Behind the Scenes: Rune's Digital Collectibles - Issue #12

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Rune
January 24, 2024

Issue #12

Behind the Scenes: Rune's Digital Collectibles

January 24, 2024 • 10 minutes

Embarking on the quest to develop the Rune Materials collection, we aimed to seamlessly blend the rich tapestry of Norse mythology with the modern marvels of the digital era.

Our initial steps were modest. It involved a deep and meticulous foray into the intricate labyrinth of myths and legends that have captivated audiences for centuries.

Grasping the deep nuances and the intricate web of these stories was paramount. Our ambition extended beyond crafting mere visually stunning digital collectibles; we sought to infuse them with authenticity and reverence for the Norse mythological ethos. This was about creating art; that paid homage to a legacy, ensuring that each piece resonated with the essence and spirit of the ancient Norse narratives.

Concept Art for Rune

Why Rune Materials?

One of the fascinating aspects of Norse mythology and the Viking culture is their reverence for raw materials like gold and silver. These weren't just precious metals; they were integral to their stories, symbolizing wealth, power, and even the divine.

This deep connection with materials like gold and silver was a key inspiration for us in creating Rune Materials. We wanted our digital collectibles to embody this essence, to carry the weight and significance that these metals held in the Viking age and their mythology.

Rune Materials in Development

As we developed Rune Materials, we aimed to infuse this reverence into our designs. It's a nod to the past, a piece of history reimagined for the digital era.

To give you a sense of this journey, here is an early concept for our tokens compared to the final version.

Concept Token Art

Actual Token Art

Information Overload!

One of the biggest hurdles in bringing Rune Materials to life was navigating the sheer abundance of information and interpretations of Norse mythology. It's a rich, intricate world, with layers of stories, characters, and symbols. While this depth is what makes Norse mythology fascinating, it also presented a unique challenge: how do we distill this complexity into digital assets that are both simple enough to be engaging and rich enough to be authentic?

This process involved making tough choices about what to highlight and what to leave out, ensuring that each asset not only looked good but also told a story. The result is a collection that we believe strikes a balance between the richness of Norse mythology and the clarity needed for a compelling digital experience.

Here’s some art that was cut from the designs, and reworked into our most rare token, the Unknown Mystery token

Scrapped Design

Actual Token Art

Our Artist!

Just gotta say – our artist? Total rockstar. We couldn't have come this far without him. He's not just taking my vision and bringing it to life; he's spinning it into gold. He's got this knack for throwing in his own killer artistic ideas. You really should check out his other work. Oh, and get this – he's diving into creating a game now. Keep an eye out; it's gonna be epic!

That’s a wrap

As we reach the end of this behind-the-scenes glimpse, we hope that you, our community, can feel the passion and dedication that went into creating Rune Materials. Our journey through the labyrinth of Norse mythology to create these digital assets has been nothing short of exciting.

It's been a labor of love, blending art, mythology, and technology. We've had our share of challenges, but overcoming them has only added to the fun and excitement. Each hurdle was an opportunity to learn, grow, and inject more creativity into our work.

Our ultimate hope is that you connect with this art in a way that's meaningful to you. Whether you're a long-time aficionado of Norse mythology or just discovering it through our project, we want these collectibles to resonate with you. We aspire for Rune Materials to be more than just visually appealing tokens; we aim for them to be a bridge between ancient tales and modern fascination, between the past and the present.

Your support and enthusiasm fuel our creativity and drive us to keep pushing the boundaries. Here's to many more adventures in the world of Rune!

~ Kyle B, Founder of Rune

Important events for Rune

The Forge

Once inside the Forge, users are presented with a 3x3 Grid—a familiar, yet intuitive crafting interface common across a magnitude of gaming worlds.

Rune Materials

Rune Materials are unique digital assets that can be minted at zero cost to the user. They are both digital collectibles and functional tools within the Rune ecosystem.

Gaming News

Nintendo 3DS and Wii U Online Services to Shut Down in April

Nintendo has confirmed the impending closure of online services for both the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, with the plug set to be pulled on April 8. The announcement specifies the termination of online play, including co-op, internet rankings, and data distribution for all software on both systems. Notable exceptions are Pokemon Bank and Pokemon Transporter.

