# Nouns on the Slopes: Skiing and Snowboarding at Rusutsu Resort
## TL;DR
***Rusutsu Riders: Nouns on the Slopes*** is a groundbreaking mobile game that brings the excitement of skiing and snowboarding at [Rusutsu Resort](https://rusutsu.com/en/) directly to players’ mobile devices. With the support of Nouns DAO, this project aims to popularize Nouns through a high-quality 3D snowboarding and skiing game, available globally.

Building on the success of [Proposal 218](https://nouns.wtf/vote/218): "Bring Nouns to 2m+ People over 15 Months at Japan’s Best Ski Resort," by [Benbodhi](https://twitter.com/benbodhi) and [ThaSwami](https://twitter.com/tha_swami), we propose expanding engagement with the *Rusutsu Riders* mobile game.

This project:

- Builds upon established Nouns partnership with Rusutsu Ski Resort ([Prop 218](https://nouns.wtf/vote/218))
- Proliferates Nouns via the [Rusutsu Riders iPhone app](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/rusutsu-riders/id6451365050) (and iPad arcade)
- Innovates on the fusion of physical and digital worlds with Nouns

Current status:
- MVP iPhone app build launched January 2024 (available now)
- Major new features in development (including multiplayer)
- Full rendering of all of Rusutsu Resort in progress!

### Funding ask:
**$150k USD** to help fund game production, global launch, and marketing.

## Key Innovations

- **Mobile Game for Nouns**: Nouns come alive in 3D as snowboarders and skiiers, featured as digital collectibles in a mobile game!
- **New Distribution Channel for Nouns Videos**: Incorporates Nouns culture and educates newcomers, with a Nouns channel playing videos on huge TV screens in-game!
- **Real-World Partnership**: Agreement signed with Rusutsu Resort, offering partial funding for game production, onsite integration and marketing within the resort!
- **Global Accessibility**: for iPhone, Android, and Web, enthusiasts of the alpine lifestyle can ride the slopes as Nouns, all year round!
- **Physical Meets Digital**: First ski resort game with real-world 3D terrains created from geo-data. All of Rusutsu Resort is rideable!

## Watch Rusutsu Riders Video
[](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMX7w3Otsg4)

### ⌐◨-◨ **Watch video** 👉 [Watch Rusutsu Riders Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMX7w3Otsg4)

### Rusutsu Riders on iPhone - Available Now


[](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/rusutsu-riders/id6451365050)

### ⌐◨-◨ Rusutsu Riders on iOS 👉 [View on App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/rusutsu-riders/id6451365050)

---

# Origin Story

*Rusutsu Riders* offers an unprecedented fusion of digital gaming with the physical world, by digitally recreating [Rusutsu Resort](https://rusutsu.com/en/) using Google Earth data. The app includes an innovative 3D map with GPS, so guests can easily navigate the ski slopes.

*Rusutsu Riders* puts Nouns at the center of the action, while transforming Japan's best ski resort into a thrilling mobile experience.

### Visionary Collaborators

The genesis of *Rusutsu Riders* traces back to the groundbreaking [Prop 218 - Bring Nouns to 2m+ People over 15 Months at Japan’s Best Ski Resort](https://nouns.wtf/vote/218) put forth by Nouns icons Benbodhi ([@benbodhi](https://twitter.com/benbodhi)) and ThaSwami ([@tha_swami](https://twitter.com/thaswami)).

**Prop 218 Summary**

*"Building on the momentum of the awareness of Nouns DAO in Japan, we’ll introduce Nouns to Japanese and alpine culture through IRL marketing activations over 15 months with an audience of over 2 million people, executed by a passionate team at Japan’s 4 time winner of best ski resort in Japan, Rusutsu Resort.*"
⌐◨-◨ *Benbodhi and ThaSwami are actively embedding Nouns into the alpine subculture, through a series of interactive engagements and Nouns branding across Rusutsu Resort.*

### Game Development Begins

With encouragement from Benbodhi and ThaSwami, Kwik brought the digital dimension to life, launching game development in July, and presenting a prototype to Rusutsu Resort in October.

### Backing from Rusutsu Resort

Development of *Rusutsu Riders* received HUGE boost when Rusutsu Resort helped fund the engineering effort, starting in November. Resort ownership shares our belief in the potential of combining physical experiences with digital innovation.

