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Bored Ape Yacht Club is making a comeback — as a metaverse

Bored Ape Yacht Club is making a comeback — as a metaverse

It’s dusk, and bugs are chirping all around me. I’m wandering through the middle of a big, virtual swamp toward the sound of thumping bass off in the distance. There isn’t much else nearby — some trees, a couple of other players. It’s mostly just me and the sound emanating from a large wooden structure strung up with lights sitting farther out into the swamp.

When I finally arrive, it rises above me: the official clubhouse of the Bored Ape Yacht Club. I make for the door to head inside. Except I find I can’t get access; even though the lights are on in the house, the doors don’t actually open. There’s nothing to do.

These were my first steps inside the virtual world themed after the infamous cartoon monkeys that became the symbol of everything about the NFT craze. Even though the NFT hype has died down, Yuga Labs, the company behind BAYC and a few other NFT collections, is about to make a big new digital push with another early 2020s buzzword, a metaverse called Otherside.

Otherside has been a long time coming: The company announced its intention to build Otherside after raising $450 million in funding in 2022, with one of BAYC’s cofounders saying at the time that the company hoped to build an “interoperable,” “gamified,” and “decentralized” virtual world. Yuga Labs has mostly been quiet about the project since then, finally launching an alpha earlier this year. Today, at the company’s ApeFest event in Las Vegas, Yuga Labs announced that Otherside will be officially launching on November 12th.

“It’s basically one of the most ambitious projects ever attempted in the space”

“It’s basically one of the most ambitious projects ever attempted in the space, and it’s finally starting to take shape,” Yuga Labs chief product officer Michael Figge tells The Verge.

The short version of the pitch is that Otherside is something like Roblox or Fortnite, but with crypto: you can use NFTs as avatars to explore virtual worlds created by Yuga Labs and by other players. You can log in with a crypto wallet, but you don’t need an NFT to participate or just hang out; you can just join from a browser using more traditional methods like your email.

“We think that there should be a very low barrier to entry for somebody to try out Otherside, because once they do try it, it’s a really great way to get exposed to what it’s like to actually own digital assets,” Figge says.

There’s a bunch of crypto stuff everywhere you look. NFT avatars, NFT plots of land, blockchain-based currency. Yuga hopes it can build a creator ecosystem around all of this, giving builders a more compelling deal than competing metaverses because these digital assets exist outside of its world and can be moved elsewhere in the future. You can also mostly ignore all of this and just run around Otherside without diving too far into the crypto of it all, if you want to.

In addition to the area I explored, The Swamp, there will be a big virtual hub world called the Nexus. Some community-made experiences will also be available to play, too. Those include a shooter game called Bathroom Blitz (“action so explosive, you’ll be clenching cheeks the whole time,” according to a description on the Otherside website) and a zombie game called Otherside Outbreak. In worlds, you can also create “Bubbles,” which are basically an Otherside version of a social audio room, like a Clubhouse room or an X Space.

“We actually think there’s a really big potential for people that want to make their own experiences on Otherside,” Figge says. “Going after incumbents in the user-generated experience field, like Roblox and Minecraft, is a huge opportunity for us, because I think a lot of people might be disenchanted with that current way of supporting creators and the economic model behind it.”

Yuga Labs and Amazon are partnering on a “Boximus” avatar

Otherside’s in-game avatars are 3D representations of NFTs that players own. “Any NFT collection can submit their avatar collection to be reviewed and used in Otherside,” Figge says. There will also be avatars built using a new system Yuga Labs is calling Voyager. There will initially be two avatar partnerships. One is a 300-piece collection from digital artist Daniel Arsham. Another is a co-branded “tokenized asset” in partnership with Amazon called Boximus that Figge describes as “basically, like, made up of a bunch of Amazon boxes.” Figge says the Amazon avatar will be available directly on Amazon’s website.

These avatars will cost money. “Think of these voyagers like a ‘skin’ from the traditional gaming world,” Figge says. “We aren’t disclosing pricing details just yet, but what we can say is they are meant to be reasonable and affordable.” And because they’re blockchain-based assets, you’ll be able to resell the ones you own, according to Figge, which you can’t do in other metaverse-like games.

I got to run around The Swamp before writing this article. This world seemed to be a giant, 3D social chatroom — there wasn’t any sort of game to play besides exploring the space and chatting with fellow visitors over voice or text. And while I don’t want to judge a pre-launch virtual world too harshly before it launches publicly, it reminded me more of the hollow experiences I’ve had wandering around Meta’s Horizon Worlds or a metaverse fashion show than something immediately fun and engaging like Fortnite.

