Bunker 2171 Labs in The Sandbox Game NFT Metaverse
By: David Roeseler
Tags: Bunker 2171, Metaverse, Thesandboxgame, The Sandbox, Nft

What is The Sandbox Game? The Sandbox is an open, decentralized metaverse that enables artists and consumers to create, build, and own digital assets secured on top of the Ethereum blockchain network. These digital assets or Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are the items and project-specific avatars that players can earn and use for the wildly diverse gaming, entertainment, and social experiences being developed inside The Sandbox ecosystem. For those less familiar with this new ecosystem, the Sandbox Map proves to be an excellent tool to help visualize where individual experiences are being built by world-class artists.

The Sandbox Game Social Hub experience. Voxel human-like Sandbox avatar and a MutantKong 1:1 avatar from Bunker 2171 Labs, MutantKong #002.

Sandbox NFTs and their use cases are wide-ranging and are often a critical reward component for an emerging new gameplay model, play-to-earn (P2E). In contrast to older pay-to-play models, a P2E game rewards the gamer for participating in the experience, often with in-game items, NFTs, or tokens that the player now directly owns. These NFTs or tokens can be used within the game, sold on marketplaces, or potentially used in other Sandbox experiences. The Sandbox is also interesting in that the actual infrastructure itself is available to own. SAND, the native token of The Sandbox ecosystem, is used to purchase surprising large grids of virtual real estate via the frequent Sandbox land sales.

The Sandbox Game is currently in the Alpha stage of development, with the role out of the Sandbox DAO, virtual concerts, and over 1,000 games throughout 2022. Gaming veterans, world-class entertainers, and major brands building in The Sandbox include Atari, Roller Coaster Tycoon, The Walking Dead, Adidas, and Snoop Dogg. With The Sandbox raising more than $93 million from investors in 2021 alone, it’s a safe bet to think that the entire ecosystem is staged for significant developments in the future and will likely be positioned as one of the premier metaverse experiences in this new web3, blockchain-enabled internet of value.

Bunker 2171 Labs NFT Ecosystem

Being open and decentralized means that many individuals and projects are also building unique experiences in The Sandbox, including the ambitious ecosystem from Bunker 2171 Labs. Bunker 2171 was conceived by the founders and developers who go by the pseudonyms in the Bunker 2171 discord, John Kongor, and General Reese. Bunker 2171 is a continuously growing set of NFT collections; interconnected with utility elements to incentivize holding, maximize value return to their owners, and facilitate a rapidly growing ecosystem. The first collection, MutantKongz, was originally an homage to the CyberKongz project; however, the MutantKongz collection has rather distinguishing, mutated features that begin to tell the story of the post-apocalyptic, sci-fi themed world that these creatures inhabit.

MutantKong #481, the first collection from Bunker 2171 Labs, was originally minted on June 12th, 2021.

Discussions with the developers and supporting team paint an interesting picture that begins to illuminate the influences that are driving the creative engine of the Bunker 2171 ecosystem. The entire project is oozing with fandom and love, inspired by popular video games like Fallout, Metro, Half-Life, and The Last of Us. Additionally, each of the six interconnected collections and the main story often artistically incorporate pop-culture influences from blockbuster films, including The Terminator, Aliens, Predator, 28 Days Later, Dawn of the Dead, The Book of Eli, and The Road.

The Bunker refuge provides not only safety but also a place to relax and socialize with fellow MutantKong and Gorilla Nemesis avatars.

Enter the Bunker, a recently discovered refuge for the MutantKongz and allies. With power recently restored, the Bunker is shaping up with comfortable living spaces, an armory, and many additional rooms to accommodate an ever-growing group of survivors. In addition to MutantKongz the second collection, Gorilla Nemesis also contains incredible illustrations with the Predakongs, Deep Space Aliens, Terminators, and always intimidating, Immortals.

Bunker 2171, Gorilla Nemesis NFT collection teaser trailer.

Excellently capturing the collection tone, the Gorilla Nemesis teaser trailer provides a sense of the team's incredible artistic range and direction for each subsequent collection within the ecosystem. Excitingly, both MutantKongz and Gorilla Nemesis NFTs will have 1:1 avatars available for gaming and social experiences in The Sandbox. Each avatar will function not only as your vehicle to the Bunker 2171 gaming experience but will also serve as a 3D extension of personal identity for those who use them as their PFP, only now fully mobile in the broader Sandbox ecosystem.

The second collection from Bunker 2171 Labs, an Immortal Gorilla Nemesis #4711, and an early model of the 1:1 Gorilla Nemesis avatar for The Sandbox Game.

Diving further into the Bunker 2171 ecosystem, one discovers a variety of collections and creatures to explore and own. Collection #3, Bunker Chronicles, drives the evolving narrative of John Kongor, the resistance leader and guide for all survivors who discover the Bunker, told in a highly captivating comic book style format. Meanwhile, collection #4, Bunker Beasts, were made available for free plus gas for each Gorilla Nemesis NFT, with a claim window that will remain open indefinitely for Gorilla Nemesis that still have unclaimed Bunker Beasts. The Bunker Beasts are a wild combination of heavily mutated and accessory wielding animals, including Bats, Beatles, Flys, Mantis, Spiders, and Octopuses. With tech-enabled flying bats, backpack octopus explorers, and snapback hat-wearing flys, a unique world identity and sense of humor are interwoven and blended across each separate collection, mirroring that of the overall Bunker community.

