🎮 Proposal: Yoki Community Mini-Game Challenge

[robert12342]

Hi everyone,

After the previous discussions, it’s clear that:

• The core team has a full roadmap

• Operational costs are a concern

• A full-scale game may be too heavy right now

So instead of proposing a large ecosystem-funded product, I would like to suggest a lighter and more realistic approach:

Launch a Community-Led Yoki Mini-Game Challenge.

---

Objective

Encourage a solo developer or small team from the community to build a simple Yoki-based competitive mini-game MVP.

Not a full-scale product. Not a massive infrastructure project.

Just a functional prototype that:

• Uses Yoki NFTs

• Integrates ASTR (or cASTR)

• Enables basic competitive gameplay

• Runs as a lightweight web app or Startale Mini App

---

Why This Makes Sense

1. Astar has already built NFT-based interactive games in the past.

2. We are not starting from zero.

3. The ecosystem already has the IP (Yoki).

4. We reduce risk by keeping scope minimal.

5. We test demand before committing major resources.

---

Suggested Format

• Solo dev or small team applies

• Clear MVP scope defined

• Milestone-based governance proposal

• Payment released only upon delivery

• Optional dApp Staking registration for sustainability

---

MVP Scope Example

Ultra-simple competitive mechanic:

• 1v1 reflex duel

• ASTR stake escrow

• Basic leaderboard

• NFT ownership verification

No large backend. No complex AI. No AAA ambitions.

Just validation.

---

Why This Is Attractive for Developers

• Official ecosystem IP (Yoki)

• Public visibility

• Governance-backed funding (upon delivery)

• Potential long-term expansion

• Opportunity to build reputation inside Astar

---

Why This Is Safe for Astar

• Limited scope

• Limited funding

• Payment after results

• KPI-based expansion

• No heavy upfront treasury risk

---

Next Step

If there is interest:

1. Define MVP technical specification

2. Open developer call

3. Select candidate

4. Governance proposal with milestone release

5. Build & evaluate

---

This is not about pushing the Foundation to stretch its roadmap.

It’s about activating the community to experiment responsibly.

If the experiment succeeds, we scale.

If it doesn’t, we sunset with minimal loss.

[pitcoin777]

Wow! This is exactly the kind of proposal I hope to see from the Astar community.

I think it makes a lot of sense, and Yoki NFTs have a similar appeal to Pokémon cards and 1v1 competitive games. Attracting users through financial incentives could be an interesting strategy to help the game gain traction.

I also recall a raffle dApp that was listed in dApp Staking and used its staking rewards to fund prize distributions for each round. Perhaps a similar mechanism could be explored as a way to help bootstrap and sustain the game’s ecosystem.

[robert12342]

Thannks a lot for the feedback, Pit — I really appreciate your thoughtful input and the example you brought up.

Your perspective on leveraging dApp Staking rewards as a bootstrap mechanism adds real strategic depth to the proposal. It helps frame this not just as a game idea, but as something that could be structurally sustainable within the ecosystem.

That’s a very interesting point, especially the example of the raffle dApp model using dApp Staking rewards to fund prizes. I think that kind of mechanism could be extremely powerful for bootstrapping Yoki Arena in a sustainable way.

If the game proves its value — meaning it achieves consistent user activity, healthy on-chain volume, and real community engagement — then it shouldn’t stop at simple 1v1 duels.

It could evolve into something much bigger:

• Seasonal tournaments funded partially by dApp Staking rewards

• Ranked ladders with small ASTR-based entry pools

• NFT upgrades, skins, or special abilities tied to Yoki assets

• Limited in-game items sold directly by the developers

And that’s where it becomes strategically important for the ecosystem.

If ASTR is used not only for duels but also for:

• Entry fees

• Crafting or upgrading items

• Buying developer-created in-game assets

• Tournament participation

Then we are not just building a game — we are expanding the real utility of ASTR inside an entertainment economy.

Over time, if traction is validated, the project could scale:

Phase 1: Simple MVP duel system
Phase 2: Ranked mode + seasonal rewards
Phase 3: Marketplace for in-game items paid in ASTR
Phase 4: Broader ecosystem integrations (LSTs, partnerships, etc.)

The key idea is to start lean and prove product-market fit. If the numbers justify it, expansion becomes a logical next step — not a risky bet.

In that scenario, the game would no longer be just nostalgia around Yoki NFTs. It would become a utility layer for ASTR itself.

And that’s where the real long-term value lies.

[you425]

Sounds great!
Starting small and gradually scaling up makes perfect sense.

I’m also interested in the specific game design and mechanics.

[Juminstock]

Hi @robert12342, thank you for your proposal.