In The Swamp, there just wasn’t much to see or do besides wander around the outside of the clubhouse (which I couldn’t go inside of) or explore the swamp to see things like an outhouse (closed) and a platform by a train track (with a sign that says “out of order”). To my surprise, as I was walking away from the platform, a train started rumbling by, but my character ran too slowly to catch it. I found a portal that sent me flying in the direction of the moving train, but I missed landing on it and splashed back into the water.

Even if we assume those sorts of nitpicky problems get fixed and The Swamp or the Nexus or Otherside experiences are filled with players, 3D environments that are primarily for socializing are usually very niche or pretty boring. Hits like VRChat are the exception, not the rule. And part of what makes things like Fortnite and Roblox so popular is that they have games to play while hanging out with your friends. At launch, and with such a focus on crypto, I’m not sure Otherside will have that same pull.

Maybe Otherside will develop into something more interesting; Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft all snowballed their way into becoming huge hits. But I’m skeptical of what I see right now, and you probably won’t see me on the other side.

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#Bored #Ape #Yacht #Club #making #comeback #metaverse

After 10 days, the four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft have returned to Earth, their mission around the Moon a success.

Integrity, the name of the crew’s spacecraft as part of NASA’s Artemis II mission, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California, at 5:07 p.m. Pacific Time, according to NASA. The four crew members aboard — three Americans and one Canadian — were all in “green” (or safe and healthy) condition after the Orion craft’s “perfect” landing.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfhDuOHMp0A[/embed]

The crew was composed of Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. From liftoff to splashdown, the quartet was in space for just over nine days (with NASA rounding up and calling it a 10-day mission).

Artemis II was NASA’s first mission to the Moon’s orbit in more than 50 years. The crew traveled farther from Earth than humans ever have before — reaching an estimated 252,760 miles from our planet. During their journey, the crew orbited the Moon, taking photos from their flyby of never-before-seen parts of the surface, and even witnessing a total solar eclipse. They identified new craters, naming one after Wiseman’s wife Carroll, who died of cancer in 2020.

“These were the ambassadors to the stars that we sent out there,” Jared Isaacman, NASA’s administrator, said after the landing. “I can’t imagine a better crew. It was a perfect mission.”

#NASA #Artemis #splashes #Pacific #Ocean #perfect #landing #Moon #mission #TechCrunchartemis ii,NASA,Space">NASA Artemis II splashes down in Pacific Ocean in ‘perfect’ landing for Moon mission | TechCrunch
After 10 days, the four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft have returned to Earth, their mission around the Moon a success.

Integrity, the name of the crew’s spacecraft as part of NASA’s Artemis II mission, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California, at 5:07 p.m. Pacific Time, according to NASA. The four crew members aboard — three Americans and one Canadian — were all in “green” (or safe and healthy) condition after the Orion craft’s “perfect” landing.


[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfhDuOHMp0A[/embed]


The crew was composed of Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. From liftoff to splashdown, the quartet was in space for just over nine days (with NASA rounding up and calling it a 10-day mission).







Artemis II was NASA’s first mission to the Moon’s orbit in more than 50 years. The crew traveled farther from Earth than humans ever have before — reaching an estimated 252,760 miles from our planet. During their journey, the crew orbited the Moon, taking photos from their flyby of never-before-seen parts of the surface, and even witnessing a total solar eclipse. They identified new craters, naming one after Wiseman’s wife Carroll, who died of cancer in 2020.

“These were the ambassadors to the stars that we sent out there,” Jared Isaacman, NASA’s administrator, said after the landing. “I can’t imagine a better crew. It was a perfect mission.”
#NASA #Artemis #splashes #Pacific #Ocean #perfect #landing #Moon #mission #TechCrunchartemis ii,NASA,Space

photos from their flyby of never-before-seen parts of the surface, and even witnessing a total solar eclipse. They identified new craters, naming one after Wiseman’s wife Carroll, who died of cancer in 2020.

“These were the ambassadors to the stars that we sent out there,” Jared Isaacman, NASA’s administrator, said after the landing. “I can’t imagine a better crew. It was a perfect mission.”

#NASA #Artemis #splashes #Pacific #Ocean #perfect #landing #Moon #mission #TechCrunchartemis ii,NASA,Space">NASA Artemis II splashes down in Pacific Ocean in ‘perfect’ landing for Moon mission | TechCrunch

After 10 days, the four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft have returned to Earth, their mission around the Moon a success.

