Neo Tokyo is an exclusive online community, claiming to be the SoHo House of crypto gaming's major players. It is preparing to reopen NFT sales on OpenSea, and if you enjoy teaming up with friends for complex, riddle-filled contests, then this is the opportunity you've been waiting for.
Neo Tokyo launched its latest riddle competition 'Whisperer: The Holy Monk' from October 26 to November 9, with the first phase ending on November 1. This annual event offers the opportunity to win one of the community's highest-ranked NFTs, 'Castle's Hand.' The Neo Tokyo team stated that this NFT is valued at over $300,000 and offers top-tier access within the community.
Additionally, Neo Tokyo informs us that it plans to distribute over $200,000 in additional crypto rewards to the top 100 players on the event leaderboard.
In Neo Tokyo, Citizens are the core NFTs that allow holders to participate in community activities and enjoy resources and benefits. Each Citizen NFT consists of four unique components: Identity, Item Cache, Land, and Vault. In 2021, these NFT components were initially obtained for free by solving complex riddles and challenges.
Anyone can participate in the 'Whisperer' challenge by solving a series of immersive riddles. The first phase will end on November 1. For those who remember the tense 3 AM tweets from the early days of Neo Tokyo - when joining was as hard as breaking into Fort Knox - the team has since made entry a bit easier while still maintaining an exciting level of competition, allowing 'non-Citizens' to participate.
Neo Tokyo was co-founded by cryptocurrency influencers Alex Becker and Ellio Trades in 2021 and quickly attracted thousands to its immersive treasure-hunting game.
With the end of the first phase of this year's 'Whisperer' competition, OpenSea interviewed Firestorm, the project leader of Neo Tokyo (also known as SaaS product and project manager David Rohlfing), to discuss what drives the enthusiasm of the passionate Neo Tokyo community.
Note: This record has been edited for brevity and clarity.
OpenSea: Firestorm, can you tell us how you got involved with Neo Tokyo and became the project lead?
Firestorm: My background is in software product management. I was initially a project manager at a large bank, then moved to a travel startup, and then to a marketing SaaS company. Around that time, NFTs and web3 started to gain popularity, and I delved into day trading cryptocurrencies.
Neo Tokyo was launched by Alex Becker and Ellio Trades, two of today's biggest crypto gaming influencers, who created a truly unique project that replicates the treasure hunt atmosphere of 'No. 1 Player' with intricate riddles.
At that time, the largest NFT collections - CryptoPunks, Bored Ape Yacht Club, and NBA Top Shot - had already garnered mainstream attention, but Neo Tokyo stood out as the first to require people to earn their wealth through complex challenges, making it difficult to obtain and generating immense interest.
My cousin was already involved, so we spent hours researching clues together. When the second series launched, I officially joined as an Outer Citizen. The Neo Tokyo community has always been very active, and when Becker and Ellio started forming the community council and management team, they reached out to me. The vibrancy and goals of the community resonated closely with my experiences, which is why I became the project leader.
OpenSea: Can you tell us about some of the challenges you and the community have tackled? Can you give examples of the types of challenges?
Firestorm: Sure, we have many hidden 'underground bars' online, which are secret sites that people must find and then solve riddles to secure a spot on the initial whitelist.
Then, for each part of your citizen entity, there is a separate riddle, including 'Identity' (your core character traits), 'Item Cache' (things they hold and wear), 'Land' (background), and 'Vault' (determines how much you produce in our BYTES token). These components together form a complete citizen, technically groundbreaking, as combining multiple entities into a single NFT has never been done on such a scale before.
Then there's the BYTES token. About a year later, we adjusted the issuance plan to lower its inflation rate, requiring holders to stake their Citizens to earn BYTES instead of passively receiving them. We even fully migrated to a second version of the token to improve it.
But the puzzles are very intense, and many members joke that the experience gave them PTSD due to how brutal they are. Becker would drop clues at 3 AM, and if you missed them within an hour, you were out of luck. This established a strong bond of trauma among the successful, as only 2,000 NFTs were up for grabs among over 80,000 contenders.
OpenSea: No wonder Neo Tokyo has the nickname 'Illuminati of crypto gaming.' Now I understand what that means!
Firestorm: Sometimes it does feel a bit cult-like. If you haven't heard, our greeting is even 'Grand Rise.'
OpenSea: Wow! What else is unique about the structure and community building of Neo Tokyo?
Firestorm: Neo Tokyo operates almost like a decentralized franchise. We have different departments - development, promotion, podcasts, creative, and gaming - and each team allows members to pitch ideas, build projects, and leverage the expertise of some of the web3's most influential founders.
We have a web3 news team, a gaming department called NT Plays, and even a venture capital arm that funds founders. Anyone with a vision can submit a proposal, and if they gain the majority approval from the council, the community will support them.