### Nouns Hit The Slopes!

Now [live on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/rusutsu-riders/id6451365050), *Rusutsu Riders* is more than just a game; it's a key step in making the Nouns brand a big part of the alpine world. With Rusutsu Resort as a partner, it's our prime opportunity to introduce the snow sports community to the essence of Nouns. ⌐◨-◨


*Physical meets digital at Rusutsu Resort*

---

# Benefits for Nouns DAO

## Major New Audience for Nouns ⛷️
With over 2 million visitors each year, and dozens of physical touchpoints to install the game at Rusutsu, a large audience of alpine enthusiasts can now experience Nouns on their mobile devices. Resort visitors will use the app for 3D maps and access to special promotions, even if they are not gamers. Japanese audiences, and international visitors, will take Nouns back home on their phones.

## New Distribution Channel for Nouns Videos
One innovation in this game: streaming videos on TVs built into the 3D world. At the end of every ski run, video is streamed to a giant TV screen! And players earn in-game rewards for watching the entire video.


### ⌐◨-◨ Play Demo with Nouns channel 👉 [rusutsuriders.com/nouns](https://rusutsuriders.com/nouns)

## Advertising for Nouns Brands
This game has branded in-game objects — snowboards, skis, clothing — this space is available for Nouns communities looking to get exposure for their Nouns brand. Imagine your Nouns brand on a snowboard or on the back of your player's ski jacket.


## Bringing New Members to Nouns DAO
The winter sports community is a fun-loving group, many of whom have the financial means to buy a Noun at auction. This game will introduce people to Nouns in marvelous 3D form as playable avatars, educate them with Nouns videos, and encourage them to join Nouns DAO.

*Hokkaido beef: high quality product helps attract new Nouners*

---

# Nouns Integration

# 300
In *Rusutsu Riders*, players collect 300 elite skiers and snowboarders, handpicked from the first 800 Nouns. These riders mirror the valor of King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans, fearlessly tackling Rusutsu Resort's challenges. Their remarkable feats inspire others, turning them into legends of Rusutsu Resort, leaving an enduring legacy.

*The selection of 300 Nouns is underway, favoring Nouns in favor of this proposal!*

## Digital Collectibles

**Rarities:** Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary and Luxury ... RPG ready

Nouns are the most important digital collectible in *Rusutsu Riders*. Players catch and collect Nouns, as playable snowboarders or skiers, and build their skills like an RPG.

*Since Nouns have no offical rarity, we're judging the real-world rarity of the head trait for gaming purposes. For example: Boot = Common. Unicorn = Legendary.*

## Noggles on the Slopes
Huge oversize Noggles will be integrated throughout as **active gameplay objects**. These are modeled off the massive real-life Noggles at the resort.

*With a successful proposal, we'll add a variety of popular Noggle colors!*

Additionally, there will be **new Nouns features** designed exclusively for the digital realm.


*These designs from Prop 218 were deemed "too dangerous" for real-life riders*

## Blue Checks for OGs
In this design, an unlimited number of people can collect a given Noun. In theory, when many people own a copy it increases the value of the original Noun.

**So Who's the True Player?**


💙 Blue checks to identify the player who owns the Noun! ⌐◨-◨

## Nouns Storyline
The game showcases Nouns in 3D as snowboarders and skiers riding the slopes, with a minimal story element. Generally, the story will stick to what is observable about Nouns and let players imaginations do the rest.

Curious players can dive deeper into Nouns culture with in-game videos from the Nouns community (see *Benefits for Nouns DAO* section above).

### Skiers vs. Snowboarders
Snowboarders tend to feel a common bond, and look sideways at skiers with their rigid boots and garage-sale crashes. Skiers tend to chuckle when they see snowboarders kick-pushing their way awkwardly across flat terrain.

It's all good - this isn't the 1980s when snowboarding was controversial - nowadays it sets up friendly competition. We'll explore this two-team competitive dynamic in the game design.

### Warms vs. Cools
There's a natural two-team division of Nouns, baked into the background trait of the collection. Competition between warm trait Nouns and cool trait Nouns is the concept.

---

# Marketing Plan


## Organic Onsite Marketing
2 million alpine enthusiasts visit Rusutsu Resort annually, providing a steady stream of organic installs on iPhone and Android. Marketing includes:

* **Huge Posters** Large *Rusutsu Riders* posters in two cafeterias
* **In Room Flyers** promotional flyers for 600 hotel rooms
* **iPad Arcade** running 5 iPad stations around Rusutsu Resort
* **Useful 3D Maps** Great reason for everyone to install the app
* **Real-world rewards** if playing the game onsite at Rusutsu Resort

## Advertising with Video Ads

The proposal includes a $25k advertising budget, for creation of eye-catching video advertisements; and running mobile advertising campaigns in ski resort areas.

