diff --git a/docs/handbook/the-coming-of-metagame.md b/docs/handbook/the-coming-of-metagame.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..598d1b2a --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/handbook/the-coming-of-metagame.md @@ -0,0 +1,89 @@ + +# The Coming of MetaGame +[![](https://cdn.substack.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbd6756ff-8bb3-482a-8043-0a6be1d14532_1920x1080.png)](https://cdn.substack.com/image/fetch/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbd6756ff-8bb3-482a-8043-0a6be1d14532_1920x1080.png) + +## Out of nowhere? + +Well, not really. I have been waiting for someone to do it, ever since my brain was first occupied by this “_Ethereum world computer_” meme; + +> “Holy shit! This is the software infrastructure layer we need for a fair socioeconomic system of the future!” + +It is only now that I said: _I’ll be damned if I don’t at least try._ +## Why now? + +Back in May, Peter published a call-to-action article titled “[Rising threats to Ethereum’s first mover advantage](https://medium.com/metacartel/rising-threats-to-ethereums-first-mover-advantage-6138bd6c860)” which introduced me to the colorful bunch you might know as the _MetaCartel_. + +He receives my message, and a week later, he’s onboarding me to the _MetaCartel_ — over a burrito and some ale, after the “Year of The DAO” meetup in Ljubljana, where I set out to meet him. + +Coming into _MetaCartel_ looking for problems — I noted a few things missing that would be useful for a rapidly expanding network: + +- Some sort of a guide — introducing people to what we’re about, and how to find your place among us, +- Repositories of ideas, solutions, members — and their needs and offers, +- A map of the whole thing. + + +## MetaCartel Blackpaper v0.1 + +[![](https://cdn.substack.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa6040c71-8657-4627-bfba-ec54dbc3c3a9_376x574.png)](https://cdn.substack.com/image/fetch/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa6040c71-8657-4627-bfba-ec54dbc3c3a9_376x574.png) + +You may, if so curious, go and scroll through this [original paper](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RZw3l3wDxrZuyVW0j-ipbFDyy-_xUtmMqSd4wo2STjQ/edit) including the illustration above — but it has been long abandoned. + +I must have been writing it for no longer than 3 days, when Peter contacted me again, saying: + +> _“Hey, I like what you’re doing, here’s 1k DAI of the funds Binance gave me!”_ + +It’s not a lot of money, but it’s a lot of affirmation — getting money without asking for it? Usually not even in crypto. + +## Onwards + +As my work on the paper progressed, more crucial elements were added: + +- Titles — knowing who’s accountable for what, keeps things moving and makes it easier to navigate the cartel. +- Achievements — knowing who did what, also pretty useful. + + +And with the idea growing from a simple way of making the _MetaCartel_ easier to understand and oversee, into… this; I needed to go out and meet more fellow _carteleans_, get some feedback and some apostles. + +So I got my ticket, helped put together the “_MetaCartel Mansion_” and boarded the plane to Berlin. + +[![](https://cdn.substack.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fedb1e41c-5983-43af-90b7-e11edfdf262c_1279x647.jpeg)](https://cdn.substack.com/image/fetch/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fedb1e41c-5983-43af-90b7-e11edfdf262c_1279x647.jpeg) + +Besides the _MetaCartel Demo Day_, my pilgrimage went around _DappCon_, _Token Engineering_, _Governance Games_, _ETHBerlin_ and whatever smaller event wasn’t too far off the trail — the folk seemed receptive to my meme, to say the least... + +Not having known I needed to register, devious tactics had to be deployed. + +- My debt towards the folk of _ETHBerlin_ was wiped by my helping the Odyssy _([DAOHaus](https://daohaus.club/))_ team, not just shillin’ muh own shie’. + + +During the final hours of the hackathon, while waiting for the team presenting to the judges — my hand started sketching up the UX flowchart.. This is what came out: + +[![](https://cdn.substack.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb5198a5b-57bc-404f-a077-5e52b15bb2ee_4000x2250.jpeg)](https://cdn.substack.com/image/fetch/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb5198a5b-57bc-404f-a077-5e52b15bb2ee_4000x2250.jpeg) + +> The left represents some of the components, the middle 1/3 represents the player journey, and the right side is the value proposition. + +Thinking through this complex system where not just people, but institution, may join — it became obvious there was a problem… + +- If the _Moloch DAO_, _Ethereum Foundation_, or _ConsenSys_ wanted to join, they would probably not want to be under the _MetaCartel_. +- Let alone some people from outside crypto… + + +It became apparent that _The Game_ has to be a layer above. _The Game,_ was no longer to be called _MetaCartel;_ + +- The game is to be called _**MetaGame.**_ +- The concept behind it coined; “_**A Massive Online Coordination Game”**_ + + +[![](https://cdn.substack.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcf13f30a-9850-4f74-b166-e43c65c93369_595x294.png)](https://cdn.substack.com/image/fetch/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcf13f30a-9850-4f74-b166-e43c65c93369_595x294.png) + +## Genesis + +The first _MetaGame_ presentation was held by a lake with a wooden stick pointing at _the paper_ laying on the ground — and that’s about all you need to know about that faithful day… + +I traveled back home, almost missing my flight; + +- As soon as I had my 16 hour slumber, making amends for the pilgrimage behind me — the [MetaGame was ON](https://medium.com/@pethereum/wtf-is-metagame-93d4cd1294d2). + + +And that’s how MetaGame was born; + +[![](https://cdn.substack.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5625496b-3565-43c3-ae04-38c53c701f72_1595x808.png)](https://cdn.substack.com/image/fetch/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5625496b-3565-43c3-ae04-38c53c701f72_1595x808.png)