We hope you enjoyed the Spider Tank Alpha playtest mayhem of last weekend! Spider Tank mania is still full throttle, and five unique Tank Skins are currently available while supplies last in the Gala Games store. Development of the game is still rolling along at breakneck pace and today the team is thrilled to announce and explain the revolutionary new system of upgrades that will be used by the Spider Tank Project!

Tonight, the Legendary Lava Tank hits the store…but what does that mean?

Below is a video from Gamedia explaining the game’s upgrade system in quick detail.

This brilliantly designed system from the developers of the Spider Tank Project will be effective on multiple levels, with something to love no matter where you are coming from as a player. Free-to-play players of the Brawler/MOBA will enjoy that they can start with a free asset and grind upward to greater levels, adding value to their tanks along the way. For those who prefer to give themselves a competitive edge by purchasing NFT assets from the Gala Games Store, the advantages that come with purchased assets will be well worth it!

Basically, this system integrates drop chances with upgrades. With each level upgrade, the asset’s power increase will vary depending on a random chance. The most significant upgrade that any player can hope for is the perfect upgrade, which will only happen a small percentage of the time. However, when an already-leveled NFT is purchased from the Gala Games store, every level that it has already achieved was upgraded at the perfect level. This means that when you buy a tank as an NFT from the store, that tank is as perfect as it can possibly be.

With the exception of the Ancient level 30s, all purchased tanks can still be leveled up beyond the level at which they’re purchased, but perfect per-level upgrades are no longer guaranteed.

This upgrade system will make each level-up an exciting adventure. Players will hold their breath, hoping for the coveted perfect upgrade and in some cases, wishing they had purchased the already leveled up tank instead.
Implementing drop chances into the upgrade system will also create more variety in the game, greatly enhancing the skill and strategy required for success. The Gala Games team is beyond excited to bring this incredible game into our ecosystem, and we can hardly wait to see you all on the battlefield!

Welcome Town Star townies, Mirandus enthusiasts and play-to-earn pioneers from all over the world! It’s time for another look into the historic first series of NFT skin packs released by Gala Games.

In this series we have been going through each of the 10 Mirandus-Themed Skin Packs one by one, giving you behind the scenes looks at the creation process. We’ve highlighted many of the benefits of looking at skins from a blockchain perspective, showing you why turning them into player-owned assets is a true game changer with the potential to breathe new life into the gaming skin industry. We’ve also showed you some awesome alternate art that didn’t make the cut, demonstrating just how much time and energy from our team goes into the creation of something so seemingly simple. Hopefully you find this series as fascinating as we do! You’ll find the previous editions listed below.

Skin Pack 6
Skin Pack 7
Skin Pack 1

Scarcity

One of the greatest benefits to collectibles and NFT assets on a blockchain is provable scarcity. As long as collectibles have been around, scarcity has been perhaps the most important driver of collectible value. Take for example the T206 baseball card from 1909 depicting Pittsburg Pirates ball player Honus Wagner. Having sold at auction for over $3 million, this card is known to be one of the rarest baseball cards in existence.

The Honus Wagner card also has an interesting story that corresponds to its scarcity, as so many of the rarest collectibles in the world do. The T206 set of cards was produced and distributed by the American Tobacco Company, and while it was not the surface level intention of the campaign to appeal to them, children took quite an interest in the collectible cards. The story goes that Honus Wagner was not a fan of tobacco products being marketed to children in this way, so he demanded ATC remove his card from production.

The legitimacy of the Honus Wagner story is not nearly as verifiable as NFTs existing on a blockchain because there is no one living today who was around when the cards were new. Provable ledger history is another benefit making it clear that the future of collectibles is blockchain, but that’s another story.

Scarcity in Gala Games NFTs

As we fast-forward to 2021 when collectibles are leaving the realm of physicality, we can see the same patterns and correlations with scarcity of supply and value. The tools for understanding these patterns are now more accessible and more provable, making it an exciting new world for collectors everywhere.

Gala Games knows gaming and collectibles, and the digital assets we sell are the perfect marriage of the two. We are creating the largest own-your-experience gaming platform in the world. Our NFTs (such as skins) are driven by intrinsic collectible value, scarcity and in-game utility, making your decision as both collector and gamer as easy as possible.

