Episode 90 - Node Mastermind

In COPICafe Episode 90 titled "Node Mastermind", the hosts Josh Jones and Rob Greig discuss the advancements in their open world MMO project, Cornucopias.

The episode features a special guest and covers topics such as the importance of using correct pool IDs, ongoing scams and hacks in the crypto world, and the Avatar Creator feature's success.

The speakers also share their experiences and plans for the project, including the development of a file distribution node system and the upcoming launch of new zones.

Additionally, the host expresses gratitude towards the community and reminisces about the '90s.

00:00:00 The episode is the 90th installment of COPICafe, and the host talks about a recent SPO (Stake Pool Offering) for the game's currency, $COPI, which has already gained significant traction. The host explains that the $COPI earned from pool fees will be converted to $COPI based on the $COPI-Ada price, ensuring fairness and preventing price manipulation.

00:05:00 The speakers discuss the importance of using the correct pool ID instead of just the name. They also mention the ongoing issue of scams and hacks in the crypto world, sharing an experience of a recent attempted hack on their Discord server. They emphasize the need for caution, verifying authenticity of links, enabling two-factor authentication, and avoiding DMs from strangers.

00:10:00 The speakers discuss the success of the Avatar Creator feature and announce a competition for users to create lookalike avatars of celebrities. The deadline has been extended, and more details (prizes and celebrity names) will be announced separately. The guest, Greg, is introduced, who helps with nodes for the project.

00:15:00 Greg shares his background working on startups before joining Cisco, where he gained experience in cloud infrastructure, data encryption, and real-time data processing. He describes the journey of developing the file nodes system, from research and planning to prototypes, now functioning internally.

00:20:00 The team discusses the excitement around the decentralized file distribution node project, challenges of security, and making it user-friendly. Their development process focuses on efficiency, orchestration, and reducing hardware requirements for wider accessibility.

00:25:00 The speakers explain how the system integrates with Amazon infrastructure. Files will flow from cloud → pool servers → clients. Internal testing is ongoing, with rollout expected July 1, 2024, where users will activate their nodes and receive rewards.

00:30:00 The community’s role in operating nodes and monetization is discussed. Initially, all operators will be rewarded, but over time only quality service will earn rewards. Training and feedback loops are planned.

00:35:00 Development of Esperanza, the next zone after Solace, is underway. Land NFT holders will get to select properties in Esperanza. Plans for upgrading to Unreal Engine 5.4 are discussed, along with adding fishing mechanics as a new gameplay feature.

00:40:00 Rob highlights Cornucopias’ vast real estate, 90% larger than most MMOs. Fishing mechanics with rivers and lakes, future leaderboards, and potential GeForce Now streaming support are in the pipeline.

00:45:00 Rob and Josh reminisce about their 1990s fashion sense, joke about their appearance, and express gratitude toward the community.