Integrity, the name of the crew’s spacecraft as part of NASA’s Artemis II mission, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California, at 5:07 p.m. Pacific Time, according to NASA. The four crew members aboard — three Americans and one Canadian — were all in “green” (or safe and healthy) condition after the Orion craft’s “perfect” landing.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfhDuOHMp0A[/embed]

The crew was composed of Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. From liftoff to splashdown, the quartet was in space for just over nine days (with NASA rounding up and calling it a 10-day mission).

Artemis II was NASA’s first mission to the Moon’s orbit in more than 50 years. The crew traveled farther from Earth than humans ever have before — reaching an estimated 252,760 miles from our planet. During their journey, the crew orbited the Moon, taking photos from their flyby of never-before-seen parts of the surface, and even witnessing a total solar eclipse. They identified new craters, naming one after Wiseman’s wife Carroll, who died of cancer in 2020.

“These were the ambassadors to the stars that we sent out there,” Jared Isaacman, NASA’s administrator, said after the landing. “I can’t imagine a better crew. It was a perfect mission.”

#NASA #Artemis #splashes #Pacific #Ocean #perfect #landing #Moon #mission #TechCrunchartemis ii,NASA,Space
OPPO F-series has always focused on the durability side of things, with some of the toughest phones I’ve ever tested. With the new F33 series, the Chinese smartphone maker is bringing a new type of durability-focused smartphone to India. Based on details shared ahead of launch, the company is positioning the lineup as a solution to everyday smartphone problems like cracked screens, water damage, and battery anxiety.

Built for Indian Conditions

OPPO F33 Series to Launch With IP69K Rating and 7,000mAh Battery
	
The OPPO F-series has always focused on the durability side of things, with some of the toughest phones I’ve ever tested. With the new F33 series, the Chinese smartphone maker is bringing a new type of durability-focused smartphone to India. Based on details shared ahead of launch, the company is positioning the lineup as a solution to everyday smartphone problems like cracked screens, water damage, and battery anxiety.



Built for Indian Conditions







Durability seems to be the core focus here. The OPPO F33 series is said to come with IP69K certification, which is a step above the usual IP67 or IP68 ratings seen in most mid-range phones. In practical terms, this means the device can handle high-pressure, high-temperature water jets and provide complete dust protection. It’s designed to survive not just accidental splashes, but harsher environments like heavy rain, kitchens, or dusty outdoor conditions.



Beyond certifications, OPPO says the F33 series has undergone military-grade durability testing. This includes extreme temperature tests ranging from freezing cold to high heat, salt exposure for coastal conditions, and even simulations of strong winds and heavy rainfall. The devices are also tested for drops, with thousands of simulated falls and immersion tests to ensure real-world reliability.



Structurally, the phones feature a 360-degree armor body, built using an aerospace-grade aluminium frame, reinforced internals, and thicker protective materials for both the display and back panel. There’s also an internal cushioning system designed to absorb shocks during impact.



Long-Term Battery Health



Battery life is another major highlight of the F33 series. OPPO is introducing a 7,000mAh battery that’s designed to retain up to 80% of its capacity even after five years of usage.



The company is using a self-repairing electrolyte technology, which is said to help maintain battery health over time. Combined with 80W fast charging, reverse charging, and bypass charging support, the F33 series aims to reduce both charging time and long-term battery degradation.

#OPPO #F33 #Series #Launch #IP69K #Rating #7000mAh #BatteryOppo

Durability seems to be the core focus here. The OPPO F33 series is said to come with IP69K certification, which is a step above the usual IP67 or IP68 ratings seen in most mid-range phones. In practical terms, this means the device can handle high-pressure, high-temperature water jets and provide complete dust protection. It’s designed to survive not just accidental splashes, but harsher environments like heavy rain, kitchens, or dusty outdoor conditions.

Beyond certifications, OPPO says the F33 series has undergone military-grade durability testing. This includes extreme temperature tests ranging from freezing cold to high heat, salt exposure for coastal conditions, and even simulations of strong winds and heavy rainfall. The devices are also tested for drops, with thousands of simulated falls and immersion tests to ensure real-world reliability.

Structurally, the phones feature a 360-degree armor body, built using an aerospace-grade aluminium frame, reinforced internals, and thicker protective materials for both the display and back panel. There’s also an internal cushioning system designed to absorb shocks during impact.

Long-Term Battery Health

Battery life is another major highlight of the F33 series. OPPO is introducing a 7,000mAh battery that’s designed to retain up to 80% of its capacity even after five years of usage.

The company is using a self-repairing electrolyte technology, which is said to help maintain battery health over time. Combined with 80W fast charging, reverse charging, and bypass charging support, the F33 series aims to reduce both charging time and long-term battery degradation.