Each Mirandus-Themed NFT Skin Pack is available in a limited quantity of 10,000. They are also being sold using a system of stair-step pricing that ensures each new 1/5 wave of 2000 packs will be more expensive than the last. Pricing and future sales for these packs are TBD, but we do know that this first wave will offer you the lowest possible price from the Gala Games store.

Digging into Pack 8

As we approach the final packs of the series, the Town Star buildings included are becoming more specialized and advanced. This means that in addition to just the buildings, the owner gets the dedicated workers that come with them. We’re happy to say that once again with this pack, every single building skin comes with a reimagined worker unit!

Builder House

The first couple designs for the Builder House still looked a little too modern, and with the majority of these medieval skins, that problem has been solvable by dealing with the roof. The crudely overlapping log beams on the Builder House roof ended up giving it the medieval treatment that was needed.

For the Builder unit, the long sleeved white shirt was chosen with yellow tights and hat. It is unlikely that a builder of the Middle Ages would have allowed arm skin to go carelessly exposed when it could be protected. After all, there was no workman’s comp back then.

Power Plant

To ensure that the Power Plant was still easily recognizable as an industrial building, the red and white striped smokestack was left in. The building itself was thoroughly redesigned. The split level second option was chosen, implying that the Power Plant worker lives in the top portion while working in the bottom of the building.

Refinery

These first ideas were on the right track, but there was something missing for T. Elliot Cannon, Town Star Director. After some back and forth discussion with the art team, he decided that the Refinery building should have a cone-shaped roof like pictured below.

As usual, several different options were presented for the Refinery worker. This time, the worker was reimagined as a sort of medieval scientist or chemist, seen tinkering with flasks of various substances. Option 2 was chosen, with the addition of the glasses from option 4.

Steel Mill

As one of the most industrial and modern looking buildings in Town Star, the Steel Mill needed a substantial makeover. Instead of keeping the striped towers that scream “industrial building,” it was decided to go with the second option, replacing everything with stone and wood.

The Steel Mill worker is the same versatile Factory Worker that comes with the Worker House and the Forklift, redesigned as pictured below for the Mirandus-Themed skins.

Worker House

Finally, we have the medieval Worker House, which has an especially authentic and unique feel. Notice that the roof didn’t get the same thatching attention as some of the others. We know the Factory Worker is incredibly busy, so it’s unlikely that he would have the time or energy to complete such a complex roofing process for his home. Instead, he has gone with a more quick and functional grass and mud approach.

Skin Pack 8 Now Available

While supplies last, you can now purchase Mirandus-Themed Skin Pack 8 in the Town Star store to receive all the above in-game skins. This pack also comes with Dragon Voucher 8/10. Collect all 10 Dragon Vouchers to unlock the Dragon Familiar in Mirandus, a valuable companion who will enhance your power and clout in the fantasy world of the upcoming game!

Be on the lookout later this week for the next issue of Behind the Skins, which will go back to the earlier packs with a look into Pack 2. Good luck on all your Town Star builds this week as the new competition begins!

Extended Play Test

For the last week, the Spider Tank Project (final title TBD) has been the hottest thing happening in the Gala Games ecosystem. On Wednesday July 14th, there were a couple community tests of the fully playable Alpha MOBA. Hundreds of concurrent players battled it out with their Spider Tanks for the first time. It was beyond epic. In fact, it was so amazing that the Gala Games team decided to extend the play test through the entire weekend!

That’s right. All weekend long members of the Gala Games community can download and play this incredible game. Just beware that once you start playing, you may not want to stop. For the download link to get in the game, visit the Announcements channel of the Gala Games Discord Community and find the link (with instructions) announcement from Bitbender on July 14th.

Beautiful Shiny Tank Skins

The Alpha Executioner Chicken Tanks from the last couple days may have flown the coop, but you now have a brand new chance to get the first limited edition skins in the upcoming game: Noxious, Gridlock, Arcane, Overlord and Alpha Gold.

You read it correctly. The price for all remaining skins will double when the timer runs out, so you may want to make up your mind quickly.

