21/06/2023 Nifty News: Queen, HSBC filings hint at NFTs, Yuga teases robot game and more

The rock band Queen and big bank HSBC eye up the metaverse while Yuga Labs launched the next iteration of its NFT gaming saga.

Nifty News: Queen, HSBC filings hint at NFTs, Yuga teases robot game and more

HSBC files metaverse and NFT patents

British banking institution HSBC filed a series of metaverse and nonfungible token (NFT)-related trademark applications.

A June 12filingto the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) show the bank’s trademarks including metaverse banking, consulting, and financial services, along with virtual credit cards that point to a potential launch of a metaverse bank branch and further virtual banking services.

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#HSBCcontinues its move into the#Metaverse!

The company has filed a new trademark application covering:

▶ Metaverse banking, consulting, financial services
▶ Virtual credit cards
▶ NFTs + NFT-backed media

 and much, much more!#NFT#Crypto#Web3#NFTs#DeFipic.twitter.com/rb6UdA2Iq3

— Mike Kondoudis (@KondoudisLaw)June 19, 2023

HSBC also applied for trademarks relating to online marketplaces, specifically aimed at NFTs. It’s not the first time HSBC has ventured into the virtual. In December 2022, itfiledtrademark applications for a slew of crypto and NFT-related technologies.

The interest in — and prices of — metaverse property hasrecently taken a dive, but regardless HSBC joins a growing number of firms showing interest in exploring the virtual world.

In Feb. 2022, JPMorganbecame the first bank to launcha virtual branch in Decentraland’s metaverse. Since thenVisa, PayPal, and Western Unionhave all filed for metaverse trademarks.

Queen eyes metaverse trademarks

HSBC isn’t the only U.K. heavyweight eyeing the virtual world. Queen Productions Ltd — the production company managing the intellectual property of iconic British rock band Queen — also filed a series of patents relating to the metaverse and NFTs.

A June 12 patentapplicationsubmitted to the USPTO shows Queen plans to offer NFT-authenticated media as well as virtual merchandise including clothing, footwear and accessories.

Additionally, Queen is looking to develop virtual and mixed-reality software.

The rock group#Queenhas filed a new trademark application covering:

NFT authenticated media
Software for#VR+#Metaverseexperiences
Virtual clothing, footwear, audio gear
Software to make NFTs + Meta tokens
...and much more!#NFT#Web3#Crypto#Blockchainpic.twitter.com/ohytBr63pF

— Mike Kondoudis (@KondoudisLaw)June 19, 2023

Yuga Labs teases HV-MTL Forge NFT game

Yuga Labs announced the launch of its latest NFT game, marking the ninth iteration of its ten-step gaming-focused storyline.

A June 21 tweet from Yuga said the HV-MTL Forge event will kick off on June 29 and involves users building homes for their respective NFT characters.

First unveiled in March 2023, the HV-MTL NFT project is a 30,000-piece collection of “Mech” NFTs that stands adjacent to the project's flagship collection the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC).

In a similar way to the predecessor game Dookey Dash, players will battle it out in a competitive, tier-based environment. However, instead of competing for a high score, the winner will be decided by community vote.

HV-MTL Forge.

Build. Flex. Fight. Evolve.

Season 1 begins June 29th.pic.twitter.com/rsZd9ChVqh

— Bored Ape Yacht Club (@BoredApeYC)June 20, 2023

Users questioned the future utility ofSewer Pass NFTsthat were once used to compete in Dookey Dash, however Yuga recentlyrevealedthe passes could be burned to summon a “Power Source” that will unlock an “Evo 1 Mech.”

According to Yuga, competing in the HV-MTL Forge game will unlock further upgrades for the Mechs.

The announcement was met with mixed reviews on Twitter, with some users critiquing the trailer forresemblinga game they “would have played on Miniclip in 2003.”

Enter the Slim Jim's ‘Meataverse’

It’s been a meaty week for announcements related to the metaverse and NFTs and American snack brand Slim Jim just made it even meatier.

In a June 21 tweet, the jerky stick manufacturer known for its meme-based marketing efforts announced its first step into Web3 with the launch of its humorously named “Meataverse” that includes NFTs and a cryptocurrency.

It's11:69 with a forecast of MEAT so we bring you the MEATAVERSE
https://t.co/K8YEJlVB8apic.twitter.com/MgX7G6xP0l

— Slim Jim MEATA (@SlimJim)June 20, 2023

According to Slim Jim, a total of 10,000 NFTs are now up for grabs on its website. The NFTs, dubbed “GigaJims” are free-to-mint on the Ethereum scaling network Polygon and will reportedly function as a digital membership card in the future.

Marketed as a way for crypto and jerky enthusiasts alike to join the “long boi gang” the NFTs provide holders with access to perks and benefits that are set to be unveiled in the near future.

Additionally, GigaJims’ owners will be able to upgrade their NFTs by collecting Slim Jim’s digital currency “S.A.U.C.E.”

Other Nifty News

On June 21, Czech auto manufacturer Ć kodalaunched an NFT platformin collaboration with Layer-1 blockchain Near protocol.

On June 17, Genius.com co-founder Tom Lehman launched “Ethscriptions,”a new protocol for minting NFTsand other digital assets on Ethereum. It draws itsnamesake from Bitcoin Ordinals where assets are called “inscriptions.”

