Hellebore launches blockchain-based sports prediction game
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Hellebore, a startup led by Golden State Warriors co-owner Nick Swinmurn, announced the launch of its blockchain-based sports prediction game Play Hellebore.
Launched on Tuesday, the title is the world’s first (non-fungible token) NFT-powered bet-and-earn sports prediction game, according to the company.
By purchasing NFT players called Sibers for .03ETH (about $50), players can predict the results of real-time games in the NFL, NCAA football, MLB and international football.
Players have the ability to increase the value of their NFTs, unlock physical and digital prizes and compete against friends, family and complete strangers in traditional “Pick’Em”-style fantasy sports leagues, the company said.
“Everyone knows what fantasy sports is, and chances are most individuals have at some point
have also participated in some sort of ‘Pick’Em’ league with friends, in their neighborhood or at
their office,” Hellebore CEO Nick Swinmurn, who co-founded Zappos, said in a statement. “With the Web3 and NFT spaces continuing to expand at a rapid pace, it’s only natural that these worlds would collide to give both hardcore and casual sports fans a fun new way to be part of the game and compete for rewards and bragging rights.”
In an email to GamesBeat, Swinmurn said Play Hellebore is not sports betting or gambling. Hellebore is a free prediction game for holders of Hellebore’s NFTs. Hellebore has no entry fee or bet amount. Through gameplay, players can increase the rating of their Siber NFTs, advance through game levels, and compete in matchups. League commissioners and participants have the ability to post outside prizes to winners of their private leagues on their own, just like any other fantasy sports league.
Play Hellebore gives casual sports fans and fantasy sports enthusiasts an easy run
into Web3 by offering a user-friendly interface and intuitive one-click gameplay available
on any device, the company said.
By simply choosing the winning outcome of sports matches 365 days a year, players can increase the value of their NFTs and improve their odds of winning future competitions.
As their Siber rankings increase, players can unlock the League tier, which launches in September
8, coinciding with the start of the 2022 NFL season, and ongoing in real season games
for NCAA football, MLB and international football.
Similar to traditional player and stats based fantasy sports leagues, players can become league leaders. Players can set up custom leagues with up to 64 teams and play with friends and family in head-to-head matches.
Unlike many other NFTs, Hellebore’s NFTs immediately offer players both real-world and in-game tools, the company said. With Sibers, players can unlock digital and physical rewards, including additional NFT prizes, merchandise and unique fan engagement experiences. Additionally, individual Sibers’ ratings increase with each correct pick, giving them the ability to tilt the odds in a player’s favor by changing the game’s point spread.
“The sports industry is unmatched in its ability to bring together millions of people around the world
world in pursuit of a shared interest,” Hellebore CEO Roshni Cox said in a statement. “By leveraging the capabilities of Web3 and NFT, we’re giving individuals a new way to engage with the sport they love.”
To get started, players can visit PlayHellebore.com to purchase their sport-specific Sibers and begin selecting games. In addition to NFL, NCAA football, MLB and international soccer competitions, NBA, NHL and NCAA basketball games will be available on Play Hellebore when those seasons begin this fall.
Swinmurn said Play Hellebore combines the competition and camaraderie of fantasy sports, the prediction mechanics of traditional “Pick’em” leagues and the proof of ownership and utility of NFTs.
The blockchain and NFTs used in the game allow players to increase the value of a transferable digital asset through their in-game performance. The NFTs can be used in-game by all players worldwide, creating a real opportunity for players to maximize the value of their NFTs.
By creating a Siber NFT for 0.03 ETH, players can start playing and earn more NFTs by making correct predictions to increase their NFT rating; they can use their NFTs with positive ratings to tip the odds in their favor in H2H matchups with other players, or list their NFTs for resale on OpenSea and other NFT marketplaces; and they can instantly claim physical or digital items associated with their NFTs on the Rewards Platform, including new NFTs and a variety of physical products.
Swinmurn said the company came about after he was introduced to NFTs through collecting sports cards and immediately saw the opportunity from a collector’s point of view.
“Having played fantasy sports with friends for years, I saw an opportunity to create a new game that could draw from the simplicity of predictions, the camaraderie and competition of traditional fantasy and the proof of ownership and ability to create value for holders of NFTs ,” Swinmurn said. “The challenge was to find a way to create a truly unique experience that would only be possible by combining each of these. Once that vision became clear, we decided to take the leap and build.”
Beyond that, the inspiration had three parts.
“The first was the clarity of ownership from collecting NFTs,” Swinmurn said. “I loved searching through properties for rarity and discovering new projects and the ease of shopping the resale marketplaces. At the same time, I heard the potential for benefit thrown around a lot, but didn’t see many concrete examples of actual benefit. I felt that the gameplay that rewarded good performance by increasing the value of a tangible asset like an NFT was interesting.”
Swinmurn added, “The second was my frustration with my performance in the fantasy leagues I participated in. I was too busy to spend much time researching individual player stats and frustrated with the lack of control over a player’s performance. I felt that simplifying down to simple “who will win” predictions would ease the depth of knowledge needed to enjoy the game and turn the ability to make correct predictions into how valuable a player’s in-game NFT will be rather than the actual performance of a real player on the court would provide more control over your performance.”
And he said: “The third part that put me over the edge was my passion for starting with an image and creating from there. The possibilities not only for NFT characters in the game, but also to create and collaborate with brands and artists and other creators in our marketplace really excited me. We see endless opportunities ahead to create and build value around unique IP both on our own and with partners. For further context, see my letter from the founder here.”
The company has two full-time employees and an outsourced development team.
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