DARKTIMES is an innovative multiplayer Brawler Royale game brought to life by Big Kid Studios Pty Ltd (BKS), an Australian-based game development company, in partnership with Animoca Brands and their renowned game studio, Blowfish Studios (BFS).

DARKTIMES merges the dark(ish) fantasy aesthetic of games like Diablo with the high-energy competitive gameplay of Fortnite, creating a thrilling Brawler Royale set in a Nordic-inspired medieval world where magic, combat, and gaming intertwine.

While the development of DARKTIMES itself is led by BKS and BFS, the token economy that powers the game is managed by Social Republic Limited (SRL), a British Virgin Islands (BVI) company. SRL is responsible for issuing and maintaining the $TIMES token, which forms the core of the game’s Web3-based economic model. This collaboration between BKS and SRL ensures a robust, compliant ecosystem that caters to gamers, players, and token holders worldwide. For more information, see: https://darktimes.medium.com/darktimes-and-times-870d3b6cc3ae

In this article, we’ll explore what DARKTIMES offers players, how the $TIMES token works within the game, and what the future holds for the first medieval Brawler Royale.

A Game Like No Other: DARKTIMES

DARKTIMES is not your average game. Set in a medieval, dark fantasy world, it offers a unique blend of brutal combat, humor, and deeply engaging gameplay. Players are pitted against one another in both individual and team-based combat, with the game’s physics-based combat system adding layers of unpredictability, absurdity, and excitement to every match.

The game is designed to be visually immersive and highly engaging, with endless ways for players to customize their characters and develop their skills. An emergent game, any moving object becomes a weapon, and there is nowhere safe to hide. While there are no friends in combat, DARKTIMES rewards both individual skill and cooperative strategies; and everyone will have to work together to kill the elusive Loot Goblin.

It’s a game custom-built for the era of content creation, streaming, and viral social media campaigns. Best of all, the thrill of the game is amplified by its real-money gaming mechanics.

Partnered with Sui

Both BKS and SRL have partnered with Sui, the true future home of gaming. Sharing with Sui a deep philosophical and strategic alignment regarding the way that web3 gaming will transition into mainstream gaming, a commitment to seamless player onboarding, and a relentless push to make the best products possible, both BKS and SRL have entered into agreements to deploy their respective products on the Sui ecosystem.

This will not only improve player experience tenfold, but through Sui innovations such as the recently announced SuiPlay0X1, ensure the best possible exposure to mainstream gaming markets for DARKTIMES.

For more information, see: https://darktimes.medium.com/darktimes-joins-sui-ad6db7388783

$TIMES Token: Powering the DARKTIMES Economy

The $TIMES token is integral to the DARKTIMES ecosystem. Issued by Social Republic Limited, $TIMES acts as an in-game currency allowing players to not only enjoy enhanced gameplay but also access much larger prizepools and more competitive levels. The kickass burn mechanic, which encourages players to become holders of $TIMES, and holders to become players of DARKTIMES, is not only novel, but we think almost revolutionary in the way it encourages interaction and activity and drives value to the token itself.

Here’s a brief summary of how $TIMES works for players and token holders:

1. Battle Passes: Players can use $TIMES to purchase Battle Passes, giving them access to higher tiers of rewards and prize pools.

2. In-App Purchases: $TIMES can be used to buy items, equipment, abilities, and other content within the game, allowing for extensive customization and enhancement of gameplay.

3. In-Game Assets: Players can trade in-game assets using $TIMES, establishing a player-driven economy where items have real value.

4. Exclusive Access: Holding $TIMES grants access to exclusive events such as developer chats, meet-ups, and members-only content.

5. Staking: By staking $TIMES tokens, players can show their belief in the future success of the DARKTIMES ecosystem.

6. Burn Mechanisms: A portion of $TIMES is burned during gameplay, ensuring the token’s long-term value by reducing its overall supply. For a detailed explanation of this, including the algorithms that support it, you can see SRL’s DARKPAPER.