Arts

https://cointelegraph.com/news/nifty-news-queen-hsbc-hint-nfts-yuga-teases-game

Interesting NFTs
Alex in Wonderland
A figure, Alex, stands mostly naked in the midst of a physical and psychological maelstrom. He is clad only in nostalgic 80’s era socks, on a tenuous island between active waters and a variety of shark denizens. Sharks on the right side of the image are all beached, including a shark with a quartz crystal snout, an orange shark wrapped in a life buoy, and a shark further in the distance wearing an 80’s style shirt with the number “88”. On the left side is the largest shark, wearing bright glossy red lipstick and brandishing prominent teeth with braces. She is cordoned off from the figure by a roped float divider, and within her thought bubble is a warning symbol. Behind the figure, hovering in the air, are Grey aliens emerging from the distance, out of a series of elliptical UFO shaped interdimensional membranes. The Greys take on the visual form of spermazoa ostensibly impregnating the interdimensional thresholds. As is typical, these Greys inhabit a zone just behind the unconscious topology of Alex’s dissociative mind. Though Alex’s bottom half is representative, his top half mutates into a psychological cornucopia. In a manner akin to “Auto-Erotic Sphinx”, a predecessor work, the figure has self suctioned—an act of sensual infatuation, enjoyment, and exploration. Upward exists the figure’s primary conscious eye, adorned with a revolutionary beret emblazoned with a Bitcoin badge. The figure’s summit features the nose of a fighter jet facing off against video game Bullet Bills, one of whom is marked by a communist North Korean star. A cropped section of a UFO observes the contest. Alex’s mind branches both left and right. To the left is more singular embodied consciousness, manifesting two eyes and a Ganesh trunk grasping crayons. The right branch dissociates upward diagonally, emerging into an array of eyes, faces, teeth, tail, a unicorn horn, and much more—all of which participate in expressing his unconscious being; a democracy of psychic factions representing thought impressions and associations. All illumination and darkness– fernal, infernal, high consciousness and corporeal underbelly–reside in this realm. In the distance are relatively languid, light clouds, and against the firmament hovers a colossal distant eye peering over the scene and far beyond. This painting possesses underlying genetic traits with previous works such as “Auto-Erotic Sphinx with Toys”, “Dionysus”, and “Fuku-Shiva”. The work serves also as a nod to an earlier period of art inspiration during late teens and early twenties— born out of the nakedness, vulnerability, curiosity, and wonder inherent to coming of age and all subsequent psychedelic revelation.
Genesis
JosĂ© Delbo sent me his striking pencil sketch and powerful inked work, which I then interpreted in oil on canvas. I wanted to create a very painterly piece with obvious brush marks etc, but I was also aiming for a nostalgic feel, a kind of 1980’s superhero comic book look, the kind I grew up with. My goal with this animation was to try to recreate, in part, the creative process that both artists went through with the visual information I had. I was able to showcase my painting process more accurately as I could take photographs of my progress throughout. Consecutive images could then be layered like brush strokes over José’s drawing to create the impression that this was one continuous artwork from pencil, to ink, to completed painting. The representation of the line sketch at the beginning, then pencil/ink and lastly the paint layers being applied demonstrate both artists’ struggle for the right lines, tone, form, and colour until the work is finally completed. As the oil was still wet with each photograph the glare of my studio lights can be seen in the brush strokes. Eventually, the figure emerges and as it does, our hero comes to life, looking directly at the viewer -- but is he grimacing in approval or disgust? We will never know for sure as just before he can say anything, white paint is brushed across the canvas entirely and the process begins again. Only the bat is quick enough to escape.
Noodle Rock
soft body spline & hair simulations in cinema 4d
Our Lady of Words and Silences
Our Lady of Words and Silences
Mars House
Mars House is the first NFT digital house in the world. Upon purchase of Mars House NFT, 3D files will be sent to the new owner by Krista Kim Studio Inc. for file upload to the owner’s Metaverse. Technical support for Mars House integration on Metaverse is provided. (Architectural Digest, March 14, 2021) “Kim ventured into NFTs while exploring meditative design during quarantine; her hope was to use the influx of digital life as an opportunity to promote wellbeing. Comprised entirely of light, the visual effects of her crypto-home are meant to omit a zen, healing atmosphere. The artist also partnered with musician Jeff Schroeder of The Smashing Pumpkins to create a calming musical accompaniment. So what makes the file a compelling purchase? Beyond the promise of buying into the lucrative NFT market, the home and all of the furniture in it can be built in real life by glass furniture-makers in Italy, as well as through MicroLED screen technology. Kim also has a strong visions the art being projected, as well. “Everyone should install an LED wall in their house for NFT art.” says the artist. “ This is the future, and Mars House demonstrates the beauty of that possibility.” The owner is in agreement to the following terms and conditions upon purchase of Mars House (hereby referred to as Mars House NFT): The collector agrees to own one copy of Mars House NFT on a single Metaverse platform. The collector is required to register Mars House NFT ownership with Krista Kim Studio Inc. Krista Kim Studio Inc. will provide technical support to upload and integrate Mars House NFT on a Metaverse platform. If/when Mars House is resold, the collector is required to delete all Mars House NFT 3D file(s) from his/her Metaverse, and provide verification of deletion to Krista Kim Studio Inc. before new 3D files are transferred to the new owner by the artist. The new owner is required to register Mars House NFT ownership with Krista Kim Studio Inc. Krista Kim Studio will send Mars House NFT 3D files directly to the new owner and provide support for Metaverse integration. This verified ownership transfer system will be appointed to Krista Kim Studio Inc. trusteeship, after 40 years of the date of the sale. Krista Kim Studio Inc. retains ownership of Mars House NFT copyright. All rights reserved. All reproductions of Mars House (NFT) in both digital and physical formats, are restricted. Mars House NFT physical furniture pieces, made of tempered printed glass in Italy, may be commissioned by the collector as NFT physical pieces.