Podcast 131: Star Atlas Weekly Review

In this episode, I recap the latest news of Star Atlas from the past week.

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Podcast Transcript

[00:00:00] Hi, this is Matt with Intergalactic Herald. Welcome to my start list Week in Review podcast. This is podcast number 131. Any articles or videos mentioned can be found on my website@intergalacticherald.com. Just look for weekly recap, newsletter number 179. So just a quick summary of things that happened this past week in start Atlas hol sim.

[00:00:18] Let’s see, season one. Chapter one launched the Atlas Brew was all about the new zinc. Blockchain from Star Atlas and that was it for the week. We’ll go ahead and talk about that. But before I do, just a couple things to mention on things I’m doing at Star Atlas. First of course is my main website, intergalactic car.com.

[00:00:36] It’s a great star outs we. Resource website has a great beginner guide. Other guides are linked to that from other content creators do have some directories of content creators. Star Atlas Guilds builders tools in Star Atlas. You can also catch my different recaps. There’s the, weekly recap newsletter.

[00:00:54] There’s the audio recaps summaries of the Starla events. And I do have one new thing which you can actually subscribe to. Get an email update each time the Starless team posts in their discord in their announcement channels. So all that can be found@intergalacticcarroll.com. Also, have a stylists merch store, very small at the time@intergalacticgear.com, just selling some mugs and some artwork.

[00:01:18] Again, hope to expand that out, but just balancing time on other star os projects, business, personal things, summer at least here in the Northern Hemisphere. So lots of things there. On that website, intergalactic gear.com do have a merch survey. We’d love to have you fill that out and gimme some feedback on what kind of merch for star out list you’d be interested in.

[00:01:36] And then I’m also trying to start a, community for Starless gamers who don’t wanna join Guild. So a non guild. It’s at intergalactic coalition.com. Do have an interest survey there, that’s something you might want to join. Please check that out and fill out that interest survey. So as far as again, things that happened this past weekend, Starla I did mention the HU Sim launch.

[00:01:55] I think that was on Wednesday. Had a couple of glitches, but it is launched. Been seeing a lot of people on Twitter mentioning that they’re taking a look at that in playing and getting experience. Do check that out. I think it’s holim.star atlas.com. But anyways, and then the big or big one, more engaging one for me at least, was the past Atlas Brew.

[00:02:14] This one was all about the new zinc token slash blockchain slash. Service. So this was announced a couple weeks ago at the Star House Town Hall. And again, a quick summary is, it is a new Solana L one, so level one. Clone, of, I, I still don’t know all the blockchains words, so it’s a salona virtual machine, but that doesn’t mean anything to me.

[00:02:38] But the big key is that going forward, all of the star outs, gaming mechanisms will start running on this new blockchain. And the biggest benefits are twofold. One is stability and performance, because unlike the current salon of blockchain, which could have everything going on this would just be dedicated to, or.

[00:02:57] Maybe not dedicated, but definitely prioritizing start Atlas resources or gameplay. Additionally, the blockchain will have reduced fees which is one of the issues with currently Solana. So each transaction costs a little bit of Solana and it could substantially add up. As you do many transactions playing things like start out with Sage, the new blockchain will have less fees.

[00:03:21] Actually, they did clarify this in the brew, and I guess it’s a good point. The transaction, let’s see. They’ll still be the same number of transactions, but the cost for a transaction, hence a fee is directly rated to the price of the zinc token, so not less fees. Less cost for the same number of fees, but the idea is that zinc will co, will be worthless or per token or per percentage will be less.

[00:03:54] And so that’s why the fees will be substantially lower in cost, but not in the number of fees. But it was interesting getting into the details that if zinc somehow. Cost, excuse me, was valued at the same amount as Solana, then the fees would cost a lot, but the way they rationalize around one, that’s a good problem to have.

[00:04:17] And I guess I understand that if one token of Solana is worth a hundred dollars and one token of zinc is worth a penny, there’s your 99 maybe not 99%, but a lot lower. But if that same zinc, zinc token was worth. Whatever. I said a hundred bucks. Then if you own it, you have a hundred dollars.

[00:04:38] Yeah. So I guess that all was fine. But the way that they would counteract that was that Star Atlas themselves and the star Atlas Dao would each be validators. So each time they process a transaction, they would make zinc tokens as, yeah, compensation for running the validators and then they could pass it along with actually reducing the fees, which is what they were thinking they would do for Solana.

[00:05:07] So anyways, again, if you really want all the details, you really need to listen to that list. Brew star s TV has the full recording of that. You can listen to my AA summary, but we’ll get into this with Jeff. But anyways, point of all that is, the two main reasons to have zinc are for better performance.