Golden Perk Tank Skins

The most observant of you may have noticed that while there are 6 Tank Skins pictured in the cover image, there are only 5 available for sale in the Gala Games store. That’s because every member of Gala Gold will be receiving one.

On July 18th at midnight PST (7am UTC July 19th) a snapshot will be taken. Every member of Gala Gold at the time of the snapshot will receive the Uncommon Sentinel Skin, which is not available for sale but IS pictured below in all its glory.

Look how it shines!

This is just another example of how it pays to go Gala Gold. You’ll get exclusive sneak peaks, special Discord perks, even bonus NFTs from time to time! To upgrade to Gold, visit THIS LINK when signed into your Gala Games account.

Now get out there and put this extraordinary new game to the test!

It’s time for another dive into the unique Mirandus-Themed Town Star Skin Packs! This time, we’re going through the first pack of the set by sharing some stories and showing you some never-before-seen shots from the creation of these beauties. While they may look like relatively simple aesthetic upgrades, a ton of work went into the development of these skins. This gives our team an awesome opportunity to show you an inside angle of some of the fascinating in-the-weeds toil that brings video games to life.

Skins as NFTs — A Revolutionary Idea

In the traditional gaming world, skins can sometimes be a “hard sell” because of their exclusive focus on the visual aspects of gameplay. This idea is out the window when gaming skins become blockchain-backed NFTs.

Current Town Star Skin listings on Opensea

These skins are transferable. Instead of being forbidden by some unsightly list of lengthy terms, trading of Gala Games NFTs is encouraged and facilitated through Opensea. This is one of the pillars of Gala Games’ player empowering mission.

These skins are worth something. Instead of a kiss-your-money-goodbye kind of purchase, you can rest assured that your Gala Games NFT skins will still be worth something. In some cases, it’s even possible that these NFTs may trade in the future for more than they originally cost.

These skins come with something extra. In each pack, an exclusive 1/10 Dragon Voucher is included. Players who collect all 10 Dragon Vouchers will become the proud owners of a Dragon Familiar in Mirandus! Unlike the followbot pets in some games, these Dragons will have multiple layers of functionality, empowering and enriching your gaming experience.

Digging In — Mirandus-Themed Skin Pack 1

Pack 1 started with the most basic units that are first experienced in the game. At the beginning of each Town Star game, you’ll have a Farm House, a Silo, a Builder House, a Wood Shed, a Well, and some fields. Mirandus-Themed Skin Pack 1 gives most of these original buildings a fresh makeover, plus one of the others that you’ll need to get quickly as you progress: The Storehouse.

Farm House

These old thatched roofs may be a little tougher on the maintenance and a lot more flammable, but luckily there are no big bad wolves threatening to blow your farmer’s house down in this fairy tale. The bright yellow makes for a chipper and rustic feel throughout your town, and the medieval version of the house is a fine place for the Mirandus-themed farmer and his family.

The hat was a crucial piece of clothing in the Middle Ages. The modern farmer may wear a trucker hat to support his favorite brand of heavy equipment and to keep the sun out of his eyes. The ancient farmer wore a hat to keep his head warm, or to protect himself from insects, rain, sunlight and more. Hats were worn by all men in the Middle Ages; many farmers wore a basic cloth hat called a coif, which covered the head and tied around the shoulders. This is the type of hat sported by our Town Star farmer friend. Below are a few alternates for the medieval farmer that didn’t make the cut.

Silo

With no advanced industrial building methods available in the Middle Ages, keeping harvested crops safe and dry was a matter of life and death. This is why silos were built so carefully, and why so much care was also taken in the development of the Mirandus-themed Silo skin. Pictured below is the first round of Silo candidates.

Eventually the choice was made for the wood planked roof of option IV, probably due to its steep slant and enhanced ability to keep water out of the silo. Still, a few more details remained undecided.

Michael McCarty is the one who made the call to go with the red textured body for the silo, because this art was made before the addition of T. Eilliot Cannon as Town Star Director. There was the medieval Silo in all its glory!