#OPPO #F33 #Series #Launch #IP69K #Rating #7000mAh #BatteryOppo">OPPO F33 Series to Launch With IP69K Rating and 7,000mAh Battery
	
The OPPO F-series has always focused on the durability side of things, with some of the toughest phones I’ve ever tested. With the new F33 series, the Chinese smartphone maker is bringing a new type of durability-focused smartphone to India. Based on details shared ahead of launch, the company is positioning the lineup as a solution to everyday smartphone problems like cracked screens, water damage, and battery anxiety.



Built for Indian Conditions







Durability seems to be the core focus here. The OPPO F33 series is said to come with IP69K certification, which is a step above the usual IP67 or IP68 ratings seen in most mid-range phones. In practical terms, this means the device can handle high-pressure, high-temperature water jets and provide complete dust protection. It’s designed to survive not just accidental splashes, but harsher environments like heavy rain, kitchens, or dusty outdoor conditions.



Beyond certifications, OPPO says the F33 series has undergone military-grade durability testing. This includes extreme temperature tests ranging from freezing cold to high heat, salt exposure for coastal conditions, and even simulations of strong winds and heavy rainfall. The devices are also tested for drops, with thousands of simulated falls and immersion tests to ensure real-world reliability.



Structurally, the phones feature a 360-degree armor body, built using an aerospace-grade aluminium frame, reinforced internals, and thicker protective materials for both the display and back panel. There’s also an internal cushioning system designed to absorb shocks during impact.



Long-Term Battery Health



Battery life is another major highlight of the F33 series. OPPO is introducing a 7,000mAh battery that’s designed to retain up to 80% of its capacity even after five years of usage.



The company is using a self-repairing electrolyte technology, which is said to help maintain battery health over time. Combined with 80W fast charging, reverse charging, and bypass charging support, the F33 series aims to reduce both charging time and long-term battery degradation.

#OPPO #F33 #Series #Launch #IP69K #Rating #7000mAh #BatteryOppo

has always focused on the durability side of things, with some of the toughest phones I’ve ever tested. With the new F33 series, the Chinese smartphone maker is bringing a new type of durability-focused smartphone to India. Based on details shared ahead of launch, the company is positioning the lineup as a solution to everyday smartphone problems like cracked screens, water damage, and battery anxiety.

Built for Indian Conditions

OPPO F33 Series to Launch With IP69K Rating and 7,000mAh Battery
	
The OPPO F-series has always focused on the durability side of things, with some of the toughest phones I’ve ever tested. With the new F33 series, the Chinese smartphone maker is bringing a new type of durability-focused smartphone to India. Based on details shared ahead of launch, the company is positioning the lineup as a solution to everyday smartphone problems like cracked screens, water damage, and battery anxiety.



Built for Indian Conditions







Durability seems to be the core focus here. The OPPO F33 series is said to come with IP69K certification, which is a step above the usual IP67 or IP68 ratings seen in most mid-range phones. In practical terms, this means the device can handle high-pressure, high-temperature water jets and provide complete dust protection. It’s designed to survive not just accidental splashes, but harsher environments like heavy rain, kitchens, or dusty outdoor conditions.



Beyond certifications, OPPO says the F33 series has undergone military-grade durability testing. This includes extreme temperature tests ranging from freezing cold to high heat, salt exposure for coastal conditions, and even simulations of strong winds and heavy rainfall. The devices are also tested for drops, with thousands of simulated falls and immersion tests to ensure real-world reliability.



Structurally, the phones feature a 360-degree armor body, built using an aerospace-grade aluminium frame, reinforced internals, and thicker protective materials for both the display and back panel. There’s also an internal cushioning system designed to absorb shocks during impact.



Long-Term Battery Health



Battery life is another major highlight of the F33 series. OPPO is introducing a 7,000mAh battery that’s designed to retain up to 80% of its capacity even after five years of usage.



The company is using a self-repairing electrolyte technology, which is said to help maintain battery health over time. Combined with 80W fast charging, reverse charging, and bypass charging support, the F33 series aims to reduce both charging time and long-term battery degradation.

#OPPO #F33 #Series #Launch #IP69K #Rating #7000mAh #BatteryOppo

Durability seems to be the core focus here. The OPPO F33 series is said to come with IP69K certification, which is a step above the usual IP67 or IP68 ratings seen in most mid-range phones. In practical terms, this means the device can handle high-pressure, high-temperature water jets and provide complete dust protection. It’s designed to survive not just accidental splashes, but harsher environments like heavy rain, kitchens, or dusty outdoor conditions.