I have to admit I’m a fan of Yoki Origins and Japanese culture. A game that takes these characters beyond their function as NFTs is something that genuinely appeals to me.

However, I discussed this internally with the team, and the required resources, technical, design, and project management, are substantial. The Astar Collective owns the 2D assets we saw in the NFTs, but developing a game requires animations, sound production, narrative development, gamification structure, smart contract development, frontend, backend… The list of required resources is extensive.

Yes, AI could take us to an interesting point where some of these requirements are reduced, making an MVP more achievable, as you mentioned. But without a serious team behind it, the outcome would likely mirror what happened with several dApps in dApp Staking that eventually disappeared.

In my opinion, without a team that is significantly capable, both in expertise and in available resources, expecting a positive outcome would not be reasonable.

Btw, I’m a technical man so I understand the requirements

[Marroz]

I fully agree: I thought exactly the same thing a while back, just phrased more briefly.The proposal is really solid, but the big hurdle remains: who actually builds it?A realistic option, without internal resources, would be to run a contest or call for proposals through the project’s official channels: create a sharp teaser outlining the key features, goals, and overall vision to attract capable and motivated teams ready to deliver.It’s also worth noting that the team taking this on would very likely meet all the requirements to qualify for the new dApp Staking .

If done right, it would draw solid attention and ecosystem support, and with targeted hype, we could pull some great teams out of the woodwork.

[robert12342]

Thannnk you Marroz!!! for the interest in the game design discussion, I really appreciate it.

Just to clarify one important point: I’m not proposing that I personally build the game, and I also understand that the Astar Foundation currently doesn’t have the internal resources to take on a full game development project.

What I’m suggesting instead is something slightly different and, in my opinion, more scalable:

Rather than the Foundation building the game directly, it could launch a structured community development campaign — something like an open call, builder competition, or hackathon focused specifically on creating a Yoki-based competitive game.

For example:

A public announcement outlining the vision (Yoki PvP, ASTR utility, lightweight MVP).

Clear evaluation criteria (technical feasibility, tokenomics design, UX quality, sustainability).

A reward pool or milestone-based grant for the best proposal.

Strong visibility across Astar and Soneium channels.

Since Yoki is connected to Soneium, this could even be positioned as a flagship Soneium ecosystem initiative, encouraging developers to build directly on that network. That would align well with expanding activity and attracting external builders.

Instead of asking: “Who inside Astar builds this?”

The question becomes: “How do we create the right incentive structure so that strong independent teams want to build this?”

If structured properly, it could:

Attract solo developers or small studios.

Encourage experimentation without overcommitting treasury resources.

Surface unexpected but high-quality approaches.

Potentially qualify the winning team for dApp Staking later.

In my view, the Foundation’s role wouldn’t be to develop — but to curate, coordinate, and incentivize.

That feels much more realistic given the current roadmap and resource constraints.

If there’s openness to that direction, I’d be happy to help refine the concept into something that could be presented as a formal community builder challenge.

[robert12342]

Hi Carlos, thank you perspective — I genuinely respect that approach.

I completely agree with you regarding the scope. Building a proper game from scratch is not a small initiative. Even with the existing 2D Yoki assets, what follows is a long chain of requirements: animation, audio, UX design, gameplay systems, smart contracts, backend infrastructure, maintenance, and long-term balancing. It’s absolutely a multidisciplinary effort.

That said, I think there may have been a slight misunderstanding about what I’m proposing.

I’m not suggesting that:

The Astar Foundation builds this internally, or

That we jump straight into a full-scale production.

Given the current roadmap and resource constraints, that would not be realistic.

What I’m proposing instead is that Astar could act as a facilitator, not the builder.

Rather than asking, “Who internally develops this?”, the idea would be to:

• Launch a structured open call or builder competition
• Publish a clear and realistic MVP scope
• Define evaluation criteria and milestones
• Incentivize external teams to compete with strong proposals

This shifts the burden from internal development to ecosystem activation.

If no capable team emerges, that in itself answers the question.
If a strong team steps forward, then the Foundation can evaluate based on competence, delivery plan, and sustainability.

Regarding the risk of becoming another short-lived dApp — I agree 100%. That’s precisely why this shouldn’t be positioned as a casual side experiment. It would need:

• Clear KPIs
• Milestone-based funding
• A realistic MVP-first approach
• Alignment with Soneium and broader ecosystem goals

In other words, the Foundation wouldn’t be gambling on building a game — it would be testing whether the ecosystem can produce one.

If the ecosystem cannot produce a serious team, then it’s probably not the right timing.

