Recap of the AMA from 04/11/24

Introduction

On Monday, November 4th, we held a live AMA session with Sami (CEO), Anthony (COO), and Quentin (CTO) to discuss the progress of the project and address questions from the community. This exchange clarified many key points, including the development of the TCG, the next steps for the crafting system, new partnerships, the migration to a new blockchain, and the adoption strategy for the CTA token.

This recap highlights the topics discussed and the most important updates for the future of Cross The Ages.

TCG

New Crafting System

Upcoming Patches and V1
The new crafting system marks a significant milestone in the development of the TCG. This system is part of a series of four major patches, with the first stage, the Collection, originally planned for release during the Tokyo Game Show (TGS) in September. The launch of the crafting feature has been postponed to early November. Here’s an overview of the major patches leading up to version 1.0 of the TCG:

• Patch 0.23: Collection + Craft (November 13, 2024)
• Patch 0.24: Gameplay
• Patch 0.25: Rewards
• Patch 0.26: Adventure Mode
• Patch 1.0: Release

To meet the TGS deadline, the Collection patch was published quickly, following intensive internal testing and validation phases. However, adjustments are ongoing, particularly regarding deck creation, which received mixed feedback from the community. These updates will be integrated into the next patch on November 13, alongside the new crafting system.

Challenges and Ongoing Improvements

Before focusing our efforts on international markets, it is crucial to ensure the stability and quality of our product. While we’ve undergone several iterations and revisions of the game, these are essential to refining our unique model that integrates Static, Flex, and Eternal assets. We are breaking new ground by exploring an unprecedented model in the gaming industry.

Our team is fully aware of the existing issues. A repositioning is underway to make the game more accessible, focusing on the four major patches mentioned earlier. We also recognize that the user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) have sometimes been sources of frustration.

Regarding feedback on deck creation, although the UX was validated internally, the final quality did not meet expectations. As a result, the interface has been entirely reworked on a technical level and will be available with the crafting patch on November 13.

Why So Many Reworks?

The Web3 ecosystem, with its unique characteristics, including high speculation, presents numerous challenges. Currently, no game has emerged as a definitive reference in this space. We firmly believe in our Static, Flex, and Eternal asset model, but integrating it in a simple and accessible way is a complex challenge that requires frequent adjustments to find the right formula.

Towards Increased Collaboration with the Community

From the beginning of development, we have always intended to involve the community more in the testing phases. This process will begin with the upcoming gameplay patch, giving players the opportunity to actively contribute to the optimization of the game.

The Future of Gameplay

For those eagerly anticipating the next steps, a presentation video showcasing the new gameplay will be released by the end of the year, detailing the direction the TCG will take. In early 2025, a testing phase will allow a selected group of beta testers to try out the new gameplay and provide feedback before the final launch.

In conclusion, we remain committed to delivering a high-quality, innovative, and satisfying gaming experience, despite the challenges. The Cross The Ages team continues its efforts to improve and debug the game, focusing first on quality before expanding internationally and meeting the expectations of our players.

Stones in the Crafting System

As part of the improvements to the crafting system, we introduced Stones to simplify the onboarding of new players and address issues related to liquidity and the positioning of foil cards. To minimize the impact on certain purchasing strategies, adjustments have been made, such as maintaining the duplication bonus for so-called "pure" cards.

Why Introduce Stones?

Although the addition of Stones may seem complex at first, it is designed to simplify the power-up process and provide greater flexibility. Once the update is deployed, their utility will become clear through a straightforward system of recycling duplicate cards to enhance others. Furthermore, we have also reduced the overall cost to complete the entire collection (Standard, Alternative, and Combo cards).

Perception of Stones and Trisel as Useless

The current perception of Stones and Trisel as useless is largely due to the limited ways they can be used, especially since the crafting system is not yet accessible. This sentiment is expected to change with the introduction of new features, such as the ability to trade Eternal Stones and Trisel on the Exchange Market.

In conclusion, we remain attentive to player feedback and continuously adjust the system to balance purchasing and crafting strategies while making the game more engaging and accessible.

SR Cards

The 13 SR weekly cards introduced since Season 1 will be retained in Seasons 4 and 5, allowing players to fuse them to create the specific Combo for each season (referred to as SR13 S4 and SR13 S5).

Clarifications on the Rarity and Power of Arkhel

Regarding Arkhel, Ríona, and the Rift card (referred to as SR13 S3): these three cards are comparable to iconic references like the Black Lotus from the early editions of Magic: The Gathering. Instead of reprinting the same card three times, as is the case with the Black Lotus, we created three distinct characters representing each faction while giving them similar power and elements to maintain parity.

Among them, Arkhel is the rarest, as it was the first to be released. These three cards, each reaching a maximum power of 745, are the only ones in their edition that come close to the game’s maximum of 750. They are essential for creating the first Super Combo card (referred to as SR39), which has the highest power and can adopt any faction and element. This card will be revealed in 2025.

Arkhel, like Solis, may have a higher perceived value individually due to fusion mechanics that offer the potential for a better grade. This uniqueness, combined with its status as the first card and its rarity, makes it a coveted item often highlighted by Sami.

