MekaVerse is a collection of 8,888 generative Mekas that draw elements from the Japanese Mecha universes.
The non-fungible token (NFTs) industry has attracted much attention over the past few months. Whether one wants to explore digital art, collectibles, or utility-based non-fungible tokens, there are plenty of options on the table. Unfortunately, most projects fail to provide any long-term utility, which is why their trading volume and overall popularity drop off quickly. However, new projects come to market, and some draw inspiration from existing universes.
To make an NFT project successful, there needs to be a focus on digital and the real world. Moreover, having the support of a team of experienced artists and designers can make a meaningful difference. MekaVerse attempts to raise the bar in the NFT industry as the focus shifts to physical creations, merchandise and future collaborations for new Mekas.
Its highly anticipated release on Oct. 7, 2021, saw over 120,000 people attempting to register on their website to mint Mekas. Within 24 hours from launching, MekaVerse's total volume traded on OpenSea was 13,900 ETH, with a floor price of 5.1 ETH and 8,593 total Meka minted.
What is MekaVerse?
At first glance, MekaVerse may look like yet another NFT collection that aims to focus on the visual appeal rather than its utility. However, this is not the average PfP or NFT avatar collection, even though the Mekas could undoubtedly serve as such. Instead, MekaVerse is a collection of 8,888 generative Mekas that draw elements from the Japan Mecha universes.
The art style of this collection is different from most collections launching on OpenSea or other marketplaces. Original artwork is crucial for making an appealing NFT collection, although Japanese Mecha-inspired robots have not been attempted yet. Moreover, the team prioritizes uniqueness to emphasize quality over quantity.
Creating 8,888 generatively unique Mekas is only the first step. The MekaVerse team envisions a future through its roadmap to expand the MekaVerse and take it into the real world. Eventually, there will be a Meka Multiverse through collaboration with other franchises and projects. Other ideas on the roadmap include short films, physical and digital exploration, and events. It is an ambitious plan of action, but a bold approach is required to make a lasting impact on the NFT industry.
How Does MekaVerse Work?
Like other NFT collections, the first step is to introduce the collection of 8,888 Mekas to the broader audience. As the team prioritizes quality, they wanted to get the maximum out of their planned initial rarity criteria. Moreover, every Mekas will have Lore attached to it, which is unique to every Meka.
As part of the Lore, the MekaVerse is divided into four factions: Originals Meka, Mirage, F9 and Gadians. Owners of an NFT will become part of any of these factions. Furthermore, every holder will gain access to exclusive events on Discord, Twitter and other platforms. It is unclear what these events entail precisely, as the project is still in the early stages of development.
What Makes MekaVerse Unique?
Japanese Mecha-Inspired Art Style
Some aspects about MekaVerse make the project stand out from others. The art inspiration stems from the Mecha universe — a Japanese term that revolves around scientific concept and science fiction of giant robots or machines. It is extremely popular in Japan as an entertainment genre and subculture, and has spun out numerous manga and anime, the most popular of which — the Gundam universe. Whereas most of the current NFT projects focus on pixel art of some sort, the art style for MekaVerse is on a different level. Finally, graphical artists Mattey and Matt B have put together a compelling visual collection that highlights the potential of digital collectibles on the blockchain. Every one of the 8,888 designs is unique and looks distinguishably different from the others.
MekaVerse Roadmap — 3D Printing and Real-World Merchandise
Another unique aspect for MekaVerse is its roadmap. Rolling out the NFTs through OpenSea is only the first step, even though the collection already notes nearly 14,000 ETH in trading volume. Moreover, it has a floor price of almost 5 ETH, although that value will fluctuate over time.
Eventually, the MekaVerse team aims to introduce 3D printing to this NFT collection. More specifically, the team works on some concepts that may involve real-world representations of the non-fungible tokens. Additionally, the members want to create a clothing and merchandise line mainly focused on streetwear. The art of MekaVerse lends itself to exploring such options, although the success of merchandise is never a guarantee.
Artists Collaboration and Building the Meka Multiverse
Other aspects include collaborating with other NFT artists to develop a new series of Mekas. However, all the proceeds of these sales will go to the artist they collaborate with rather than the MekaVerse team. An interesting approach that can facilitate collaboration in a space that is otherwise very competitive.
Building the Meka Multiverse is another crucial part of the roadmap, although perhaps the most ambitious aspect. Exploring more abstract subjects to present a new drop of NFTs can help enlarge the MekaVerse Multiverse. However, future collaboration with famous Mecha licenses may not be easy to achieve.
How Does MekaVerse Compare With The Humanoids?
The best way to compare the performance and appeal of MekaVerse is by looking at other generative projects utilizing a "lifelike" art style. The Humanoids appears to be a fair project for comparison, as its art style is somewhat realistic and has some "robot-esque" traits. However, The Humanoids has 10,000 NFTs compared to MekaVerse's 8,888.
Statistics-wise, MekaVerse has over twice the total volume of The Humanoids. They also have different price floors, although MekaVerse is a new drop and the numbers are not finalized yet. It would appear that MekaVerse has a fairer distribution of assets — 8,6k items on OpenSea spread among 5,500 holders — compared to The Humanoid's 10,000 assets distributed over 5,200 users.
The Humanoids also has a more "traditional" roadmap, including: airdrops, charity donations and raffles. However, it shares the merchandise idea with MekaVerse, although it remains unclear precisely what that merchandise store will entail. The Humanoids team has seemingly no intention of collaborating with other creators or franchises, whereas MekaVerse does.
For a project that is few months old, MekaVerse boasts a community of over 200,000 followers on Twitter, as compared to 20,000 of The Humanoids. It is evident many people have high hopes for this project. Moreover, the collection appears to have sold out quickly, allowing the team to raise 311 ETH, or $1.115 million, through the initial sale. With so much money at stake, following through on the roadmap becomes a necessity.
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