[00:05:24] Meaning they can sculpt the blockchain to focus more on star atlas things. And initially outta the gate the fees will be less because the token price is less. But if it were to grow, that’s only good across the board and they have a way to mitigate that which they were originally planning to do.

[00:05:43] Win-win and all that. That was supposed to be a summary, which it wasn’t, and it got into detail by, let me go through the highlights of what I at least picked out from the Atlas Pro. It was a structured as a q and a session, so lots of questions now. I think most of the questions had already been pre-sent in which is fine.

[00:05:59] Again. You’re looking for the answers, not necessarily where the questions there. So one was about this bridge, and again, still not a hundred percent sure on blockchains, but because it’s a clone of Solana, you may wanna move it between, and that’s using a bridge. So it’s possible. But again, not really sure if I understand.

[00:06:19] The, all the mechanics of it, but I guess if it exists, that’s all that really matters, so you’re not isolated. They did mention that there will be a wall wallet, crypto wallet partner, but I’m pretty sure the name wasn’t mentioned. I guess we’ll see what that is. I thought at the town hall they said since the salon it should work with everything, but yeah, I’m not sure there, so we will probably earn more.

[00:06:41] They did answer some more questions related to this quote. Cold start problem when new blockchains don’t have, nobody has any reason to go to ’em because there’s nothing on ’em. But this one will be started immediately with Star Atlas. And they were shown out showing some statistics that the number of transactions just from Star Atlas on the Salona blockchain is more than other blockchains.

[00:07:04] So this should not be a problem. So again, just good to know and don’t understand it fully, but. Good to know. There’s some questions about who can become these validators to process all the transactions. And apparently it’ll be a, not a request, but they’ll reach out to people who want to sign licensing agreements.

[00:07:22] But if I remember correctly, from the town hall, it’s not like they need a lot of ’em. And then someday they’ll open it up to anybody. But again, we want to control it. And again. If the ultimate goal is performance of the Star Atlas products, that makes perfect sense. There’s a couple questions about paid subscriptions to zinc and what those would entail.

[00:07:42] I’m not opposed to this. Again, definitely a revenue source, but I think it’s a little premature because they always caveat it well, this is what we’re thinking and again, until it has a price. A frequency and a list of what you get for it. Again, makes sense, but nothing at this point really to truly understand.

[00:08:03] There was some talk about whether or not there’ll be any perks for quote unquote old gamers that have been with StartOut for a while. But it was, again, reiterated. The whole point is if all the people who have been playing Star Atlas for years have a leg up, then it’ll deincentivize anybody new from coming in because the idea is that this is supposed to be a marketing thing to get new people to join, who then can play the star Atlas.

[00:08:27] Products get experience, which that experience will directly to what the size of your airdrop. So again, instead of just being sent things for no reason, you actually have control over how much tokens you could get in an airdrop. On the surface, I. Yeah, I do agree with that. It would be nice to get something, but as has been mentioned, anybody who’s starting fresh doesn’t understand anything.

[00:08:50] So buying a ship is complicated lockers and definitely sage and things like that. So again I think it’s a balancing act, but it makes more sense to start everybody out on a lay level playing field. So nobody feels like they are dis. Advantaged immediately. But we’ll see. And again, it could turn out to be, I think they threw out an idea, like we’d get a special name or something like that.

[00:09:12] So a perk, that’s cool. But not changing your airdrop allocation or something. One other question that came up, or an answer that came up was that by having this blockchain they can actually do some unique on chain things that they can’t do on Solana because they actually control it. And I think this was mentioned in the context of hiding player movements, like a fog of war type of thing, because of the blockchains, everything’s visible.

[00:09:36] Then. You can go find anybody. So again, that, that actually seems like a good game mechanic. And then the last thing that was mentioned near the end was again, that ultimately the goal is not necessarily just to build a video game, but to really build a quote, decentralized cyber nation.

[00:09:55] And blockchains are one method that a lot of people talk about to invent decentralization. Cyber nation metaverse, whatever term we want to use. Again, that was some of the compelling thoughts on why Star Atlas was interesting over any other traditional game because there was the blockchain feature, there was the decentralized feature and this ready player one type world experience.

[00:10:17] That kind of goes back to a lot of people at the beginning do. Does zinc really make sense? Should it really be there and I think it, as we’re getting more used to the knowledge of this is coming, it does fit more. But I’ll get into that when I go in my state of Soros anyway.

[00:10:34] So that’s the thoughts that I had, things that brought up and the q and A for the Atlas Brew for the Zinc. Again, if you wanna us into the whole presentation, star House TV has recording on their, youTube channel. If you just want a summary, please come to mind intergalactic car.com and look around for my event recaps, and you can get a, I think it’s three or four minute AI summary audio version there, or just subscribe to my podcast and you’ll get it yourself.