The Partnership Behind DARKTIMES

BKS has partnered with SRL, which facilitates the token economy. SRL oversees the issuance, distribution, and management of $TIMES including the treasury, ensuring that the token remains compliant with all relevant regulatory frameworks in both the BVI and the broader jurisdictions where DARKTIMES players and token holders may reside.

This partnership between BKS and SRL allows DARKTIMES to create a seamless blend of traditional gameplay with cutting-edge Web3 technologies, all while maintaining compliance with key regulations that govern token issuance and digital assets.

The Economic Structure of $TIMES

The economy of DARKTIMES is designed to be sustainable, scalable, and rewarding for its participants. The $TIMES token is more than just an in-game currency — it’s a vital part of the broader Web3 ecosystem that drives the game’s growth and success.

The total supply of $TIMES is fixed at 1 billion tokens. This controlled supply is critical to preserving the token’s long-term value. Tokens are distributed to the community, developers, and investors based on a predetermined vesting schedule, which is designed to align with the liquidity needs of the game as it grows. More details on this can be found in SRL’s DARKPAPER.

Players staking their $TIMES tokens should earn annual percentage yields (APY), depending on the length of the staking period. The initial cap for staking ensures a balanced market where supply and demand are kept in check.

Importantly, the game’s mechanics and incentive mechanisms (including things like special drops and limited edition cosmetics, amongst others) encourage players to hold onto their $TIMES tokens, which results in a net absorption of tokens from the market. This absorption reduces the available supply of $TIMES in circulation, driving up demand and ensuring the token’s long-term value.

In addition to staking, the DARKTIMES economy employs a novel burn mechanism. The more tokens players hold and the more they play, the more tokens are burned. This reduces the circulating supply of $TIMES, creating a deflationary effect that benefits long-term token holders by preserving value.

The Future of DARKTIMES: More Than Just a Game

DARKTIMES is the cornerstone of a much larger vision. The game, which is set to release a pre-alpha playtest in late Q4 2024, is just the first step in building a massive transmedia franchise. Here’s a look at what’s coming next:

1. Mobile and Console Expansions: The goal for BKS is for DARKTIMES to eventually be available on mobile and console platforms, which could expand its reach to millions of new players.

2. Anime and Media Projects: Anime shorts expanding on the DARKTIMES lore are currently in development. If they are successful, further development of these will be explored.

3. Merchandise: The franchise will likely feature both physical and digital merchandise, giving fans new ways to engage with the DARKTIMES world.

Why $TIMES works

The success of the $TIMES token is intrinsically tied to the growth of DARKTIMES. The game is designed for the era of streaming and social sharing, with content that is highly shareable and engaging. As more players join, demand for $TIMES will possibly rise, driven by its use in everything from in-game transactions to governance and staking.

This demand is bolstered by DARKTIMES’ free-to-play model, which ensures a large player base. While the game is accessible to all, those who wish to unlock the highest rewards and prize pools will need to acquire $TIMES, creating a robust demand cycle.

By partnering with top content creators and game designers with extensive experience in real-money gaming, DARKTIMES taps into proven psychological levers that keep players engaged, further driving the growth of the $TIMES economy.

What’s Next for $TIMES?

$TIMES will list before the end of September 2024. Listings, combined with partnerships with Animoca Brands and other key industry players, will ensure liquidity and ease of access for players and investors.

The launch of $TIMES will be accompanied by a major marketing campaign (led by SRL’s Rune Run, which has already had tens of thousands of players), leveraging the expertise of the best marketers, influencers, and publishers in the industry. With such strong backing, it is possible that $TIMES is set to become a key player in the Web3 gaming token space.

Conclusion

DARKTIMES combines the best of gaming, Web3 technology, and real-money incentives. With the $TIMES token at its heart, DARKTIMES offers players the opportunity to engage with a vibrant, player-driven economy while influencing the future of the game itself.

For more information on the $TIMES token and how it integrates into the DARKTIMES game, please see SRLs DARKPAPER.

(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or an offer to sell any security or token. Always do your own research before making any investment decisions.)