Continuing their prolific collection release cadence, on November, 19th 2021, Bunker 2171 Labs simultaneously launched their 5th collection, DraGONS 2171, and initiated the $AMBER token yield system. The native token fueling the Bunker 2171 ecosystem, one $AMBER is generated per day for each DraGON. Furthermore, both Gorilla Nemesis and Bunker Beast each provide a one percent $AMBER bonus yield boost for each DraGON that you own. This unique incentivization model encourages holding the assets long term and is one of the numerous collection utilities, resulting in a significant cumulative $AMBER bonus yield as each DraGON will generate $AMBER for a total of 2,171 days. In total, there are approximately 3,700 DraGONS in the collection with surprising few available to purchase on the secondary market, signaling a pivotal collection in the Bunker ecosystem.

The 6th and most recent collection from Bunker 2171 Labs, the Alien Kimera Protocol (AKP), was activated on December 18th, 2021. With absolutely stunning artwork from Mvrk, the talented illustrator and 2D animator of the Gorilla Nemesis and subsequent Bunker 2171 collections, the Alien Kimera also provide a critical utility purpose as the Bunker team looks forward to expanding their presence and offerings in The Sandbox. While MutantKong owners will receive a free 1:1 avatar, the AKP will also enable Gorilla Nemesis holders to claim a 1:1 avatar if they also own an Alien Kimera and use 60 $AMBER for the claim. In total, the Bunker 2171 community will initially have 5,500 MutantKong and Gorilla Nemesis avatars available for their social and gaming experiences currently being developed in The Sandbox. The $AMBER token will also have several additional short to mid-term utilities, including use cases within the marketplace, loot boxes, rewards, a gaming experience access pass, and auctions.

Bunker 2171 in The Sandbox Game NFT Metaverse

The MutantKongz are nomadic apes, survivors of the nuclear war that left a once highly technologically advanced civilization in total ruin. This setting is where the Bunker 2171 story begins and sets the foundation for their P2E gaming experiences in The Sandbox, appropriately named Wasteland 2171. Harkening back to games like Fallout: New Vegas, Wasteland 2171’s thematic tone is one of mystery and danger. In a genre-blending world with advanced AI, genetic engineering, devastating weaponry, and terrifying monsters, the Bunker provides not only a dedicated in-game social hub but also serves as a refuge from the dangers lurking outside.

Legendary animated Alien Kimera #2862, the 6th collection from Bunker 2171 Labs.

Beyond a social hub, the Bunker is also one of the critical locations for players to explore within the upcoming P2E gaming experience. Wasteland 2171 will cover a 3x3 Sandbox land plot of the total 6x6 Bunker 2171 estate (Sandbox Location, 35, -204) currently being built. Bunker 2171 developers and internal Sandbox artists have teamed up with the incredibly talented Blaze Games Studio for the Wasteland 2171 gaming experience. Blaze Games is a highly-skilled group of artists and developers whose Sandbox work includes but is not limited to the RESP_WN game experience and the impressive Gutter Cat Gang, Gutter City.

Bunker 2171 MutantKongz 1:1 avatar trailer for use in their upcoming Wasteland 2171 game set in The Sandbox.

While 1:1 avatars are closer to completion, the proposed Wasteland 2171 assets and game design have recently been approved by The Sandbox, with all involved parties continuing development throughout 2022. There are numerous narrative-driven objectives or missions planned for the Wasteland 2171 game that offer a range of engaging gameplay experiences. These missions include restoring power and supplies to the Bunker, protecting each other from raiders, rescuing allies in trouble, and uncovering critical information that will piece together the overall Bunker 2171 story.

The teased overview map of the Bunker 2171 experience in The Sandbox.

Each mission will take you on an engaging journey across the Wasteland and aims to become a wild destination for gamers who are seeking a wide range of experiences, challenges, and rewards. Coupled with a dynamic crafting system, rewards for playing Wasteland 2171 include crafting weapons, armor, and consumables. Additionally, skins and exclusive loot boxes for MutantKong and Gorilla Nemesis holders will also be available.

All told, an exciting year lies ahead for the team and Bunker 2171 community. Not to be overlooked, the community is a core pillar of the Bunker ecosystem and the discord is where many initially find themselves when learning about the impressive level of existing project utilities and the upcoming estate in The Sandbox. Friendly team members are always vigilant at the Bunker doors, welcoming new survivors who make it in from the outside world and are commonly greeted by a hilarious barrage of cleverly crafted memes and gifs. The friendly and helpful nature of the community is why many choose to lend their expertise and skills to help build for long-term success. These Apes invite you into the Bunker 2171 discord to stay a while, have some laughs, learn about the ecosystem, discuss the upcoming Wasteland 2171 gaming experience, and prepare yourself for the next Sandbox adventure.