To soften the blow, Nintendo is allowing users to merge their Nintendo eShop balances with their regular Nintendo accounts until March 11. Failure to do so may result in the funds becoming inaccessible. Fortunately, local communications, Pokemon services, and StreetPass will remain functional, offering some solace to nostalgic gamers. However, popular titles like Splatoon and Super Mario Maker will lose their online features, marking the end of an era for these iconic platforms.

Palworld Surpasses Counter-Strike on Steam with Over 1.86 Million Players

In a surprising turn of events, the new survival game Palworld has swiftly climbed the Steam charts, leaving the long-standing favorite Counter-Strike in its wake. With an impressive record of 1.86 million concurrent players, Palworld has dethroned Counter-Strike, which held the top spot with 1.82 million players.

Developed by Pocketpair, Palworld's early access launch exceeded expectations, combining farming, building, combat, and monster-catching mechanics. Within its first weekend, the game reached over a million concurrent players on Steam.

As of Monday, Palworld was on the brink of reaching 1.6 million players, approaching Counter-Strike's peak record of 1.8 million players in May 2023. Notably, Pocketpair announced via X (formerly Twitter) that Palworld has sold six million copies and boasts 1.7 million concurrent players, encompassing players on PC, Xbox through the Microsoft Store, and those on the Game Pass platform.

While the prospect of Palworld claiming the top spot on Steam remains uncertain, the game has garnered positive reviews, with a 93% approval rating on Steam and favorable feedback in early access reviews. The battle for supremacy on Steam continues, with Palworld making a remarkable impact on the gaming community.

Counter-Strike Players Spent Nearly $1 Billion on Cases Last Year

Valve's iconic shooter, Counter-Strike, proved to be a goldmine in 2023 as players poured almost $1 billion into purchasing cases, according to CS:GO Case Tracker. With over 400 million cases opened, players bought 359.6 million keys, contributing to Valve's staggering earnings.

The lucrative skin market within Counter-Strike, featuring coveted items like knives, saw a surge in popularity, with some rare cosmetics fetching prices as high as $400,000. Despite past issues with gambling sites, Valve has tightened its control over such activities.

Valve's monetization strategy, requiring players to buy keys directly and taking a 15% cut on all marketplace sales, played a significant role in the impressive revenue. While not all 400 million cases were sold on the marketplace, those that were fetched increased prices, further boosting Valve's profits.

The Anubis Collection Package, allowing free unboxing, caused a surge in April 25 unboxings, totaling 6.6 million cases. Counter-Strike 2's announcement also led to a spike, with 50.3 million cases opened in April.

The standout performer was the Dreams & Nightmare case, opened over 50 million times, generating over $120 million in key sales. Despite being two years old, this case continues to be a lucrative asset in the game's active drop pool.

The Witcher 4 May Begin Production in 2024, CD Projekt Red Aims for 400 Developers

CD Projekt Red is gearing up for the potential production of The Witcher 4, with hopes to have around 400 developers working on the project by mid-2024. The company's CEO, Adam Badowski, acknowledges the aspiration, emphasizing it's not a guarantee but a goal, marking a shift in focus as Cyberpunk 2077's development concludes.

Badowski, in an interview with Reuters, remains tight-lipped about the game's release date, but assures that lessons learned from Cyberpunk 2077's turbulent development will guide The Witcher 4's production, aiming to avoid a similarly problematic launch.

With over 1,000 employees, allocating 400 developers to The Witcher 4 is a significant commitment for CD Projekt Red. The move signals the studio's intent to prioritize The Witcher 4 over ongoing projects, including the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077, codenamed Orion.

While details are scarce, the announcement suggests a potential wait for Cyberpunk enthusiasts. The studio, known for its meticulous approach, hints that The Witcher 4 will serve as a welcoming entry point for new fans. The extended gap between sequels underscores the anticipation among fans, fueled by the success of The Witcher 3 and the subsequent Netflix adaptations of both The Witcher and Cyberpunk.

As CD Projekt Red continues to rebuild trust following Cyberpunk 2077's rocky launch, the gaming community awaits further updates on The Witcher 4, knowing it's still a considerable wait away.

Thank you for choosing Rune. Your enthusiasm fuels our passion. Stay tuned for more exciting content next week. Have a fantastic week ahead!

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