Crypto Machines

tags: devlog crypto janus

From the bitcoin change machine to arcade and vending machines, see how these blockchain powered components are exploring new business models with gaming.

Originally published April 2019

Change Machine

Typically when you're at an arcade there's a change machine to exchange bills for tokens or quarters. What happens when you're in someone elses world where the currency you're holding is useless? A proof of concept bitcoin change machine was created with custom js and a bitcore backend to exchange satoshi into tokens, but it can technically support any type of transaction.

The working prototype has a floating UI in front of the change machine when activated and currently runs on the bitcoin testnet. Even when a person walks away from the change machine the UI travels with you, displaying useful information about your transaction in process.

Step by step screenshots in how a person interacts with the machine can be found in this album: https://imgur.com/a/PDJ7whP

Recently I started looking into ways on how to reskin the change machine itself to look more like a crypto machine.

Vending Machine

The US currently has the most vending machines in the world but Japan leads in density. Did you know that in Japan there is about 1 vending machine for every 30 people? The Japanese people have more variety to choose from as well; from electronics, hot food, cold beer, even umbrellas.

The invention of a vending machine is genius because you don’t need to hire personnel to man a vending machine like you would in a store, and this keeps things in stock and available for the masses, 24/7. Sounds a lot like how e-commerce is except that these machines greatly depend on prime physical location to be profitable; a friction point that the metaverse efficiently reduces.

We aimed to accomplish many building block components while building the initial prototype such as an object defining an amount of value, an insert coin slot with onscreen display, and buttons to select an object to spawn or play in the room. The main operation goes as follows:

1. Insert coins
2. Credit goes up
3. Input item code with keypad
4. Press OK to purchase
   Then usually the corresponding spiral spins, item gets pushed forwards and it falls behind the item door but in VR we can have it spawn into the world and your inventory.

An insert coin slot can be useful in many circumstances to initiate an event once certain requirements like payment or identity has been verified. Some ideas we're interested in exploring include playing an arcade machine, changing the song in a jukebox, tipping a person, buying event tickets, purchasing non-fungible tokens (NFTs) such as crypto collectibles and in some cases physical assets.

To reflect the wide range of possibilities a collection of 3d assets was curated and optimized for prototyping experiments.

We see these components as a vehicle for users to support the creators while also getting something in return. It costs nothing to host and you get the benefit of knowing that some of the profit can be going to a good cause or somebody you care about.

Cryptovoxels vending machine prototype from Oct 15

Another form for displaying content already familiar in people's minds as being kept fresh are newspaper stands like these:

Here are a couple attempts at creating some Opensea stands

These machines look and function excellently in WebVR and with some work, in native platforms like Anarchy Arcade, JanusVR, and High Fidelity.

High Fidelity version with working websurfaces allow interaction with game + marketplace.

A cryptovoxels arcade cabinet next to the opensea branded vending machine in High Fidelity.

The Future

Seeing the stacks in Ready Player One is inspiring because right now the metaverse feels like a giant desert and there's no place yet where we are all gathered.

Been thinking about this chill room as part of something bigger, exactly what lies outside of the garage door? In 2014 bai0 started making a webvr arcade project called Metacade.

Many of the cryptomachines like the vending, change, arcade, and ticket machines fit naturally inside.

In 2017 I started a prototype of a hacker arts district, populating the empty parcels around the center.

The vending machine works in many virtual worlds, like the desert city of Lut Gholein.

We've recently did some work converting the environment model to a GLTF file where the materials show up much better.

There's other work to do from here as well, hopefully with a bigger team. ERC721 falls under VRBA's interests for objects that can be interoperable between virtual worlds.

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UPDATE April 2019

To Do

• Fix pointerlock issues with native clients (HiFi / JanusVR)
• Test more vending machines and newsstands concepts with VRBA
  • HiFi component for Opensea vending machine in marketplace?
• Add buttons and sound effects
• Create a button or door handle to open the vending machine door
• Write beautiful documentation and record epic videos

JANUS EXPO

See the machines up close at the corner of the ballroom showfloor.

Resources

Automating Trust
https://inthemesh.com/archive/automating-trust/

Brainstorm Document
https://pad.deskcloud.io/p/virtuavendor

Image Album (Blender)
https://imgur.com/a/blrFY

Test Site
https://vesta.janusvr.com/bepis/vending

Asset Kit
https://vendingkit.glitch.me/