Here's what we'll be creating:
* Videos with Nouns skiing and snowboarding, in glorious 3D form
* Creative advertising messages, making Nouns memorable in new ways
* Geo-targeted ad campaigns, attracting a global Alpine audience

## Nouns Community Events
The budget includes $20k funding for Nouns community events, designed to engage the community to help promote the project:
* Gaming events, contests, and real-world Nouns gatherings
* Creating merchandise for giveaways and as prizes
* Funding for influencer partnerships and growth hacks

*⌐◨-◨ In-room flyers and 4 meter wide posters in Rusutsu Resort cafeterias*

---

# Funding Ask
We are requesting **$150k USD** for 6 months (February - July 2024)

## Budget Breakdown

### 💰 Game Production - $75k
*Nounify the Rusutsu Riders video game to the maximum*
- **Game Design & Product**: $12,000
- **Engineering & Technical Art**: $28,000
- **3D Art & Animation**: $20,000
- **Audio & Sound Effects**: $5,000
- **Testing & Quality Assurance**: $5,000
- **Project Management & Operations**: $5,000

### 💰 Marketing - $45k
**Advertising Budget:** $25k
*Paid video advertising to drive mobile installs*
- **Creation of Advertising Assets**: $5,000
- **Video Advertising Budget**: $20,000

**Nouns Community Events:** $20k
*Funds for virtual or IRL Nouns community events*
- **Events Team**: $10,000
- **Events Fund**: $10,000

### 💰 Web Development - $15k
*Build a website for the game, integrated with Rusutsu Resort*
- **Web Design & Development**: $11,000
- **Decentralized Web Game**: $4,000

### 💰 Operations - $15k

**Team Travel and Accomodation**: $11k
*Team travel to Rusutsu Resort to work onsite (2 visits)*
- **Flights**: $8,000
- **Expenses** $3,000

**Hardware & Software**: $4,000
*iPads, cameras, mobile devices and developer software*
- **Hardware**: $2,500
- **Software**: $1,500

---

# Who We Are

### Kwik
**Game Designer & Unity Developer**
Kwik ([@kwikgamedev](https://twitter.com/kwikgamedev)) has been lucky enough to have a 20+ year career in the games business, with over 3 dozen published titles. He's founded 3 game studios, worked at midsize mobile gaming companies, and taken on contracts for gaming industry giants. But nothing compares to Rusutsu Riders — this is the opportunity of a lifetime.

**Nouns Story:**
Joined Nouns in July 2022 - loving the CC0 art - and after a year developing Nouns games, presented a bold games initiave with [Prop 318: Nouns Publisher: Changing the Game](https://nouns.wtf/vote/318)

Prop 318 did not win the vote, but Nouns feedback of "Quality over Quantity" and a Nouns snowboarding prototype was the spark that ignited this project.

### ThaSwami
**Rusutsu Resort Rep**
ThaSwami ([@tha_swami](https://twitter.com/tha_swami))
Since joining the Nouns community in May 2022, ThaSwami co-founded Alps DAO with Benbodhi, focusing on alpine-related initiatives, was a joint proposer of [Prop 218](https://nouns.wtf/vote/218) and the designer of the world's largest Noggles (at Rusutsu Resort). ThaSwami brings creativity and project management to the team and will act as the interface between Rusutsu Resort and the project, ensuring seamless collaboration and the achievement of our shared objectives.

### Gio4NFT
**Product & Operations**
Builder of teams, products and companies. Gio is playing a pivotal role imagining new ways to merge a digital game with the physical world of Rusutsu Resort. He's also a talented and energetic karaoke singer.

### TheGrandEnnui
**Senior Unity Developer with AR/VR expertise**
With over a decade in Unity development, his journey encompasses developing a wide range of mobile games and extends to pioneering VR and XR experiences. With TheGrandEnnui at the keys, anything is possible!

### MercedesW3D
**3D Character Artist & Animator**
Senior 3D artist focused on character development for cinematic and advertising 8+ years of experience with 3d modeling, texturing, rigging, and animation. He'll bring Nouns to life as snowboarders and skiiers!

### Hiring These Roles
* +1 Environment Artist
* +1 Technical 3D Artist
* +1 Marketing
* +1 Web Developer
* +1 Sound & Music Designer

### Special Thanks ❤️
Team is building on [3D Nouns](https://nouns.wtf/vote/2) CC0 assets by CoralOrca ([@coralorca](https://twitter.com/coralorca)) and 0xFloyd ([@0xfloyd](https://twitter.com/0xfloyd))

---

# Timeline

### Phase 1: MVP Launch
#### November 2023 - January 2024
The first version of Rusutsu Riders was shipped on the Apple App Store on January 20, 2024 and on the iPad Arcade at the resort. Useful 3D maps help guests navigate the resort.

