NICKLAUS COMPANIES AND SOUL MACHINES RELEASES FIRST NFT COLLECTION CELEBRATING GOLF LEGEND’S RECORD 18 MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Each NFT will unlock an intimate story behind his triumphs, told by Digital Jack, the digital twin of 38-year-old Jack Nicklaus, and include exclusive real-world experiences, merchandise, autographed memorabilia and a pass to the Golden Bear metaverse.
SAN FRANCISCO, 12 December 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The Nicklaus Companies and Soul Machines have announced the historic first release of an exclusive NFT collection celebrating the legacy of Jack Nicklaus, reborn in web3. The collection consists of 18 tokens, each with a 30-second video of Digital Jack telling the story of one of Jack Nicklaus’ 18 championship victories. Owners have the opportunity to become founding members of the Golden Bear Club: an NFT initiative that connects super fans to exclusive digital and real-world experiences, with Digital Jack at the centre. Owners can register for NFT via the official Golden Bear website and Premint. Through the Digital Jack NFT, fans can unlock and own memorabilia of Jack Nicklaus, the greatest golfer of all time, and the first athlete in the world with an autonomously animated, AI-powered Digital Twin using state-of-the-art technology from Soul Machines.
The NFT Collection, maintained by the Nicklaus Companies in perpetuity, will launch on the Aspen NFT Marketplace with transferable terms and conditions in the chain. Additional purchase benefits include signed memorabilia, exclusive Jack Nicklaus® merchandise and an invitation to the 2023 Jack Nicklaus International Invitational Tournament Experience: consisting of VIP hospitality tickets and two days of 18-hole rounds of golf on a signature golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, valued at $15,000.
The NFT collection is the latest evolution of Nicklaus Companies’ partnership with Soul Machines, the groundbreaking company pioneering the creation of autonomously animated digital celebrities in today’s metaverse and digital worlds. Beginning in 2021, in partnership with the Nicklaus Companies, Soul Machines created Digital Jack, an autonomously animated digital version of Jack Nicklaus, recreated as a 38-year-old man at the peak of his record-breaking golf career. Now, Soul Machines leverages its deep technological research and advanced motion capture technology to transform Digital Jack’s authentic likeness, facial movements and mannerisms for each of the 18 NFTs in the collection.
“When Jack and I first became partners, a primary focus of our mission was to institutionalize the brand and enhance his legacy for future generations,” said Howard Milstein, executive chairman of the Nicklaus Companies. “Soul Machines and Greg Cross are world leaders in this innovative technology. Our latest collaboration not only enhances the way Jack’s fans engage with him today, but also opens the door to a new generation of sports lovers who want to learn about golf from the best of the best time play the game.”
“We are excited to build on our partnership with the Nicklaus team and expand the capabilities of our AI technology across both the blockchain and metaverse,” said Greg Cross, CEO of Soul Machines. “This NFT collection expands the reach of Digital Jack, offering access to his memories, wisdom and charisma on a global scale, furthering Soul Machine’s goal of providing unique, one-to-one user experiences in our increasingly digital world.”
ABOUT SOUL MACHINES
Soul Machines, founded in 2016 by serial tech entrepreneur Greg Cross and Academy-Award winner Mark Sagar, brings avatars to life in the form of autonomously animated 3D Digital People. Leveraging cutting-edge AI technology, Soul Machines aims to improve the way we work, play and engage in the metaverse by creating astonishingly lifelike digital humans that have audio and visual perception and the ability to respond with gestures and movements, be aware of and interacting with people. Soul Machines’ Digital People deliver highly personalized brand experiences for global businesses including NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE®, P&G, Twitch and the World Health Organization, while redefining entertainment and fan engagement through celebrity Digital Twins including Carmelo Anthony, Jack Nicklaus and Mark Tuan. Whether creating a digital ambassador or influencer for a brand in the metaverse, or opening new avenues for celebrity figures to engage with fans, Digital People by Soul Machines adds a uniquely immersive element to human interaction to elevate experiences in the metaverse and today’s digital worlds. For more information, visit www.soulmachines.com.
ABOUT NICKLAUS COMPANIES
For over 50 years, the mission of the Nicklaus Companies and its predecessors has been to enhance the golf experience and deliver quality branded products and services on a global basis that reflect the high standards established in the career and life of its founder, Jack Nicklaus.
The Nicklaus Companies’ businesses include golf course design, golf and real estate community development, and the marketing and licensing of lifestyle products worldwide under the iconic Jack Nicklaus® and Golden Bear® brands.
Nicklaus Design, recognized as the world leader in golf course design, has created over 430 courses worldwide, open for play in 45 countries and 40 US states.
In 2007, Jack Nicklaus partnered with Howard Milstein to promote the growth of these businesses and expand the established brands into new businesses. In addition to institutionalizing the Nicklaus brands for the future, Milstein has instilled a personal philosophy of “A Brand That Gives Back”; with products and partners committing to donations to help the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation and other charities.
A leading entrepreneur in the golf industry, Milstein also created 8AM Golf, a family of companies that also includes GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com, Miura Golf, Club Conex, True Spec Golf, Chirp, 3’s and GolfLogix. All share a common mission to help players of all skill levels enjoy the game more.
The team at Nicklaus Companies is proud to leverage the brand’s winning heritage to achieve excellence, growth and champion social good.
For more information, please visit www.nicklaus.com.
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SOURCE Soul Machines