But if it can, then we unlock:

Yoki NFT utility

Competitive ASTR usage

Potential dApp Staking qualification

A new engagement vertical without internal overextension

I fully understand the technical weight behind your concerns — and I agree that without a capable team, the outcome would likely fail.

My proposal is simply about creating the right structure so that a capable team has a reason to appear.

Thank you again for taking the time to analyze it seriously. Conversations like this make the idea stronger and more realistic.

[robert12342]

Thanyyy You425!!!

Glad we’re aligned on starting small and scaling responsibly.

Just to clarify — the intention isn’t for me or the Astar Foundation to directly develop the game. The idea would be to structure a community campaign or builder call, where external teams can propose and develop the MVP.

In terms of mechanics, the suggested starting point would be something simple and realistic for a first version: a 1v1 turn-based duel using Yoki NFTs, short matches, basic stats, and optional small ASTR staking for competitive mode.

The goal would be to define a clear, lightweight vision and let capable teams compete with the best implementation strategy. If a strong team steps forward, then the ecosystem can support it properly.

[Marroz]

Attention, I think I explained myself poorly earlier – sorry for the rush.By ‘teaser’ I mean a short, engaging video (like an animated trailer using Yoky/Yokies art and lore) that clearly shows the idea we have in mind: a game with competitive Yoky battles, fun mechanics, and real utility for the existing NFTs (in-game rewards, staking, etc.).The goal would be to post it on Astar’s official channels (X, Discord, portal, forum), generate organic hype in the community (which is literally starving for real products and utility for native IPs), and explicitly tie it to the potential entry into the new dApp Staking

.I don’t want direct cash incentives or grants from the treasury – we can discuss later if it’s worth considering or not, but that wasn’t my intention when suggesting a contest based on money.Astar Network already brings incredibly powerful assets to the table: the Yokies NFTs (original and proprietary IP from Yoki Origins/Legacy, with ready art and lore), community engagement, network visibility, access to dApp Staking as a natural reward for anyone who delivers a solid product, and a user base that’s eagerly waiting for exactly something like this. Stop.This way we stay lean, make the most of what’s already there (without touching extra ASTR at a time of tighter tokenomics and incoming Burndrop), attract teams motivated by real potential (not just funds), and increase the chances that a Yoky game becomes a true ecosystem hit."

[you425]

I see, so that’s the kind of initiative this is.
I hadn’t fully understood it before.

Even for an MVP, game development requires a tremendous amount of effort and passion. If a contest is held, I’m concerned about whether developers will actually continue operating the game afterward (development alone is not enough). Like hackathons, there tend to be quite a few participants who only take the prize money and then do nothing further.

Because this hurdle is very high, I personally feel that this initiative may be difficult at this stage. However, depending on further refinement of the proposal and positive community reception, I believe it could still be worth considering.

[MS-PY]

It’s a great proposal for the NFT (Yoki), especially since we already have a storyline for Yoki.

We could launch a competition or call for developers to create Fighting Games, Card Games, Strategy Games, Auto Battlers, etc. With today’s technology and AI support, it’s entirely feasible for developers to build such games even with simple graphics.

The key question is whether the budget for the competition and for the selected games would be attractive enough.

[robert12342]

I was actually able to create a very simple prototype using AI in just a few 4 days. This shows that, at least for an MVP, the technical barrier may not be as high as we sometimes imagine.

I’m open to this being either an organic community-driven competition or a more structured builder call — especially if that helps ensure we stay within budget and avoid putting pressure on Astar’s treasury.

I’m sharing some images of the prototype I just developed as a quick proof of concept.

As someone who genuinely supports Astar and believes in the Yoki IP, I’m willing to continue experimenting on my own time. I understand that the Astar team may not currently have the resources or budget allocated for this type of initiative, so I don’t expect internal development.

My goal is simply to demonstrate that something lightweight and achievable is possible — and perhaps inspire capable developers in the ecosystem to take it further.

[Beky]

Hello everyone,

I can simply say that I am glad to hear that someone is discussing the Yoki IP itself and the possibilities of future development like the one you mentioned Robert.

At the very beginning when I came across Astar I was really intrigued, the Astar campaign itself and participation in all Yo-ports was such a brilliant experience that at that moment I really thought - this is something big that I have not experienced in the web3 world yet, something that will change and define the gaming world itself. Such way of gamification I haven’t seen since I have been following the blockchain world and some development of games within the web3 sphere. Also let’s not forget that later even the Yoki game itself appeared, which used NFT characters along with every feature that the card contains, and you could even compete for the best rankings.

My opinion is still that blockchain technology, as well as the development of NFTs, will greatly change the gaming industry for the better. When you mentioned Yoki Arena, I immediately thought of Illuvium Arena, which really intrigued me conceptually, especially with the 5vs5 combat on the field with various characters. Would also like to mention that the future of such gaming could be interesting if the scarcity supply was low, and the game required teamwork more than playing by one person.

