Gitcoin Comic as Agile (Imagination) Software Development

--- ###### tags: `Gitcoin Graphic Novel` --- # Gitcoin Comic as Agile (Imagination) Software Development ### MVP Scope * MVP should be constrained to the #3 comic * The full scope of this project is an ongoing 12+ installment series * 3-4 comics per year! This will require the articulation of stable foundations * Points towards the need of an agile system to execute most effective MVP in allotted amount of time. ### Initial Questions We need to secure the artist right away - time is of the essence! * Will Josh Blaylock be the artist for comic #3? * *There's also Matt Brinkman or others* * If so, will it maintain a consistent style? * Will comic #3 be a continuation of the universe put forth in comic #1 & #2? * *A radical divergence from the narrative universe would signal a need to shift the aesthetic language* * How will the RaidGuild universe interact with the previous style and narrative? * How many (if any) of the future installments should we be concerned with in crafting issue #3? * Will the production timeline might be impacted by the holiday season? ### Towards a UX/Agile Research Cycle * To gather information on the intended audience * Provide guidelines for how future comic issues will affect specific audiences with unique topics #### Paths of the Roadmap 1. **Comic #3 in RaidGuild lore** 1a. **Creative production:** story + art 1b. **Physical production:** format + printing 2. **UX research *grimoire*** on previous two comics and wider ecosystem 2a. **to understand the context of the 3rd comic** and speculating towards the 4th (5th, 6th, etc.) 2b. a technical guide/supplement to understanding the comic universe that **builds a bridge to IRL crypto/DAO communities** (common in sci-fi comic culture, a deep dive into the details of the universe that only the deepest insiders/nerds will reference) 2c. **crowdsource the narrative** (ala Cellarius Universe Guide) 2d. provides a **metric to evaluate** the *success rate* of the comic's stated goal (via learnings/recommendations) 4. Reciprocity with the GitcoinDAO Metaverse Coordinators group to: 3a. strengthen the articulation of the **meta-narrative** 3b. ensure **consistency** across the comic installments 3c. elaborate ideas to translate the comic content into **transmedia initiatives** #### Importance of Historical Context * The historical progression is important to understand the storyline. Elements should be included in the comic. * **Early cryptography essays > Bitcoin Whitepaper > Meditations on Moloch > Cellarius Universe Guide > Moloch Ventures Whitepaper > ???** * Research will uncover other seminal texts that have impacted the *coordination* narrative in teh Web3/DAO space * Will help articulate **where the story begins** in relation to an explicit **endgame or goal** to define the larger meta-arch of the whole narrative (issues 1-12 and where #3 fits in). #### Defining Metrics for a qualitative/creative deliverable: From local stories to meta-narrative * Education on coordination problems * Must have enough conceptual rigor to challenge comfort of the reader, because this how learning takes place: at the threshold of the familair * Needs to be presented in a digestible format: a teaspoon of sugar to make the medicine go down * We might articulate a spectrum of audience attention and cultural alignments to find the sweet spot: maximum creative impact for maximum learning * Evolution of the Moloch meme * Update the concept to remain increasingly relevant to a new generation of crypto-DAOists * Requires research to identify and craft alternatives * The fidelity of the story informs the fidelity of our imagination: the ethical responsibility of the narrative * Provide **real and actionable strategies for solving coordination problems.** * The most difficult challenge of all! But the reason why all of this is happening! * Returns to the need to define clear beginnings and endings of the narrative, to inspire and provide tools, identify entry points for newcomers, etc. * Requires quantitative research and factual consultation (not just pure fantasy/sci-fi, but **where speculative fictions become actionable realities**) ### UX Research Structure aka *Grimoire* Phases #### User Identification * Prompted by @owocki's ***sedimentary layers* of crypto cultural evolution**, from early Bitcoiners to the present solarpunk ethos * Put in relation to the **classes/roles of MMORPG lore** ala D&D, Diablo, WoW, PoE, etc. = RaidGuild lore * **Personas** are crafted to illustrate user details, contextualized by the scope and detail of the Cellarius Universe Guide = audience personas > character roles * Defined by their technical understanding of the mechanics of crypto-DAOs and associations to various crypto narratives. * RaidGuild lore = mercenaries that align for a greater good, for the protection of the quadratic lands, against the evil of corrupted centralizing degenerate demons that seek to own and control. Anarchist Enlightenment mercenaries that recognize the need for personal sacrifice for the greater good. * Comic #3 focuses on the RaidGuild layer of the User straification = a specific audience #### User Stories > Flows > Red Routes * Emerge from an understanding of how a RaidGuild audience/character navigates the Web3-crypto environment according to their own goal-driven desires * Unique characters form unique pathways, revealing pain points and successes of their journey * Multiple character storylines are superimposed to illuminate overlap * Excessively divergent storylines are removed to optimize the narrative for user redroutes = maximum narrative impact * This defines the MVP narrative structure #### Sitemap / Information Architecture * The combined narrative paths reveal the IA of the comic issue = beginning, end, opportunities for continuation in the next issues * Clearly renders essential characters and their interactions: handoff to artist * Contrains *feature creep* by allowing overview of the MVP: stakeholder feedback to evaluate scope * Facillitates *wireframing* of the narrative arch: handoff to artist * Identify key action sequences that might require special aesthetic/format consideration (fight scenes, quiet moments, etc.) #### Wireframing Lo-Fi Prototype * Can begin parallel to the *Sitemap* * Artist can sketch characters, landscapes, world elements * Layout experiments can take place in a fast & agile manner to explore format potentials * Entire comic can be sketched by the main artist then handed off to art department support to fill details, color, digitization, etc. * Basic MVP structure is concretized at this phase #### Hi-Fi Deliverable / QA * Comic is now in the hands of the creative production team (art department) to execute, with milestones for QA and schedule * The physical production research that has been occuring parallel to creative activities can now be acted upon to provide milestones for completion * Printing must account for a margin of error, delays, etc. #### Analysis > Post-Release Research * During launch at ETH Denver, gather feedback on all three comic releases * Defined by metrics provided in the UX report * Serve as learnings/recommendations to inform the next comic. Handed off to other DAOs (aave, coordinape, etc.) to use with their own creative teams, or by RaidGuild to execute the next issue. * Extends 1-2 weeks after ETH Denver to compile into a comprehensive report (case study) ### Transmedia Aspects * Following initial research, definition of MVP scope, and production is underway (QA phase), we might redirect our attention towards expanding the content to other outlets in collaboration with the GitcoinDAO Metaverse Coordinators * Potential **deliverables:** * Cohesive lore for the Quadratic Lands to be illustrated in future comic issues * Internal cohesion on the IRL history of crypto-DAOs and how it interfaces with particular fantasy narratives * NFT projects/events with artists curated for future comic issues * Animation/cinematic variants of the comic narratives and characters * Physical merch: posters, shirts, collectible objects (ala comic store merch), trading cards, NFT avatars, metaverse (AR/VR) marketing events, etc.