[00:10:59] Moving on the next session, just talking about the state of Star Atlas. So again, first thing was the Hal Sim launch. There were a few issues. The gate I don’t know again, games, video games. In general, never launch perfectly. Not too whatever. And the hall sim development team has always been very responsive to that.

[00:11:16] And it seems like from announcements, those were fixed quite quickly. Seems like there’s already a good number of players. Again, I saw lots of people talking about it. I, on Twitter even a few kind of non or newer people to the community. So that was great. Personally, I’m still unfortunately gonna.

[00:11:33] Stay away from it. But again, not for lack of interest, but just lack of time. Been working on other things. Again, like I mentioned, it’s summer here in the Northern Hemisphere. Kids are going back to school and this upcoming week and again, it’s just not something that immediately jumped out.

[00:11:49] Totally glad that this product exists. I think it’s a great intro for people because it is browser based. Saw some people post on Twitter that they’re playing on their tablets. Or phones. So that’s all. Maybe not phones, tablets. So I think that’s all great. And again, it’s set up with seasons and chapters and I think it’s more of when I have dedicated time to play.

[00:12:09] And again, I think if you’ve been a long time listener to the podcast, my ultimate game playing is space exploration slash put down a claim stake somewhere. Build up my little, whatever you wanna call it. I’m not sure I really like the idea of a total supply chain, but the idea of, mining resources, exploring, defending my base or whatever, things like that.

[00:12:28] Again, a little more of a solo player. I. Not really interested in joining a Start Atlas Guild, though I would like to hang out with other people who also don’t wanna join out guilds. Again, another plug for my intergalactic coalition.com website. But yeah, Halon just, to be at the end, it is really time ’cause everybody talks about, many people are talking about being very fun.

[00:12:48] So time, not having enough time to really put into it, but also just, the impermanence of it. And again, that’s not a negative, it’s just my gameplay style. There was one post in the foundation room from the Chito who is leading up the UE five, talking about cheating in UE five and some of the new things.

[00:13:07] ’cause this is the first time the UE five version of the game has progression and rewards at the end. Didn’t really understand exactly what, but yeah, yeah, Stillery versions I guess. And again, good to figure this stuff out now. ’cause I know lots of people have talked about lots of cheating goes on mainstream games like Call of Duty and things like that.

[00:13:25] Not surprising, but also I guess goes with the territory. And then last big topic again, some of my thoughts on zinc. One thing I had to change up my, sage play, I’d finished something, so I had to go in and move a sh move my fleet manually. And it just didn’t work and it didn’t update.

[00:13:41] And again, I was just reiterated or reminded that yeah, this is the frustrating part. And why is it not working? Again, it’s solana, it’s busy at that moment or whatever. ’cause did something today and it felt fine. So again, I think if for no other reason, zinc is a great benefit. To just improve the performance where if what I just experienced this morning never happens unless truly like the whole game’s down or something I think people move on and start talking about it as a game as opposed to this just doesn’t work.

[00:14:14] Now it’s been a week later from the official announcement and on this q and a it, because it kinda came outta the blue. And there was no pre leaks or anything like that. It is starting to feel more and more like this is truly a well thought out product. They have put a lot of thought in how to launch it.

[00:14:32] Again, they keep talking about stuff will come out in September, stuff will come out in December. They always caveat that if everything goes right, but the fact that they’re even saying dates they’re making partnerships, they’re talking to people, they’re structuring it as an independent company.

[00:14:46] They’re trying to get, funding for that to hire direct employees for it. And even as mentioned twice, it’s not something they’ve thought of just outta the blue. This has been an ongoing process for a couple years. Yeah it, again, it’s all feeling like, oh, okay, this makes sense. Let’s talk about the details and things like that.

[00:15:04] On the other hand, it does seem a little counterproductive. But that thought is diminishing. Quickly as the weeks go on because it was mentioned again at the q and a at the West Brew that this is really an next extension of what they were talking about for this product called Apol, which is basically they were gonna run their own blockchain or something.

[00:15:27] And so it’s Hey, if we’re gonna do this, why don’t we just make it a totally independent blockchain that isn’t. Totally specific to the game, maybe can entice other games to come on it. Or again, independent people totally also allows for this whole concept of introducing new people who just wanna get the airdrops who might play the game.

[00:15:44] But again, it does just, again, continue to start real or feeling that this is very well thought out. Not everything makes sense. Maybe not everything is again. Knowing what we knew, a lot of questions were about does this hurt the current tokens and stuff like that. Again, I don’t totally get all the token ons, all the things like that, but it, yeah it, as we get more information, it all feels very well thought out and moving there and, and again, maybe this is where I am getting more excited on the pure blockchain aspect of this, the potential upsides of just getting a new, getting into a new token early. Obviously that’s the classic thing. If you buy stock in a company as soon as it comes out as an IPO, that’s the best time to buy it.