Beyond certifications, OPPO says the F33 series has undergone military-grade durability testing. This includes extreme temperature tests ranging from freezing cold to high heat, salt exposure for coastal conditions, and even simulations of strong winds and heavy rainfall. The devices are also tested for drops, with thousands of simulated falls and immersion tests to ensure real-world reliability.

Structurally, the phones feature a 360-degree armor body, built using an aerospace-grade aluminium frame, reinforced internals, and thicker protective materials for both the display and back panel. There’s also an internal cushioning system designed to absorb shocks during impact.

Long-Term Battery Health

Battery life is another major highlight of the F33 series. OPPO is introducing a 7,000mAh battery that’s designed to retain up to 80% of its capacity even after five years of usage.

The company is using a self-repairing electrolyte technology, which is said to help maintain battery health over time. Combined with 80W fast charging, reverse charging, and bypass charging support, the F33 series aims to reduce both charging time and long-term battery degradation.

#OPPO #F33 #Series #Launch #IP69K #Rating #7000mAh #BatteryOppo">OPPO F33 Series to Launch With IP69K Rating and 7,000mAh Battery

The OPPO F-series has always focused on the durability side of things, with some of the toughest phones I’ve ever tested. With the new F33 series, the Chinese smartphone maker is bringing a new type of durability-focused smartphone to India. Based on details shared ahead of launch, the company is positioning the lineup as a solution to everyday smartphone problems like cracked screens, water damage, and battery anxiety.

Built for Indian Conditions

OPPO F33 Series to Launch With IP69K Rating and 7,000mAh Battery
	
The OPPO F-series has always focused on the durability side of things, with some of the toughest phones I’ve ever tested. With the new F33 series, the Chinese smartphone maker is bringing a new type of durability-focused smartphone to India. Based on details shared ahead of launch, the company is positioning the lineup as a solution to everyday smartphone problems like cracked screens, water damage, and battery anxiety.



Built for Indian Conditions







Durability seems to be the core focus here. The OPPO F33 series is said to come with IP69K certification, which is a step above the usual IP67 or IP68 ratings seen in most mid-range phones. In practical terms, this means the device can handle high-pressure, high-temperature water jets and provide complete dust protection. It’s designed to survive not just accidental splashes, but harsher environments like heavy rain, kitchens, or dusty outdoor conditions.



Beyond certifications, OPPO says the F33 series has undergone military-grade durability testing. This includes extreme temperature tests ranging from freezing cold to high heat, salt exposure for coastal conditions, and even simulations of strong winds and heavy rainfall. The devices are also tested for drops, with thousands of simulated falls and immersion tests to ensure real-world reliability.



Structurally, the phones feature a 360-degree armor body, built using an aerospace-grade aluminium frame, reinforced internals, and thicker protective materials for both the display and back panel. There’s also an internal cushioning system designed to absorb shocks during impact.



Long-Term Battery Health



Battery life is another major highlight of the F33 series. OPPO is introducing a 7,000mAh battery that’s designed to retain up to 80% of its capacity even after five years of usage.



The company is using a self-repairing electrolyte technology, which is said to help maintain battery health over time. Combined with 80W fast charging, reverse charging, and bypass charging support, the F33 series aims to reduce both charging time and long-term battery degradation.

#OPPO #F33 #Series #Launch #IP69K #Rating #7000mAh #BatteryOppo

Durability seems to be the core focus here. The OPPO F33 series is said to come with IP69K certification, which is a step above the usual IP67 or IP68 ratings seen in most mid-range phones. In practical terms, this means the device can handle high-pressure, high-temperature water jets and provide complete dust protection. It’s designed to survive not just accidental splashes, but harsher environments like heavy rain, kitchens, or dusty outdoor conditions.

Beyond certifications, OPPO says the F33 series has undergone military-grade durability testing. This includes extreme temperature tests ranging from freezing cold to high heat, salt exposure for coastal conditions, and even simulations of strong winds and heavy rainfall. The devices are also tested for drops, with thousands of simulated falls and immersion tests to ensure real-world reliability.

Structurally, the phones feature a 360-degree armor body, built using an aerospace-grade aluminium frame, reinforced internals, and thicker protective materials for both the display and back panel. There’s also an internal cushioning system designed to absorb shocks during impact.

Long-Term Battery Health

Battery life is another major highlight of the F33 series. OPPO is introducing a 7,000mAh battery that’s designed to retain up to 80% of its capacity even after five years of usage.

The company is using a self-repairing electrolyte technology, which is said to help maintain battery health over time. Combined with 80W fast charging, reverse charging, and bypass charging support, the F33 series aims to reduce both charging time and long-term battery degradation.

#OPPO #F33 #Series #Launch #IP69K #Rating #7000mAh #BatteryOppo

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