Let’s see what exactly can be done here.

[Juminstock]

@robert12342

I was actually able to create a very simple prototype using AI in just a few 4 days. This shows that, at least for an MVP, the technical barrier may not be as high as we sometimes imagine.

I appreciate your response, Robert.

And yes, as you mentioned, AI can significantly support development, but I don’t believe it can build everything end-to-end without someone highly skilled operating it behind the scenes.

AI is powerful in the right hands, creativity and direction still come from people.

I won’t add more to avoid closing the conversation, and I hope a strong team steps forward, as this is indeed a fascinating challenge, as we discussed earlier.

I’d also love to hear your thoughts here, @GuiGou @VasaKing

[GuiGou]

@Juminstock

AI is powerful in the right hands, creativity and direction still come from people.

Indeed, while AI can significantly support the development process, it is not sufficient on its own.

@Juminstock

I’d also love to hear your thoughts here, @GuiGou @VasaKing

I will develop a proof of concept and submit a proposal based on the output.

[2075]

Happy to see Yoki is still breathing, we were wondering if our proposals which we created for @vasaking IIRC for Yoki was ever discussed here?

[GuiGou]

Hello everyone,

Following the last discussions on the forum around Yoki Arena / Yoki Battle, I built an initial prototype in about 9 days with the help of AI. While there’s still quite a bit of work ahead—especially regarding the look & feel and overall polish—the current version is already functional and shows promising potential.

You can try the version deployed on Minato (Soneium testnet) here:
https://yoki-battle-ui.vercel.app

You’ll need a small amount of ETH on Minato to cover transaction fees.
@Juminstock Is there an existing Minato faucet available? If not, I could quickly set one up if needed.

I’ve also drafted a proposal outlining how the development of the game could move forward:
https://github.com/GuiGou12358/yoki-battle-proposal/blob/main/proposal.md

I’d greatly appreciate any feedback, suggestions, or thoughts you might have.

[Juminstock]

Hi @GuiGou, thanks for working on this!

I reviewed both the prototype and the document you have on GitHub, which is quite concise.

I understand that the prototype shows how interactions, battles, and clearly the acquisition of Yokis could work… but to be honest, I feel we’re taking the opposite approach. We should start with the game itself (from onboarding to engagement and eventually retention).

Why would a user join? Why would they stay? Why would they spend their ASTR within the game? What is the game actually about, battles, collections, etc.?

This is where we need someone to design a narrative. That will be the main hook for everything: the narrative, or at least that’s how I see it.

Why do people play Call of Duty? Because it has an entire narrative around war, logistics, weaponry, and more.

Why is Grand Theft Auto so popular? Because of the narrative where you play fictional characters and live exciting lives, not to mention that you can do almost anything within the game.

This is my honest opinion, and I’d be willing to contribute in this area with my ideas if you’re aligned with this approach.

@GuiGou

You’ll need a small amount of ETH on Minato to cover transaction fees.
@Juminstock Is there an existing Minato faucet available? If not, I could quickly set one up if needed.

Yes, we have:

• Alchemy: Faucet - Soneium Minato | Alchemy
• ThirdWeb: Soneium Minato

Also you can use Google to obtain Sepolia ETH on Sepolia network and then bridge them to Soneium

• Google: https://cloud.google.com/application/web3/faucet

[GuiGou]

Hi @Juminstock,

During this first iteration, my main goal was to explore the possibilities and limitations of AI in development. I therefore proposed an initial prototype, intentionally simple but functional, along with an estimate of the costs (in both time and money) required to build it. In short, the objective was to demonstrate what can be technically achieved in a short amount of time, while also validating the community’s interest in such a game.

The document is intentionally concise and only outlines a few feature ideas, as I want the project to be primarily community-driven. I can handle the development side, but I would like the community to play a central role in shaping the game: suggesting features, ideas, and areas for improvement. That’s why I truly value critical feedback like yours, and I would be happy to collaborate with you, as well as with anyone else interested, in making this project a success.

I fully acknowledge the importance of developing a strong narrative around the game. I admit that creating images or videos is not my area of expertise, but I believe AI can still deliver impressive results in that space.

If the community agrees, now that we’ve validated the technical feasibility of the game mechanics, a second iteration could focus on building the game’s universe: designing the Yokis, creating items that enhance their abilities, developing arena concepts, and defining the visual (or even animated) representation of battles.

Then, in a third iteration, we could bring together the first two to create a simple yet complete and functional game built around this universe.

This is one possible approach.