*Funding ask is for Phases 2 and 3 only*
### Phase 2: Game development & Onsite Integration
#### February 2024 - April 2024
Evolutionary improvements to the game's production quality and game features. Integration with Rusutsu onsite marketing to drive organic mobile installs. In this phase, visitors to Rusutsu Resort in Japan are the target audience.

### Phase 3: Game features & Worldwide proliferation
#### May 2024 - July 2024
Game development rolls on, marketing expands beyond Japan. In this phase, publishing the game to new countries and global proliferation begins. Mobile advertising campaigns featuring Nouns riding the slopes attract a global Alpine audience.

---

# Gaming Platforms
The game is developed in Unity, ensuring high-quality 3D performance and a robust gaming experience on every gaming platform. We're starting with mobile and web.

## Mobile First
* iPhone, Android are the core platforms for Rusutsu Riders
* Everyone has a phone - and mobile is the largest gaming market
* Phones enable GPS features - useful 3D maps for resort guests

## Web and Web3
### ⌐◨-◨ Rusutsu Riders web game 👉 [rusutsuriders.com/nouns](https://rusutsuriders.com/nouns)
*Enter from this URL to **activate** the Nouns video channel*
* Decentralized - the web game will ship on multiple websites
* No gatekeepers to block innovation and experimentation
* No web3 restrictions - staying true to Nouns DNA

## iPad Arcade at Rusutsu Resort
* 5 iPads on Kiosk stands have been installed at the resort!

---

# Measuring Success
Gaming analytics help to accelerate product evolution, using a scientific approach.


### Mobile game analytics include:

* **QR Code Scans**: Insights into the effectiveness of our physical advertising
* **App Installations**: A key metric for understanding a game's initial reach
* **Player Engagement**: How well the game attracts and keeps players entertained
* **Retention Rates**: How effectively the game holds players' interest over time
* **Play Patterns**: Overall engagement and areas for game design improvement

### Video analytics include:
* **Video Views:** Number of views for in-game Nouns videos
* **Watch Time:** How many minutes of Nouns videos have been watched
* **Rewards Earned:** How many gems players earned watching videos
* **Ad Impressions:** Reach of mobile advertising campaigns
* **Conversions:** Mobile app installs from advertising campaigns

### Reporting to Nouns DAO ✏️
Metrics reports covering game, video, and advertising campaigns will be published for Nouns community review. Minimum of one report at the halfway point (90 days) and a second at the conclusion of the proposal timeframe (6 months.)

---

# Global Goals
## Rusutsu Resort is just the beginning 🌏
Physical and digital integrations at Rusutsu Resort offer a unique opportunity to experiment with Nouns on the slopes, and set the stage for expansion into the global Alpine community.

Rusutsu Resort is one of 500 ski resorts in Japan; and has close relationships with some of the largest ski resorts in the world.

### Estimated audience size:
* 135 million skiers/snowboarders worldwide
### Estimated ski resorts worlwide:
* 2,000 across 68 countries

## In Conclusion

*Rusutsu Riders* is more than just a game; it’s a strategic, innovative mobile app designed to proliferate the Nouns brand to a winter sports audience.

By marrying the excitement of alpine sports with useful 3D maps and real-world resort integration, *Rusutsu Riders* offers a unique, engaging way to experience Nouns, driving brand awareness on a global scale. ⌐◨-◨

## :skier: We are so early!

🏂 The evolution of **Rusutsu Riders** has just begun! 🏂

## Thank you for voting!
Here's what a successful proposal brings to Nouns DAO ...
* **Maximum Nounification** permission from Rusutsu to max in-game presence!
* **Top Quality Production** increased 3D quality and expanded game design!
* **Innovative Nouns Video Channel** watch Nouns videos and movies in-game!
* **Mobile Game for Nouns** put Nouns in the hands of fans everywhere!
* **Global Brand Awareness** long-term plan to proliferate Nouns, worldwide!

## Benefits for Your Noun
* Nouns supporting this prop **lock in** a spot in the 300!
* Premier placement for your Noun in-game and in videos!
* Official "blue check" for your player account!

---

# Transactions

$150,000 USDC to multi-sig

**Address**
0x50a74140217b6aee1b6d4da432a8e53a1555b396