While other cards reaching 750 power are planned in the coming years, the SR39 will remain special because of its ability to combine all elements and factions while requiring the equivalent of 39 SR cards, a key asset, especially for land defense bonuses.

A Super Combo card (referred to as SR26) is planned for the SR13 cards of Seasons 4 and 5.

VIP Program Level 8

Level 8 of the VIP program launched on November 13. This new tier of privileges offers several exclusive benefits to players who reach the threshold of 100,000 VIP points, with additional features and rewards.

Details of VIP Level 8 Benefits:

• VIP Points Required: 100,000
• TCG Features: Automatic replay button for the Raid, enabling uninterrupted RAID sessions.
• Energy Capacity: Increased by +500, allowing for longer gaming sessions.
• Exclusive Card: 100% guaranteed, granting players an exclusive card every week.

This new VIP level allows the most dedicated players to enjoy optimized features and unique rewards while continuing to reward their loyalty and engagement in the Cross The Ages universe. Note that no additional Flex Rolls are included at Level 8.

It is important to note that both the VIP program and staking will undergo modifications with the blockchain transition in 2025.

ARISE

Testing Phases for Arise

The testing phases for Arise will take place on the Epic Games Store and will be open to Mint Pass and Founder Pack holders. Several testing sessions will occur in early 2025, allowing players to explore and contribute to the game's optimization before its official release. For reference, Arise was first tested during the Tokyo Game Show (TGS), where it received an excellent score of 8.86/10, highlighting the game's quality and potential.

TCG Card Features in Arise

In Arise, TCG cards will play a central role in enhancing weapons. Only the element and power of the cards will be considered to determine the efficiency and capabilities of weapons, providing players with a strategic synergy between their cards and the gameplay.

These testing phases, along with the specific features of TCG cards in Arise, will allow players to explore new gameplay dynamics while actively contributing to the development of the game’s universe.

Events and Partnerships

Heroes’ Legacy Tournament (HL)

Last year, the Heroes’ Legacy (HL) tournament was a major event for Cross The Ages, with a budget of approximately €500,000, including cash prizes, entirely funded by Cross The Ages. This investment aimed to showcase the feasibility and potential of such events within our ecosystem. For the second edition, initial support from local partners was secured but later withdrawn, leading Cross The Ages to reassess the organization of the event.

This year, a fully funded tournament like the one in 2023 is not feasible, as we aim to allocate resources more strategically for upcoming milestones, particularly the release of Arise. As a result, we have transitioned to an online version of the tournament, allowing funds and manpower to be redirected toward these key objectives.

A New Strategy for 2025
For 2025, Cross The Ages is adopting a new approach and is in the process of securing a major partnership to support the next edition of the tournament. This partnership will ensure the financial sustainability of Heroes’ Legacy while maintaining our production goals, freeing resources to focus on new developments and upcoming launches.

In summary, this year’s online version of Heroes’ Legacy, though more modest, ensures the continuation of the event while bolstering the foundation for Cross The Ages' future projects.

Partnership in Asia

At the Tokyo Game Show 2024, Cross The Ages officially announced its first major partnership in Asia with DMM.com, one of Japan’s leading video game distributors. This partnership marks a significant milestone in our expansion into the Asian market, providing a unique opportunity to strengthen our presence in this key region.

We are also continuing efforts to establish partnerships with other top distributors in neighboring countries. These collaborations aim to support user acquisition campaigns planned for 2025, extending our reach and allowing the company to connect with an ever-growing audience across Asia.

These strategic partnerships demonstrate our commitment to building Cross The Ages’ brand recognition and positioning our game as a major player on the global stage.

Community

Return of the French Channel on Discord and the Official Telegram

The reopening of the French channel on Discord and the official Cross The Ages Telegram group is currently under review. We are working on a comprehensive plan to ensure this relaunch balances the needs of our international community while enabling direct and regular interactions with all our players. Once the decision is made and the strategy is finalized, we will keep you informed.

Upcoming AMA Sessions

Live AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions are now scheduled monthly to give our community the opportunity to ask questions and receive real-time answers. The next live AMA will take place during the Heroes’ Legacy tournament. These monthly events aim to strengthen our dialogue with the audience and provide regular updates on Cross The Ages developments.

Social Media Inactivity

Since the token launch, discussions on social media have been marked by significant toxicity, which currently limits our interactions until the situation improves. However, we continue to carefully read and analyze all your concerns and suggestions internally. Our priority remains to maintain a respectful and constructive environment for communication with our community.

Strategy and Vision

Diversity of Products and Global Vision

Cross The Ages is driven by ambitious goals, with a diverse range of products and initiatives that reinforce its global vision. At the core of this universe, the book serves as the narrative foundation, while the TCG and Arise bring this universe to life, promoting interoperability through NFTs and showcasing our commitment to blockchain technology.

Merchandising and events, such as the Heroes’ Legacy tournament, enrich the ecosystem by providing unique experiences for the community. Additionally, animation aims to popularize our intellectual property (IP) to encourage broader adoption of all our products.

