This month’s project review delves deeper into Cross the Ages, a multimedia intellectual property (IP) company that creates a universe of products grounded in three main themes: fantasy, science fiction, and post-apocalyptic. They recently held their TGE. The project’s range of products, including books, games, NFTs, and more, all aim to connect the digital and physical worlds and make Web3 more accessible and enjoyable.
The review will cover everything from the founding team to fundraising, the range of products within the Cross the Ages ecosystem, and how the Genesis trading card game (TCG) works.
What is Cross the Ages?
Launched in 2020, Cross the Ages is a multimedia IP that develops various products, including a Trading Card Game (TCG), action RPG, digital universe, collectibles, movies, and books. It is all grounded in a lore where futuristic fantasy meets science fiction in a post-apocalyptic setting.
The world of Artellium is the backbone of the lore and drives the main storyline of all Cross the Ages products. The "Cross The Ages" saga, written and crafted by six French authors, lays the groundwork for a world that is struggling with geopolitical and systemic crises. For decades, the world of Artellium has been divided by two rival powers: Arkhante, a magical civilization spanning the western continent, and Mantris, a technologically advanced city-state. The Rift, a lawless zone resulting from a cataclysm, separates two worlds. Pranah, a vital energy source, fuels magic in Arkhante and powers technology in Mantris. However, its diminishing strength poses a growing energy crisis for both, threatening their way of life.
Throughout the Cross the Ages ecosystem, readers are immersed in a rich universe of Artellium with its rules and symbols. This journey invites readers, players, collectors, and other participants to empathize with characters as they navigate their fates.
Cross the Ages Products
- Trading Card Game (TGC)
- Books
- Arise (Action RPG)
- ReVerse
- Merchandise and Comics
Gameplay and Token Economy: TCG
After migrating from the Polygon blockchain in 2022, Cross the Ages TCG is powered by the Immutable X and is available to play since 2023.
Cross the Ages | Gaming on Immutable Cross the Ages’ TCG is the project’s genesis game. It is a free-to-play, play-and-earn collectible card and NFT game. The game was developed for mobile users first yet leverages blockchain technology for desktop gaming.The Cross The Ages TCG has four primary components:
- Cards
- Heptagram
- Card Deck
- 4x4 Game Board
When players register, they start in Adventure mode, where they can explore the game elements mentioned above.
During Adventure mode, players encounter characters within the narrative. As they play, they gradually expand their card collection to enhance their deck and progress in the game, unlocking new possibilities along the way. The game aims to provide an accessible gameplay experience, blending elements from both traditional board games and conventional TCGs.
At the moment, two distinct game modes are available:
- Adventure mode: A guided game for players to grasp the game mechanics and compete against AI opponents.
- Arena mode: Catering to a more competitive environment, where players can challenge fellow CTA players.
The gameplay revolves around 1v1 skirmishes, where players take turns placing cards on the battlefield to gain control and accumulate points. Each card possesses a power value and is associated with an element, influencing its effectiveness against opposing cards. The heptagram serves as a guide, indicating elemental strengths and weaknesses during battles.
In Cross the Ages, players strategically control cards to accumulate points. The highest scorer or the player who outlasts their opponent's timer wins. The game's unique feature is the ability to mint favorite cards as NFTs on Immutable X, offering digital ownership and potential resale through the secondary marketplace. Cards can only be minted a limited number of times, ranging from 1,000 to 800,000, emphasizing the value of obtaining rare cards.
Token Economy
All Cross the Ages games are powered by three currencies and on specific mint passes. These include:
- CTA Token: Its primary role is to synchronize its value with the project's assets and facilitate its adoption. For players, the CTA token helps with game advancement and expands exploration within the Cross The Ages universe. Investors can use the token to charge Mint Passes to access exclusive drops.
- Pranah: Pranah is the exclusive digital currency in Cross The Ages products, acquired through purchase. It grants access to secondary features like cosmetics and expedites content acquisition. Pranah is consistent and interoperable across all CTA products.
- Trisel: Trisel is the in-game digital currency, the proof of work currency in Cross The Ages products, earned through player activity. It facilitates crafting features and will soon enable players to sell their Trisel to others. Trisel is consistent and interoperable across all CTA products.
- Mint Pass: CTA offers six Mint Passes. Players can lock CTA Tokens into these passes to activate their perks. Each pass has two statuses: Charged or Discharged. A pass must be charged to at least stage 1 to activate its effects.
Team, Fundraising, and Partnerships
The team has grown to over 180 members, including renowned writers, illustrators, and game developers. Co-founders Sami Chlagou (CEO) and Richard Esteve (COO) lead the team. In March 2022, the team raised a $12 million seed round from investors, including Animoca Brands, Ubisoft, Square Enix, Mechanism Capital, and Morningstar Ventures, to support development initiatives, talent retention, and go-to-market strategies.
What’s Next?
The Cross the Ages team has an ambitious plan for the upcoming months. They will introduce new Watch Dogs characters and launch a demo version of Arise. The team aims to showcase the demo at the Tokyo Games show in September. Additionally, they will work on the ReVerse platform to support digital and physical ownership and their mission towards sustainability.
