuinely own a stake in their favorite games, possess their in-game assets, and perhaps even earn income while playing.

Wen SOV?

Soon.. By the time this interview gets published, you probably already can. Please check our socials for more information

Thank you for your time, Cas. It's a pleasure to see well-established GameFi studios pushing the limits of web3 development on Alephium.

To our readers, stay vigilant! it’s coming soon.

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About Syndicate of Vigilantes

Investors

• SkyVision Capital

• IBC

• Unreal Capital

• Galactic Entertainment

• Cetacean Capital

• Kujira Ventures

• Horizon VC

• The Rational Investor

Partners & Backers

• Galactic Entertainment

• Immutable

• Blockus

• IBC

• Plume Network

• Alephium

• Moonshot Boxes

Key Innovations

• Geo-based AR game with FPS elements

• RWA prize drops with real-world benefits

• Web2 and Web3 Brand-powered partnership treasure hunts

Highlights & Milestones

• Secured a major publishing deal (worth >$1M) with Galactic Entertainment Publishing.

• Raised $600K+ in Pre-Seed Round and $100K in Web3 Grants

• MVP ready with Early Access live in January 2025

• 500+ Whitelist sign ups

• $300K KOL budget for massive campaign

Listing & Offer

• TGE: End of Q1

• Seed Round: $0.0125 (50% discount) 7.5% unlock at TGE - 8 months linear vesting

• Public Round: $0.025 (25M FDV)

Team & Advisory

• Team has extensive experience building AR games, having previously worked for Meta on AR titles like Space Pirate Trainer and other AAA titles such as Battlefield, Crysis, Jedi Survivor, Cyberpunk 2077, and The Witcher, as well as numerous mobile titles.

• Galactic Entertainment consists of Hollywood veterans who previously worked on blockbuster titles like Star Wars, Blade Runner, Batman, and Marvel.

• Loren Roosendaal is the Founder & Chairman of Galactic Entertainment and the founder of two highly anticipated web3 games (EmberSword and PlanetQuest), which together have generated $260M+ in demand for NFTs before even being launched.

• Patrick Wu is a General Partner at SkyVision Capital.

Links

Website | Twitter | Discord | Announcements | Medium | Whitepaper

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