This diversity of projects is intentional and part of our ambition to build a cohesive and rich universe where each product and initiative strengthens our IP.

Funding Sources

Revenue from the TCG alone is not sufficient to cover all the development costs of Cross The Ages. The primary funding comes from targeted fundraising efforts, allowing us to support our projects without relying entirely on token sales, as the majority of received tokens are not sold.

For the coming months and years, this funding strategy will remain focused on targeted fundraising, securing the resources necessary for the development of the universe while preserving the stability of our ecosystem.

Token Sales Strategy

Due to the current market conditions, the majority of tokens accumulated by Cross The Ages are not being sold, which impacts our direct revenue. A small portion of these tokens is offered for OTC sales in the shop for top-ups. As demand grows, these tokens will be used to support market-making needs, ensuring liquidity for the CTA token in the market. They are also reserved for future rewards and community initiatives, in line with our long-term strategy.

This approach allows us to maintain a careful balance between managing accumulated tokens and addressing the ecosystem’s needs while staying prepared to adapt to market developments.

Token Launch Context (TGE)

The Cross The Ages project began in 2021 with the ambition of an early listing in 2022. However, that year was marked by a severe crypto bear market caused by several disruptive events. In 2023, the market remained stagnant before showing signs of recovery late in the year, primarily due to Bitcoin-related ETFs. It was during this period that we decided to position ourselves, setting the listing date for May 2024 after securing agreements with several centralized exchanges (CEX).

The early months of 2024, from January to March, offered a favorable period with major launches, though this window was brief. Since April, gaming-related listings have followed a similar trajectory. Timing is critical when launching a token, but accurately predicting market trends remains a challenge despite all efforts to anticipate fluctuations.

The launch of the Cross The Ages token was, therefore, a strategic decision, adjusted according to opportunities and market conditions, even though timing remains a complex variable to manage in the dynamic cryptocurrency landscape.

Acceleration of $CTA Token Releases

Given the current market conditions, the status of the CTA token, and the needs of our ecosystem, we have decided to accelerate our token release schedule starting November 15. While this decision is significant, it will allow us to move forward with greater stability in the coming months. Regarding community tokens, all staked tokens will be automatically unlocked on November 6, 2024. For more details, you can read the full article here: https://crosstheages.com/en-us/news/cta/tokenomics-update/

Utility and Adoption of the CTA Token

The CTA token is already central to the Cross The Ages project. To strengthen its value, increasing user adoption must be a priority. This requires enhanced efforts to attract and retain new users.

To achieve this, we need to position our products optimally to better meet market expectations. This will help maximize user acquisition and ensure the long-term profitability of the CTA token.

The token’s value ultimately depends on the expansion of its user base and the effectiveness of our growth strategy, which we continue to refine.

Burn Mechanism for the CTA Token

A burn mechanism for the $CTA token is one of the options we have considered. However, we have no announcements to make on this topic at the moment.

Development of a Central Bank for the CTA Token

The creation of a central bank for the $CTA token is currently on hold. While this idea remains a part of our long-term vision, it is not a priority at this stage of Cross The Ages ecosystem development.

Lands and Redistribution: Yields and Roles of Lands

The lands in Cross The Ages were designed to facilitate redistribution and energy sales but are not intended for direct cryptocurrency mining, such as Bitcoin. Currently, they do not generate yields, although this is planned for the coming months. Their official launch also depends on a migration to a new blockchain, which is currently underway.

We are actively working to anticipate the tax implications related to lands, but no official communication is available on this subject yet.

Miscellaneous Questions

Migration to a New Blockchain

The migration to a new blockchain is progressing as planned, with an official announcement forthcoming. This announcement will be made by our new blockchain partner. For now, we cannot provide further details, but we will keep you informed as soon as possible.

Invalid Offers on the Marketplace

Invalid offers on the marketplace are managed by IMX, and we are unable to reset them. However, the migration to the new blockchain will introduce a different system that is simpler and more efficient.

Release of Book Volume 2

The release of the second volume of the book is scheduled for next year and is not imminent. We are working diligently on its development to deliver a sequel that meets the community's expectations. Additional information will be shared as the project progresses.

Upcoming Presales and Freemints

No freemints are planned for upcoming presales. However, tickets obtained, including old ones, will be redeemable for other items.

Physical Cards and the New Blockchain

Physical cards are not yet available for sale because we have chosen to wait for the migration to the new blockchain. Launching them on IMX would quickly render the system obsolete after the migration. By introducing them directly on the new blockchain, we avoid asset fragmentation and ensure a more cohesive and sustainable experience for collectors.

Conclusion

The team remains committed to building a stable and engaging ecosystem, where every update and product contributes to strengthening the overarching vision of the universe. With major milestones such as the release of Book Volume 2, the migration to a new blockchain, the new TCG gameplay, testing phases for Arise, Lands, physical cards, the new portal, and upcoming events, the project continues to evolve. By integrating player feedback, we aim to deliver a rich and lasting experience.