This setup gives members true ownership, and the collaborative projects we initiate (from full-service agencies to gaming tournaments) come directly from within our network. Our advantage lies in our collective expertise, which makes Neo Tokyo a powerful web3 network.
OpenSea: Please introduce the upcoming 'Whisperer' riddle event. What can participants expect?
Firestorm: The Whisperer event will start on October 26. This is our annual riddle challenge, and we will be giving away one of seven coveted NFTs known as 'Castle's Hand,' which are the highest-ranked NFTs in Neo Tokyo, each valued at over $300,000. The prize pool for this competition is $500,000, and it is open to all, with rewards for the top 150 on the leaderboard.
This year's event isn't as brutal as last time. Becker would drop clues at 3 AM, and if you missed them, you were out of luck. We improved the process so that participants don't need to stay online all day to join, but the difficulty still exists. Neo Tokyo is known for bonding its members through these intense challenges, and Whisperer will continue that tradition.
OpenSea: What does Neo Tokyo's return to OpenSea bring to your community and potential collectors?
Firestorm: Returning to OpenSea has expanded our accessibility, especially since we have over 20 different NFT contracts to support. Transactions will become smoother, and collectors who initially missed out now have the chance to join. OpenSea is a hot market for ETH NFTs, and our presence there allows us to showcase Neo Tokyo to a broader audience.
One of Neo Tokyo's core values is exclusivity. Our NFTs are not just collectibles; they are gateways to an elite community of web3 gaming founders, builders, and investors. So far, about 75% of our original holders have never sold, indicating that people highly value being part of this community. For anyone just discovering Neo Tokyo, this is an opportunity to own an NFT that is not only rare but also allows you to connect with the most influential figures in the blockchain gaming space.
OpenSea: The Neo Tokyo team sometimes describes itself as 'pioneers of the crypto gaming realm.' Why do you think it has earned such a reputation?
Firestorm: Partly it's the exclusivity and dedication required to join, and partly it's the community itself, with many big companies in the web3 gaming space, like Immutable and Avax Gaming, participating in Neo Tokyo. Some people joined early through the initial free mint, while others later joined by purchasing NFTs, and even dozens of founders have contacted us to wish to be part of the network.
Neo Tokyo does not have typical entry barriers but requires a commitment to the community's vision and values. As a result, it fosters an atmosphere of high loyalty and shared purpose, and there is definitely a sense of being part of something special - almost like an Illuminati of the web3 gaming world.
OpenSea: Besides the digital space, how does Neo Tokyo facilitate face-to-face connections among its members?
Firestorm: We are a global community, but in-person events are important to us. We just had our three-year anniversary party in Las Vegas, set up a booth at the Rare Evo conference, and about 150 members mingled and discussed with us. Earlier this year, we also participated in Token2049 in Singapore, attracting members from around the world.
Building these real-life connections strengthens the relationships members have built online. Many of our Citizens are founders who have formed entire teams within Neo Tokyo. Face-to-face interactions help reinforce these connections, and we will definitely organize more events in the future, including possibly attending the NFT NYC event.
OpenSea: How are decisions made within the Neo Tokyo community? Does it operate in the form of a DAO?
Firestorm: We are not strictly a DAO but rather a 'pseudo-DAO' with decentralized elements. We have a community council of 22 members who oversee proposals put forth by Citizens. Any member can submit an idea, and if the council accepts it, it is discussed publicly on Discord. Council members can provide feedback, and the council ultimately votes on whether to move forward.
This system allows us to prioritize the best ideas within the community. Since our council members are all volunteers who are genuinely invested in the vision of Neo Tokyo, we have processed over 150 proposals in the past two and a half years, and some of the best projects and partnerships have originated directly from this model.
OpenSea: Looking ahead, as web3 evolves, where do you see Neo Tokyo heading?
Firestorm: Neo Tokyo's goal has always been to build the most valuable team of web3 gaming investors and builders. We are committed to supporting our members' growth in the industry. As web3 gaming matures, our focus is on filling gaps, such as helping game studios connect directly with engaged players through initiatives like NT Plays, which hosts weekly gaming events and tournaments.
In the short term, we will focus on ensuring our members have the resources and partnerships they need to succeed. We are constantly improving how we support the community and will continue to adapt to the evolving needs of web3.
OpenSea: Where should those interested in testing their skills and joining the community go?
Firestorm: Before November 1, head to our X page to enter the first phase of 'Whisperer.' Before it ends, we will host live Spaces and other events. We also regularly hold AMAs and other live events that non-Citizens can attend. The riddles are challenging, but the rewards - and the connections you will build - are worth it.
Note: Mention of the BYTES token is for reference only and should not be considered financial or investment advice.
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