Woodshed

In medieval times, wood was not stored as cautiously as crops or goods. The primary goals with wood storage would have been keeping the wood dry and allowing it to cure properly while avoiding rot. This is why in the Mirandus-themed skin below you’ll notice that the walls are incomplete. Only a foolish woodworker in the Middle Ages would have wasted more wood than absolutely necessary on the building that stored his wood. The thatched slanted roof works perfectly for keeping rainwater off of the stored wood.

Well

The original well in Town Star is an incredibly simple construction of stone. While it requires wood to build, the wood is not visible in the final product, so it can be assumed that the wood was used to put together the internal mechanisms allowing the well to fetch water.

For the Mirandus-themed skins, the well was redesigned into a more fantastical fairy tale sort of well, complete with a roof and a water bucket on a coiled line. There were originally two different options: One with no roof and a pulley system for the rope and bucket, and the other with a side crank that raises the bucket by wrapping the rope around a horizontal pole. The latter was chosen as the final skin.

Storehouse

The medieval Storehouse had a very interesting journey of development, with several discarded options before the final consensus was reached. It was decided that the first two options (pictured below) fell short of Michael McCarthy’s impeccable authenticity standards. This was most likely due to the flat roofs that too closely resembled the Town Star Storehouse we all know.

After revisiting and researching authentic storehouses of the Middle Ages, our art team came up with several more options, all of which added variety and authenticity. The Town Star team decided on the first Storehouse pictured below, giving the classic building a completely fresh feel.

Next Time

Remember, you can pick up these Mirandus-Themed Skin Packs now in the Town Star store, but they’re limited in quantity! Only 2000 of each pack has been released, and subsequent sales are TBD in both date and price. The absolute best time to start securing your Dragon Familiar is now!

In an upcoming Behind the Skins, we’ll be diving into Skin Pack 2. This pack contains the beloved Mirandus Chicken Coup, complete with our now famous friend, the Pecksecutioner. We’re also prepared to show you several chickens that didn’t fit the bill. Here’s a little taste…

Jungle Safari Chicken, I presume?

Get your Mirandus-Themed Town Star Skin Packs while they’re hot, and stay tuned for some more inside looks in our next Behind the Skins post, coming your way soon. Good luck this weekend on your Town Star builds!

This week we’re entering the home stretch of the first wave release of our Mirandus-Themed Town Star Skin Packs by dropping the first 2000 of Pack 7. This pack is a special treat because it comes with tons of extras and bonuses.

Every single reimagined Mirandus-themed building in this pack also comes with a dedicated “worker” unit. It’s almost like you’re getting 10 new skins instead of 5! You’ll also find Dragon Voucher 7/10 in this pack, which will get you one step closer to having your very own playable Dragon Familiar in the world of Mirandus.

Someone Else’s Skin

Have you considered all the possibilities of owning game skins as NFTs? Building and minting on the blockchain allows for real player ownership of your assets, including skins. This means that should you ever grow tired of a particular skin (and we doubt you will), you can list and sell it on Opensea. With Gala Games, you won’t find restrictive terms that forbid you to exchange your in-game items for real money. On the contrary, we encourage it and intend to create as many ways as possible to facilitate trade between players. You can collect, play, transfer or sell your skins. They’re your skins.

Hopefully this historic first round of Gala Games NFT skins will give you all a taste of what NFTs can do for in-game assets. Considering that we are building a platform that will eventually contain (at least) dozens of games, each with their own assets and economy, the possibilities for value and utility are endless. These Mirandus-Themed Town Star Skins will always be remembered as the first.

Digging into Pack 7

Pack 7 is bursting with unique assets and creative value. Every building has a story, and every building comes with a character unit that enriches the experience. Because most of these are more advanced buildings in Town Star, these new characters usually won’t join your game until later in the weekly competition, but they’re well worth the wait.

Forklift

The medieval Forklift comes with a double bonus. Let’s start with the building that houses the Forklift. The first image was chosen because it looked more thoroughly period than the other, and the yellow thatched roof gave it a more authentic appearance.

The Forklift itself was designed in an incredibly imaginative way that is almost believable as a contraption of the Middle Ages, running on simple mechanics and gears.