[00:16:28] If you get into a token right away, that’s the best time to do it. Again, all that assumes that the things are go well and they have long-term value, but it is how things work and people want to get in at the ground floor. Yeah. So there’s admittedly a lot of now intrigue in that what would that actually mean?

[00:16:46] And, how does this way back to the paid subscriptions and all this other stuff. So anyways again it’s for not hearing anything about this to literally a week later going yeah, makes sense. Move on. I guess that. Joe’s a really thought out plan, and I guess we’ll always see how execution goes, but they did mention that Hal Sim current is running on some sort of pre-release beta whatever of zinc.

[00:17:09] So again, this technology is not foreign to them. They’re not inventing it. They’ve. Implementing it internally and or now in a public product for a while now. And then the last topic just on state of star, Alice and I added this on as a last minute addendum because I realized, wait a second, it’s the weekend Saturday for me, and the next town hall comes up this Wednesday, and again, absolutely nothing has been mentioned.

[00:17:32] They did say something, the Atlas Brew that, oh, just mark it on your calendar. But that was it. And I was like, and you’re gonna, and nothing it almost feels under hyped. But there’s no announcement. So again, looking at the first two, we had an announcement. The first one was definitely gonna be about UE five.

[00:17:49] Second one was, you’re gonna be blown away. And it was a combination, HOL, sim, and zinc. Now, hol sim in hindsight, seemed like an actual progression. They closed one down and then. A week later, they launched the next public version and there was a little bit of marketing behind it to announce it. So that all cool.

[00:18:08] So nothing for this one. But I’ll stick with what I said at the last episode. It just feels like it’s a foregone conclusion. This will be about C four and to me anyways, the mystery will be whether or not we get a release state for the public version of it. And again, as I speculated last week, if C four is gonna run on zinc, and zinc is coming out in December, it just feels like so many things are already basically in the glide slope and that, they’re just moving forward. But as soon as I said that out loud, I realized one thing, I launching a blockchain in December and a new version of the game that feels like something they shouldn’t do.

[00:18:46] Oh, and then take a winter break. Hopefully this isn’t well again. Early December. Middle December, I guess it could pull it off, but if December keeps bringing up and anything slips and you have the holidays, yeah, it feels like there’s a great opportunity either to hit your deadline or this slips into the next year, which again is fine.

[00:19:04] And again, I think, I really think zinc needs to be the priority because it’s the foundation they’re building the game on. And again, they’ve already said that C four will run on zinc. That feels like the two have to be together. So anyways there’s my speculation for the next town hall when you listen next week, I guess we’ll know anyways.

[00:19:18] And then the final thing, just talking about my journey point, Starla, again, I’ve been focusing on star, sage, collecting a lot of resources to craft a Mamba X, which may or may not be available anymore, but kinda just stick with my plan and, we’ll see what happens. Either. Yeah, we’ll just see.

[00:19:33] Did think I last week had finished moving all the titanium orb, so that one’s done. I’ve been focusing on Luminate got some actually my big fleet ’cause it’s a much shorter distance. Actually, moved everything. And so it ran outta mo more to move. So I moved it into a mining role.

[00:19:47] It’s mining, Luminate, ran out of food immediately, so I had to buy some food to keep it going. So again, just kinda just juggling that, trying to reach that goal. And then the star base I’m at has the next component, which I think is silica. I’m not, I have to go back to my list. But anyway, so yeah, just mining.

[00:20:03] Once I get enough, do back some moving, probably run out of fuel again, so I gotta mine some hydrogen. So yeah, just feeling this steady thing of mine move. Mine craft fuel type of thing. So anyways moving along pretty good there. So that’s pretty much it. So anyways thanks for listening.

[00:20:19] Again if anybody would like to be a guest on podcast, definitely open that idea. I’d love to chat about the week and review if you’re a star, US content creator and wanna talk about. Your stuff. Great builder, totally open. Team members talk about beginner type topics. Also open. Please do check out my website@intergalacticherald.com.

[00:20:35] You can find this podcast. You can find my guides. You can find resources directories, recaps email newsletters. Again, please check that out@intergalacticherald.com. Please check out my merch store@interggear.com. Definitely wanna buy a mug. I got. Many options there. Fill out merch survey.

[00:20:52] And finally, if you’re interested in maybe joining a future star community of gamers who aren’t joining guilds, please check out intergalactic coalition.com. Other than that that was the week in Star Atlas. I’m met with Intergalactic car. Have a great week ahead.