Forklift Driver

Several options were presented for the Forklift driver. From his yellow hard hat to his bulging belly, the original was full of character. The artists were certain of one thing: The Forklift driver needed a hammer. We think you’ll agree.

Here’s an interesting snippet of discussion from the art team regarding the… stature of the driver:

“His concept suggests he is a strong body character, but his 3D model is using the fat body. The main difference is the strong model carries items on his shoulders and the fat model carries it on his front side. Should we maintain the original fat body for the Medieval Skin?”

Freight Pier

As the enhanced water shipping system, it was important for the Freight Pier to look more powerful than the original Trade Pier. This was easy to illustrate using the long modern freight ship, but carrying that idea over to the medieval style was a bit of a challenge for the art team. As usual, several options were first presented. Ultimately, the one with the most majestic (and fastest looking) sails was chosen.

The Freight Boat Captain was also a tough choice. Using the same character model as the original, a few different choices were presented.

Option 1 was approved as the final choice. This was lucky for the Captain, who ended up wearing the comfiest possible outfit for his sailing duties. Here he is, ready to set sail.

Mine

The Mine is another unit that consists of several pieces: The mine, the cart and the miner. Here’s an interesting build shot of the mine being reimagined in medieval style that will also give you an idea of how these mines were originally designed.

And here were two different options of mine appearance, one with large round poles and the other using planks and different coloring. The more detailed plank approach was chosen as the winner.

Like the other characters, the Mining Engineer was reimagined using the same basic character, but given a new medieval outfit. Some choices had to be made, and this was a tough one for the team to decide. The pickaxe is a great tool that has withstood the test of time and very little has changed about it through the generations, so every iteration of the Miner still holds his trusty pickaxe. Instead of the cup of coffee in the left hand of the modern version, the team opted for a sack. This Miner must now drink his coffee before hitting the mines for his long day’s work.

Nuclear Power

anachronistic — /əˌnakrəˈnistik/ — adjective
Belonging to a time or period other than that being portrayed.

Obviously there was no such thing as nuclear power in the Middle Ages, and (presumably) there will be no such thing in the fantasy world of Mirandus. This fact created a perfect opportunity for the art team to deconstruct and conceptualize the idea of nuclear power. They started by boiling it down to the simplest seat of “power” from the time period: The castle. The blocky version was chosen over the cylindrical, which looks more like a fairy tale castle than a seat of power.

Next there was the massive challenge of redesigning the Nuclear Engineer, who clearly could not be pictured in their blatantly modern HazMat suit. The first conceptual choice of the artist was to go with a Knight.

Adorable and well protected as these Knights were, the creators of Town Star had something different in mind. It was back to the drawing board for the art team. Later they emerged again with some variants on the Knights’ bosses.

Option 4 looks like some kind of nightmare villain. The beaked mask of option 3 looks like that of a Renaissance plague doctor, and the robes and book of option 2 make him seem like some sort of clergyman. Finally, the team was left with the clear choice of option 1, who looks like a person who truly calls the shots and commands power wherever he goes.

Windmill

The art team had the wind at their backs in redesigning the Windmill. Both building and operator only required simple makeovers in appearance. There was no need to dig deep in the concept, because windmills were used in the Middle Ages. In the end, the stone constructed Windmill was chosen over the wooden one.

The Miller is one of our favorite Town Star characters. From the piece of wheat that he casually holds in his mouth to the buckle down crossed arms and the hot shot raised eyebrow smirk, there was a lot of individuality to carry over into the Mirandus skin. After checking out the following options, it was decided that the floodwater brown pants and deep blue shirt were the way to go for the Miller.

There you have it! We told you there was a lot going on inside Pack 7, which is now live in the Town Star store. While supplies last, you can also pick up Packs 1–6, each containing a different set of building skins and a different 1/10 Dragon Voucher!

In the next Behind the Skins we’ll be jumping back to Mirandus-Themed Skin Pack 1, which contains reimagined medieval versions of some of the most basic and essential Town Star buildings. Then next week we’ll move onto Pack 8. Here’s a sneak peak… a conundrum of facial hair!

Good luck on all your Town Star builds in this week’s competition!